Beyond the Mistletoe: A Christmas Romance (Beyond Love Book 7) (13 page)

Jumping up and down and waving, I flashed my best smile and was shocked to see the truck drive right by me with the kid in the passenger seat locking eyes with me and laughing.

Seriously? I hadn’t counted on that happening. I climbed back into the car, pulled on the blanket, and continued reading.

But this time my mind wandered back to how rude that guy was. Maybe his wife was in labor at home, and he was rushing to get to her.

Yes. That was exactly what happened, and it made me feel better for thinking it.

By the time the fifth car drove right on by, I’d figured we had a pregnant woman at home, a mother who’d locked herself out of her own car and was on the verge of freezing to death, someone who couldn’t pull over and turn their car off or their own car would die, another who had the flu and just didn’t want to pass it on, and finally I let myself realize that not everyone had been filled with the Christmas spirit, and it was going to be a long afternoon. I sat in my car analyzing why I wouldn’t let myself believe that none of those people wanted to help. Why did I feel the need to come up with stories for why they didn’t stop?

Maybe I was finally returning to a more Pollyanna state after all. I’d been there once. I used to only see the good in people, but that was also how I wound up so disillusioned about my own marriage. I only saw the good, ignored the bad, and prayed for better times ahead. Too much Pollyanna only led to heartache. Being a realist had saved me from more heartache and created a stable life path.

As I sat ruminating on when the world had fallen prey to negative Nancy’s, I missed the fact that someone had pulled up behind me. Or maybe I missed it because the snow was coming down so heavy it looked like I was surrounded by one giant nimbus cloud.

Pushing off my blanket, I vowed not to get my hopes up until a sudden tap on my window alerted me to the stranger’s kindness. From the quick walk from his truck to my car, he’d been dusted with a thick coat of snow.

I quickly pushed open my door and sprang out of my car to see a glimpse of Derek’s eyes in between his knit cap and neck warmer.

“Derek,” I squealed, wrapping my arms around his neck. Pollyanna had come back in full force and taken over my body. He hugged me back and laughed.

“I had a feeling it was you, but so much snow has covered your car I wasn’t sure.” He let go and signaled for me to get back in the car. “It’s too cold and windy for what you’re wearing, get back inside and wait for my instructions.”

“Would you like a Hershey Kiss?” I asked, unwrapping the foil and popping one in my mouth.

Something didn’t taste right. The texture was completely wrong. I looked down at the foil and noticed the paper tag was missing.

Great! I’d tossed in the paper along with the chocolate kiss, and Derek was watching me with one of those earth-shattering smiles. His gaze fell to my palm, and he started laughing as I twisted my lips in disgust refusing to spit it out in front of him.

“I’m good,” he said, completely amused. “I don’t think you’re supposed to eat the paper though. Now get in the car.”

I rolled my eyes and waited for him to turn around before I spit the paper chocolate onto the ground and kicked snow over it to cover the brown blob.

“I swear you bring this out in me,” I said, nearly floating to my car as Derek secured the chain and dug out my tires before tapping on my window again. He opened my door and smiled. I couldn’t actually see his mouth with his fleece neck wrap, but I could see the smile in his eyes, and it sent me over the edge.

“I’m ready to pull you out. When I flash my lights twice, that’s when I’ll start.”

“Okay,” I said. “Thank you. I really can’t believe how lucky I am.”

“I wouldn’t call this lucky,” he joked and shut the door.

If only he knew.

In the short time since I’d jumped out of the car and hugged him, my leggings had become completely drenched and the inside of my jacket had become damp from the melting snow. I couldn’t even imagine how cold and wet he was.

He flashed his lights twice, and I turned on my car and put it in reverse. The sound of his engine revving was better than any Christmas song as he pulled me out of my predicament. He jumped out of his truck and undid the chains, placing them back in his truck before walking over to me. I felt mildly guilty for watching him work so hard, but the view was incredible, and I didn’t want to do anything to disrupt it.

“Are you always this handy?” I asked, rolling down my window.

“I am.” He nodded and stuck his head inside, pulling down his fleece neck wrap. He kissed my cheek, and my entire body lit up like a Christmas tree. “Drive slowly and carefully. I’ll be right behind you. The lodge is only a few miles up the road so theoretically the odds are in your favor.”

My cheek still felt warm from where his lips touched my skin, and all I could do was nod and grip the steering wheel.

“The odds are very rarely in my favor,” I mumbled as he climbed back in his truck, and we began on our way once more. In less than ten minutes I was following the signs and pulling into the parking lot with Derek right behind me. I spotted Gabby and Jason walking along the lodge with someone I didn’t recognize. The person was pointing at the building and talking quite animatedly. I found a spot and pulled right in with Derek parking next to me.

Ever since he came to my house and I began obsessively watching his movie, I wondered if my expectations were completely out of whack and if Derek could ever live up to the person I painted him to be? Well, I’d gotten my answer, and now I couldn’t wait to thank him in all ways. Derek was a sexy individual with a flair for kindness.

I hopped out of my car and reached in to grab my bag before sauntering over to talk to Derek.

“Wow, you’re speedy,” he said, climbing out of the truck.

“Nah,” I said, holding my bag. “You’re just moving slow because you’re so cold.”

He reached into the truck and grabbed his bag and shut the door, sliding his arm around my waist.

He bent down and kissed the side of my head, but he stopped walking and stared at my car.

“Is there a reason your car is still running?”

“Oh, my gosh.” I dropped my bag and ran over to my car and got inside, not wanting to leave after I turned off the engine.

How in the world could I forget to turn off my car? I had to get a hold of myself. Somehow, I had to gain control of my faculties around this man. Who leaves a car running and forgets?

