Holiday Wedding (16 page)

“You know, it's funny. I didn't want to do it at first, but Sara, the kid, was a sweetie pie. There was no way I could say no.”

“Wow.” She hugged her knees to her chest.

“No kidding. You know what's weird?” He leaned toward her, his blue eyes displaying something she hadn't seen a long time. Was it hope?

“What?” she asked.

“I had a great time.”

“Drew, that's awesome.”

“We played with dolls all morning. Ken finally did right by Barbie, and put a ring on it.”

Lauren smiled dryly at the irony. Did he not see the easy comparison of his own reluctance to marry her? “Good for them.” She pointed to the container. “So where did you get the cookies?”

“Sara made them for me.” He chuckled. “I mean for Santa. Natasha insisted I bring them back and gave me specific instructions.”

“Instructions?” Lauren repeated.

“Yeah. She said that I needed to enjoy them with you.”

Lauren smiled and reached for the tin. Natasha couldn't possibly know how difficult this would be for Drew. That he was even considering having one blew her away. “May I?”

“Sure.”

Lauren opened the lid. It was filled to the top with red and white pinwheel cookies. “How can this be?” she whispered.

“I know, right? The same cookie Mom was going to bake.” He shook his head and reached for a cookie, examining it with what Lauren knew was a heavy heart. “If I hadn't made her go out for the red food coloring—”

“Drew. It wasn't your fault. You don't have to do this.”

“I know. It's only a cookie.” He held it up. “I'm a grown man, running the Asia Pacific region for an international toy chain. Why can't I do this?”

“Do you want to do it together?”

“Maybe later,” he replied with more than a hint of sadness in his voice.

“I understand.” She took the cookie from his hand and placed it back in the container, shutting the lid tight.

“I did give Sara the girl Happily Ever After doll in your trunk. I hope that was okay.”

Lauren's eyes watered again. He really was trying and that was awesome. “It's more than okay.”

“So, what's on tap for this afternoon?”

“I don't know. Miles hasn't sent it over. Luke said we'd enjoy it.”

“You talked to Luke?”

“Yeah. I wanted to talk to him about Kate's dress.”

“Glad he picked up for you,” he scoffed.

She lunged for her phone she'd set earlier on the coffee table. “Let's see what's come in.” She opened her e-mail app. Sure enough, one from Miles was waiting for her. She couldn't help but laugh at his cheeky subject header that simply read “Vixen.” Typical Miles. She showed it to Drew.

“What is up with all the reindeer references?”

“I know, right? Dasher's Diner, DJ Dancer, the Prancer room. Now
Vixen
.”

“Prancer room?”

“The name of the dressing room at the boutique.”

“Of course.” He laughed. “So what are we doing? Please tell me we'll be leaving our current clothes on. I draw the line at dressing up as Donner or Blitzen.”

“Well …” She giggled. “According to this, I might be putting on something red.”

“Good. You can be Rudolph.” He reached over and tapped her nose. “You'd be cute with a red nose.”

“God, I hope I don't have to put on antlers,” she said, lowering her phone so they both could read the short e-mail from Miles.

Lauren, Get your Vixen on. (You too, Drew.) It's time to get the attire for the wedding night! Choose something red. It's Kate's favorite color! XOXO (to Lauren), Miles

Lauren bit back a smile. After the morning they both had, prancing around in sexy lingerie for Drew just might be their best assignment yet.

• • •

“This is stupid.” Drew followed Lauren into the lingerie section of what they were told was the only department store in the village. That it was called Vixen's Sleigh seemed appropriately inappropriate. Apparently the business folks in Snow Frost Mountain had a sense of humor.

“Drew, what do you think of this one?” Lauren held up a black corset with a wicked grin that told him she was having way too much fun with this assignment.

“I think you need to put that back on the rack.” He shifted, meaning every word of that sentence.

“You're seriously not going to help me?” she asked, batting her lashes. He knew her well enough to know Playful Lauren had come out to complete this mission.

