Chapter 7

CHAPTER

SEVEN

ALIDA

“This is hands down the best coffee I’ve ever fucking had,” I declare to the kitchen full of Fox’s family. “Oh shit, sorry!” I slap a hand over my mouth, remembering I’m supposed to be making a good impression.

“Relax, dear,” Lola, Fox’s grandma, says with a chuckle from the kitchen counter as she mixes up another batch of muffins, probably since I demolished two already. The woman has a very Betty White vibe about her, and I’m here for it. “You can’t scandalize this old broad.”

“She’s right,” Elaine, Fox’s mom, adds with a shrug as she sips on her coffee.

Grandpa Eddie doesn’t lift his gaze from the newspaper he’s reading at the kitchen table, but he answers with a wide grin. In the ten minutes I’ve gotten to know them, I already love this adorable, spunky couple. Someday, when Kayleigh’s graduated college and my life is more stable, I want a relationship like theirs.

“Where do you get this stuff?” I ask about the coffee, feeling my muscles unknot with each passing second. After waking up to the sight of Fox’s bare, tight, muscular ass on full display, I felt too antsy to wait out his shower. God forbid that man forgot a towel and came out into the bedroom dripping wet and naked. I’d have lost my damn mind and my resolve. The last thing I need is Fox Hansen figuring how much power he has over my traitorous body.

I did the only logical thing I could think to do—I snuck out of the room and sought out his unsuspecting family. I’m a natural at winning over complete strangers. Comes with the nursing territory. But Fox doesn’t know that, and I secretly hope he’ll be a tad panicked when he discovers me missing.

“Maui,” Elaine answers.

“Is it expensive?” I ask, fairly certain of the answer.

“Stupid expensive,” Elaine answers with a mischievous smile. “Just like this cabin rental.”

“Am I missing something?” I ask, looking from Elaine to Lola.

“She’s still spending Bruce’s money.”

“Bruce?”

“Fox’s late father,” Lola explains.

“It’s not from an inheritance. Bastard left all his money to his kids,” Elaine clarifies. “But I saw that coming and made sure I got a nice, cushy divorce settlement.”

“You didn’t know?” Lola asks me.

During the drive to Evergreen Pass, it never occurred to me to ask Fox about his life. Of course, I was passed out within ten minutes of hitting the road. The adrenaline rush from the auction had worn off, and I crashed so hard that I barely remember arriving. One minute Fox was parking the truck, the next I was being tucked into bed—alone.

I manage a quick shake of my head, hoping my lack of knowledge doesn’t “out” us.

“Are you surprised?” Elaine asks Lola. “It’s not like Fox liked his dad any more than I did. Why would he talk about him?”

Before I can ask a nosy question, Fox appears in the doorway. His head nearly takes out a bundle of mistletoe dangling from its frame—one of many Christmas decorations I’ve encountered in my short exploration of this mega cabin. “I see you’ve all met Alida.” He makes a beeline for the coffee pot, adding, “Go easy on her?”

“She doesn’t strike me as the delicate type,” Lola says, patting me on the shoulder as she slips another still-warm cherry muffin in front of me.

“She’s not,” Fox says, agreeing. “But you lot can be overwhelming.”

“Merry Christmas to you, too,” Elaine says, a sarcastic grin hidden by her coffee mug.

“Where’s Jazzy?”

“She and Mike took the kids to see the reindeer in town. We’re meeting up with them later.” Lola pulls out a chair, urging Fox to sit as she plates him a cherry muffin. “Say, Alida, you never told us how the two of you met.”

Fox snaps his gaze to me. If I’d been the least bit smart about this and waited out the shower, we might’ve had time to get our stories straight. But this way is much more fun. I send him a devious grin, enjoying the hint of panic it creates in those whiskey brown eyes. Serves him right for looking so damn good naked. All those tight, toned muscles and tattoos are still scrambling my brain.

“He recently found me on the side of the road.”

Fox nearly chokes on his coffee, and I grin like a fool.

“Actually, we’ve known each other for what is it, three years? Yeah, three years,” I answer, sipping innocently on my coffee. “He served overseas with my late brother.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Eddie pipes up, giving me a rare glance over the edge of his newspaper.

“Thank you.”

“Was it love at first sight?” Lola gushes.

“Hardly,” I answer with a laugh, earning a frown from Fox. Oh, this is going to be fun. “He’s been a pain in my ass from the moment we met.”

“Sounds about right,” Eddie chimes in, his words barely a mumble. His attention slips back to his paper.

“You act like I’m the only pain in the ass in this equation,” Fox says, his tone lightly defensive.

“Fox,” Elaine scolds.

“He’s not wrong,” I say. “I did tell him to go to hell the day after we met.”

“Good girl,” Lola says.

“Grandma!”

“You probably deserved it.”

“He did,” I say.

“What changed?” Elaine asks.

“A flat tire put me in a ditch, and I forgot to replace the spare after the last time it happened. Needless to say, I wasn’t going anywhere.” I glance Fox’s way, smiling as if the memory is sweet instead of just shy of a Dateline episode. “Luckily, Fox pulled up behind me instead of an axe murderer. And well, I decided maybe he deserved a second chance after all.”

