Jingle Spells (19 page)

She'd be lying if she said the heat that flared inside his eyes didn't kindle something deep in her own body. Those blazing green eyes sent a flood of tingles ripping across her skin. He could make her a puddle of mush with nothing but a glance. Had always been able to get to her like that.

At one time she'd seen her response to him as a weakness. Another power that tied her irrevocably to him and made her vulnerable.

Now she recognized it for what it was. The kind of physical connection that was rare in the real world.

“I don't know about you, but I'm not willing to ignore it.”

Pushing away from the door, he stalked across her office. Spinning her chair, he planted his hands high on the arms, caging her in.

“I can't keep my hands off you, Elle. And I'm tired of trying.”

Tipping her chair backward, he let the springs take her off center. Her feet left the floor, and the world felt like it was falling out from beneath her.

The hard length of his thighs bracketed her own. She stared up at him, unable to do anything else. Her heart thudded desperately against her ribs.

Licking her tongue across her lips, she watched as Dash groaned. His eyelids slid closed. A pained expression crossed his face, and his entire body shuddered as if he'd been punched in the gut.

When his eyes opened again she was the one gasping. Heat and savage need filled her, spilling over her in a shower of sparks. No man had ever looked at her that way—not even Dash when they'd been together before. Now he looked as if his world might end if he wasn't buried deep inside her within the next sixty seconds.

All the doubts she'd been harboring fled, at least for the moment. How could she think about anything else?

Never in her life had she felt so beautiful and perfect and...necessary.

Fisting her hand in his crisp white shirt, she wrapped her legs around his hips and used her leverage against him. She jerked and had him tumbling against her body. The chair creaked in protest, but she didn't care. Not when his hot mouth found her and seared a path up her throat.

He was crushing her, but she still wanted him closer. She couldn't breathe and felt a little light-headed.

They tore at each other's clothing. She shoved his half-opened shirt away from his chest and leaned up to sink her teeth into his shoulder. He grunted and then groaned when she licked the tiny dents she'd left behind.

“Wicked little hellcat,” he breathed, retaliating with a nip at her earlobe.

She laughed, the effervescent sensation bubbling up through her chest.

His hand was slipping up her thigh, pushing it relentlessly toward her waist. She was panting. Desperate. Her body raw and aching.

The door burst open behind them.

“Holy shit,” someone said.

Instincts and training kicked in before Noelle's brain could pause long enough to consider what was happening. With a heave of her body, she shoved Dash away from her. Her hand was at her side and the gun from her holster pointed at a wide-eyed Cole before she could blink.

“Holy shit,” he said again, holding up his hands in the universal sign of surrender. His eyes were wide, but mirth glittered dangerously inside them anyway. For the briefest moment, Noelle contemplated the merits of shooting him. Not to hurt, just to wipe the knowing smirk off his face.

However, she was intelligent enough to realize firing on her boss wasn't smart, not even if he was her pain-in-the-ass ex-brother-in-law.

She watched his eyes travel from the dark barrel of her gun down to the man lying at her feet.

Dash's bemused expression would have been comical if it wasn't also accompanied by an edge of irritation. She wasn't sure whether it was directed at her or at his brother. Probably both.

Holstering her weapon, she held out a hand to help him off the floor. She realized her mistake about five seconds too late.

Instead of bringing them palm to palm, his hand slipped higher, wrapping tight around her wrist. And it was his turn to tug. She probably could have stopped it, although not without possibly hurting him.

She sprawled against him, sending them both collapsing to the floor. His hard body cushioned hers, absorbing the shock and giving her a safe place to land.

One hand tangled in her hair while the other clamped around her hips, holding her hard against his still aroused body.

“What do you want, Cole?” he growled without taking his eyes off her.

“Uh...” Cole shifted behind them. She couldn't see him, but could hear the scrape of his feet against the deep green carpet.

“You have about sixty seconds before you're going to get an eyeful you probably don't want,” Dash warned.

“Never mind,” Cole finally said.

“Smart man.” How could eyes smolder and twinkle at the same time? Noelle had no idea, but somehow Dash managed to pull it off.

