Risky Christmas (13 page)

Looking back at Mason, seeing his furrowed brow, she felt his angst. He hadn't wanted his family to know he'd considered the possibility that Axel would follow him here. Maybe he even thought he could handle it on his own and now he wasn't so sure. Axel had followed them here. Had he told his dad? Teddy? Probably, and the men would stop at nothing to protect their family.

Mason met her gaze and she offered him a supportive smile. Some of his tension eased and it amazed her that she was able to do that for him. He blinked and then something other than tension made its way into his green eyes. She wished she could go over to him now. The fact that she couldn't sobered her. Torn, she put all her attention into heating the leftovers and making them presentable on the kitchen island.

When she finished, Mason handed her a glass of wine. She took it and noticed he held a beer. She'd rather have that, but she didn't tell him.

“Chloe, will you take the cheese and crackers and that spinach dip out to the coffee table? We're going to open presents before dinner. That way, after we eat all this food the adults can take a nap while the kids play with their presents.” She zeroed in on CC. “No more drama. It's Christmas. Nothing more exciting than over
eating and tearing wrapping paper is going to happen for the rest of the night.”

“Mom,” CC complained.

“CC?”

Even Chloe would heed that look. Smiling, she put her wine down and lifted the plate of cheese and crackers.

“I'll help you.” Mason put his beer down and carried the spinach dip.

She put the crackers down with his spinach.

“Have a seat, I'll get your wine.”

Was it her imagination or was Mason being especially attentive toward her? For real. Unlike at the party, he hadn't pretended when he'd kissed her on the sleigh. She watched his jean-clad butt as he returned to the kitchen and didn't care if he noticed her checking the rest of him out when he returned.

He handed her the glass and sat right next to her. This was very different than last night. Chloe decided to chalk it up to Christmas cheer and ignore the little voice in her head that said,
beware of mistletoes.

M
ason watched Chloe as his family opened presents. He could tell she enjoyed just being a part of it. He didn't want to love that about her. It humbled her, made her real. Honest. Even worse, he didn't think any other woman he'd fallen for would have appreciated everyone else getting presents while all they could do is watch.

His mom handed him the present he'd been waiting for. He shared a secretive look with her before she turned and went back to the tree to resume passing gifts out between opening her own.

Chloe looked over at him when he didn't move to open the present, her short, thick blond hair bobbing a little with the movement. He waited, savoring the moment.

“Aren't you going to open it?”

“Nope.”

Perplexity sparkled in her pretty blue eyes, as if she were wondering if he was kidding. “Why not?”

“Because this is for you.” He handed it to her, loving the O her lips formed in her surprise.

“For me?” Taking the present, she looked at his mom for confirmation.

“Mason told me what you needed.”

Turning to him, she whispered, “Mason.”

It was the sweetest sound he'd ever heard. It stirred his desire as much as kissing her had. He barely knew this woman and already he wanted to pursue her. Experience had taught him the folly of following his heart, but his heart made him want to take her to bed.

Chloe began to open the present, unaware that his entire family had stopped what they were doing to watch. Tearing the wrapping paper, she pulled out the portfolio case he'd asked his mother to find for him and Deirdra had picked up when she and Teddy had gone shopping.

She pushed the paper aside slowly, entranced by the realization of what it was. Unzipping it, she opened the case and saw its varied functions. She could put all her mock-ups in there, use it for safe storage or easily carry it for solicitation purposes.

Tears moistened her eyes as she turned to look at him. “This is the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me.”

She meant it. He could see the truth in her eyes and hear it in her voice.

When she leaned over to him, he wasn't expecting her to kiss his face.

Her kind of appreciation was hard to ignore. “You're welcome.”

She put her hand on the side of his face and turned
his head, kissing him on the mouth. He kissed her back without thinking. That ended up in a third kiss that was longer. He slid his hand behind her head and gave in to desire. By the time he drew away and could pry his eyes off her, it was too late for damage control. The room was a flutter of delighted snickers and whispers.

