Deck the Halls

by Cynthia Eden

  A little furrow appeared between her brows. “For what?”

  “For jumping on you like I was starving.” Or crazed. Or…obsessed. Which, fine, he was. Obsessed with her. Had been for years.

  Her smile flashed again, and he saw her dimple wink. “But I liked what happened last night.”

  The thudding of his heartbeat filled his ears. They were alone. The door was closed. He could put her up on the table…

  “I liked everything we’ve done.” She lifted her hand and trailed her fingertips down his chest. “And everything we’re going to do.”

  This was the shy Christie who’d barely looked his way over the years?

  Then he noticed the pulse pounding too quickly at the base of her throat. He caught the slight tremble in her fingertips. From lust? Oh, sure, one very swollen part of his anatomy hoped so…

  But her eyes had already fallen away from his, and she was easing away, a little too fast.

  Fear? Was she afraid? Christie should know she had nothing to fear from him, and she didn’t need to prove a single thing to him. Yet he had a lot to prove to her.

  “You were right,” he told her. His voice sounded gruff. “The case over the weekend got to me. Made me remember…” Mom! Her body. The blood. The scream that had burst from his throat. He sucked in a deep breath. “I wasn’t in a good place when I came to you.”

  “I wanted you to come back to me.” Her eyes met his and held. “I’m glad you did.”

  A man could only take so much. Carefully, gently, his fingers slid under her chin. He tilted her head back and let his lips whisper over hers. If those cops weren’t out there, each one of them no doubt straining to hear what was being said, he’d devour her.

  Tonight. The holidays weren’t over. Not yet. He still had time with her. Time to make her want and need just as badly as he did.

  “I’ll come to your place after my shift tonight,” he said against her lips. He loved that fireplace she had at her home. Loved the warmth behind him and her soft body beneath his.

  Her hand pushed against his chest. “I…ah, that’s why I’m here.”

  He couldn’t help the tension that tightened his shoulders. Is she calling things off already?

  “Actually…” She took a deep breath, one that made her breasts rise nicely. Distractingly. “I’m here because I was Christmas shopping in the area, and I realized I wanted to see you.”

  No lies. The tension slipped away from him.

  “I could have called.” She shrugged. “But I-I just came to see you. I hope that was okay.”

  Her uncertainty was plain to see, not hidden behind a too-bright smile, but obvious in the small, sexy stutter that had slipped free. He liked it when she showed her confidence, and, hell yes, he loved her vulnerability, too. When it came to her, was there a damn thing he didn’t like?

  Shit. I’m in trouble.

  “I’m having dinner at my parents’ tonight. A family Christmas get-together.” Christie’s words emerged in a rush. “You’re welcome to come with me.”

  To the Tate house? He’d been there with Daniel before, but never for the big holiday party. He’d avoided the annual family party like it was the plague. To him, it was.

  Christie’s gaze searched his. “Not part of the agreement, is it?”

  Just sex. Not family time. Not dates to celebrate.

  “Forget it.” She laughed. A laugh that sounded far too strained and fake for Christie. “It was just an idea. You don’t have to come.” She rose onto her toes and kissed his jaw. “We can meet tomorrow. We still have plenty of time.”

  But time could pass too quickly. Life could. “I’ll be there.”

  Surprise flashed on her face. Delight. “You will?”

  He managed a jerky nod. What am I doing? “We’ll probably give your dad and brother a heart attack, but what the hell? Why not?”

  This time, her laugh was real. “I think they’ll both survive seeing us.”

  “I’ll meet you there,” he offered, thinking fast. “My shift ends at eight. I’ll come by as soon as I’m done.” When I get there, I’ll drink enough to make it through the glares Daniel will give me. Glares and maybe a punch. Or two. Because he knew how his buddy would react.

  “Then we can go back to my place.” Her voice became huskier. “Or yours.”

  He thought about his place for two seconds. “Yours.” He smiled. “I like the way your skin looks when the tree lights shine on you.” On her breasts. On her sex when her legs spread for him. Oh, yeah, he liked that. Definitely.

