Christmas Is for Lovers: 6 Hot Holiday Romances

by Box Set

  “I know you too well. You bury yourself in work when you’re hurt.” Zing. She hits the mark, but I keep my face stony.

  “I’m not hurt at all. In fact, I’m about to find the hacker.” I point to the flashing red script from the alarm I set. “Yes! Someone has just hit the Shopahol network from Samantha’s router, and I know for a fact she’s at work. They’re not going to know what hit them. Once I hijack the tunnel, I’m going to sneak a piece of code into their network which monitors everything they do.”

  “All over my head.” Lacy affects a bored know-it-all voice. “Don’t tell me you’ll be jailed for hacking.”

  “Not at all. I’m already in contact with the FBI. Instead of inserting my own monitoring code, I’ll put theirs in the payload, cloaking it inside a juicy picture.”

  “Juicy picture!” Big Blizzard hollers. “Jui—cee!”

  “Juicy picture? Of what?” Lacy’s mouth drops open.

  “Let’s just say twin coconuts.” I hiss with an evil giggle. “Once installed, the FBI will be monitoring all their hacking activities. These dweebs are going down!”

  “I don’t care about the dweebs.” Lacy waves her hand in my face. “I want to know what’s going on with you.”

  Uh oh. My sister is a homing pigeon for trouble, especially if she thinks I’m holding out on her. I quickly attach the FBI tracker to the tunnel and hit “send.”

  “The dweebs are going down.” I watch the progress bar on the upload. “Aren’t you happy I’m outing the hackers?”

  “Dwweeebs, juicy dweebs!” Big Blizzard doesn’t want to be left out. “Juicy shit hap-ppens. Whatddabout Ben?”

  Lacy claps her hands slowly. “Congratulations, smart sister. Too bad I know you so well. Something happened with Ben. You haven’t been acting normal ever since you returned from the cabin.”

  What the hell? The upload fails and the tunnel closes.

  “Shit! Lacy, you screwed me. The tunnel closed before I could get everything uploaded.” I wipe both hands over my head. Dammit!

  She takes my hands from my head. “Give it up, Brittney. Let the FBI handle it.”

  “No. no. no. This is my company. My life. Don’t you have somewhere to be, a Lamaze class or a breastfeeding benefits seminar?”

  “Breast Ben fits.” The cockatoo hops on his perch. “Breast Ben fits. Whaddabout Ben?”

  “Shut up!” I shake my fist at the bird.

  “The bird’s right. What about Ben?” Lacy’s never deterred. Why haven’t I learned? She inserts her face between me and the computer screen. “I think I know what happened. You slept with Ben and you’re in love with him. But Nash is effing things up, and Ben’s jealous.”

  “Ben’s juicy jealous!!!” the cockatoo crows. “Ben’s juicy jealous.”

  “He’s not jealous, okay? And you shut up!” I scream at the bird.

  “You shut up!” Blizzard dances on his perch, bobbing like a hip hop dancer. “Ben’s juicy jealous shit happens.”

  I run from the room with my ears covered. Of course I still love Ben, but I won’t love myself if I give in to his demands to dump Nash as a friend.

  My feelings swarm over me like a cloud of angry wasps. But the truth is still true. How could Ben have held me so tenderly and made love to me like he loved me, only to claim it was a little bit of fun? He couldn’t have faked the look in his eyes, the way he caressed me, his entire demeanor of loving and accepting me. He was so open to me, so in tune with my feelings, and then he had to go ruin it with those spiteful words.

  “So, let’s get back to Ben.” Lacy chases after me. She’s still talking, used to being in a monologue with her nerdy sister. “If he’s jealous, he still cares about you. He’s hurt. Come on, you know how men are. Especially an alpha male like Ben. He has to be bigger, better, more capable, number one in your heart. It can’t have been easy for him to hear about your sexcapades with his smirking, smooth, heartthrob brother.”

  “Why are you on his side? He said I was only a little bit of fun. That’s all.” There’s no sense hiding it. She’ll only dig, and dig, and dig. I need to get rid of her so I can find another way to trap the hacker.

  “And?” Lacy fixes me with her spill-it-now stare.

  “And what? We’re over. I let him go. I can’t let him dictate my life. He’ll never get over the fact I slept with Nash.”