“Hey. I can't afford another trip until after my divorce, so you're going to have to wait to get married,” CC said, and everyone laughed.

While Chloe's face colored, his mom passed out the rest of the presents. Mason struggled to pay attention. He still burned from kissing Chloe.

 

With the presents opened and the kids taking a break from playing after lengthy protests, Chloe followed Mason and the rest of his family into the dining area. Bevy had put a tablecloth on and set it with her china.

Chloe stopped with Mason under the archway, waiting for everyone to get settled while Karl and Bevy brought food to the table.

“Hey, look where you're standing,” Deirdra said, pointing above Chloe's and Mason's heads.

Mistletoe.

The irony just about killed her. She saw Mason's hesitation and would have backed away, except CC was standing behind her and gave her a shove.

“Come on. We already know you two are kissing each other, what's the harm in kissing once more?”

Chloe wasn't sure she could take another kiss.

“In this house, whenever someone stands under the mistletoe, you have to honor tradition,” Bevy said. Beside her, Karl eyed his wife as though not surprised she'd be the one to enforce such a rule.

“Kiss her.”

“Kiss her.”

“Kiss her…”

The chanting went on with a clamor.

Grinning, Mason slipped his arms around her, pulling her against him. She rested her hands on his chest, heart slamming.

“You better make it good, too,” Bevy goaded.

Someone took a picture.

Mason leaned down, a smile in his eyes. Chloe was game for a quick one. His lips pressed to hers. The kisses before this one were the warm-up. Sweet tingles of pleasure spread across her skin, only to melt in her heart and turn into molten desire.

With catcalls from his family, she wrapped her arms around him and took him in for deeper exploration, too absorbed in Mason for the audience to matter. Endless seconds passed. She wanted them to go on forever.

Finally, Mason pulled back. His green eyes glowed with passion.

“That'll be one to remember,” CC said, fanning herself.

“I'll send you the pictures, Mason,” Deirdra said.

“Let's eat,” Mason said, turning and heading for the table.

Awkwardly, Chloe followed, wondering if anyone other than her had picked up on his stiff withdrawal.

The lighthearted snickers and giggles lasted until after everyone sat down and Bevy said a prayer. Mason sat close to her, his right arm, brushing hers as he used his fork. Deirdra and CC got into a discussion about hairstyles. Karl and Teddy talked politics. Bevy asked her teenaged grandson to stop texting at the table.

Chloe loved every nuance. Dare she ever hope to have this again? Even with her ex-boyfriend it hadn't
been this poignant. Something about this family…Mason…rang true.

Glancing over at him, she stopped the thought. Would his past experiences ruin any chance they had? She didn't think she had the strength to try. It was too soon after her last heartbreak. She wasn't prepared for another one, especially one she feared would hurt more than that.

Mason put his hand over hers and curled his fingers around her palm, holding her hand. A silent agreement passed between them, a stay of execution. For today they'd forget the heartaches that made them reluctant to trust again. Today was a day of hope. Maybe that was why thoughts of Axel had drifted so far from her conscience. How could she worry about him when this day was so perfect?

After helping to clear the table and get the kitchen under control, Chloe went into the living room, where the guys had a movie playing. Mason moved to the end of the sofa, leaning against a fluffy pillow. He patted the space between his legs. She was drawn by the look in his eyes. Sitting close, she leaned against his him.

The movie fell into the background. She was only aware of Mason. His hard chest against her back. His face beside hers when she rested it against his shoulder. The way his hands toyed with hers in gentle play. The warmth of his breath. When his defenses lowered and he let her in like this, it was almost more than she could take.

Deirdra, her husband and kids were the first to go to bed. Mason's parents were next. CC turned on another movie.

Not wanting the night to end, Chloe sat up and looked back at Mason. He seemed as indecisive as her.
Would tomorrow change what had transpired between them today? Would he withdraw behind a wall again? She didn't want to know.