  A knock shook the door. “Captain wants us!” Scotty called out. His voice seemed way too happy for that announcement. No one was ever happy to talk to the captain.

  Jonas pressed a quick kiss to Christie’s lips. “I’ll see you tonight.” He opened the door and found Scotty standing too close.

  Scotty grinned. “See you soon, Christie.”

  Christie murmured something nice and polite back to him. Jonas turned his head and caught sight of his desk, and the package still on top of it. He hurried forward and scooped it up. When he turned back around, Christie was already under the garland as she quickly headed for the exit. “Christie!”

  She glanced back. Same welcoming smile. Same gorgeous eyes.

  And the same punch hit him in the gut. Dammit. What is happening to me? He hurried forward and offered her the gift.

  As soon as she saw the package, her skin flushed. “Jonas?”

  “I was gonna give it to you tonight.”

  A detective’s voice rang out, “Ain’t that sweet?” The voice belonged to Bronte, a guy Jonas would pound later.

  Her hands tightened around the box. “Thank you.” She lifted the box to her ear and gave it a quick little shake.

  God, she was cute. Perfect. Jonas kissed her. Fast but deep. “You can thank me after the party.” She could do anything she wanted tonight.

  He sure planned to do just that.

  Anything. Everything. With her.

  ***

  Christie waited until she was back in her car and then she ripped open the package. When the green silk panties tumbled out—thong underwear—she wasn’t surprised.

  She was turned on.

  She knew just what she’d be wearing tonight for her detective.

  Maybe she’d let him rip this pair off, too. It really depended on whether he was naughty or nice.

  Chapter Seven

  “So you’re going to meet the family, huh?” Scotty asked as they grabbed their coats at eight and got ready to head out the door.

  Another day from hell. Holidays could bring out the best in people, but they could bring out the worst, too. He and Scotty had spent hours at another crime scene. A robbery gone bad. The shop owner hadn’t been the one to wind up in the body bag, though. The robber probably hadn’t expected a guy in his eighties to fight back.

  He had.

  Jonas yanked on his gloves. “I already know the family.” Too well, so he knew what kind of welcome he’d get when he showed up with Christie.

  Because they also know me too well. Well enough to understand that he shouldn’t be with Christie. He wasn’t good enough for her. He’d always known that truth, too.

  “Take my advice with this one,” Scotty said as his grin slid away. “Don’t screw up.”

  Jonas raised a brow.

  “Seriously. This one isn’t like the others.”

  Christie wasn’t like anyone else that Jonas had ever met.

  “We’re both gettin’ too old to spend our holidays alone.” Scotty looked out the front doors of the station. “There’s got to be more than crime scenes waiting on us. If you’re smart, you’ll take that ‘more’ that’s standing so close to you.” He inclined his head. “Good night, partner.”

  A cold blast of air swept inside when Scotty left.

  Jonas lifted his collar and got ready to follow his partner.

  “Yo, Kirk!”

  His hand hesitated in front of the doors. He glanced to t
he left and saw the desk sergeant waving him over. He and Carl Wallace had known each other for years.

  “Hey, aren’t you friends with Daniel Tate?”

  A fast nod.

  “My boy Jamie is working as a security guard there.”

  “I saw him the other night.” And he might have seen me and Christie in the elevator. Jonas turned away from the door. There was something in Carl’s voice that had caused unease to slither through him. “There a problem?”

  “I know it’s not your beat, but, since you and Daniel are buddies…” Carl leaned over the desk. “Jamie called about an hour ago. Said there was some trouble in one of the offices.”

  “What kind of trouble?” Jonas’s phone vibrated in his pocket. “Hold on, Carl.” He stepped to the side as he put the phone to his ear. “Kirk.”

  “Jonas! Shit, man, I need you.” Daniel’s voice was way more tense than normal—and normal usually was tense for Daniel. “Can you come down to the company? Someone broke into Christie’s office and trashed the place!”

  What? Fuck. “I’m on my way.” He spun around.