  “Ah …” She snaps her fingers. “I was right.”

  I’m prepared to debate her—whatever her theory is. Even though she’s probably right—the way she always is, I’m not ever going to admit how Ben took my heart and squeezed out all the blood, then stomped on it a few times, grinding his heel in the carcass.

  “Stop acting so smug. You don’t know me at all.”

  “Fine, I don’t know you at all,” she concedes. “But I know men. They’re insecure little bastards.”

  “I can’t erase what happened in the past.” My head’s starting to ache. When was the last time I ate? Oh, that’s right, I stole some of the trail mix I gave the bird.

  “But you can forgive him for being possessive. Do you remember when Brandon shut down the kissing booth?”

  “Yeah, so? Now he’s standing at your side kissing every Jane, Debbie, and Susan.”

  “It’s because he knows he’s number one in my heart. If Ben knew without a doubt he’s first, or, actually the only man in your heart, he wouldn’t mind as much.”

  “Kissing other men isn’t the same as sleeping with them.” I grip my head in my hands. “Have you seen how they’re slut-shaming me over the sexy elf pictures and the lewd misconduct? ‘Tech CEO bares all.’ ‘Hackers drill more than holes into her network.’ ‘From CEO to underwear model.’”

  My sister wraps her arms around me and holds me tight. “We’ll get through this. Nash is here to help. He’s gotten several celebrities to make appearances on ads against slut-shaming.”

  “But I slept with three men—two of them brothers. Maybe I am a slut.”

  “You’re not. And even if you were, what’s wrong with it? That’s the entire point. No one should be shamed or called a slut.”

  “It hurts. That’s why Ben took me to a place with no internet. It’s hard to not look when it’s everywhere. Now people are saying I hacked into my own network to slut-shame that actress.”

  “Stop looking at what they’re saying. I’ve been called slut—you remember. I was the Shopahol ambassador to the tech trade shows where drunk guys licked shots off my belly and signed their names over me.”

  “But you’re married now and Brandon adores you. Did it ever bother him? Your reputation?”

  “Truthfully?” Lacy brushes her hand over my shoulder. “There’s not a man in the world who wouldn’t care. And if the shoe was on the other foot, there’s not a woman who truly doesn’t care. It’s love, Britt, and when you’re in love, you don’t want to share.”

  “But what about friendship?”

  “Between a man and a woman? You know what they say in ‘When Harry Met Sally?’”

  “Yeah, it’s not possible to be really close to someone else.”

  “Your husband has to be first priority, and I’m betting Ben wants to be your husband.” She touches the angel earrings he gave me.

  “You think? Is that why he’s so angry and snippy?”

  “No man gives family heirlooms to a ‘little bit of fun.’” Lacy says, wearing her usual big-sister-know-it-all smirk. “It’s not an engagement ring, but it comes damn close. Nash says those were the earrings his father gave to his mother when she had a miscarriage before finally getting pregnant with his youngest sister. He told me when I was driving him to his grandfather’s.”

  Tears bubble to my eyes and I swallow again. “Ben never told me what they meant.”

  She squeezes my hand and rubs it. “It means a lot to him to give them to you. Now, you understand how he feels?”

  “I told him I loved him. Over and over, but he doesn’t believe me. What can I possibly do to convince him if he ca
n’t forget my past?”

  “Make him a bet, like I did to Brandon. Tell him he’ll never know if you’ll love him forever if he doesn’t give you a chance.”

  “What about Nash? I’ll miss him.”

  “You won’t ever lose him. He’ll be part of the family, but until Ben feels safe and comfortable, you’ll have to keep him at arm’s length. Nash told me he understood. As for that nasty remark he left you with, that’s just him being a sore loser and a man.”

  “But if I give into Ben’s demands, wouldn’t I forever be walked over?”

  “You’re not cutting off Nash. You told him to back off. It’s up to Ben now, to figure out how to deal with it.”

  “The problem is, he’s unusually hard-headed. He hasn’t even gotten over losing his mother and sister. How’s he going to get over losing me?”

  Lacy snickers. “For someone so smart, you’re really stupid. He hasn’t lost you if you take him back.”