Well, if she wanted to play, he was game. “I think you should try it with this.” He reached over and grabbed a sheer red robe off a nearby rack.

“Fine.” She headed straight for the dressing room, but turned. “You know I'm going to need your approval. I mean, you are the groom's brother.”

He grinned. “I know exactly what Luke needs.”

While Lauren ducked into a dressing room, Drew glanced around the store full of sexy lingerie. Being two weeks before Christmas, you would think this place would be crowded with guys trying to pick out gifts for their ladies, but that wasn't the case.

He shook his head, suspecting he knew the reason for the empty store. Luke had probably arranged it. What was his brother up to? Did he want him to have an orgasm with his ex? Because once he saw Lauren in that sexy little number he was sure that was where this was headed.

Walking over to the dressing room she'd entered a few minutes ago, he knocked. “Doing okay in there?”

“Is anyone looking?” she asked from behind the closed door.

He turned his head to the checkout counter. A saleswoman that looked a lot like Natasha in height and stature busied herself behind the register. If he didn't know better, the woman was purposefully giving him and Lauren their space to shop. Maybe these town residents had a frisky side underneath all their Christmas cheer.

“Coast is clear. Show me what you've got, Miss Kincaid.” His heart pounded because after nine years together, he knew he wasn't going to be disappointed.

Opening the door, he gulped at the sight of his nearly naked ex, the corset hugging her curves. Without giving it one thought, he grabbed her wrists and pulled her back into the empty dressing room, shutting the door behind them.

“Mr. Cannon.” She smirked and lowered her lashes. “Is there something I can do for you in here?”

“Yeah,” he whispered, locking eyes with hers. “Remind me.”

With both hands, she removed the red satin robe slowly off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor.

Heat rushed to his lower region as he gazed at Lauren's breasts in the tight corset, his heartbeat accelerating from zero to sixty.

“I think you should remind me.” She moved in and ran her hands up and down his sides, before looping her fingers in his jeans belt straps and pulling him even closer.

That he was more than ready to do. Bringing his lips down hard on hers, the memory of how good she tasted rushed through him. His hands explored what little fabric she had on while her own found their way underneath his shirt. “Let's get out of here,” he whispered into her hair and then kissed her neck.

“And go back to the cabin?”

“Yes. I'll build that fire I promised.”

“Sounds hot.” She ran her hands up and down his chest, resting at the start of his jeans.

If he didn't stop this now, they were going to have sex for the first time in over a year and this was not where he wanted that to happen. He reluctantly stepped back, bent down, and picked up the satin robe. “We're definitely buying this.”

He couldn't resist running his hands along the sides of the corset one last time, causing her to moan. “And let's get this, too.” He leaned in, sliding a finger across its top. “Because when we get back to the cabin I'm going to peel this off of you in front of that roaring fire.”

She reached behind her and ripped out the price tag, indicating the corset wouldn't be coming off until he removed it. With one final soft kiss, he left the stall and rushed toward the register.

This was really happening. He and Lauren belonged together and tonight he was going to show her just how much he'd missed, wanted, and loved her.

The last couple of days had taken several unexpected turns, leading to this moment.

This was finally their time. Maybe Luke had arranged this half-baked idea, but somehow this place was reuniting him with the love of his life. He wasn't going to let this opportunity go.

He still needed to talk to Olivia. Deep down he knew what he was about to do was wrong, but this wasn't just any woman. It was
Lauren
. The woman he loved more than anyone else, and all signals indicated she was about to give him a second chance. He wanted to take it. He needed to take it. He was going to take it.

He paid for the items and took the red bag from the woman at the counter.

“Merry Christmas,” the salesclerk said.

“I think my present's coming tonight.” He winked and grinned. Turning around, that stupid grin on his face flipped at the site in front of him. “Olivia?”

And just like that, this excursion to Vixen's Sleigh took another unexpected turn.

