Head over Heels for the Holidays

by Jennifer Bernard

  “Well, one missing piece of information is, who’s her father? I always assumed that whoever he was, he was long gone. Kelsey was giving her baby up for adoption because she couldn’t raise her on her own. But maybe the father sent the kidnappers to grab her.” She frowned and shook her head. “No, that doesn’t make sense.”

  “Why not?”

  “They died too. They were drowned by Edgar Murchison, the trapper. If the father had sent them, why wouldn’t he have gone looking for her after she disappeared?”

  “Maybe he thought she was dead too.”

  She rubbed at her forehead in frustration. “Maybe. It just seems so strange that two couples lost their lives in this whole thing. It can’t possibly be a coincidence. I don’t believe in coincidences.”

  “They do say that strange things happen in Lost Souls Wilderness. Maybe this is one of those things.”

  She waved her hand in dismissal. “It’s definitely strange. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an explanation. Here’s what we know. Someone used Maggie as leverage against Kelsey at Aurora Lodge. They’re still watching her, even though Maggie’s in Lost Harbor now. They’re scaring away intruders. They’re protecting something, something criminal. Something lucrative. And it’s right across the bay and that scares the shit out of me.”

  He stroked her bent knee. “But the crash was fifteen years ago. Whatever it is has been going on for a long time. It hasn’t spilled over into Lost Harbor, has it? Have you had a big increase in drugs or any other crime?”

  “Not really, it’s about the same level. Which is more than I wish it was.”

  “But not worse.”

  “No. For now. But unless I know what it is, how can I protect Lost Harbor?”

  He smiled at her earnest passion. She was so devoted to her job. That was one reason why he felt Cara was safer here than in the other places they’d tried. She really was a protector instead of an enforcer.

  “Maybe it’s no threat to Lost Harbor at all. Maybe it’s all about the Aurora Lodge. Rich people stay there, right? I can tell you from living in Hawaii, rich people aren’t like you and me. They can twist the world to however they want it to be.”

  She cocked her head curiously. “How do you mean?”

  “As a paramedic I got called to my fair share of vacation mansions of the rich and famous. Mostly overdoses or weird party fiascos. Some people think they can get away with literally anything.”

  “Hm. But I’ve pretty much ruled out drugs. That’s not what’s going on.”

  “So what’s your top theory?”

  She hesitated. “I don’t want to get locked into a theory. But you have a good point about the lodge. It’s obviously a key part of this, or they wouldn’t have extorted Kelsey. And now I’m convinced the unnamed father is important too. Which is why…” She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her knees. “I have something important to ask you.”

  Her serious expression kept him from making a joke about whether it involved bath bombs or strip poker. “What is it?”

  “I just got the go-ahead from Kelsey to have a Christmas party at the lodge. I used the chance to see Maggie as a carrot. Normally they’re closed, so there won’t be any staff. I want to use the opportunity to question her and poke around out there, but with the cover of a family holiday party to throw off the surveillance. I’d need you and Cara to come. I was thinking I’d ask a few other people I trust too. Darius Boone and Nate Prudhoe and Ethan come to mind. I don’t think it would be especially dangerous—I’m not looking for a showdown—but I can’t say for sure. What do you think?”

  He blew out a breath. “This fake holiday boyfriend gig just got a lot more serious.”

  She smiled ruefully. “We’re way past fake holiday boyfriend territory. I wouldn’t ask this if I didn’t trust you so much.”

  He registered the compliment somewhere deep in his heart. “I’d come in a flash, you know me. But why do you need Cara?”

  “For Maggie’s sake. She and Maggie look like sisters. I’m hoping that will throw off the people who are watching the lodge—if they still are, even in the winter. They’ll see two blond sisters instead of one runaway girl. And they’ll be bundled up in their winter gear.”

  “I’d need to tell Cara what’s going on.”

  “Of course.” She frowned, looking offended. “Both her and Maggie need to know. Everyone does. I’m not letting anyone go out there blind. The girls will be required to stay inside at all times.”

