“Okay then Brett. Here we are in Aspen. Two people who know so little about each other. What do we do now?”
“Let’s get to the cabin.” He winked and unbuckled his seatbelt. I followed suit and released the buckle and stood up following Brett to the exit.
Mandy
“Oh my god Lex! We are in Aspen! Can you believe this.” I threw my arm around Lex as we made our way to an all black SUV. “It’s so cold and I don’t even care.”
Lex just laughed and looked nervous. “Relax Lex, you are in Aspen with me and a hot guy. What more could you ask for?”
We piled in the SUV. Brett got in the driver’s seat and Lex hoped in back so I climbed in next to her. I had a feeling she needed a pep talk before we got to the cabin. Luke had told me about the cabin on the flight up. He explained that even though they owned a hotel here, Brett also owned a cabin and that is where we would be staying. I just hoped that Lex didn’t freak out when she realized we would be alone with the guys the few days we were here.
“Are you warm enough back there?” Brett asked.
“Yeah.” Lex and I replied at the same time.
The drive was a bit awkward now that we were here. I could tell Lex was getting nervous and if I didn’t do something soon, she would clam up and be miserable the entire trip. I leaned over to her and gave her a one armed hug. She smiled up at me relaxing a bit. As we drove through the town I stared out the window amazed at how the Christmas lights twinkled against the snow covered ground.
“Lex.” I turned away from the window and pulled her closer to me. “Look. Isn’t it amazing?”
“Wow. The snow, the lights. It’s beautiful.”
“I take it neither of you have ever had a white Christmas?” Luke asked as he turned around in his seat so he could see us.
“Never. This is amazing.” Lex smiled as she continued to stare out the window. The lights still twinkled away as we drove further away from the city. A few minutes later we pulled up a driveway surrounded by twinkling trees. I could see lights up ahead but was not expecting the mansion that we pulled up to.
“This isn’t a cabin. This is a freaking mansion.” I blurted out a little louder than I meant.
The guys started laughing. “It’s a cabin. See the logs. It’s a log cabin actually.”
Lex and I stumbled out of the SUV and stood in awe as we stared at the outside of the log mansion. A cabin is small and cozy. This was huge and was bigger than my apartment building.
“Are you ladies coming or are you going to stand out here and freeze?” Luke came up behind me and squeezed my waist causing me to jump.
“Luke, what are you doing? You scared the shit out of me.” I swatted his hands away.
“I called your name a few times but you were too busy staring at the cabin and you didn’t hear me.” He smiled. “Come on. Let’s go inside.” I nodded and took his hand that he offered and walked up the sidewalk to the front door trying not to stare in complete awe as we walked in. Even with its size it still gave off a homey feel. The walls appeared to be logs, just as the outside looked. There was a huge double staircase when you walked in. The living room area held a huge brick fireplace and the back of the house was made of all windows. It was dark so you couldn’t see much, but I had a feeling that in the morning the view was absolutely breathtaking.
“Would you like to see your rooms?” Brett asked. I looked over at Lex who was staring at Brett as though he was the last cupcake on the planet.
“Sure.” I walked over to where Brett was leaning up against the staircase as Lex finally came out of her stupor and followed.
Chapter Seven
Lex
Luckily Mandy was with me, because there was no way I could answer a simple question as I stood there staring at Brett as he leaned against the staircase. He just oozed sex and the longer I was around him, the more I knew I was in over my head.
He was going to ruin me. I knew it and I just didn’t care anymore. He was worth it. He would ruin me and then after these next few days I would go back to my normal boring life.
“Would you be more comfortable sharing a room or would you like your own?” Brett asked as we followed him up the stairs. I really wasn’t paying that close attention. How could I when all I could see was his butt as he walked ahead of me?
“Lex, what do you think?”
“Share.” I looked at Mandy. She smiled and nodded.
“We can share.”
“You can have the master then.” We followed him down the hall until he stopped in front of a door and pushed it open. “Here you are.” We walked in behind him. The walls were a light grey and one entire wall was covered in a floor to ceiling curtain.
“The bathroom is through there.” He pointed to a closed door. “The remote for the curtain is on the nightstand. Since this is your first time in Aspen, I would open the curtain as soon as you awake. My room is at the end of the hall; last one on the right. Luke’s is the door before mine. If you need anything, don’t be afraid to knock. Have a good night girls.”
“Thank you Brett. This place is amazing.” I smiled at him.
“Yes, thank you. This place is beautiful. Good night.” Mandy waved as she threw herself on the huge bed. He smiled as he turned to walk out of the room. Shit. Should I follow him and at least tell him good night? Would I look desperate if I tried to kiss him? I dropped my bag and followed him out, catching him before he got to his room.
“Brett.” He turned to me.
“I just wanted to say good night and thank you again.”
“You’re welcome.” He took a step closer to me. “Do I make you nervous?” he whispered.
“Kind of.” I looked up at him. He stepped even closer as I stood still cemented in place.
“You shouldn’t be. I promise I wont hurt you Lex. What ever happens or doesn’t happen between us is all up to you. Can I kiss you?”