  I shake my head. “No, Lace. It’s not that simple. I let him go. He has to want to come back. As long as he thinks this is a competition between him and Nash, he’s not ready. I’m not going to be pussy-footing around him for the rest of my life. He has to either trust me one hundred percent, or he can go back to the sluts he’s used to.”

  I catch myself and plop my hand over my mouth. Shit. I’m not immune to slut-shaming someone else when it suits my purpose. Damn.

  Chapter 70

  ~ Ben ~

  Ben stepped slowly back from Grandpa’s hospital bed. The last man he wanted to deal with right now was Nash. He couldn’t stand to see his face, much less hear his country singer’s voice with the nasal twang.

  “Grandpa and Ben.” Nash stepped forward, removing the cowboy hat prop he went around in. “Glad you’re both here.”

  “Actually, I have to get back home and buy groceries,” Ben said to his grandfather. “Is there anything you want? What’s on the allowed shopping list?”

  “Don’t leave yet,” Nash said. “I’ll help you pick some things up along the way.”

  “I don’t need your help.” Ben tried damn hard to keep the hiccup out of his voice. He lowered his head so Nash couldn’t observe his watery eyes and brushed by him to the door. “Bye, Grandpa. I’ll be back early to help you check out tomorrow.”

  Barely glancing in his grandfather’s direction, he slipped into the corridor. He was almost to the parking lot, when Nash jogged to his side.

  “Look, if it makes you feel better, Brittney ended our friendship.”

  “She what?” Hot and cold chills scratched the back of Ben’s neck. “She said she’d never do that. That you’re too important for her.”

  Nash stepped aside and rubbed the back of his neck. “That was before I acted like an ass.”

  “What did you do?” Ben’s muscles tightened, on instant alert.

  “Made a move on her. Whoa, wait. Her sister was there.” Nash held up his hands and ducked. “No hitting in the hospital.”

  At least his worst case scenario hadn’t played out, but why would his own brother betray him like that, and then come to boast about it?

  “You’re upset,” Nash said.

  “Shocked. I never made moves on any girl you or Damon tagged.”

  “That’s because you’re the baby brother.” Nash shrugged. “I really wasn’t that into Brittney. I just couldn’t let you win.”

  Ben swung his fist and choked the hit at the last second, stopping right before he connected with Nash’s pretty boy face. He couldn’t keep using violence if he wanted Brittney back.

  “Good choice.” Nash smirked, stepping back. “You lost Brittney all by yourself. Lacy told me on the way to Grandpa’s house how strong Brittney is. She’d rather have nobody than compromise her beliefs. You’re not going to get anywhere with all your bluster and fighting.”

  Ben shoved his hands into his pockets to control himself.

  “So, now that you know, what’s stopping you from going back to Brittney?” Nash hooked his fingers in his belt loops and rocked on his heels.

  “I can’t ever forget what the two of you did.” Ben’s heart clenched inside his ribcage. He was so close to getting what he wanted. Brittney had ended her friendship with Nash, but it didn’t change the fact that Nash had been inside of her first.

  “Look, I don’t see Brittney as anything more than a friend. It was a convenience thing. She had an apartment and I needed a place to stay without paying.”

  “Please … no more information.” Ben’s shoulders tensed and he clenched every muscle in his body. That wasn’t how Brittney had portrayed it. She’d actually wished Nash would care for her.

  “Can we forget this ever happened? Right now, she’s not interested in either of us.” Nash put his palm up and shook his head. “You’re my brother. We’re not going to fight over a woman. You should have called it, but you were never interested in her, so how could I have known?”

  He couldn’t have known. Of course, Brittney didn’t belong to either of them—like an arranged bride. No, she was her own woman and free to express herself sexually to anyone.

  As for Nash, no matter what a douche he was, he was still his brother. Family.

  Except he wanted to pound him flat. Ben took a deep breath and pushed Nash, not hard. “Half of me wants to kick your ass for taking my woman, and the other half of me knows I’m a fool. She’s not mine and will never be.”

  “Why don’t you call her and explain how you feel?” Nash shrugged as if it were the easiest thing in the world for him to do. “I saw the earrings you gave her. She’s obviously the one for you.”