  He snorted. “Good luck with that. Two teenage girls in a wilderness lodge at Christmas time? I predict snowmen, snowball fights, snow down each other’s backs, whatever they can think of.”

  “Yeah, I see what you mean. Maybe they can go outside if there are at least two adults with them. And I mean adults who are first responders. I really can’t take any chances. The point is for Maggie to see her mother safely. So what do you think?”

  He considered it for a while before he answered. That was the difference between the old Jay-Jay and today’s version. Before, he never looked before he leaped. “It would make Maggie happy. She talks a lot about wanting to meet her mom. I know Cara would want to help her. She’s used to rules about what she can and can’t do, thanks to Stalker Chad. I think she’d handle the situation well.”

  “And you?” Maya asked. “I don’t want you to agree just because I’m the one asking. If you don’t want to risk it, just say so. I’ll still lo—” She shifted gears almost invisibly. “Sleep with you,” she finished.

  Had she almost said that she’d still love him, but stopped herself just in time? He narrowed his eyes at her. “I heard that.”

  “Heard what?”

  “That you’ll still lo—” He broke off just as she had. He repeated it. “Lo—”

  “Yeah, I was going to say that I’d still lube you.”

  “You’ll still lube me?” He took hold of the file on her lap and dropped it onto the floor. Grabbing her bent knees, he tugged her down the sofa and rose over her. “Prove it. Lube me, baby.”

  “Okay, I didn’t mean lube.” She laughed up at him. “I meant, I’ll still lump you. Like, I’ll still lump you in with all the other people I care about.”

  “Oh, really? You just lump me in with all the others? Do the others do this?” He opened her legs and pressed his hand against the warm place between her thighs. He rotated his palm against her sex, stimulating the clit that hid under the layers of cotton leggings and underwear. All of which had to go, as quickly as possible.

  Her lips parted as she watched him, her eyes like liquid dark gold. “Um, not usually…”

  “What about this?”

  He lifted her butt enough to pull down her leggings, then crouched between her thighs. Her scent drew him closer, his mouth already watering as he kissed those sweet lower lips, already glinting with a touch of moisture. He touched her delicately with his tongue, savoring her flavor. So feminine, so intoxicating, like mulled wine.

  She let her legs fall farther open and pushed her sex toward him. Ah yeah, finally things were heading in the right direction. He slid his hands under her ass and squeezed her round cheeks as he licked and tongue-stroked her wet slit. Wild for her, he slashed his tongue across her, seeking that perfect mix of friction and pressure. When she moaned and grabbed at his hair, he knew he’d found it.

  Eat her out. Bury his face in her. Lap up every pulse and swell of her little nub. Listen to her pleas for release. Stay with her. Lose himself in the glory of her juicy response. Fill his hands with her ass. Stay with her.

  She erupted into a fierce climax—her body in a taut arch—her hands twisting in his hair—her throaty voice at full volume. Oh yes, oh yes, fucking yes.

  “Lord, Rune,” she muttered after she’d come down from that wild peak. “I wasn’t ready for that.”

  He was already undoing his pants. “What about this? Ready for this?”

  His erection jumped out, nearly purple from his intense arousal.

/>   “I know you’re ready” She gave a little laugh as she touched her foot to his thigh. “I didn’t even touch you yet.”

  “It turns me on to taste you. And to watch you come apart. I can’t get enough of it. Want to go again?” he joked.

  She reached for his erection and circled him with her warm hand. “I have another idea.” She kicked off the clothes that he’d merely pushed down her thighs, and climbed onto his lap. Her hot wet sex brushed against his engorged tip.

  “Wait,” he warned. “Condom. Right pocket.”

  “I know.” He always had a stash in his pockets these days. Just in case. She dug inside his pocket, which was a tease all on its own. Then she brought him to the point of near-madness by bending her head to his cock and swirling her tongue across it.

  “Just wanted to say hello before this thing goes on,” she murmured. “Hello, you.”

