A Little Bit of Christmas

by Juliana Stone

  His tongue slipped between her lips, and he kissed her deeply, hands roving her body until they settled on the gentle swell of her butt. He pulled her in even closer and felt the heat of her through their clothes.

  God, he wanted her.

  Cash tore his mouth from his, his breathing hard. She pushed him away, her chest heaving, her cheeks pink, and her lips swollen from his mouth. She tossed her boots, undid her jeans, and pulled them down her legs before stepping out of them. Next came her top. Then her bra. By the time she hooked her hands into the delicate pink fabric that barely covered the flesh between her legs, he was done.

  Now she decides to wear underwear.

  With a growl, Cash sank to his knees. He rested his head against her belly and inhaled that heady scent that was all women. He yanked on her panties, ripped them off, in fact, and she made an animalistic noise that nearly drove him insane. He grabbed her right hip and held her in place, and didn’t have to coax her to spread her legs.

  Atta girl, he thought as his fingers opened her wide. He kissed her wetness and blew on the swollen flesh, and when his tongue dove deep inside, she swore. He kissed and tugged and used his forefinger to bring her to the edge. It didn’t take long because his girl was so damn ready. Her legs were shaking badly, and her hands sank into his hair as he worked her until she shattered against him.

  Her body heaved, and she screamed her release as he picked her up and placed her on the bed. Cash was out of his clothes in seconds and had a condom in place before the last shudder left her body. He didn’t wait. He moved over Chess and, with one sharp thrust, buried himself inside her. She was tight and wet as he began to move, his eyes on hers, his hands holding hers prisoner above her head.

  There were no words. Only two bodies moving together in a dance older than time. He brought her to the edge more times than he could count, and when he finally couldn’t take it anymore, he brought them home together.

  Cash collapsed and rolled over with Chess curled into him. It was a long time before their breathing relaxed, before their hearts slowed and their minds could think.

  He held her close and kissed the top of her head, not used to the feelings that rushed through his body like blood through his veins. He felt protective, wanted, needed even, and yet none of those feeling could fit into his world. After tonight, he might not ever see Chess again.

  “Chess,” he said, his voice husky and uncertain.

  She looked up at him and shook her head. “You don’t have to say goodbye. We both know what this is.” She snuggled into him, and after a while, her breathing evened out and he knew she was asleep.

  How long did he stare at the darkness beyond the window? He had no idea, but it was long enough to feel like he’d just messed up, and that confused him.

  Cash was awake before the sun came up, that’s if he slept at all. Chess was snuggled against him. He smiled as she snored softly and turned a bit, closer still. He thought of his coming road trip, of the case and the things he needed to do. He thought about Tanesha and hoped like hell she was okay and that he’d find her and she’d reunite with her parents. He knew the odds were fifty-fifty, even if he found her. Life had a way of throwing curveballs, and not everyone was equipped to catch them.

  Usually, when he started a new case, there was a thrill at the unknown, a shot of adrenaline, but right now, with the incredible woman tucked into him like she belonged there, all he felt was…inevitability.

  He was going to leave Crystal Lake and Chess, and he didn’t know how he felt about it. The fact that he didn’t know made him feel uncomfortable.

  “Shit,” he murmured to himself. When the hell had that happened?

  Cash gently extricated himself from the bed and tucked the blankets around Chess. His hand lingered near her cheek, but he didn’t touch her. He knew if he did, he’d probably end up back in her bed. He backed away and then grabbed a shower. By the time he was dressed and ready to go, the first rays of sun shot pink and gold into the night sky. If he left now, he’d get a jump on the day and be in New York City by evening.

  He stared out the window for a few moments, thinking he should wake her and say goodbye, but hadn’t they already done that the night before? Why make things complicated? He scooped his keys off the dresser and moved toward the door. He was just about to open it when her soft voice stopped him cold.

  “If you’re ever in Crystal Lake again, I’d say you know where to find me, but I have no idea where I’ll be.”

