by Dylann Crush
Michael was already licking red velvet from his fingers after polishing off his first one.
“Technically, if a sitting President stays here, the name will be reverted to The Presidential Suite.”
“So we have a little while.” She hummed her answer after chewing her bite and picked up her milk. Cupcakes and milk really did always hit the spot.
“Maybe even longer than that…”
Darby raised her eyebrow in suspicion, because Michael had used that voice, and looked satisfied as he picked up another cake.
“Whenever a president stays in a space, it has to be vetted by the Secret Service. Spaces are considered more dangerous if they have a lot of strikes on a basic security list.”
Darby blinked the second she put it together. “The windows.”
“Not just windows—direct roof access. Generally, those are frowned upon.”
She didn’t miss the way Michael smiled into his glass as he raised it to his mouth, swallowed slowly and took the first bite of his second cake.
“You built a presidential suite and made sure no president will ever stay in it.”
He shrugged. “I built a Darby suite. The Princess Diana Suite down the hall is secure.”
She tried to think of a response, but what could she say to that? What could she ever say to the man who did such things for her? Who gave her something to look forward to at every turn and surprised her with new things each day? Whose love was so steady that she never had a moment of doubt? Who she thanked God she got to wake up to every morning?
But there wasn’t anything she could say that Michael hadn’t heard—no thought she could think that hadn’t been expressed, and no words that felt sufficient either way. So, instead of speaking at all, she put her glass down and put her head on his chest, snuggling closer and melting into his embrace. A smile bloomed on her lips as he pressed a sweet kiss to her forehead and called her by her nickname—his favorite thing.
“Merry Christmas, cupcake.”
Also by Kilby Blades
Contemporary Romance
The Secret Ingredient (Hot in the Kitchen #1)
Spooning Leads to Forking (Hot in the Kitchen #2)
Snapdragon (Hexagon Universe: Love Conquers None #1)
Chrysalis (Hexagon Universe: Love Conquers None #2)
Vertical (Hexagon Universe Standalone)
Crazy Old Money: A Billionaire Rom-Com (Hexagon Universe Standalone)
Young Adult and New Adult Rom-Com
Friended (Modern Love #1)
Ended? (Modern Love #2)
The Art of Worship: A Novella
Contemporary Gay Romance
Adam Bomb (Moguls, Royals & Rogues #1)
The Worst Holiday Ever Anthology Series
Worst Holiday Ever: A Family Drama Romance Anthology
Worst Valentine’s Day Ever: A Lonely Hearts Romance Anthology
About Kilby Blades
Kilby Blades is a 45-time-award-winning author of Romance and Women's Fiction. Her debut novel, Snapdragon, was a HOLT Medallion finalist, a Publisher’s Weekly BookLife Prize Semi-Finalist, and an IPPY Award medalist. Kilby was honored with an RSJ Emma Award for Best Debut Author in 2018, and has been lauded by critics for “easing feminism and equality into her novels” (IndieReader) and “writing characters who complement each other like a fine wine does a good meal” (Publisher’s Weekly).
When she's not writing, Kilby goes to movie matinees alone, where she eats Chocolate Pocky and buttered popcorn and usually smuggles in not-a-little-bit of red wine. She procrastinates from the difficult process of writing by oversharing on Facebook and Instagram and giving away cool stuff related to her fiction novels to her newsletter subscribers.
Part IV
A Blue-Balled Holiday
By Dylann Crush
A Lovebird Café short story
About… A Blue-Balled Holiday
The best things don’t always come with the smallest packages…
Heather Duncan didn’t plan on being home for the holidays, and she didn’t plan on sipping naughty named cocktails with a chiseled chiropractor, either. Now she’s got to decide if she should resist her sister-in-law’s meddlesome matchmaking, or be grateful for such a special package that might just be the perfect holiday surprise.
1
Heather
The intoxicating scent of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls wrapped around me like a cozy blanket as I ducked into the Lovebird Café. Christmas was still a few weeks away, but the interior looked like Santa himself had stopped in to spread some cheer. Bright red poinsettias decorated the window sills, and glittery silver and gold ornaments hung from the ceiling. I shrugged off my winter coat as I slid into my favorite booth. My sister-in-law, Misty, was meeting me for coffee this morning. Maybe she’d have some idea of what I could do to get over my pre-holiday blues.
“Hey there, sweetie.” Misty dropped onto the bench seat across from me. “How’ve you been holding up?”
“I’m fine,” I lied. Nothing like having to slink back to my small hometown after failing to make it in the big city. I wasn’t sure what had taken a harder hit over the past several weeks. It was a toss up between my pride and my bank account.
Misty reached across the table and covered my hand with hers. Her manicured nails sparkled with a jolly holiday design. How did she find time for manicures with three kids at home and working a part-time job?
“Don’t you worry. We’ll figure this out.” She patted my hand a few times then waved at our friend Cassie, the owner of the Lovebird Café. “Can we get a couple of coffees over here?”
“Coffee’s not going to fix things.” I drew in a deep breath. Not unless the coffee pot had a job offer or a million bucks inside.
Misty reached for something in her purse. “Maybe we should have met for margaritas instead.”