Before the door to her office could close, Dash said, “By the way, your head of security is taking the rest of the afternoon off. And so am I.”

There was a pause. Noelle felt it more than heard it, could practically taste the tension wafting off Cole.

“Whatever, man. I hope you know what the hell you're doing.”

She tried not to let the disapproving edge in his voice bother her. But it did. Cole didn't approve of what was going on between them. But then, what was new?

While none of the Evergreen family had ever said anything, there were plenty in the Winter clan willing to voice their dissatisfaction with the match. Dash was an Evergreen and could have any girl he chose.

No one wanted him with a half-Summer witch.

She tried again to scramble away, but his hold hadn't loosened. Cole was long gone when Dash leaned forward and whispered against her cheek, “I know exactly what I'm doing.”

Chapter 5

D
ash had spoken some big words. Now he just hoped he could back them up. He'd stormed away from Noelle and his hot shop last night, furious and hurt all over again. It had been a defense mechanism easily deployed. But the moment his temper boiled away only misery was left.

He couldn't do it. For months he'd been walking around this place trying to pretend it wasn't killing him to see her, talk to her, smell her damn perfume whenever he walked down the hallways. It was a lie, and it wasn't getting him anywhere.

It certainly wasn't saving him the agony.

And touching her, tasting her, losing himself deep inside her again only made it worse.

Somewhere in the early morning hours he'd realized he had no intention of making this easy on her. She wanted him, responded to him, just as fiercely. He was going to use every weapon in his arsenal to convince her she belonged with him, with her clan.

And he wasn't above engaging in a few dirty tactics, namely of the physical variety. He hadn't been completely kidding when he'd threatened to handcuff her to his bed naked. If he wasn't half-convinced she'd know how to escape...

His body was still humming from the frantic release they'd found together on the floor of her office. It hadn't been nearly enough. The next time they were together it would involve a bed and uninterrupted hours that he'd use to explore all of her.

However, when he'd whispered that plan in her ear she'd gone from pliant to ramrod-straight in his arms. The afterglow hadn't lasted long before she was shoving him away again and ordering him out of her office. She had too much to do to leave right now.

He'd wrung a compromise out of her. They'd have dinner alone together in his apartments.

Which meant he had hours to fill until then. Striding through the enchanted tunnels that led from the lower levels of Evergreen Industries up the mountain to the lodge and elf village, Dash turned a corner and came up short.

Gabriel Frost was hunched over, his wide shoulders practically bowed halfway to the floor.

Dash's first instinct was to rush forward and help the man. The last thing he wanted was to tell Noelle her father had suffered another heart attack. But his brain quickly dismissed the fear as his eyes registered just what he was seeing.

Three elves huddled close to the man. Dash recognized them immediately. They were part of Gabriel's trusted team. No, they were part of Noelle's trusted team. What the hell were they doing powwowing with her father in the tunnels?

Sensing something was off, Dash slowed his steps and hid in the shadows.

“There are no problems?”

“You mean aside from Kris's midlife crisis, Merry's snit, Cole's hacker discovering our secret and Ethan going toe-to-toe with Lark DeWynter on television?”

Gabriel sighed, his shoulders lifting as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “But those issues have all been handled. Well, all except Kris and Merry, but that will run its course eventually.”

One of the elves grunted. “Kris is demanding he take the Corvette instead of the sleigh.”

The three glanced at each other, exchanging the kind of look that carried the weight of shared agreement.

“When are you coming back, sir? Noelle is struggling. She's had trouble with several of her spells, although so far she's been able to hide it. But that can't last forever. And when the Evergreens learn she isn't capable of performing the job...” The tiny voice trailed off ominously.

“Not yet,” Gabriel growled. “She isn't ready to admit this is where she belongs. Until she is, she'll leave again the minute I return to my duties. I won't let her do that.”

Dash gasped, the full extent of what was going on finally hitting him.

All four heads jerked around, the shadows not strong enough to hide him from their direct gazes.

The three elves shrunk backward, dropping their eyes to the ground.

Straightening from his slump, Dash moved into the light. Grasping for the mantle of authority laid across his shoulders at a young age, he strode forward.

Sweeping the three with a heavy stare, he said, “What kind of trouble is she having?”