  “Wait!” Carl called out. “Don’t you want to know—”

  “On it, Carl, thanks.” The cold air hit him in the face as he raced for his vehicle. Christie’s office. What the hell? As far as he knew, there had never been any trouble at Tate Toys.

  So why was it starting now? And why was some asshole targeting Christie?

  ***

  Uniforms were on the scene when Jonas arrived at Tate Toys. A cop he recognized, Officer Larry Piner, stood just outside Christie’s office doorway. Piner was questioning Daniel and jotting down fast notes.

  Daniel caught sight of him. Relief flashed across his face. “Jonas! Thanks for coming so fast.” Daniel ran a hand through his hair and gestured to Christie’s office. “Can you believe this shit?”

  Jonas inclined his head toward Piner, then let his gaze rake the interior of the office. Piner’s partner was inside, carefully navigating through the wreckage. Papers and files littered the floor. The computer screen was busted into about a hundred pieces. The desk was overturned. The lamp smashed.

  “You sure there was no one working here today?” Officer Piner wanted to know.

  “I’m sure.” Daniel’s hand dropped. “Everyone on this floor is off the rest of the week for the holidays. Hell, everyone but the folks in distribution are off, and they’re all down at the warehouse. We’ve only got a skeletal security staff in this building. No one else should be here.”

  “Any other damage?” Jonas asked, aware that a bite was in his words.

  “Just Christie’s office,” Daniel replied.

  Just Christie’s office. Jonas didn’t like that. Not one bit. Someone could be sending her a message. “What about cameras?” he asked as anger built in his gut. “You got them turned on, right?”

  Daniel nodded his head in agreement. “We’ve got them downstairs at the entrance, but that’s where a guard is posted. If anyone came in, he would have noticed.”

  Not if he’d been in the bathroom or on a break. “Get the tapes,” Jonas ordered as he walked slowly into the office and surveyed the scene. “Have you called Christie?”

  Silence.

  He tossed a glance back over his shoulder. “You’ve called her, haven’t you?”

  “No.” Daniel’s lips pressed together. “It’s so close to Christmas, and I mean, look at this place. I don’t want her coming in here and seeing this crap!” His hair stood up, probably from Daniel running his fingers through it too many times. “Christie can’t handle this stress right now, not on top of that whole mess with Charles. Hell, I just want you to find out who did this, and I want the jerk arrested!”

  Jonas glanced toward the filing cabinet. Every folder had been yanked free, and the contents had been scattered across the floor. The drawers hung open, deep and empty. Jonas pulled out his phone.

  “Are you calling in a crime scene team?” Daniel asked, and there was excitement in his voice. “Good plan. Let’s CSI this asshole.”

  Jonas just shook his head and waited for the call to be answered. One ring. Two.

  “Hello.” Her voice was soft and husky.

  He took a breath. “Christie, it’s Jonas.”

  “What are you doing?” Daniel’s desperate yell grated in his ears. “Did you just call my sister?”

  Jonas ignored him. “I’m not going to be able to make that dinner tonight.” No, he’d be working this case until he figured out what the hell was going on. “There’s been a break-in.”

  “But…” He could hear her hesitation. Her confusion. “But you work homicide.”

  This case was different. Personal. “The break-in was at Tate Toys. It’s your office, Christie.”

  “What?”

  “I’m down here now with the investigating cops. I want you to come by. You’ll know if anything is missing.” He exhaled. Stay calm. Don’t freak out. But he was freaking out. Because this is Christie. “If you’d rather, you can come in tomorrow and make a full list. You don’t need to cut out on your parents—”

  There was a rumble of voices in the background. Christie spoke to someone else, then she told him, “No, I’m on my way. Mom and Dad will hold dinner a bit. Don’t worry, they’ve got plenty of guests here to keep things going.”

  “Be careful, baby.” He ended the call and held the phone a moment as his gaze swept the wrecked office once more.

  Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around. Daniel glared at him. “You called her—”

  “Christie had a right to know. She’s not some fragile doll that’s going to break with a little stress.” He’d been wrong about her, and Daniel was, too. All those years…she’d known. Known his darkest secret, and it hadn’t mattered to her. Hell, no, Christie wasn’t going to break. She’d been right when she told him she didn’t live in a castle.

  Sure, she’d been sheltered. The Tate family had cosseted her in college. He’d helped by digging into old Benjamin’s background. But Christie didn’t need them to run interference for her. She was a grown woman. Strong, smart, sexy.

  “No.” Daniel’s eyes narrowed and his gaze seemed to shoot blue fire as he snarled, “You called my sister ‘baby.’”

  Shit.

  “You’re sleeping with Christie?” Daniel demanded.

  A man’s voice shouldn’t get that strained and rough. Very bad sign.

  Jonas got ready for the punch he knew was coming.

  Daniel had a real killer right hook.

  Chapter Eight

  Christie hadn’t dressed for the office. She’d dressed for him. Bought the new emerald green dress to match the panties. Maybe that was overkill, but she’d been feeling sexy at the time. Good thing she’d brought her coat with her. Otherwise she’d be flashing a lot of skin as she rushed down the hallway of Tate Toys.

  Christie skidded to a halt on her two-inch heels—a very precarious halt—and she eyed the mess that was her office. “Sonofabitch.”

  Daniel was there at once, reaching for her. His tense face and eyes showed his worry. “It’s okay, Christie, I know this is upsetting—”

  “Yes, it’s upsetting.” Major understatement. “Some jerk ruined my office!” And her files. Oh, jeez, it would take forever to get those organized again. So many hours lost.

  “Don’t worry about this tonight.” Daniel caught her hands and held them tight. “Just go back to our parents’ place, relax, and—”

  “Trust me, Daniel, I’m really not in the mood to relax.” She was so mad her skin felt like it was burning. She craned her neck. “Where’s Jonas?”

  A muscle flexed in Daniel’s jaw. “Jonas works the stiffs. You know he’s homicide. We don’t need him on a vandalism case. And it’s just vandalism. I don’t think anything was taken from your office.”

  Not taken. Just destroyed. “I need him.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that,” Jonas announced from behind her.

  Daniel swore.r />
  She whirled around and found Jonas sauntering back from her lab area. As he came closer, she noticed the redness on his jaw. “Jonas?” She hurried back into the hallway so that she could meet him half-way and, luckily, she only nearly toppled once in her shoes. “What happened?”

  “Must be something about your office,” he told her as he came to a stop. His lips curled a little as he added, “It makes folks want to assault cops.”

  Her fingers skimmed his jaw. “What?” His words sank in, and her eyes widened. “Charles? Did he come back? Did he do this?” He’d actually hit Jonas? Had Charles been the one to trash her office, too?

  “Nah, not him. Not this time.”

  “It was me.” Daniel’s arm brushed hers as he came to her side. “I punched the asshole.” He glared at Jonas. “And he didn’t punch back.”

  Jonas inclined his head. “Didn’t arrest you either. Guess it’s your lucky night.”

  Daniel rocked forward. “You’re screwing my sister!”

  No, he did not just say that. Christie slammed her hand on Daniel’s chest. “No.” She kept her voice quiet and cool. A real effort, but the new and improved Christie could manage that effort. “Your sister is screwing him.” She didn’t even stutter when she snapped out those words. Her head turned so she could see her brother’s reaction.

  Daniel’s eyes bulged.

  “And if you try to take a swing at him again…” Because that really pissed her off. She wasn’t sixteen. She didn’t need Daniel fighting her battles anymore. Fighting her battles or fighting her lovers. Hadn’t she told him that enough times? “If you swing at Jonas again, I’ll punch you.” Her right hook was even better than his.

  Daniel blinked. “Christie?” He sounded like he wasn’t sure he was talking to his sister. His gaze had gone uncertain and his voice seemed hesitant.

  She kept her hand on his chest.

  “I told you she could handle a little stress.” This came from Jonas.