“There’s an idea.” Misty was known far and wide for her legendary margarita making skills. Not only were they delicious, they were also particularly potent.
Cassie shuffled over to the counter and picked up a tray.
Misty’s gaze followed her. “I remember being that uncomfortable. She’s not going to make it much longer. No way.”
I had no experience to offer in the pregnancy department, but since Misty had pushed out three babies, each one bigger than the last, I’d take her word for it.
“Don’t let Misty talk you into one of her margaritas.” Cassie set two mugs onto the table in front of us. “Bad things have been known to happen.”
“How can you say that?” Misty’s lips twisted into an amused scowl. “If it weren’t for my margaritas you and Robbie probably wouldn’t have gotten back together.”
Cassie rolled her eyes and filled our mugs to the brim. “Maybe, maybe not. But I do believe that things that are meant to be will always find a way.”
“And I believe that sometimes things need a little nudge. Wouldn’t you agree, Heather?” Misty asked.
Getting caught between Misty and Cassie before my first cup of coffee would be a bad way to start the day. Instead of picking a side, I shrugged. “Who knows?”
“Well, I know a thing or two about picking yourself up again when things don’t go as planned.” Misty nodded toward Cassie. “And so does she.”
“That’s true.” Cassie held the carafe of coffee in one hand and planted the other on the area where her waist used to be. “Haven’t you found a new job yet? I thought there was a nursing shortage.”
“There is.” But not for a nurse who left her last position under questionable circumstances and wasn’t able to provide references. I wasn’t quite ready to share that tidbit with anyone yet.
“So what’s the problem?” Cassie asked. “And do y’all mind if I sit down for a minute?”
Misty scooted over and patted the bench next to her. “You should be sitting down all the time. You look like you’re ready to pop.”
“Two more weeks. But my OB says the peanut’s head isn’t even engaged y
et. I’ll probably still be as big as a house come Valentine’s Day.”
Misty clucked her tongue like a mother hen. “No, you won’t. Come on, sit down.”
Cassie had to turn sideways to accommodate her bulging baby bump as she settled onto the bench.
“Now, I’ve got some ideas for Heather’s situation. Seems our local chiropractor is short a nurse.” Misty focused her attention back on me. “You ready to move back home? I could put in a good word.”
I looked from Misty to Cassie and back to Misty. My stomach pitched and rolled. “I don’t know. Seems like I’ve been trying to get out of Swallow Springs all of my life. I never thought I’d end up crawling back.”
“I know something that will cheer you up.” Misty slid a business card across the table.
I pinched it between my fingers. “What’s this?”
“Your ticket to the first annual Jingle Balls ball.” Misty’s mouth spread into a grin. “Since you’ll be here, I figured you’d want to go. And I’ll make sure you meet Dr. Pierce while you’re there.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary.” I slid the ticket back across the table. “With any luck, I’ll be long gone before then.”
“It’s less than a week away.” Misty used her bright red and white striped nail to nudge it toward me.
“I thought you were having it closer to Christmas?”
Her glittery snowflake earrings swung back and forth as she shook her head. “We had to change the date. The VFW got a paid booking for some biker holiday party, so they bumped us.”
“If I have to go, you have to go, too.” Cassie’s lips quirked up. “I thought I’d be home with a newborn by then. But it looks like I’ll be keeping the non-alcoholic punch bowl full. Besides, Dr. Pierce is a catch.”
“I’m not in the mood to catch anything.” I picked up the ticket, ready to hand it back to Misty.
“Come on, y’all. This is a good cause.” Misty’s jaw set and she gave both me and Cassie a dose of her patented girl-boss stare. The kind of look that made her husband tremble in his work boots and her friends frown in resignation before they gave in.
Cassie and I sighed in unison.
Misty’s eyes sparkled. “That’s the spirit.”
I tucked the ticket into my purse. It was a good cause, one that was near and dear to my family’s heart. My brother, Jake, who also happened to be Misty’s husband, had undergone surgery for testicular cancer a little over a year ago and since then Misty had become an unofficial expert on all things balls-related. The Jingle Balls ball would raise money to spread awareness, and I’d been more than willing to show my support in the form of a check with a couple of zeros behind it before I became unemployed. I’d never planned on actually attending the event.
“Oh, I got another item for the silent auction I want to show you.” Cassie made a move to get up.
“I’ll get it.” I slid off the bench.
“It’s just over on the counter.” Cassie pointed to a big basket full of shiny, red metallic tissue.
I grabbed it off the counter and made my way back to the table. The basket held a variety of items including a thermal logo mug, a workout towel, an essential oil diffuser, and some sort of packaged electronic thing. “What the heck is this?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet.” Cassie leaned over to look into the basket.
“Says it’s a personal massager.” I slid the device out of the box and flipped it on. The purple massager vibrated in my hand. “Um, hell-o. I had no idea you were auctioning off vibrators.”
Misty snagged it from my grip. “Give me that. It’s not a vibrator. It’s for your neck. Or maybe that tense spot people get between their shoulders.”
“Really?” I turned the box over. “Says it can be used on any body part that needs attention. It has an adjustable head and eighteen different vibration patterns. Doesn’t sound like a neck massager to me.”