One of them stubbed his toe into the packed ground, his mouth tightening in the kind of sealed line that indicated he wasn't saying a damn thing. Dash appreciated the man's loyalty to Noelle, although it wasn't helpful at this precise moment.

The other two exchanged a glance. Through silent agreement, one stepped forward. “They're minor issues. We thought at first it was simply because she'd been away from us for so long and needed to get reacquainted with her power. But it's been several months, and she's still having issues.”

Frowning, Dash murmured, “The cocoa.”

The elf nodded.

“Thank you for telling me.” Thinking back over the way she'd cloaked the car yesterday, that ball of energy and light erupting from her core, maybe what had been holding her back would no longer be an issue. But just in case...

“I saw her cloak an entire car yesterday. Whatever happened before, I don't believe there'll be any more problems. Since that's the case, I'm going to keep this information quiet.”

Dash didn't miss how their shoulders slumped with relief.

“However, if there are any issues, I want your promise you'll come to me immediately.”

“Yes, sir,” they said in unison.

“Excellent. You may return to your duties.”

Without even a nod, the three disappeared.

Alone, Dash swung his gaze over to Gabriel's. He half expected to find Noelle's father cringing just as the elves had been. He should have known better. Gabriel hadn't risen to head of security by cowering. He'd been a trusted friend and colleague of Dash's own father and often an adviser to the Evergreen children as they'd stepped in to take the reins when their parents had retired.

However, the man would find intimidation tactics that had worked on Dash as a teenager no longer carried any weight.

“What do you think you're doing, Gabriel?” he finally asked.

The older man's mouth firmed with determination. “Whatever I need to to keep her here. If you'd taken better care of her eight years ago she never would have left.”

The blow was meant to hurt, and it definitely hit the mark. Especially after Dash's conversation with Noelle last night and realizing she'd been scared and upset and bruised. By him.

Gabriel visually braced for an argument, but Dash had no intentions of giving it to him. “You're right.”

The other man's mouth opened, but before words could tumble out he snapped it shut again.

His ex-father-in-law studied him for several moments before jerking his head up in silent agreement. “So, what are you going to do?”

“Let me just make sure I understand what's going on first. I'm going to assume you're medically cleared to come back to work?”

Gabriel nodded again, his jaw going rigid beneath the white fuzz of his beard.

“When?”

Gritting his teeth together, he said, “Six weeks ago.”

Something twisted deep inside Dash's belly. If Gabriel had told Noelle he was fine six weeks ago, none of the past few days would have happened. It made him physically ill to think he might have missed his second chance with her because he was being a blind, stubborn ass.

Blowing a calming stream of air out between his parted lips, he had to let go of the what-ifs and focus on what was in front of him.

Gabriel must have taken his shaky silence as a bad sign, because he blurted out, “Don't tell her. Don't cost me my little girl again.”

He could tell Gabriel hated himself a little for the pleading, watery tone in his voice, but Dash didn't really blame him. If their roles were reversed, he'd most likely be the one begging.

He had two choices. March back up to her office, tell her and possibly watch her walk away again. Or let Gabriel continue to deceive her. Just for a little while. Until he had enough time to convince her this was where she belonged. With him.

It had already been six weeks. What could a few more days hurt?

As much as the weight of it settled over him like a tiny burr beneath a reindeer saddle, there was really no question what his decision would be.

Licking his lips, Dash said, “I don't want to lose her either, Gabriel. I still love her.”

He brought his own eyes up to meet his ex-father-in-law's steady, understanding gaze.

“I know you do, son,” Gabriel said.

“We're having dinner tonight. With a few more days I might be able to convince her to stay no matter what.”

“So we won't tell her.”

* * *

It had been three days since the afternoon in her office. She and Dash had spent more time together in those three days than the last three weeks of their marriage. Even when she was working he was constantly finding reasons to find her.

And she was doing the same thing. Popping over to the barn pretending to do a security check. Her favorite place to catch him was still the hot shop. There was just something mesmerizing about watching the man work. It was the only time he was completely...himself.

She knew he enjoyed his job with Evergreen Industries and took his responsibilities for the Winter clan seriously, but those things weren't his passion.

