Some Kind of Wonderful: A Holiday Novella (The Cupcake Lovers) (3 page)

“You’re not going to tell me what happened?”

“No.”

“Ever?”

“Why are you in Sugar Creek, Maya?”

“Your aunt thought you could use some cheering up.”

“Is that why you brought Giselle?”

“She sort of insisted. She’s smitten with you.”

“She’s hot for a soldier.”

“She’s hot for the man,” Maya snapped, getting fired up again. “What? You think she’ll be turned off because of your injury? Because of the cane? I’m not.”

Zach shifted his weight, rattled once again by a new twist in his relationship with Maya. Something that hadn’t been there before. Sexual awareness. He’d felt it in the kitchen when they’d hugged. He felt it now. It was stimulating … and unwelcome. With that carnal appeal came a sense of deep caring. This was Maya after all. Zach wasn’t ready to care for anyone like that. Not now. Maybe not ever. “We should join the party before someone comes looking. You want Aunt Helen to know about our secret snack hidey?”

“Like we’re going to sneak snacks at our age.”

Zach cocked his head and forced a playful smile. “You never know.”

“You’re not going to tell me how you got hurt, are you?”

He shook his head.

“Because you think I can’t take it?”

Images flashed in his brain. Memories. Feelings. “No one should have to take it.” Zach gripped the handle of his walking stick and pushed to his feet.
Never saw it coming,
Ben had said.

Zach felt the same way about Maya.

He held her green gaze a charged second before holding out his hand and then pulling her to her feet. “How about you introduce me to Giselle?”

Chapter Four

Maya had been to some parties from hell in her eight years as a party facilitator, but this one took the cupcake. Instead of enjoying the opportunity to catch up on everyone’s lives, she’d smiled and nodded, remembering to respond occasionally, wishing she were anywhere but here. Anyplace where she wouldn’t have to watch Zach and Giselle getting to know each other. He was sinfully handsome. She was knockout gorgeous. Physically they made a stunning pair. More than one person had commented to Maya on
that
fact.

How wonderful that your friends became pen pals.

You were sweet to fix them up.

How thoughtful to bring her along.

Now there’s a girl to put a hitch in Zach’s hitched step.

And from Daisy Monroe:
Those two would make beautiful babies.

It’s not that Maya didn’t want Zach to be happy. It’s not that she doubted Giselle deserved someone as wonderful as Zach. It’s that Maya felt robbed.

Yes, it had been Giselle’s picture he’d drooled over. What man wouldn’t admire G’s exotic beauty and voluptuous curves? But the letters … those letters had been infused with Maya’s heart, wit, and affection and, at Giselle’s prodding, a couple of Maya’s sexual fantasies. If Zach was truly enamored with his “pen pal,” then Maya was at least half the reason.

“Your friend is as loveable as you are,” Helen said to Maya as Zach ushered the dark-haired bombshell out the front door. “I’m so glad you brought her along. She’s good for Zach.” The older woman squeezed Maya’s waist. “As are you. Why did you beg off when they invited you to join them for a drink?”

“Not keen on being a third wheel.”

“You could never be a third wheel with Zach.”

If Helen only knew about the “threesome” letters. “Are you sure about Giselle and me staying here?” Maya asked as a way of diverting the conversation. “I did book us a room at the Pine and Periwinkle.”

“We have plenty of space,” Helen said. “Even with Zach here. Don’t insult me, Maya.”

“Not in a million years. Of course we’ll stay. Thank you, Helen.” Maya hoped her smile looked sincere, because she was seriously faking it. She’d never been so confused in her life. Her insides had gone all squishy the moment she’d seen Zach. When he’d hugged her, she’d ached with ravenous desire. When they’d hidden in the pantry, even though she’d been angry with him she’d had some wicked inappropriate impulses. Inappropriate because she and Zach were friends. Longtime friends. Platonic friends. And because he and Giselle—who was also Maya’s friend—had a mutual thing for each other. Oh yeah. Maya was the third wheel big-time. Zach and Giselle were headed for the Sugar Shack. Sugar Creek’s most popular bar and restaurant. They’d slam back a few drinks, play a game of darts or pool. Zach could play parlor games with a bum leg, right?
Right.
As for Giselle … she’d be all over that. Liquor and competition. Bring on the adrenaline. Zach would respond to her charisma and beauty, her unabashed sexuality. They’d hook up in the bathroom or his rented car or, criminy, maybe back in his room.
Or not
. Maybe Maya’s imagination was running amok. But they were smoldering and inevitable and Maya wanted to stab a fork in her eye.