  “Chess,” he said roughly and looked over his shoulder. She leaned on one elbow, her blonde hair tumbling forward, the bruises on her cheek now yellow.

  “You don’t have to say anything.” Chess’s lashes lowered. “Just drive safe, okay?” She rolled over and pulled the blankets back up, all but disappearing from sight.

  Cash waited a heartbeat, then opened the door and walked away from the only woman who’d ever made him pause long enough to consider all those things he should never consider. He wasn’t the kind of man to stay in one place for long. Which meant he wasn’t the kind of man who did relationships.

  He got in his truck, and when the engine roared to life, he put it in gear and never looked back.

  Chapter Twelve

  Chess eventually fell back asleep and didn’t wake until nearly noon. A miracle, really, considering she’d cried like a baby when the door closed behind Cash. She rolled out of bed, her gaze sliding over the empty liquor bottles in the garbage, along with old takeout containers and empty cigarette packs.

  Her mother’s bed was still unmade and her clothes were piled in the corner. Chess hadn’t heard a word from the woman since…

  Since the night she met Cash.

  She slowly got to her feet and took a shower. She washed her hair and then slapped lotion on her body. When she was done, she reached for her sweatpants and the big baggy sweatshirt that went with it, but then stopped, staring down at the faded gray material. It was threadbare in spots, and if it weren’t so damn comfortable, she would have tossed it a long time ago. It was her go-to outfit when she was feeling blue.

  She looked at herself in the mirror. At the bruises on her cheek and an eye that was still a little puffy. Her hair was a tangled mess, and she ran her fingers through it, eyes somber as she took in the reflection. She stared at herself until her vision blurred.

  This wasn’t her. This shell full of sadness isn’t me.

  Chess tossed aside the sweats and dug through her suitcase until she found a pair of jeans and a soft pink sweater. She tugged on camel suede boots, dried her hair, and took her time with her makeup. She had nowhere to go and only the fifty-dollar bill that had been thrown at her a few days earlier, along with two thousand in cash stashed in the top drawer of the dresser from the sale of her last Louis Vuitton bag. It was all she had, and in the grand scheme of things, it sure as hell wasn’t a lot, but she was done feeling sorry for herself. In the space of a few days, Cash had shown her that there was still joy in the world. And, more importantly, Chess could still feel it if she let herself.

  She needed a plan. For the first time in forever, she looked forward to implementing one.

  She headed back to the bathroom to brush her teeth, then applied some gloss. Stomach rumbling, she decided to go to the diner and eat, because thinking about life-changing things was always better on a full stomach. She walked out of the bathroom, humming some silly Christmas song, and smiled at the thought of seeing Ted. She knew his schedule from all those days peeking out the window and watching life pass her by. He always walked to the diner at one o’clock for lunch. Maybe today he’d let her join him.

  “What’s got you so happy?”

  She froze and saw her mother leaning against the dresser, a cigarette dangling from her mouth as she tapped her toe impatiently. Her hair was scraped back into a ponytail, the color a dull red that no longer suited a woman her age, her makeup heavy for such a bright day. She wore her winter coat, and her skinny legs were tucked into leather boots that b
elonged to Chess. There was no move made on her mother’s part to give Chess a hug. No talk of Christmas. No apology for disappearing. Hell, there wasn’t even a smile.

  There was…nothing.

  The fire in Chess’s gut slowly extinguished, replaced by the familiar ice that dulled everything.

  “You’re not supposed to smoke in here,” Chess said, walking over to her side of the room.

  “I don’t see the smoking police anywhere.”

  Chess grabbed her wool scarf and wrapped it around her neck. She spied her mom’s weekender bag. “Are you leaving again?”

  “Dave and I are going to Vegas.”

  Dave. Huh. Her mother must have won big at the local casino.

  “When are you coming back?” she asked, looking for her jacket. She asked the question, but she didn’t care.