“Let me see.” Misty eyed the box, then handed me the massager back. “I think you’d better bid on this one. When’s the last time some of your body parts received attention? Hmm?”
Cassie let out a giggle. “Oh crap. Don’t make me laugh or I’ll have to pee.”
“Sweetie, once you’ve had a few kids you’ll pee while you laugh.” Misty shook her head.
I took a seat and turned toward the wall as I tried to reach behind my back and position the massage thingy between my shoulder blades. “This is awkward. I think it would work much better on another part of my body.”
Neither of them responded.
“Get it? Like between my thighs instead of between my shoulders. I wonder just how adjustable that head is.” Chuckling, I turned to face them. Misty bit her lip while Cassie’s eyes grew wider than the saucers she’d set under our mugs. “What?”
“Heather, have you met Weston yet?” Cassie’s cheeks flushed a few shades darker than her light pink shirt.
My chest shook, and it didn’t have anything to do with the bright purple, battery-operated thingamajig rumbling in my hand. I slowly turned, trying to delay my mortification as long as possible.
His palms splayed on the table. I followed the strong forearms up, over some nice biceps, pausing to take in the well-defined pecs I could just make out under the taut T-shirt stretched across his chest.
“It’s actually an award-winning muscle massager.” A deep voice drew my attention to his mouth. He had the kind of tone that reminded me of all the Trace Adkins songs I used to listen to on repeat. “There’s also a button for infrared heat.”
Heat. Like the kind racing across my cheeks as I finally managed to meet the incredibly hot stranger’s blue-eyed gaze.
“Infrared heat.” Misty cleared her throat. “Can’t say I’ve ever had a, um, personal massager with heat before.”
“Waterproof too so you can use it in the tub. You never know where you might need to find relief from chronic tightness or strains.” The man cocked his head and gave me a smile. “You’re Jake’s sister, right?”
I shifted on the bench and shot a glance to Misty and Cassie. They both leaned forward, matching expectant smiles on their faces like they were watching the latest episode of their favorite prime time show.
“Yes.” I managed to keep my frown from spreading into a full-scale scowl. “Have we met?”
He held out his hand. “I’m Weston.”
The moment stretched from a pregnant pause into an awkward lull before I shook it. “Heather.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” His hand felt all kinds of warm in mine. Even sent a shiver racing up my arm. I let go first.
I didn’t need warmth and shivers in my life. What I needed was a job and a way to claw myself back out of this hellhole where I’d grown up.
“Sorry to interrupt. I see you got the basket for the silent auction I dropped off.” Weston turned his attention to the other side of the table.
While he chatted with Misty and Cassie about the ball, I took a moment to catch my breath and further evaluate the mysterious man candy. My gaze instinctively traveled to his left hand. No ring.
Didn’t matter.
I’d learned that lesson the hard way.
“Can y’all excuse me a minute?” Cassie pushed herself off the bench. “I set aside some baked goods that didn’t sell yesterday and Weston’s going to make sure they get to the food shelf.”
“You need any help?” I hoped with all my heart she’d say no. My legs might not be capable of supporting me after my brush with mortification.
“No, I’ve got it.” Cassie took the hand Weston offered, and he helped her get to her feet.
“You let me know if your shoulders keep bothering you.” The corners of his lips tipped up as those brilliant blue eyes caught on mine. “I’d be happy to offer you a complimentary adjustment.”
Misty snort-laughed. “I’ll make sure she knows where to find you. Have a great day, Dr. Pierce.”
Doctor? Adjustment? This was the chiropractor Misty h
ad just been talking up. Any heat his attention might have generated turned to ice.
A doctor with a smart mouth was the very last thing I needed. Even if his touch did send my pulse into a frenzy.
2
Weston
The wind bit at my cheeks as I stepped out of the cozy comfort of the Lovebird Café. I’d moved to Swallow Springs a couple of years ago. It had been a while since I’d come across an unfamiliar face.
And Heather Duncan had a face I wouldn’t mind becoming familiar with. Especially those full lips that looked like they knew their way around a kiss.
I pulled my knit cap over my ears as I headed to my truck. No use getting caught up in the idea of making a play for Ms. Duncan. According to the rumor mill, her stay in Swallow Springs was going to be a temporary one. Although, it had been quite a while since I’d allowed myself even a bit of fleeting fun. Maybe she’d be up for a secret holiday fling.
Yeah, right. If I’d learned one thing about life in a small town, it was that there were no secrets. I slid the baked goods into the back seat and climbed behind the wheel.
It took seven minutes to get from the Lovebird Café to the office I’d set up on the opposite side of town. The small brick building wasn’t much to look at from the outside but it got the job done. And if I couldn’t find a nurse in the next few months it wouldn’t be my problem anymore.
I grabbed the bag of muffins, bread and other bakery items Cassie had given me to stock the small food shelf I kept going in my office. She always said they were left over from the day before, but I would have sworn some of them were still warm from the oven. If Swallow Springs hadn’t exactly welcomed me with open arms, there were enough good people in town that made things fairly pleasant.
