Bet on a Mistletoe Read online

  Bet on a Mistletoe

  By Yvette Hines

  Lorna Morgan has found herself on the road home for Christmas, dejected, defeated and dead broke. Returning to her small town where time seem to standstill was not in her goals for the future. Ending up caught in the middle of a holiday bet, stirs up past feelings and emotions, she’s not sure she can handle a second time around. She had to keep herself focused and not get distracted by a tall-frame, cerulean eyes and midnight black hair. Nothing was there for her except a plan to get herself away again.

  Richard Patterson’s Christmas just got brighter. Lorna got away from him nine years ago, but not this time. Santa has brought him a ginger coated dream and he’s ready to be the bad boy Lorna has always believed him to be. But, this time he’s going to make it his job to convince her that every thing she needed was at home with him.

  Bet on a Mistletoe

  By Yvette Hines

  TEASE PUBLISHING

  www.teasepublishingllc.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Bet On Mistletoe

  A Tease Publishing Book/E book

  Copyright© 2007 Yvette Hines

  ISBN: 987-1-60767-087-2

  Cover Artist: Kendra

  Interior text design: Stacee Sierra

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  Tease Publishing LLC

  www.teasepublishingllc.com

  PO BOX 234

  Swansboro, North Carolina 28584-0234

  Tease and the T logo is  Tease Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.

  Chapter One

  “Damnit! Damnit! Damnit!” she yelled and banged her fist on the steering wheel of her car. “Give me a break!” She stared out the window and watched smoke bellowing from her car like chimney fire.

  “Only my car would over heat in the dead of winter while it was snowing.”

  Her throat became tight and she struggled not to cry. This was not her year at all.

  Peering out the windshield, it was dark except for the beam of light from her car. She didn’t expect to see anything and she didn’t. The winding two-lane road was bare at ten o’clock at night. Twenty miles from town or the center of Carlton County and there wasn’t a soul in sight to give her aid.

  Glancing down at the thermostat gauge as the needle bobbed high, she sighed.

  The temperature was dropping fast outside, she could only hope her car would cool off quick and allow her to inch up the road until she reached her childhood home.

  Dropping her head on the steering wheel, ready to give into a gut-wrenching ‘woe is me’ she heard a tapping on her window. Her heart thumped, she couldn’t see who it was with the light dusting of snow covering the glass.

  She prayed it wasn’t some escaped criminal. Rolling the window down halfway she peeped out. A blast of icy wind greeted her, as it quickly sucked the warmth out of the car. Blinded by a wide-beam flashlight, she squinted at the shadow behind the light.

  “I saw your car on the side of the road, do you need assist…” The words drifted away. “Well, I’ll be damn! Lorna Morgan.”

  “It’s me.” Lorna still couldn’t see who was out there. Raising her hand, she tried to shield her eyes and get a glimpse of the person.

  The light moved to a different angle, and her vision was filled with the most devastating, blue eyes she’d ever seen--cerulean blue. She remembered them being sexier when viewed with midnight black hair that curved just right at the tips. “Richard Patterson.”

  “In the flesh,” he smiled. “With the steam coming up from your hood, I’d say you’re having a little bit of car trouble.”

  His strong southern lilt showered her with warmth. A sound she didn’t hear often living in D.C. “A little.” This would not have been the way she wanted to present herself in town after nine years.

  “It runs hot at times. I figure, I’ll just wait it out. As cold as it is, it shouldn’t take too long.” She hoped.

  “That’s just silly. It’s too cold to sit out here by yourself. I’ll give you a lift to your parent’s house and the car will be fine ‘til morning.”

  Unable to argue with that logic, she rolled up the window and grabbed her purse. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a ride; it all had to do with being sealed in a small space with Richard. Or Dick as he’d gone by in high school. The bad boy, with too much cockiness for any girl’s good. No one in a skirt was immune to his charm, especially not her.

  Fortifying her strength with a deep breath, she opened the car door and got out. Unfortunately, Richard hadn’t moved from his position beside her car and they now stood so close she could feel the material of his thick jacket brush the front of her wool pea coat.

  “You’re shivering. No longer used to this mountain winter?” He grasped her shoulders in his strong hands. “Why don’t you get in the truck, and I’ll get your suitcase out the car.”

  Speechless, she nodded and passed him her keys. There was no way she was going to correct Richard and tell him that her chill had nothing to do with the mountain temperature and everything to do with him. Her thick boots made a crunch sound in the snow as she walked toward his vehicle.

  Once inside she watched him move with quick efficiency. His body was a shadow in the night, but she still enjoyed the view. In high school he’d kept his body in shape by playing football and baseball.

  She wondered what he did now. Shaking her head, she chided herself, “Lorna, he was none of your business then and he sure isn’t now.”

  Opening up the back door, he slid in her matching suitcases, then jogged around the front of the car and got in.

  “Man, it’s going to be a good winter this year.” He winked at her.

  Still the charmer.