I nodded as I looked into his eyes. He leaned down pressing his lips to mine.
Mandy
I couldn’t help myself. Lex had followed Brett out a few minutes ago and I was starting to wonder if she ditched me. I peeked out the door and down the hallway. Holy fucking shit that was hot. Brett held Lex’s face in his hands as she held him to her, their lips locked together. When they pulled apart I ducked back in the room so that I didn’t get caught watching.
I fanned myself with my hand as I threw myself down on the bed. Just moments after Lex walked through the door. With a smile plastered on her face, she shut the door and leaned up against it.
“Someone looks like they just got their rocks off.”
“Mandy that man can kiss and if that was just a kiss, imagine what a night in his bed would be like.”
“You little slut. You want to have sex with him. Little Miss Uptight and Practically Born Again Virgin wants to have a little roll in the sack with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.”
“Oh shut up Mandy. I’m not a virgin. But what could it hurt jumping into bed with him? It’s not like this is a long term relationship. I just want to feel again and that kiss. Wow it was like, I don’t know really. I’ve never felt anything like that before.”
“Not even with Gregg?” I asked.
“Gregg who?” she laughed as she walked over to the bed and plopped down.
“That’s what I thought. Now I think I deserve a thank you.”
“For what?”
“For dragging you out of your place. Now look at us. We are in freaking Aspen with two hot guys who think we are cute. So let’s get some sleep.” I hopped off the bed and unzipped my suitcase. I hoped I packed pajamas or else I was going to be sleeping naked and Lex would just have to deal with it. I found a pair of yoga shorts and a tank and went to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
“Lex.” I called from the bathroom.
“What?” she asked as she walked in. “Wow.” She looked around as I stared at the clawfoot bath tub. It was my unicorn. In my dr
eam house this was the perfect tub. I would seriously marry a man just for this tub. The rest of the bathroom didn’t even matter, just the tub. I stared at it longingly.
“Are you going to get ready for bed Mandy or are you going to crawl in the tub and never leave?”
“I’m thinking about grabbing a pillow and blanket and making my bed in the tub actually.”
“Come on. You can wake up early and take a bath. Let’s get some sleep.”
Chapter Eight
Lex
I woke up before Mandy who was still snoring. I lifted the control off the nightstand and started pressing buttons. Christmas music started playing through the speakers. So that wasn’t the right button. I continued pressing buttons until the curtain finally opened. I watched as the light started peeking through the curtains. I dropped the remote in my lap as the view from the bed became visible. I looked over at Mandy who was still asleep and shook her.
“Mandy. Wake up. You have got to see this.”
“What time is it?” She rubbed her eyes.
“Look at the freaking view.”
She sat up and finally opened her eyes. “Holy fucking shit Lex. Marry him or I will. I don’t care what you have to do. Imagine waking up to this view all the time.”
“Right? What are we doing here? This has to be a dream right?”
“Nope, not a dream Lex. In your dreams it’s not nearly as perfect as this. This is real life. Maybe not for us but this is real. Enjoy it and I am totally serious- you need to marry that man.”
“Mandy I don’t even know him. All I know is his name and that he has a lot of money. I can’t just say “Hey Brett, let’s go elope and live happily ever after.” It doesn’t work like that. If I ever do get married it will be because he is not only my best friend, but also the love of my life. I won’t settle nor will I marry someone just because they have money. I want the real deal. Not what I had with Gregg. You know what? It doesn’t even matter because what I want probably doesn’t exist. So let’s enjoy Aspen and the company of those two handsome men and see what happens.”
“Fine. But should we get dressed first or go see if there is any coffee? Because you know I can’t function without a big cup of coffee first thing in the morning.” I looked down at what I was wearing. Shorts and a tank, same as Mandy.
“You’re covered up and so am I. So let’s go see about that coffee and then get dressed.”
She pushed herself out of bed and followed me out the bedroom door. We quietly crept down the hall, not knowing if the guys were up yet or not. If they weren’t, then I didn’t want to wake them.
Mandy
I was too busy looking around me that I didn’t even realize that Lex had stopped moving. I ran right into the back of her. When I finally stopped to see what made her stop in her tracks, I think my jaw hit the floor.
“Morning ladies.” Brett and Luke said simultaneously.
“Morning.” We both said in a slightly high pitched voice.
Oh good lord. The two of them standing there leaning up against the counter wearing sweatpants left very little to the imagination. Sweatpants on muscular men was the best thing created since sliced bread. Is there such thing as a lady boner? Because that is exactly what was happening. Luke was standing there with no shirt on, tattoos covering his chest and arms, his blue eyes, and shaggy just woke up blonde hair. Yup, I was done for. He would be the end of me. There was no way anyone could be as close to the perfection that Luke exhibits. Not even Brett. And he was one sexy man, but Luke. He was my perfection. If I could have built my dream man, he is exactly what the outcome would be.
“Mandy.” Lex slapped my shoulder.
“Huh?” I looked over at her.
“Luke asked if you wanted a cup of coffee?”