“Good night, CC,” Chloe said, standing.

“Night. Night, Mason.”

Mason hadn't even gotten up yet. But now he answered and stood with Chloe. Her heart beat with unreasonable desire as he followed her up the stairs and down the hall. Her room was at the end.

She listened to him stop at his room. Stopping at hers, she stood in the doorway, wanting him to follow. Unreasonably. Neither of them moved.

Not sure about inviting him in, she left it up to him. After leaving the door open, she removed her clothes and climbed onto the bed, lying in the dark, tortured by anticipation.

She saw his silhouette in the doorway. Her heart rejoiced with needy beats. He closed the door and moved to the foot of the bed, standing there for a while. She could see his eyes through the shadows and he could probably see hers, just as on fire as his.

Pushing the covers off her, she let that be her answer. She wasn't wearing anything. He unbuttoned his jeans and shoved them off along with his underwear. Then he crawled onto the bed, on his hands and knees above her. He lowered himself to kiss her.

Their breathing resonated in the room. He put his knees between hers and she made room for him. He lowered onto her, still on his hands as he kissed her with more fervor. She ran her hands up his arms to his shoulders, his skin soft to her touch, but hard and sinewy underneath.

When he pulled his mouth from hers, she tipped her head back to bring her mouth closer to his, not wanting
him to stop kissing her. Moving down to her breast, he took her nipple instead. She moaned her approval. His breath cooled and then warmed her skin as he moved from there to her stomach, progressing along her body until he found the place he'd endeavored to go. She dug her fingers into his hair. It wouldn't take much to send her over the edge.

“Come back here,” she said.

He kissed his way back to her mouth, slow and tortuous. Reaching between their bodies, he guided himself to her warm wetness and pushed into her. The initial penetration robbed her of breath. He grunted his pleasure as he pushed back and forth. She loved the sound. The delicious friction of his steady thrusts sparked unbearable sensations that kept building until an orgasm crashed upon her.

He kissed her without stopping, sliding into her and pulling back over and over, going deeper now. Harder. He stimulated her still sensitive flesh. Looking up into his pleasure-filled eyes, finding it wholly erotic, another orgasm erupted. His guttural moan followed, his face a contortion of ecstasy.

Floating back down to normalcy, she curled next to him when he lay beside her, each of them catching their breath. So many thoughts assailed her. How would this change them? Would it change them at all? What if he had regrets? What if she woke up with regrets?

“Well, that's one way to get over being dumped,” she quipped, needing levity.

He chuckled. “Glad to be of service.”

Realizing she'd just given him an out, Chloe lay awake for a long time. She pretended to be asleep when she felt him get off the bed, listening to him pull on his jeans. With anguish tugging at her heart, she watched
his silhouette leave the room, closing the door behind him without a sound.

The anguish mushroomed until it consumed her. She stared up at the ceiling, struggling not to fall apart. Why had he left before morning? Was he afraid of what his family would think? Or had he just run away? Yes, he was running. To him, she wasn't worth the risk of falling in love. She wasn't someone he wanted to have feelings for.

She should have never allowed the enchantment of Christmas to bring her guard down. She should have waited until she was sure of what Mason wanted out of this, out of them. It burned her to learn that was nothing. Nothing, of course, other than what they'd just done.

She was here for Christmas and that's all. She was going to start a new life, and that had nothing to do with Mason. He had a life of his own in Chicago—if that was where he actually lived. She didn't even know that much about him. She should have never allowed them to be intimate so soon.

“Stupid girl,” she said.

But fool her once…

F
ortified with resolve, Chloe descended the stairs. Voices and dishes clanging in the kitchen filled her with regret. The day after Christmas, the family all still together, happy and content. She didn't belong. After Mason left her last night and she got over her anger, a calm sort of certainty took over. He'd made his decision. Now it was time for her to make hers.