  He pulled the hat off his head, and tossed it on the dashboard. His dark hair curled around his collar and his forehead. It made her want to reach out and feel the silkiness curl around her fingers.

  She balled her hands into fists, to restrain herself.

  “I was shocked to see the snow. It’s usually just cold every year.” She confirmed, trying not to watch the movement of his body as he secured his seatbelt and shifted the truck into drive.

  “About three years ago, we got some flurries that settled but they were gone by morning. Maybe this time it will stay around long enough for the town folk to enjoy it.”

  “Hopefully.”

  “So, what made you decide to come home this year? Usually, your parents go visit you, but they said that you’d made other plans.”

  Word in Carlton County spread quickly. Everyone knew everything about everyone.

  “Maybe I wanted to surprise them.” She made the mistake of glancing at him. Those blue eyes seized her for a moment, arresting her in the dim interior, before he refocused on the road. They had searched her face, as if trying to seek out the truth of her words. There was a kindness in his gaze that touched her heart.

  Turning to the side, she stared out of the small clearing in her window and watched the dark shadows along the road.

  “That’s your right.”

  It was her right and her business. Then why did she feel the need to tell him the problems that weighed on her.

  “I’m sure your parents are going to love seeing you. Hell, I’m glad to see you. But, if you didn’t have the money I’m sure they would’ve come to you like always.”

  Her head snapped
around to face him at those words. “What? What makes you think that I don’t have money?” A dry chuckle bubbled passed her lips as she folded her arms under her breasts. It wasn’t as if she had holes in her clothes.

  “Look, Lorna, I’m not trying to be in your business. But, most people who decide to take a nine hour trip for the holiday do it with a functioning car.”

  Gritting her teeth, she said, “Anyone’s car can run hot.”

  “Especially that one. What is it, a nineteen ninety-one?” He laughed.

  “It’s a foreign car. They have a long life span. It’s like a classic.”

  “Old is what it is.”

  She opened her mouth to deny it, when he cut her off.

  “It frequently over heats, the tires are bald, the paint is more gone than there, and you have to wiggle the key so many times in the lock to get the trunk open, I thought it would break off.”

  Damn. He’d pinned her down like a donkey at a birthday party missing a tail. She drummed her fingers on her arms and sat in the car silently.

  “Not to mention all the wheels on your suitcase have broken off.”

  Closing her eyes, she tried to stave off the tears. Richard had read her so well all her feelings of shame that had followed her every mile seemed to overtake her at once.

  “Lorna, talk to me. I promise not to judge you.”

  It was a combination between the softness of his voice and the warmth of his hand on her thigh that coaxed her to open her eyes and gaze at him.

  “Oh, baby, don’t cry.” He rubbed her thigh.

  Those words made her cry. She knew she needed to talk to someone. Not wanting to burden her parents with her problems, until she’d figured out a plan. “Richard, I don’t want my business all over town.”

  His voice was gruff as he said, “I’m not a gossip. I’ll keep your confidence.”

  His thumb stroked her leg, a comforting gesture that had a totally different effect on her. Fireflies raced up her thigh and seated themselves at the crotch of her jeans. The thought that if he just moved his hand up a few inches he could palm her sex made her clit throb and juices flood her panties. Biting down on her lip, she took a deep breath in through her nose. She did everything to keep herself from wiggling in her seat or forcing his hand up to the place that yearned for his touch. The tightness in her nipples and the rapid beat of her heart reminded her Richard was not just an old friend. Her first wet dream had featured this man when she had just turned sixteen and they hadn’t stopped.

  Nothing like a good bout of sex to ease her depression. But, she’d never been in Richard’s league and nine years hadn’t changed that.

  Thankfully, he removed his hand and her mind cleared.

  “Whenever you want to talk, I’m here.”

  Not taking a moment to consider whether or not Richard was the person she wanted to reveal all to or not, she just started talking. “I got laid off six months ago. A small part of me knew it was coming. A year ago the bonuses stopped, I never saw my annual raise. All parties had ceased. I thought things would turn around, then I thought I could find another job. My roommate of three years left three months ago after she got married. Staying in the apartment alone ate into my savings and when my car needed a new transmission it took the last of it. The only money I had coming in was unemployment. Come January I wouldn’t have been able to pay my rent. So, I gave them my thirty day notice. I sold the furniture, dirt cheap, to pay off back bills and overdrawn credit cards. Yesterday, I shipped several boxes to my parent’s house. Packed up the rest in cases and drove away from my D.C. townhouse on Connecticut Ave--” her voice broke.

  Taking hold of her hand Richard held it. Neither of them said anything for a moment.

  A small amount of relief washed over her to tell someone what was going on. Over the last year her friends in D.C. had become scarce. No one wanted to be around a sinking ship.

  “You know, Lorna,” he began, “You’re not the first person ever to leave home and attempt to live out their dreams and hit a bump.”

  She shook her head. “A bump? More like a wall.” She stared down at their hands still joined. As much as she was enjoying feeling his strong hand engulfing her own, she pulled away. “Honestly, Richard, I was ashamed, which is the real reason I didn’t tell my parents.” She felt ashamed and defeated.