Okay. Maybe not anything that extreme, but Maya was definitely on edge. Nerves stretched. Festive spirits challenged. Desperate for distraction, she’d helped Helen clean up after the party. Then she’d sat in front of the cozy fireplace with Helen and Daniel, listening to Christmas carols while catching up on Sugar Creek gossip, then sharing her own latest adventures via Cupcakes & Dreamscapes. At long last they broached the topic uppermost in their minds.

Zach.

“All we know for certain,” Daniel said, “is that he’s been retired from the military for medical reasons.”

“And that he’s considering staying on here in Sugar Creek,” Helen said, “although I’m not sure what he’d do.”

“I think he should look into a position with the SCPD,” said Daniel. “He’s more than qualified to be a law official.”

“Won’t there be physical requirements?” Maya asked. “What about his limp?”

“He says he’s going to conquer it,” Helen said. “I’m more worried about his state of mind. He tries to hide it, but he’s broody.”

“Zach’s wrestling with something,” Daniel said. “That’s for sure.”

“Maybe if we contacted his spotter.” Ben and Zach had worked as a team for the last three years. Maya didn’t know Ben and had never corresponded with him, but she knew the two men were tight. “I’ll look into it,” she said, not wanting to put any more pressure on Helen and Daniel, especially since tomorrow was Christmas Eve.

Later that night, dressed down in loungewear and hunkered on her bed with her laptop, Maya was sick-to-her-stomach sorry she’d pried.

*   *   *

Zach returned to his aunt and uncle’s house just before eleven. The house was dark except for the Christmas tree lights that were set to go off at midnight via a timer. Helen and Dan usually crashed around ten, so Zach wasn’t surprised by their absence.

He was, however, shocked to find Maya in the downstairs bathroom hugging the porcelain throne. Concerned, he barged in even though she told him to
go away
. “What’s wrong?”

“Sick.”

“I can see that.” He shut the door behind him and ambled to the sink.

“Hello? Privacy?”

Her raspy voice echoed in the bowl and tugged at Zach’s heart. He soaked a washrag with cold water, wrung it out, then swept aside her hair and pressed the cool compress to the back of her neck. She wretched once again and he smoothed a hand down her arched back. He’d seen her like this before and he had to wonder. “What upset you?”

“Food.”

“Something you ate?”

She nodded, flushed the toilet, then reached around and nabbed the rag, wiping it across her mouth. “This,” she croaked as she slumped back against him, “is mortifying.”

“I’ve seen you puke before.”

“Thanks for the reminder.”

Zach held her steady while she caught her breath. Yeah. He’d seen her like this on various occasions, but almost all of those instances had been triggered by an emotional response to an ugly situation, not bad food. “Did you eat too much or was something tainted?”

“What is this? The Inquisition?”

“Not nearly as gruesome.”

She pushed away from him, then pushed to her feet. She swung to the sink and washed her face, brushed her teeth. She opened the medicine cabinet.

“What are you looking for?”

“Pepto? TUMS?”

Zach dipped into his jacket pocket and passed her a half-used roll of antacids. His own stomach had been giving him fits for weeks. “Want some ginger ale?” he asked as she popped two tabs of the chalky white stuff.

She shrugged. “Okay.”

“Meet me in the living room.”

Zach’s mind raced as he leaned on his walking stick and hurried (as much as he could) into the kitchen. There was nothing sexy about a woman hurling in the toilet. Yet he’d been more attracted to Maya in the last five minutes than he’d been to Giselle in the last five hours.

Giselle—exotic perfection.

Maya—a sweet mess.

As if life weren’t complicated enough, Zach was confused by his reaction to both women. He’d spent months lusting after Giselle, albeit long-distance. In person, there’d been no spark at all. Yet he was suddenly and intensely hot for Maya, his longtime platonic friend.

Zach filled two tumblers with ginger ale, then eyed the walking stick he’d propped against the counter, gauging his ability to carry two glasses one-handed. “Screw it.”

Leaving the stick behind, he made his way to the living room. He wouldn’t win any trophies for a sexy swagger, but he didn’t falter or spill their drinks.
Oorah,
he thought. Which made him think of the Marines. Which made him think of Ben.

Damn.