  He gritted his teeth against the pleasure. He didn’t want to release all over her couch. He wanted to draw this out. It was just too good. The chemistry they generated together was epic. Better than any bonfire they’d danced around.

  She took her time, using long loving strokes of her mouth up and down his cock. Each one sent a new rush of sensation to the pleasure center of his brain. Everything else got chased away until all that was left was her. Her warm mouth, her silky-rough tongue, her sensual movements.

  He made a warning noise in his throat when he didn’t think he could hold off any longer.

  She understood immediately and withdrew her mouth. The sound of the foil tearing came next, then the slow slide of her fingers along his cock, unrolling the condom.

  He lifted her up and set her onto his erection. With a slow surge, he impaled her from below. She bit her lip and flung her head back. Flexing his hips, he went deep, thrusting up into her warm weight. But he wanted to go even deeper, harder, so he wrapped his arms around her and swung her over to the couch, onto her back. Her eyes went wide with surprise, dark pools drawing him in.

  “I want to fuck you like this,” he said roughly. “Been dreaming about you splayed out under me.” He moved inside her, not just aiming for a destination, but savoring each inch of progress along the way. Her channel clung to him with a slick juicy grip. She’d already come once, and he could feel the effects of that. He aimed to make her come again. Slow friction to start, then picking up the pace as her body reacted. Faster, harder, deeper. His cock seemed to swell bigger with each stroke, until he was sure he would explode.

  But he wanted her to come again first, so he slipped a hand between them, to the clit he’d so thoroughly tongue-lashed before. It didn’t take but a touch for her to buck in response. A climax flowed through her body like a roller coming in off the ocean. She called out his name—Rune—his good luck middle name—and he let the leash off his need.

  With a harsh growl, he exploded into her. The orgasm blotted out everything else—the room, the couch, the night, his own fricking name. Head over heels he went, as if tumbled by the ocean, tugged under by the force of the water, then lifted to the surface by pure joy.

  Making love to Maya blew his world apart. Every single time.

  Chapter 24

  About a week after Thanksgiving, Jerome knocked on the door of Maya’s office.

  “Check the fancy nameplate. I guess it’s real, then, that’s why they put it in fake gold letters on some fake-ass wood-looking plastic.” His cocky smile assumed she would find him amusing.

  She didn’t. Not anymore.

  “How can I help you, former citizen of Lost Harbor who is no longer my responsibility?”

  Not, strictly speaking, true. Everyone was her responsibility when they were on this side of the town borders.

  “Just saying goodbye. Me and Leanne are about to head out.”

  “Happy holidays to you both.”

  For once, it had been a happy holiday for her, at least so far. Thanks to one person, and one person only.

  “You’ve changed, you know that? You’re a real hard-ass now. Did I really hurt you that bad?”

  Oooh, just as arrogant as ever. “Don’t worry about me. Worry about your own actions. Be good to Leanne. She’s a sweet girl.”

  “You think I don’t know that?”

  His sincerity actually caught her by surprise. She’d never understood their relationship, but maybe he genuinely loved Leanne. “Well. Good.”

  “How about you? Is it true that you’re fucking that paramedic you were with that night?”

  A little shock ran through her at his blunt tone. He had no right to ask her anything like that. And she didn’t like him putting his grubby hands on the connection that existed between her and Rune. “It’s a lot more than that. Better go, Jerome. There’s a storm coming and you have a long drive.”

  “A lot more? Like what? You’re serious about that guy? I heard he’s a nurse.”

  “Go on.” She flicked her fingers toward the door. “Don’t you worry about what he is or isn’t.”

  But he refused to leave. “Must not be smart enough to go for a real medical degree. Nurses don’t make much money, do they? I still care about you, Maya. I don’t want to see you lower yourself. Just because it didn’t work out with us doesn’t mean you have to settle.”