  Ben’s heart twisted at how much he’d hurt Brittney, leading her to believe he loved her, giving her the earrings and making plans for the future, only to act as if it meant nothing. He’d put his heart and soul into making love to her, and he’d felt it too, until he screwed it up with his fear of losing her. The price of love was grief, and he wasn’t sure he could pay it again—not after losing his mother and baby sister.

  Except he was paying for it now, in spades. Ben groaned and rubbed his eyes. “I wish there was something I could do for her that’ll make me look as good as you.”

  “Why don’t you help with the benefit concert to raise money for her legal fees?”

  “I already offered to pay. She’s not having it. See? She accepts help from you and not from me.”

  Nash always made him feel inferior, even when he wasn’t trying.

  “Then surprise her. You know football players, right?”

  “I know a few.” Ben wasn’t sure where Nash was leading. Even if he helped with the benefit concert, Nash would still get all the credit from Brittney’s point of view.

  “Great. I’ll need a few celebrity endorsements. I’ve already put up the ads, set the publicity machine in motion. We’re starting the Anti-Slut-Shaming or A.S.S. campaign and could use some video clips of celebrities against slut-shaming to play at the concert.”

  Ben couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped from his lips. “Ass sounds right. Sure. I can probably get some of my former teammates on board.”

  “Of course you can. And you know what? Us guys should be anti-slut-shaming asses, because we love girls who love sex, don’t we?”

  “Uh, yes. I guess.” Ben wasn’t sure how getting a few football players to do video clips would help him get Brittney back. He had to do something bigger than Nash.

  “Great.” Nash clapped an arm around him. “Hey, we Powers boys gotta stick together. We’re already big asses, so A.S.S. is the right cause for us to support.”

  “Especially if it helps Brittney and her legal fees.” Ben pasted on a grin, even as he cast in his mind for something to upstage Nash.

  “Cool, let’s do it.” Nash tipped his hat and suddenly, Ben knew why he was a country super-star and celebrity. Charm and the ability to forgive. That and not holding grudges.

  “Thanks, Bro.”

  Chapter 71

  ~ Brittney ~

&nbs
p; Days go by with no news from Ben. At least Nash texted me on Friday to let me know they had taken his grandfather home to the sprawling farmhouse. He says Grandpa’s doing well, getting help with his diet and exercise and recovering slowly.

  I didn’t bother asking Nash how Ben was doing. Ben knows where to find me, and if he doesn’t care to contact me—wants to pretend we have nothing to do with each other, then I’m certainly not going to be the one groveling for his attention.

  Instead, I’ve been glued to my laptop, trying to trap the hacker. I lost my best chance a few days back when they’d opened the hole. I almost had the worm uploaded. Now I can’t even get back in. Could someone have tipped off the hackers? Since they shut Samantha’s tunnel, it definitely has to mean something—either she’s guilty or someone who’s been to her apartment went back and closed the hole.

  I’m pissed now. Sean Rodgers, my security guy, isn’t doing anything useful. I punch his number on my cell phone.

  “Hey, Britt, how’s it going?” His voice is as jocular and carefree as a beach bum surfer. Doesn’t he give a shit about the security breaches and the lawsuit?

  “How’s it going? I should ask you. What happened to your security audit? How was it you never caught the hacker coming into our network? Did you know someone was tunneling into Samantha’s router?”

  “Sorry, I can’t talk to you about this. Marlena’s the boss and she says you’re the one doing the hacking. We caught an intrusion from your IP address last week.”

  “I was trying to figure out who the hell hacked in.”

  “Yeah, well, explain it to Marlena.” His voice is still lackadaisical. I can picture him sitting in the bullpen with his feet on the table, scratching his stinky pits.

  “Tell her she should be nailing the real hackers.” I end the call, wishing like hell I could throw my phone at the wall.

  So, I hit a dead end. So my life is in shambles. So I have no friends, not Nash, not Sean, not even Samantha.

  I’m just going to have to be more clever about this. Think. Think. Think. I tap my keys and go through my notes on last year’s hack job. Someone had to have left a hole. Is my honeypot still set up? I’m not sure anyone took it down. Would the hackers be stupid enough? I log into my walled garden network and root around. It sure looks like no one has cleaned it up. From there, I might be able to hop back into Shopahol and continue with my investigation.