  “I don’t know if I am. After so many winters in this place, I’ve decided I don’t like the cold anymore.” She pursed her lips. “Vegas is a dry heat, you know. It’s in the desert. Not far from the Grand Canyon.”

  “I know where Vegas is, Mom.”

  “You could do well there.”

  She frowned at her mother. “What do you mean by that? I don’t like to gamble.”

  “A pretty girl like you? No problem. You could snatch yourself up someone worth millions and take him all the way to the bank. Just give them enough to want a little more.” She sniffed. “That’s all.”

  Chess shook her head and slipped into her jacket. “I think I’ll pass, but thanks for the invite.” She didn’t bother to hide her sarcasm.

  “Don’t you get all high and mighty and act like money doesn’t matter. Or that you don’t know how to get it when you need it. Aren’t you sick of living in this dump?” Her mother flicked ashes to the floor. “You don’t have to, you know? You’re no different than me. We’re survivors, you and me. We do what we have to do. You went out with Gerald Martin the other night, and I know you came home with a nice wad of cash. More than I thought you’d get, but I guess you were worth it.”

  Chess’s pulse took off. “How’d you know about that?” When her mother smiled, Chess’s heart sank to the bottom of her boots.

  “Who do you think set up the whole thing? I know Gerald from the casino, and one night, he says to me that he’s got this dinner to go to and he’s looking for someone to stand beside him and look pretty. Someone who knows how to keep her mouth shut, and then maybe a little action afterward. Said he’d pay good too.”

  “It was Bonnie who told me about Gerald,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “I told Bonnie to call you because you’re so damn stubborn when it comes to me.” Her mother butted the cigarette in an old coffee cup.

  “You told him I’d sleep with him?” The ice inside her melted into the kind of sorrow that made it hard to breathe.

  Her mother’s eyes fell away briefly, and then she cleared her throat and shrugged. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not like you’ve never slept with a man you didn’t like before.” Her eyes narrowed. “Darlin’, your ex-husband was gay, for God’s sake. At least I picked one who could give you the world if you play your cards right.”

  Chess’s hands flew to her face, to the tender skin over her cheek. Her own mother had pimped her out. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and she swiped at them, whirling around because she would not cry in front of her mother.

  “He tried to rape me,” she said hoarsely.

  “So he likes it rough. A lot of men do.” Her mother sneered. “Men are pigs. Don’t expect anything more, Francesca. There are no happy endings for women like us.”

  “I’m nothing like you.”

  Her mother grinned. “You’re entirely like me.”

  “Get out,” she managed to say.

  “Don’t be like that, Francesca. You did well. I saw the cash in the dresser. Now you listen to me. Go out with Gerald a few times a month, and you won’t have to worry about a thing. Maybe if you’re lucky, he’ll put a ring on it and you can thank me for that.”

  Chess squeezed her eyes shut. She had nothing left.

  “I helped myself to a grand, which is the least I’m owed considering I gave you a place to stay.” She heard her mother move toward the door. “I’ll pay you back next time I see you.”

  The door squeaked opened.

  “By the way, you’ll have to cover the last month owed here.” A pause. “Or leave in the middle of the night, which is what I’d do.”

  The door closed, and her mother was gone.

  Chess stared at the wall for a good long while. Long enough for the tears to dry up. For her legs to cramp. And for her heart to hurt more than she thought possible. She moved to the dresser and opened the drawer. Her mother hadn’t even bothered to hide what she’d taken, and it was more than half. Five hundred remained of the two thousand she’d gotten for her purse.

  Merry Christmas to me, she thought.

  Anger sparked something fierce inside Chess, and she slammed the drawer shut. She needed to get out of this room. She shoved the fifty-dollar bill into the front pocket of her jeans and headed outside. She would worry about the money and a job and the fact that now she owed a month’s rent to the motel later.

  “Things will be better tomorrow,” she whispered, locking the door behind her. She stopped for a moment and stared at Cash’s door, the emptiness in her so big, she was afraid she’d drown in it. It was sobering to think that at thirty years of age, she was a washed-up has-been with no prospects and no family.