  As they came around the bend to her parent’s house, he pulled the truck off to the side and dimmed the lights.

  “What are you doing?” Perplexed, she stared between him and her childhood home. Her heart started to race again as she gazed out the window. It was late. Her parents would be reading by the fire or already in bed. The Christmas lights her dad hung every year lit up the house. The seven foot inflatable Santa Claus awaiting visitors on the porch.

  A click echoed in the enclosure as he undid his seatbelt and turned to her. “Lorna.”

  The southern inflection in his voice was turning her inside out.

  “Lorna,” he said again.

  She looked across the cab at him. His features were concealed by the darkened cab. “Yes.”

  “Things will work out, you’ll see. A lot of people are going through rough times now. I must say I’m glad you decided to come home.”

  “I had nowhere else to go.” Lowering her gaze, she stared at the dark shadows of her hands.

  “Where else could I have gone?”

  “Doesn’t matter. You still came home.”

  Her lips pulled up into a smile even though he wouldn’t be able to see it. “Thanks, Richard, please don’t say anything.”

  “I promised I wouldn’t tell a soul and I won’t.”

  There was a light brush along her cheek. In the darkness she didn’t see him move, and the touch had been so subtle she almost believed she’d imagined it.

  The truck lights came back up again and he pulled down the lane to the house.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to tell my folks.”

  Stopping the vehicle, he said, “You’ll figure it out.”

  They hopped out of the truck and removed the suitcases from the backseat. Richard carried both cases, while she clutched her purse on the porch.

  For the first time that night she could clearly see his face. The heartthrob of her youth had grown up to be a striking man. The boyhood charm had become genuine masculine appeal. A strong jaw and sensual lips dared a woman to lean forward and kiss him.

  Richard leaned toward her. Drawn to him, she was unable to resist him even though her mind told her the move wasn’t wise. Yet and still, her eyes began to slide closed.

  The familiar sound of the doorbell jarred her senses. Momentarily confused, she realized her mistake. Richard hadn’t been ready to kiss her at all. He was just reaching for the bell to awaken her parents.

  Shuffling could be heard through the door. Then it opened, saving her from looking at Richard and discovering whether or not he’d been privy to her faux pas.

  Her father’s stout frame filled the door. He’d once been a muscular six foot man, now he stood a little under five eleven and most of his broad chest had become a round stomach, but she loved him just the same. “Hi, Dad.”

  “Lorna, is that you?” He blinked a few times as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

  “Merry Christmas,” she cheered.

  Swinging the door wide, he pulled her into a bear hug and planted a kiss on her forehead.

  “Rebecca Jean, come here and see what the elves have dragged home.” His round, caramel colored cheeks broke into a big smile.

  She held tight to her father, as he walked with her into the house. He smelled like rum raisin bread pudding, one of his famous desserts.

  Light flooded the living room, as her mother entered from the back bedroom tying her robe. Her salt and pepper curls held back away from her face with a satin head band, her brown skin shiny with night moisturizer. “Who is it?...” Her mother’s words faded away on a gasp. “Oh, my, it’s my precious baby girl.”

  Le
tting go of her father, Lorna ran towards her mother and hugged her. This was home. Feeling the gentle pressure of her mother’s arms around her, made Lorna swallow more than once to keep from crying. Her world had tumbled down around her feet, but until this moment she hadn’t felt any peace.

  “Precious, why didn’t you call? I would’ve kept dinner warm for you.” Time had swept across her mother and aged her. A petite woman was now just as plump as she was pretty.

  “This is surely a surprise of the first degree.” Her father commented. “Richard, were you in on this?”

  “No, sir, I’m just an accessory by default.” Richard said.

  Lorna had almost forgotten Richard was still there with the excitement of seeing her parents.

  She and her mother crossed the room to the two men, still linked arm and arm. “No, ma’am, I don’t need anything, but my bed and daddy’s breakfast in the morning.”

  “You got it, baby girl.” The smile on her father’s face was more than worth the long drive.

  “Richard, can I offer you a cup of coffee or some cake? Mr. Morgan made rum raisin.” Her mother let her go for a moment to hug Richard and give him a kiss on the cheek.

  “Oh, no, ma’am. I’m headed home. I have a full day tomorrow and I’ll be needin’ my beauty sleep.”

  He received a clap on his back by her father, “Early to bed and all that jazz.”

  “Yes, sir.” Richard’s eye’s seized Lorna’s from across the room. “Well, now that you’re in safe hands, I’ll be headin’ on. I’ll make sure your car gets here.”

  “What happened to your car?” Her father looked at her, concern clouding his gaze.

  “Nothing, Dad. You know it gets a little cantankerous at times.” She waved her hand hoping her father would let the conversation drop.

  She escorted Richard to the door. “Thanks a lot.” Turning the knob she opened the door. “For everything.”

  For a moment, he didn’t say anything, just stared down into her face.

  “Anytime, Lorna.” Winking at her, he left.