She didn't care where she spent the night tonight as long as it wasn't here. All she needed was a way into town. While Axel could still be a threat, she'd lived alone in a rough neighborhood long enough to put that fear to rest. She needed to get away from Mason more than she was afraid of an encounter with an vengeful pimp.

Entering the kitchen, she saw Bevy first, busy as usual with preparing a meal. Chloe spotted Mason next, sitting at the table with his nephew and Deirdra. He saw
her and froze for a second. The telltale sign stung so much that her resolve slipped.

“Good morning,” Bevy greeted cheerily.

“Good morning.” Chloe knew she sounded much less jovial.

Mason stood up and brought his plate to the sink as if she weren't even there. Bending to kiss his mom on the cheek, he said, “Thanks, Mom. I'll be out in the woodshed with Dad and Teddy.”

Bevy glanced at Chloe and then back at her son in confusion. He moved away from her and approached Chloe, his mask of indifference ice-cold.

He was shutting her out, the wall he'd erected impenetrable. They'd shared a rare and gripping intimacy and he was going to pretend nothing happened. It had meant the world to her and he was throwing it away as if it belonged in the trash. He may as well throw it at her face. Slap her with it.

Rising anger only marginally eased the intense ache that expanded in her chest. She had no one to blame but herself for this. He hadn't forced her to sleep with him. She'd invited him.

“Chloe.” The halfhearted greeting sounded forced. He didn't want to be anywhere near her.

“Mason,” she echoed, fighting the magnitude of her inner turmoil. She may as well be one of his sister's friends he'd met for the first time.

Passing her, he left the kitchen, each step farther away mounting her emptiness. Bevy had stopped screwing the cap on a container of orange juice as she watched. She looked at Chloe when Mason disappeared.

“It smells incredible in here,” Chloe said, refusing to allow Mason's handicap with women to bring her down.
He wasn't worth hurt feelings if he couldn't recognize a good thing when it landed right in front of him.

“Grab a plate,” Bevy said.

Chloe did, but only for something to do while her emotions spun in circles. After spooning some cheesy eggs and ham onto a plate, she picked up one of the glasses of orange juice Bevy had poured and went to the table.

Bevy sat across from her with her own plate and juice. “Mason is awfully quiet this morning.”

Chloe chewed some eggs and swallowed. Normally she would have loved all the cheese in them, but today they may as well be raw vegetables.

CC entered the kitchen. “What's wrong with Mason? I just saw him at the front door and teased him about Chloe and he just about bit my head off.”

Chloe didn't look up from her plate.

CC sat beside her mother and Chloe felt them both watching her. Eating more eggs, she finally met their looks.

“Uh oh,” CC said.

“Mason's got himself a problem, it would seem,” Bevy added.

That's right, Mason had a problem. She didn't. “He does seem a little off this morning.” She continued to eat, hoping that would be the end of it.

But both Bevy and CC had stopped eating. They each shared a glance and then resumed looking at Chloe.

“Is everything okay?” CC asked.

Did she really have to answer that? Seeing the concern on each of their faces, she put her fork down. “I'm really grateful for everything, but I need to leave today.”

Silence. Bevy and CC exchanged another look.

“You slept with him, didn't you,” CC observed.

“CC,” Bevy admonished.

“It's written all over her face. And Mason flew into a fit when I teased him.” She turned pointedly to her mother. “You saw them last night.”

“Enough, CC. Chloe, whatever happened between you and Mason, it's all right. You can still stay here.”

Chloe shook her head. “No. I'm sorry. I can't stay here anymore.”

“I'm going to strangle my brother,” CC said, tucking her blond-streaked dark hair behind her ear, green eyes flashing.

“Could someone please drive me into town?”

“Don't tell me he's going to screw up another good one,” CC continued on with her anger.

She meant the last woman he'd loved. Chloe felt stabbing pain go through her heart.

“Don't worry,” Bevy said. “He'll snap out of it.”