“Where was your first date?” Lola asks, taking a seat at the table now that her second batch of muffins is in the oven. The twinkle in her eyes promises she’s completely enthralled. I almost feel guilty for playing this up. Almost. But then I remember Kayleigh’s tuition, and the guilt subsides. Besides, I haven’t really lied about anything.

“Some super fancy place up in the mountains. I can’t recall the name of the place. Do you, babe ?”

“Don’t recall either, sweetheart .”

“Was the food good?”

I flicker my gaze back to Fox, but his mouth is now stuffed full of muffin, and the temptation to tease is strong. After all, he’s the one who decided that I needed to play fake girlfriend. “We never did get around to eating, did we?”

He chokes, reaching for his coffee.

“You went right for dessert?” Lola asks, her eyebrows wriggling.

“Something like that,” I answer as Fox clears his airway.

“I’m a dessert before dinner gal myself,” Lola says.

“Mom!” Elaine says.

Eddie, attention still on his newspaper—has he even been reading anything this whole time? I don’t remember him turning the page once—smirks.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough, Grandma.” Fox scrubs both hands through his beard, weariness in his eyes that might be from a late night or this conversation. Maybe a little of both. “What’s on the agenda for today?”

“We’re meeting Jazzy in town for lunch,” Elaine says. “Then the littles get to meet Santa. There’s a sleigh ride. Tree lighting in town square tonight.” She looks at me. “Evergreen Pass really goes all out for Christmas. I think they’re trying to encourage Hallmark to come film a movie here.”

“You two kids joining us?” Lola asks, her tone hopeful.

“I think Alida might be tired from her late shift?—”

“Nonsense,” I say, pushing up from my chair. “I’m rested and fully caffeinated. Just need to grab a shower. This is the first Christmas I haven’t worked in three years. Fox insisted I take some time off. Didn’t you, babe?” He shoots me a quick glare, and I swallow a laugh. Serves him right. This is his favor , after all. I’m just playing the part. “I love the holidays. Bring on all the Christmas!”

Fox pushes up from his chair, practically chasing me as he says, “The hot water is tricky. I better show you.”

“I’m sure I can figure it out,” I say, facing him in the doorway, challenging him with my unwavering stare. He’s probably panicking, afraid I’ll blow our cover if we spend all day in town with his family. Or maybe he’s a total Scrooge and doesn’t want to be inundated with all the Christmas festivities. Either way, I’m not letting him get out of any of it.

“Just let me show you.”

“I got it,” I say, jabbing a finger into his hard chest. Realizing for the first time how narrow the doorway is and how close our bodies are mashed together. My gaze flickers to his lips, and dammit if it doesn’t remind me of last night. What is it with this man and doorways?

“Do you know where you two are standing?” Lola coos.

Shit . I look up to find the bundle of mistletoe dangling overhead. I knew I’d have to kiss Fox eventually, but I thought I’d have some time to gather my composure before that happened. To make sure all images of his delicious naked ass have evaporated from my brain. Who am I kidding? It’s permanently etched there.

“Well, sweetheart?” He hooks a finger playfully beneath my chin, tilting my face upward.

“Who came up with this anyway?” I ask.

“Who knows?” he says, his voice low and gruff. “But it’s probably bad luck to not follow tradition, right?”

My gaze returns to his lips, wondering if I’ll finally get to taste them this time or if it’ll be another tease. “After all the shitty luck I’ve had, I can’t really afford a holiday curse,” I say, grabbing the open edge of his flannel shirt to keep him from backpedaling.

“The mistletoe will be dead before you two finally get around to smooching,” Lola calls.

I hardly get out a laugh before Fox’s lips press against mine. Chaste, purposeful, and boring. He pulls back with a loud, dramatic smack . I’d be disappointed, but the silent war dancing in his whiskey brown eyes suggests he’s holding back on purpose.

For the first time, I’m annoyed that he was ever friends with Brett. Without that complication…

“That’s all you got?” Lola pouts. “I’m starting to highly doubt that first date story. Dessert, my ass.”

“Fox is just a little shy, aren’t you babe?”

“The fuck I am,” he mumbles, only loud enough for me to hear him. Before I can give him any more shit, he cups my cheek with deliberation and goes in for a second kiss. One that is nothing like the first. It’s aggressive, passionate, and dizzying. As though a hunger’s been unleashed between us. As though we’ve kissed a thousand times before, our lips and tongues moving in perfect rhythm.

I melt into him, lost in the sensation of his intoxicating kiss. Wetness pools between my legs as a tiny whimper escapes my throat. I recall his claim about making me come with one single flick of his tongue.

I didn’t believe him—until now.

“Get a room,” a male voice booms, clapping Fox hard on the back. The son-in-law, I suspect.

“That’s more like it,” Lola cheers.

“I’m going to grab that shower,” I say to the room, patting Fox on the chest before I sprint to the bedroom and lock the door behind me.

What the fuck was that ?