As much as she tried to just let things unfold the way they should, Noelle couldn't quite shake the tension that was steadily building deep inside her.

She was falling for him all over again. Which wasn't exactly true. It implied that she'd let him go at some point, which was far from the truth. There was a piece of her that had always—and would always—love Dash.

It was too soon to worry about what would happen tomorrow or next week or three months from now. But the permanent knot lodged in her tummy didn't quite agree with the carefree attitude she was trying to adopt.

She was worried about her father, but for the first time since she'd gotten the phone call that he was ill, she was happy his recovery was taking longer than expected.

If he told her he was ready to come back to work then she'd be forced to make a decision. And she wasn't sure which one she'd make.

“Ms. Frost! Ms. Frost!” The low voice filled with panic hit long before the tiny man burst through her open office door.

Agitation turned sourly through her stomach, but Noelle pushed it away. No sense getting freaked out before she even knew what the problem was. And whatever it was, she'd handle it. She'd managed every other shit-storm so far.

The man doubled over, gasping for breath as he pressed his hands to his knees. Sucking in oxygen, he panted, “We...have...a problem.”

“I already figured that out, Roscoe. Take a deep breath and tell me what's going on.”

Shaking his head, he didn't wait for that. Grasping her hand, he began tugging. Noelle tried to resist, but the elf was damn strong. And she was wearing four-inch heels and a tight pencil skirt. She really didn't want to end up sprawled across the green carpet with her ass in the air.

So she followed, patting her side just to make sure her gun was still tucked next to her ribs.

The moment she tumbled out the main doors of Evergreen Industries it became patently obvious a gun wasn't going to help.

She wasn't the only person standing outside gaping up at the bright blue afternoon sky. And the obscenely yellow car streaking above the town like a banana.

“What the hell?” she screeched out.

Beside her, Belle muttered beneath her breath, “Fruitcake. Just...fruitcake.”

Behind her, Cole burst through the doors, Ethan and Dash hot on his heels. Dash's gaze rounded with shock before narrowing into a roiling temper. His skin flushed a dangerous shade of red, the kind of color that reminded her of the glow of his furnace. She really hoped he wasn't angry with her, although he had every right to be.

Ethan stared up into the sky and then burst out laughing. Cole shot him a cutting glare. Ethan tried to smother his reaction, but didn't quite succeed.

Cole's eyes blazed, the only sign his temper was close to exploding. Slowly, his gaze scraped across the street in front of them, which was crowded with the citizens of Gingerbread.

With a growl, he swept a cutting glare across his brothers, sister and her. Noelle felt the cold prickle of it slide down her spine like ice. “In my office. Now.”

Accepting the fact that they'd follow his order, he turned to the phalanx of elves scattered around them. “Get a communication link up to them and tell them to get their asses back down here before I shoot them out of the sky.”

No one believed he'd actually do it. That would create a bigger mess than they already had. But he was definitely pissed, and if Kris and Merry were smart, they wouldn't push him.

Everyone piled into Cole's office.

Today, instead of crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the far wall, Dash sank down beside her on the love seat. He didn't look at her, but the hand he dropped onto her knee steadied her in a way she hadn't expected. Or known she'd needed.

Squeezing, he gave her a jolt of comfort and support before pulling his hand away. Noelle drew in a deep breath, using it and the heat radiating off him to soothe her jangled nerves.

“This is a clusterfuck,” Cole muttered, leaning his head back and scraping his hands through his hair. Ever the worrier.

“It isn't that bad,” Ethan, the eternal optimist, countered.

“You're kidding, right?” Belle asked, her own voice going up into the squeaky range. “This is bad. Very bad.”

“I didn't say it wasn't bad, just not a mortal wound.”

“Weeks before Christmas,” Belle groaned. “Seriously, someone needs to knock some sense into those two. Whatever the ho, ho, holy crap is going on with them needs to stop. Now. Before they ruin Christmas completely.”

Cole rubbed his hand over his face, jumbling up his words, although not enough that she couldn't understand. “Agreed. But first problems first. What are we going to do about the entire town seeing a damn flying car?”