“Yeah. You're not like the other women,” CC said. “You're someone he can trust. Everyone can see that about you, Chloe. You're the genuine article. The real deal. You don't play games. You don't lie. You say it the way it is. He's got to know that. He's just scared.”

“I should have known better.”

Bevy clearly didn't like hearing that. “No,
he
should know better. Everyone can see that the two of you are getting close. CC's right, he's just scared. Give him some time, Chloe.”

“I won't be with someone who judges me based on past experiences. He has to see me for who I am.”

“He does. He will.”

He turned away from her this morning like she was practically invisible. Nothing about last night had mattered, least of all her feelings. She wasn't going to forgive him for that.

“I wish I could stay, really. I love all of you. This Christmas was the best I've ever had. But Mason can barely look at me, and I can't stand to be treated that way. Please.” She looked from Bevy's unreadable face to CC. “Will you drive me to town? I'll find a place to stay there.”

“You can stay in the guesthouse,” Bevy said, one last attempt to sway her.

That was so sweet. Chloe shook her head. “No. I don't want to be anywhere near him. Please. Try and understand.”

“I understand that after I strangle him, I'm going to give my brother a black eye.” CC stood and folded her arms. “He's such an idiot!”

Deirdra entered the kitchen and stopped behind Bevy. “I just came in from the woodshed. The guys are giving Mason hell out there, but he isn't budging.”

Bevy stood from the table. “Take Chloe to town, CC. I'll give Mason the black eye.”

 

Mason entered the house, his dad and Teddy right behind him, and stomped his feet. He looked for Chloe. Not seeing her, he was relieved. Last night had him so bogged down he could barely pay attention to anything his dad or Teddy said. Until they'd started grilling him about her. And then Deirdra had overheard and glared at him before turning to go back into the house. His whole family was ganging up on him. They loved Chloe. Already.

That only made the turmoil inside him worse. Yesterday, the whole day, and last night had been so perfect. He could fall in love with her. That thought had come to him after they'd gone to bed together. And it's what drove him out of her bedroom. He was so tangled up
over her that he had to get away. Run. Chloe knew that. The way she'd looked at him this morning told him. It had also hit him with guilt. His turning away had hurt her.

Every time he thought about talking to her, he recoiled. Talking to her might lead to more of what had occurred and that was already too much. Best if he ended it now, before things really got out of control. Before she wrapped her heart around his and then left when he least expected it. Maybe if they hadn't slept together so soon he wouldn't feel like this. It was happening too fast. Relationships like that never lasted, and he didn't want a relationship. This had gone as far as he was willing to go.

Hanging up his jacket, he moved into the living room. His mom stood there with Deirdra, her arms folded and her face in an angry frown. Deirdra just looked smug. Like she was saying,
You're in for it now.

His dad and Teddy hung up their jackets and stood beside him.

“What's this all about?” his dad asked.

Mason looked again for Chloe.

“She's gone,” his mom said.

“Who?” Teddy asked, but Mason could tell he had a good enough idea. It was more disbelief that made him ask.

Disbelief that mirrored his own. “Where'd she go?”

“Away from you,” Deirdra said.

Fear that had nothing to do with his heart flared into a raging flame. “What? Where is she?” He put his jacket back on. “You let her go?”

“She didn't want to spend another second around you,” his mom said. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her so upset. “You bring a nice girl into this
home and then you dare to treat her with anything but respect? I'm ashamed of you.”

That pierced him. “Mom. There's a criminal on the loose who saw her with me.”

Deirdra gasped and his mother's face paled.

“Forget about that.” As angry as his mother had been, she'd gotten careless. “Where is she?”

“CC took her into town. I told her to take her to the apartment above Hank's.”

Mason didn't wait. He dug into his coat pocket for the rental keys.

“I'll go with you,” Teddy said.

“So will I.” His dad followed.