Derek had slung my bag over his shoulder and came over to where I was hiding.

“Are you coming?” he asked. I couldn’t tell if he was amused or confused.

My shoulders sunk, and I let out a deep breath.

“Yes.” I refused to look into his eyes. Those were disorienting.

“Does that happen often?” he asked, as I honked my car to lock it.

“No. Hasn’t ever happened before actually.”

“Hasn’t happened before like the holiday porn or really hasn’t happened before,” he teased.

“Hey.” I swatted at him. “I told you that was Bodie’s doing.”

“You’re here,” Gabby hollered from across the parking lot with Jason standing next to her.

“I made it but barely.” I started to jog and quickly realized that was a bad idea.

“You two came together?” Gabby asked, completely excited as we hugged each other.

“No. We came separately, but I sort of slid off the road, and he happened to be coming by.”

“And I pulled her out,” Derek finished, setting our bags on the ground before giving Jason and Gabby each a hug.

“A knight in shining armor.” Gabby’s brow arched.

“I don’t know if I could ever be Emily’s knight. She’s got pretty high expectations.”

My mouth dropped open. How did things suddenly turn so serious?

“Well, we all know that,” Gabby said. “But what in particular highlighted that fact?”

“Her taste in porn.” He picked the bags up and carried them into the lobby while I stood standing completely speechless as Jason and Gabby held each other up laughing so hard.

I was going to kill him.

Cheeks flaming, I walked past Gabby and Jason and straight into the lobby where Derek was checking in.

“How could you say something like that?” I hissed as he took back his credit card from the person checking him in.

He turned around, and his brown eyes settled on mine as he rested his hands on my shoulders.

“How could I not?” His eyes gleamed with the familiar mischief that got him so far in Hollywood.

“I’ll get you back.”

“I think it’s only fair your closest friends be advised of your Santa fetish.” He stepped away from the front desk.

I checked in quickly, praying the front desk agent hadn’t heard, and when I turned around, Derek had already strapped my bag over his shoulder.

“What room number are you in?” I asked.

“412.”

I looked down at my room key. I was in 413.

“Did you plan this?” I dangled my key in front of him as we walked to the elevator.

“Why yes…Yes, I did orchestrate the entire thing. We might even have a shared door between the rooms.”

“Is that because my taste in movies is better than yours?” I asked, stepping onto the elevator.

“I don’t know about better but certainly eye-opening.”

“Like you haven’t seen things worse than that in Hollywood,” I teased, laughing, as the doors slid shut. “But I do think I could learn a thing or two from those elves the other day. Santa looked extremely happy.”

“So you were watching it.” Derek grinned.

“I’ll never tell.”

Chapter Twelve

Sure enough. Our rooms were connected by a door—a very solid door—that opened to another very solid door. I felt like I was at summer camp and finally got to bunk next to the boys’ cabin. Those were some fun summers sneaking back and forth between cabins in the middle of the night. But now I was an adult, and I didn’t need to sneak. So why in the world did I still think hiding was in order?

I stood in the middle of the hotel room, which looked like it belonged in the French Alps or what I’d imagine a hotel room in the French Alps would look like. Everything in the room was white but not in a cold, sleek way. The space was warm and inviting. The down-filled white comforter stood inches tall on the bed, and a white bouclé sweater throw had been draped over the end. A white marble fireplace glowed in the corner and two overstuffed chairs were placed in front of the hearth. A plush white rug was rolled out in front of it, and pale antlers framed various photographs on the wall. A set of French doors with sheer curtains led onto a balcony. The hutch that housed the television had antler pulls, and the finish matched the white of everything else. I poked my head into the bathroom and spotted a soaking tub and marble shower. I was definitely looking forward to relaxing later.

If the hotel rooms were this impressive, Gabby’s wedding was going to be phenomenal. I was really excited for her and for me getting to take part.

A knock at the door interrupted my ogling, and I trundled to greet whoever had arrived. I swung open the front door to see absolutely no one in the hallway, but the knocking persisted.

It was Derek at our shared door, and the tinge of excitement I’d harbored from earlier turned to a full-blown explosion. I quickly unlocked my door and there he stood in front of me, sexy as hell. Being sandwiched between two rooms with two very large beds was a predicament I somewhat enjoyed.

“You look awfully sexy,” I said, feeling his arms slide around my waist.

“Sexy doesn’t even touch what you’ve been doing to me,” he whispered.

“Was it all the elf talk in the elevator?” I asked, smiling.

“Maybe partially. The outfits were pretty revealing and picturing you in one...” His smile deepened as his gaze intensified.

“They were.” I ran my finger down his chest. “But I bet I have something even more revealing in my bag.”

His brow arched in surprise, and I laughed, nodding, “It’s true.”

“Are you messing with me right now because I’m not sure I can handle much more.”

“I might be. Only time will tell.” I grinned.

Derek’s hands ran up my back, and he tilted his head toward mine.

“There’s no mistletoe, and we’ve only kissed under mistletoe before,” I pointed out.

“I was hoping to push it beyond the mistletoe,” he said, bringing his mouth even closer. He was an expert at teasing me, and he held the upper hand, but I wanted to change that. I needed to change that if I was going to come out of the weekend unscathed.

“We need to set some rules,” I whispered, kissing his lips gently and taking a step back.

“Rules?” he asked, his voice low as he studied me. He slid his tongue along the crease of his lips, and my bones turned to mush as I brought my gaze back to his.

I nodded and folded my arms in front of me. “Boundaries. I never leave my car running.”

“How is that my fault, and why would that involve rules?” He took a step forward and narrowed the gap once more.

“Because you make me do things like eat partially wrapped Hershey Kisses and leave my car running while I jump out of it. You make me completely flustered.”