  Rage shot through her. Forgetting everything except the smug man in front of her and the beautiful one taking care of patients somewhere, she planted her hands on her desk and surged to her feet. “Rune Larsen is one hundred times the man you are. He’s kind, caring, strong, smart, and he fucks like a superstar. He makes me come every single time we’re together. Before I was with Rune, I had no idea how good things could be with a man. I thought they were all cocky and selfish like you. So I suggest you take your arrogant ass out there to your stupid not-fit-for-Alaska rental car and hit the road.”

  Beyond him, she caught sight of heads turning in the bullpen. Ooops. Sergeant Hollister’s mouth was open in an “O” shape. Mrs. Holt, who had an appointment to see Maya, stood a few feet away from her office door, blinking rapidly.

  At least Lucy the reporter wasn’t around at the moment. But it hardly mattered; this would be all over town in a flash.

  Jerome pressed his lips together. “You act like it’s my fault I fell in love with someone else.”

  Her mouth dropped open. Did Jerome have a point? He hadn’t set out to hurt her. He’d just…fallen for Leanne.

  “What’s your fault is that you didn’t tell me what was going on! You acted like everything was fine up until Christmas Eve.”

  “You didn’t want to go to all those damn parties alone, did you?”

  She blinked at him, with no clue how to answer something so idiotic.

  When she stayed silent, he spun around on his heel. He pushed past Mrs. Holt and in a second was gone. Out of her life, her head, her heart—but most especially, her damn office.

  Maya let out a long breath and beckoned to Mrs. Holt. “Come on in, Janet. What can I do for you, and more importantly, how can I get you to forget what you just saw?”

  “Well, that’s not going to happen because it was just too juicy.” Janet Holt flicked her long gray braid over her shoulder. Every stitch of her clothing had been made by her own hands. She was a master crafter who attended stitch-and-bitch with Harris. No doubt her little outburst would be topic number one at the next meeting.

  But then Mrs. Holt surprised her. “Good for you, Maya Badger. Good for you. And that Rune…well, I can’t say I’m surprised.”

  Maya closed her eyes briefly. She could practically see the gossip already making its way around town. Everyone jabbering and yakking…

  Speaking of yakking… “How’s your yak doing?”

  “He’s happy to be home. He probably just needed a little space. Jack used to do the same thing. He’d disappear onto his boat for days. But that’s not why I’m here. I think someone’s been sleeping in my barn.”

  “Oh yeah?” The Holt homestead was a sprawling spread of several acres, home to the accumulate
d junk of a lifetime of roughing it. Not junk—“resources” as Alaskans preferred to say. “Have you spotted someone?”

  “No, but I found a beer can in there. Not Jack’s brand. And the barn had a different smell than usual.”

  A different smell. Now there was a solid clue to follow up on. “It’s probably just teenagers sneaking a beer. Has anything gone missing?”

  “I have no idea. Jack left so much stuff behind, it’s impossible to say.”

  “So you’re worried because…?”

  “Well, it’s trespassing, isn’t it? I didn’t invite anyone onto my property to drink beer or neck or anything else. I’ve a mind to sit out there with my shotgun and put a scare into them.”

  “Don’t shoot anyone,” Maya told her sternly. “We don’t want a repeat of the Valentine’s Day incident.”

  A few years ago, Janet Holt had actually shot her husband in the big toe when they’d gotten into an argument over how much salt went into the salmon chowder. February could be a tough month around here; by then, everyone was sick of the cold and the darkness.

  Maya relied on bubble baths to get her through it. But this year…

  A pang went through her as she realized there was a good chance Rune and Cara would be gone by February. Come to think of it, was there a chance the barn squatter could be Cara’s stalker?

  Janet Holt was now talking about setting up some kind of surveillance.

  “Good plan,” Maya told her. “You can also make it look like there’s an active camera without actually recording. That’s a little cheaper to install.”

  “Oh no, I want to know exactly who’s sneaking into my barn. Unless the police department can send someone over to stake it out, that’s what I’m gonna do.”

  Yeah, there was no way she was going to set up a stakeout at Mrs. Holt’s barn. “Let me know what you find out. I’ll come check it out as soon as I can. And if you get any hint that something nefarious or dangerous is going on, call me right away.”

  “I will.”