Teddy he'd take, his dad, no. Mason stopped him with a hand on his chest. “You stay here with the girls.” If anything happened, there'd be someone here to protect them. At least, that's what he wanted his dad to think. The truth was, Teddy knew what he was doing. His dad didn't.

Karl nodded. “Good thinking.”

“We'll call you as soon as we find her and CC.”

 

“How much is this going to cost?” Chloe spun in a circle inside the cute two-bedroom apartment. Two bedrooms! And it was furnished like a cottage and a dream.

“Rent's paid through the end of March,” The balding owner of the gift shop downstairs said. “Last tenant had to move in a hurry. You pay a five-hundred-dollar deposit and the utilities and we'll call it square. After that, we'll talk.”

Chloe glanced over at CC with a big smile.

“Looks like everything but Mason is going your way.”

With the mention of Mason, Chloe's cheer fell flat. Hank handed her a key and she gave him cash. She'd need to find a bank to deposit her severance check.

“Bevy said you're good with greeting cards.”

“Yes. I'm looking for a place to sell them.”

“I'll give you a few names. The distributor I work with will be able to help you.”

“Thank you.” That was what she'd been missing in Chicago. Connections.

Hank left and Chloe put her luggage on the bed in the master bedroom. When she came back out, CC had her car keys in her hand.

“I better get back. Mason's probably blown a gasket by now.”

“Hmm.” Good. He needed a few gaskets blown.

A series of thumps interrupted them. Chloe went to the door and opened it, peering down the stairs that led both outside the back of the shop and into the shop itself. Hank lay at the bottom. Too late, she saw a man standing adjacent to the door at the top. His shaved head gave her a jolt of recognition. His eerie gray eyes sent her into fight mode. Axel. Leaping in front of the doorway, he kicked the door and shoved her, sending her falling backward.

CC screamed.

Axel tackled Chloe before she could position herself to fight. Then something hard hurt the side of her head.

“Get up.”

Staring up into pale gray eyes, Chloe nodded. His dark, thin mustache looked drawn on.

While pointing the gun at her, he said to CC, “Move and your friend is dead.”

Her frantic breaths revealed her panicked state. Chloe
wished she wouldn't give this dirtbag that much power. When the time was right, they'd fight back.

Axel wanted Mason, not her and CC. He wouldn't do anything too terrible until he lured his enemy. She tried to communicate something to that effect to CC, but CC was too frightened right now.

“Both you girls are going to go down those stairs and out the back door. I got a car out there. You'll get in, and you…” He jabbed Chloe's forehead with the gun. “You're going to drive.”

“Just take me. Leave her,” Chloe said. “You don't need her.”

“Shut up. Move.”

“You don't need her. I'll go, but leave her.”

Drawing back the gun, he hit her temple. CC screamed again while Chloe tripped and corrected her balance. She debated whether to fight him then. He swung his aim to CC and that stopped her.

“Scream again and I'll shut you up for good,” Axel said. “Now go out the door ahead of us.”

Trembling, CC backed away instead.

“Now!”

She looked terrified as she sought Chloe's eyes.

“It's okay, CC,” Chloe said. “Do what he says.”

Stumbling, CC went through the door. Chloe followed with Axel changing the position of his gun to her kidney.

Down the stairs, CC whimpered as she stepped over Hank's body. Chloe saw his chest moving so she knew he was still alive. His hair was bloody, though, so he must have a head injury.

Outside, she searched for anyone who might be able to help them. The back alley was empty and likely sparsely traveled in this small town. She could see the
street from here but no cars passed. It was cold. Neither she nor CC had their jackets. They were still up in the apartment.

Axel released her to grab CC. CC screamed again. “I said shut up. You hear me?”

“Please don't hurt us,” CC pleaded.

“Drive,” he ordered Chloe. She hurried to the driver's side of the dark gray sedan and got in while he shoved CC in the back. She whimpered again with fear when Axel slid in beside her, putting the gun to her head.