• • •

Lauren paced in her room while Miles spread out flat on her bed, hands behind his head. They'd been back at the cabin for almost an hour after she had raced out of the dressing room, running smack into the latest visitors to Snow Frost Mountain.

Miles tapped on the bed's wood headboard. “You could have a lot of fun up here with all this wood.”

Rolling her eyes, Lauren crossed the room and shut the door, not wanting the other two cabin occupants to hear this conversation. “Why aren't you and Olivia in Manhattan?”

“I told you in the car. Luke sent us.”

“Luke sent you.” She reached for his hand and yanked him up. “Why? You're not supposed to be here until next Friday.”

“Not my fault. Your boss called and said a private plane was fueled up at LaGuardia and flying me and Olivia to Snow Frost Mountain this afternoon.”

“How did you know where we would be?”

“I sent you the agenda, remember?”

“Right.” She sighed, completely annoyed at the situation. This had to be the worst possible timing, and it wasn't only about the super hot kiss she'd shared earlier with her ex. Drew was opening up, embracing his past, and showing a tiny bit of Christmas spirit. Something she'd never seen in all the time they were together. This place was good for him. Would that all change now that Olivia was here to distract him?

Putting her hands on her hips, she nodded to the door. “I want you to leave and take your new best friend.”

“We can't, and
you're
my best friend.” Lying back down, he propped his head up with his elbows. “She really cares for him, but she knows.”

“Knows what?”

“That you and Drew belong together.”

Lauren narrowed her eyes. “She said that to you?”

“Several times. She's not an idiot. Far from it.”

Lauren lied down next to Miles and looked up at the ceiling. “What am I supposed to do with this information? I can't just go downstairs and stake my claim to him.”

He turned his head, flashing a sarcastic grin. “Isn't that what you were doing this afternoon?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, please. You two were in a lingerie store.”

“That you and Luke sent us to!” She sat up and swatted his knee. “What were
you
thinking?”

“Hey, I was just following orders.” He smiled slyly. “So what
were
you two doing in the dressing room?”

“How do you know we were in the dressing room together?”

“Because when your ex said you were in there, he looked like the cat that swallowed the canary.”

“Oh, God. Do you think Olivia suspects anything?”

He sat up. “Ex-lovers left alone in a secluded cabin? No. Not at all.” Lauren caught his sarcasm loud and clear.

“It was really nothing.” She crossed her knees to her chest, trying to get a grasp of the situation. Now wasn't the time to confess to Miles about the hot kiss. “We were just reminding each other what we'd lost, I suppose.” Her stomach twisted at the thought that tonight had been on course for them to spend the evening reconnecting in front of a roaring fire. Maybe they would have started the evening in the Jacuzzi with a bottle of wine.

She flung her legs off the bed and headed over to the window, peering out the curtains. Her gaze zoomed down to the second floor, resting on the hot tub. At least it was empty. For now. “Miles, I don't know what to do. I never thought I'd be coming between Drew and another woman—and certainly not Olivia. All of this has just gotten out of control.”

Miles stood and came over to her. “That big goof is your soul mate. You know it, I know it, he knows it … everyone knows it … even Olivia.”

She let go of the curtain and stepped away from the window. “So what do I do?”

“You finish what Luke asked and plan the best damn wedding this ridiculously Christmas-y town has ever seen.”

“And what about Olivia? What if Drew decides that they should stay together? If you both stay, that could happen. Obviously he feels something for her. I can't pretend any longer that he doesn't.”

“Honey, you've got nothing to worry about even with her here. Trust me.”

“How can you be so confident?”

“Because I'm pretty sure that heart beating inside you has always been his.”

Lauren lifted the redheaded Happily Ever After doll up past her shoulders. “Time to find your soul mate, little guy.”

“Don't waste your time. I tried to get a name out of him last night. He's not talking.” Drew came up beside her with a cup of coffee, his spicy cologne sending a tingle throughout her body. It was the first time they'd been alone since the dressing room.