Maya had been pissed when Zach had refused to let her in on why he was no longer military. Had she investigated on her own? Snooped around online?

Hell.

“Here you go.”

Maya, who’d curled into the corner of the sofa, reached out and took her glass. “Thank you.”

“Sure.” He knew she’d watched him limp into the living room. It was hell on his pride, but he’d just seen her hugging the toilet. Maybe that made them even. Funny that it made him smile. He hitched back his jacket and sank next to Maya. Ignoring the pain in his leg, he focused on the twinkling lights adorning the massive tree. “Every year Uncle Dan buys the biggest spruce he can find and Aunt Helen still has two to three boxes of untapped decorations.”

“I think it’s sweet that she’s collected so many ornaments over the years. And there’s a story behind each one. I was telling G…” Maya’s gaze flicked toward the garland-laced stairway. “Where is she anyway?”

Zach tensed. “Giselle’s still at the Shack.”

Enjoying the lively atmosphere and the attentive company of the popular pub.
Without him.

“You abandoned her?”

“You know me better than that.” He always left with the girl he came with. When he was a young boy, Zach’s mom had drilled a lot of things into his head. Good manners and being respectful of women topped the list.

Maya sighed. “I know G, too. I’m guessing she wanted to party after hours and you didn’t. I’m guessing she made fast friends with a few people and told you not to worry, she’d find a ride home or call a cab.”

“Adam Brody offered to see her home. He’s a good guy.” Adam was also tight with Nash Bentley, a local pilot and a trusted acquaintance of Zach’s. Nash, who’d been drinking beer on the next bar stool over, had heard Giselle giving Zach a kind but definite brush-off. After, Nash had nudged Zach, assuring him that the woman was safe with Adam. “I’m not worried,” Zach said honestly. Otherwise, he would have hung out even though he’d been jilted. “Giselle said she’d text you.”

“She probably did. My phone’s upstairs.” Maya shifted, looking increasingly uncomfortable as she sipped her soda. “I can’t believe G blew you off.”

“She wasn’t rude about it and I don’t blame her.” After two games of pool he’d grown tired of the jovial company. Even after three beers, he’d still felt wound tight. Everyone else, including Giselle, had grown more animated and talkative as the liquor flowed and the night stretched on.

Not Zach.

He’d been withdrawn whereas Giselle was all about cutting loose.

“We’re in two different places,” he said.

“Did you click at all?” Maya asked without meeting his gaze.

“Not like I thought we would.” They’d spent the first hour talking about Maya. How they’d both met her and how their friendships had evolved. At one point Giselle had mentioned how Maya had seemed distracted and even a little melancholy this past year, which Zach couldn’t imagine because Maya was the most focused and intense optimist he’d ever known.

He’d been shocked to learn Maya rarely dated although she’d had an on-again, off again relationship with a real-estate agent who was crazy about her. Some even-keeled, benevolent dude named Charlie. Successful and nice, according to Giselle, but boring. Which meant the man was grounded and played life safe, which meant he was perfect for Maya. So why hadn’t they hooked up on a more permanent basis? She was definitely the marrying kind. The happily ever after, white picket fence, and kids kind. Was Charlie waffling on committing? Was Maya hung up on him? Hence their on/off history? If that was the case then Charlie was an imbecile. Every man should be lucky enough to have a girl like Maya Templeton.

They may have only corresponded sporadically over the last several years, but Zach had known Maya his entire lifetime. She was sunshine and rainbows, everything bright and hopeful, everything good, which was maybe why he’d never gone out of his way to visit with her, even when he was furloughed. She’d said he was always welcome, but stepping into her cheery, dewy-eyed world took him out of his comfort zone. Her name alone had reminded him of things he’d missed, things he’d chosen not to pursue, a home he’d left. She represented the innocent time in his life, something quickly gone once he’d shipped out. He’d chosen that solitary path, and as long as he’d known he was protecting people back home, good people like Maya, it was all worth it.

Except now he was back and Maya was in his face. In his blood. One hug, one punch in the shoulder, and she’d sparked a sexual yearning that raged stronger by the hour. Zach had felt uncomfortable prying Giselle for deeper details regarding Maya’s feelings for that real-estate agent, so instead he’d subtly pumped Giselle for updates on Maya’s life in general, although maybe he hadn’t been subtle at all. Giselle’s attention had started to drift to the plasma screens and pool table, and Zach had scrambled to turn his focus back on her.