“Oh yeah, thanks.” I snapped back to reality and walked over to Luke who was standing at the coffee pot as he waited for me to respond.
“What do you want to do today?”
“I don’t know. I don’t really know what there is to do.”
“Want to go tubing?”
“Tubing?” I questioned him.
“Yeah. Where you sit in big tubes and go down the hill.”
“That sounds like fun. Will it be cold?”
He laughed. “Babe, it’s snow. What do you think?”
“I should wear a coat, huh?”
“And snow pants and boots.”
“I don’t have boots and snow pants.”
“No worries. Brett, does your mom or sister have their gear here?” Luke asked.
“Yeah, should be in their room.”
“See? Problem solved.”
“What about you guys? What are your plans for the day?” I looked over at Brett and Lex who were standing against the counter talking in hushed voices, pausing to answer my question.
“Ice skating.” Lex smiled.
“Oh man Brett. You are so in for it.” I laughed.
“Why?” He gave me a questioning look.
“You’ll see.” I laughed and picked up my coffee cup. “I’m going to go get dressed.”
“Make sure you dress warm.” Luke called out as I made my way back to the room.
I kind of felt sorry for Brett. Lex was clumsy as a baby deer and put her on ice, I just hoped she didn’t end up in the hospital with a broken leg or something.
Chapter Nine
Lex
“What should I wear?” I asked Mandy as she was pulling on multiple layers of clothing.
“I don’t know. It’s cold so lots of layers.”
“Its cold Mandy but not that cold.”
“Dude, when it’s fifty out I’m freezing. I checked my phone and it said the high today was going to be forty. Do you know how cold that is? I am liable to freeze my nipples off.”
“Well I’m sure Luke won’t mind warming you back up if you do freeze.”
“I’m hoping so.” She winked at me as she put on a third long sleeved shirt.
I opted for a thick grey wool sweater and a pair of black flannel lined leggings. I also had my fur-lined boots to keep my feet warm.
“Have fun tubing with Luke. And at least make him wait until tonight before you jump in bed with him.” I laughed as I walked out of the room leaving Mandy to continue layering her clothes.
“Ready?” Brett asked as I made my way to the front door where he was waiting for me. He was wearing dark denim jeans and a grey Henley with a black pea coat. “Did you bring gloves?” he asked.
“Oh shit. No. I forgot them.”
“That’s okay. We can grab some while we are in town.” He opened the door and held it open until I walked out ahead of him. The chill in the air stung my cheeks as we walked to the SUV that was already started. I got in the passenger side.
“You ready to ice skate?”
“Yes, I am.” I smiled at him and watched him as he started driving.
“Do I want to know what Mandy meant by the good luck with ice skating?”
“Ahh well, I’m not very coordinated.”
“If I remember correctly, it was Mandy who slid on the champagne and fell into Luke’s arms yesterday.”
“True but that is only because she found the puddle before me. Believe me, if I would have slipped I would have brought everyone within my reach down with me.”
Mandy
We spent all morning tubing. Who would have thought that going down hills in a rubber tube would be fun?
“What do you want to do now?”
“Well I, for one, would like to remove a few layers of clothes. I think I may have gone a bit overboard.”
“Want to go back to the cabin and take a soak in the hot tub?”
“Sign me up. Let’s go.” We started back for the car.
“Mandy. Wait.”
“Huh?” I turned around and his lips came crashing down on mine just as I felt a snowflake dropped on my nose.
“Mistletoe,” he whispe
red, placing another kiss on my nose.
I looked up as the snow started falling from the sky.
“Come on. There’s a hot tub waiting for us.”
As we made our way back to the cabin I was having a hard time keeping my hands off of him. I wanted to crawl over the center console and climb onto his lap.
Half way back to the cabin I realized I didn’t have a swimsuit.
“Ahh, small problem.”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t have a swimsuit.”
“You have a bra and panties, right?”
“Well I have a bra but ah, well, I don’t really wear panties.” The car swerved a bit before he got it back on track.
“Oh. Um what about the shorts you were wearing this morning? Those will work. Or we could always go skinny dipping.” He turned and gave me a wink before turning his attention back to the road ahead of him.
Chapter Ten
Lex
Okay. So I wasn’t the best at ice skating. Brett, however, turned out to be a pro. He tried to teach me but it turned out my clumsiness was my downfall. I think I spent more time on my butt then I did on my feet.
“Want to head back and get in the hot tub?” Brett asked after we finished lunch.
“Sure. But I don’t have a swimsuit.”
“I’m sure we can come up with something. My sister probably has a few back at the house that still have the tags on them.”
We pulled into the driveway and made our way inside. “Follow me. We can check and see what’s in my sister’s room.”
“So whose cabin is this anyways?”
“Mine, but my Mom, Dad, and sister come out a lot. It was just easier to give them their own rooms. I wasn’t going to use them all.”
“Wait. So whose room am I staying in?”
“That would be mine.”
“What? I can’t stay in your room and make you sleep somewhere else.”
Christmas in the City II Page 11