  “Hey, can you help an old guy out?”

  She turned and spied Ted waving at her.

  “What do you say?” he asked, shuffling a few paces.

  Chess nodded and headed toward him. When she reached his side, she slipped her arm through his, and they slowly walked to the diner. She waited until Ted was inside and led them to a table in the corner by the window. Joely waved from behind the counter and indicated she’d be over with coffee as soon as a fresh pot was brewed.

  “You look real pretty, Chess.” Ted winked as he sat back in his chair. “You expecting your young man?”

  “He’s gone,” she replied quietly.

  Ted’s smile faltered a bit, and then he patted her hand. “That’s too bad. I guess you’re stuck with me, then.”

  “I’m good with that.”

  “My kids should be here later this afternoon. I hope you can meet them.” He leaned closer. “Maybe he’ll be back this way.”

  Chess didn’t answer, because even though it felt as if the entire world had changed in the last few days, one thing remained the same…

  Chess Somers didn’t believe in miracles.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Cash made it all the way into downtown Crystal Lake before his cell rang. Normally, it was something he’d ignore, but the ringtone told him it was his sister, so he hit his Bluetooth button with a frown.

  “You’re calling early,” he said. “It’s barely seven in the morning.”

  “Where are you?” Blue asked. She sounded out of breath.

  “I’m downtown.”

  “Downtown where?”

  “Crystal Lake?”

  “Thank God. I wasn’t sure if you left for New York last night or not.”

  He pulled over in front of a busy coffee shop. From what he could see, every single table was taken and there was a line up to the door. It was a good call. He could use a coffee for the road.

  “I need a favor.”

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  “Cam is down and out. I thought he fell asleep last night after he took the baby up because he was tired, but he’s got the flu, and it’s not good.”

  “What do you need me to do?”

  “Well, first off, I’m out of coffee. I reached into my bin this morning for my favorite flavor, which is hazelnut, by the way, and the bin is empty. For me, that’s a thing.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Okay.”

  “But the bigger thing is that Poppy st
ayed over because we got into the wine after you left, and Cam is super sick, and I can’t leave him with the baby and she needs a lift to her store, and I’ve called the cab company, but Bill’s not picking up. She’s got some big sale on this afternoon and meeting some business guy or something around noon.”

  “Can’t you just let her take one of your vehicles?”

  “Poppy doesn’t drive.”

  A pause.

  “Can you help me out? I’ll make you breakfast if you bring coffee.”

  Cash sighed and glanced at the coffee shop. It would take him at least half an hour to get coffee, and now he he’d have to drive back the way he’d come and then to the other side of the lake. His jump on the day disappeared as quick as it had taken him to answer his sister’s call.

  But it was Blue, and she wouldn’t bother him unless she needed the help.

  “I want French toast,” he said, and then headed into the coffee shop.

  In the end, it took nearly forty-five minutes to navigate his way through the maze of folks in line. He got it, most of them were off work and had all the time they wanted to chat and whatever it was they did at a coffee shop, but he was in a hurry.

  By the time he got to his sister’s place, it was eight thirty. As soon as he walked through the door, she threw herself at him, rifling through the bag in his hand until she grabbed hold of her hazelnut pod.

  “Oh my God, I owe you.”

  Bemused, Cash shook his head as he tugged off his boots and followed her into the kitchen.

  Tawny was coloring at the table, still dressed in her purple onesie with pink polka dots. She looked up as he walked in and cranked her head. “Did you bring Chess?”

  Cash slowly shook his head and answered simply, “No.”

  Tawny’s face crumpled. “Are you going to bring her tomorrow? She promised to help me find the prince in my castle, and we didn’t have time yesterday.”

  “I’m not going to be around for a while, kiddo.” Cash knelt beside her and glanced at the picture she’d drawn. “What’s this?” he asked, trying to change the subject.