Love, Lies & Mistletoe

by Jennifer Snow

  She’d been twenty-four and in way over her head. She was beautiful, smart and funny. She didn’t belong in the drug cartel world, but she thrived on the danger of it. She never used the drugs she imported; she got her high from the uncertainty and fast-paced situations she found herself in. The thrill of the danger appealed to her, and her intensity had appealed to him. He’d tried to stay away from Maria, but he’d had an overwhelming urge to protect her, to convince her to leave the family business without blowing his cover. What had begun as a fake attraction to get close to her had ended up developing into real feelings.

  The closer he’d gotten, the harder he’d fallen until he was desperate to get her away from Leo and the cartel. So desperate he’d considered giving up the undercover assignment by offering her a confessional agreement. Six months in jail for her previous involvement in the crimes in exchange for evidence that would get her brother locked up.

  But his offer hadn’t come quick enough. Maria had been arrested in Mexico, bringing a new supplier’s goods across the border, and she’d died two months later from a stab wound in jail before US authorities could bring her back to the country.

  The experience with Maria had taught Jacob not to get close. Not when he was pretending to be someone he wasn’t. There was no way for a real relationship to develop under those circumstances.

  He looked across the bar at Heather. Now was no different. She could still get hurt from not knowing the truth, from getting caught up in all of this with him.

  Walking away from her would be the best thing for both of them. But suddenly, he knew that wasn’t going to be so easy.

  “Well, that’s it. Party’s over—get out,” Heather was saying as she emptied the dishwasher.

  The last guests were putting on their coats near the door, and he turned to wave at them as they left. “Need some help?” he asked.

  “Nope. Just going to cash out and then head home myself.”

  “I’ll wait with you,” he said, even though he was desperate not to be alone in the empty bar with her.

  “It’s okay. My car is parked right outside. And besides, I don’t have any crazy ex-con ex-husbands who could be stalking me,” she said, opening the register and removing the cash. She started to count.

  He cleared his throat. “About earlier—at the station,” he began. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what happened there.”

  She sighed. “It’s fine. Nothing happened.” She started counting again.

  “Right. Okay, well, I promise nothing will.”

  She started counting a third time. “Good. I’m glad we both agree that it was just some weird, awkward moment that meant nothing.”

  Had he said that? Not exactly. Though he wasn’t about to complicate things by correcting her. “Right. Okay...so you’re good. You’re sure?”

  She nodded.

  He climbed down from the bar stool and grabbed his jacket.

  She put down the bills. “The thing is—I told you, I’m leaving Brookhollow. And you’ve said you plan to stay. Whatever personal reasons you have for that, I don’t need to know them. But I’m just not interested in getting involved at this point.”

  Right. That was smart. He smiled tightly. “I totally agree.”

  “So, we’re good?”

  “Absolutely.” He waved as he headed toward the door.

  “Happy birthday, Jake,” she called after him.

  Guilt for letting her go through all of this for a fake birthday made him pause. He turned back. “You really shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “COFFEE?”

  “Check.”

  “Interview clothes?”

  “Check,” Heather said, grabbing the garment bag that held her new light gray suit from Lily’s, the one Jake had picked out.

  “Impossible-to-walk-in-for-anybody-but-you shoes?” Victoria continued.

  “Check. I think I’m ready.” Heather glanced at her watch. She had three hours to get to New York, change in a Starbuck’s bathroom and show up at her interview at Highstone Acquisitions.

  Victoria hugged her, squishing baby Harper between them. “I’m not.”

  “I’m sorry, Vic,” she said for the millionth time. The only thing she felt bad about was leaving Victoria and the B and B. At least that was all she’d been feeling bad about...until last night. The time with Jake was changing everything. At first, she’d been able to dismiss their casual flirting as some much-needed excitement in her small-town life experiment. But now...well, she could no longer deny she had feelings for him. The question was—how strong were those feelings? Would they linger after she’d left Brookhollow, make her long to return? Or would they disappear the moment her stiletto heels clicked down the sidewalk in Manhattan?

  Man, if someone had told her a month ago she’d be dealing with a dilemma like this, she’d never have believed them.

  “No, I’m sorry,” Victoria said, cutting into her thoughts. “This is a good thing. You deserve this opportunity. Now, go before you’re late.” She glanced through the curtain. “Looks like the snow hasn’t started yet. Just be careful.”

  After losing her friends in a highway car accident, Victoria worried whenever someone else she loved left the Brookhollow town limits. “I will,” she said, pulling on her UGG boots and sliding into her thermal jacket.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather take the truck?” Victoria still looked concerned as she surveyed the darkening morning clouds. “The four-wheel drive would be safer if the snow does start...”

  “No, in case I decide to stay overnight at my sister’s place, I wouldn’t want to leave you and Luke with my crappy old sedan. Besides, Bailey just put new all-season tires on it, so I should be fine.” She hoped she sounded more confident in the run-down used vehicle she’d bought just to get around town.

  “Okay. And your cell phone is charged?” Victoria asked.

  Oh, no. Was her cell phone charged? She rummaged around in her purse until she found it. Half battery. Not great, but it should last until she could charge it in the city. “It’s good enough,” she said, hugging her friend again. “Wish me luck.”

  “Even if I don’t mean it?” Victoria teased.

  Heather laughed. “I’ll see you guys either later tonight or tomorrow. Bye, Harper,” she said, waving to the little girl, who was busy yanking Victoria’s blond hair from her head.

  A few minutes later, Heather backed her tiny car out of the B and B parking lot. She turned on the radio and found the local all-day Christmas music station and got ready for the long drive ahead of her. The first few snowflakes began to fall, and she took a deep breath.

  “Don’t panic. It’s only snow. You got this,” she said, sitting straighter in the seat, already feeling her back tighten. She’d never actually driven on the highway in winter before...but it was fine. She had three hours. She’d just take her time. Everything would be fine.

  She had an MBA. This couldn’t be that difficult.

  As she reached the stop sign on the corner, she heard a police siren and spotted red-and-blue lights in her rearview. She frowned, her heart racing. Please, let it be Sheriff Bishop. The last thing she needed was to see Jake right now. It was bad enough that her every waking thought the past few days had been about him, but then sleep had eluded her the night before, and she’d lain awake thinking about him and his easy agreement that nothing could happen between them. She glanced at the side mirror.

  Fantastic, it was him.

  She quickly checked her reflection before rolling down the window and turning the volume down on the radio.

  “Oh, it’s you,” he said, a look of awkward surprise on his face.

  Wow. Nice greeting. “Good morning to you, too.”

  “Sorry—good morning,” he mumbled. �
�Can I see your driver’s license and registration, please.”

  “Are you serious right now, Jake?”

  “Yes.”

  She huffed as she opened her purse and handed him the license and registration.

  “Do you know why I’m pulling you over?” he asked, scanning the registration.

  “Well, I couldn’t possibly have been speeding yet, since I’d just left the driveway, so, no. No idea.” She shivered as a cold breeze blew snow onto her lap. She reached forward and cranked the heat.

  “You have a taillight out. I saw the New York plates and thought you were a guest from the B and B heading back to the city.”

  “Well, I guess technically I am. I have my job interview today at Highstone Acquisitions.” She checked the time on the dash. “And I have to get going, or I’ll be late. I’ll take the car into Bailey’s Place to get the taillight fixed as soon as I get back.”

  He nodded reluctantly, but studying her driver’s license, his brow creased. “Um... Heather?”

  Oh, no. Stay calm. Act cool. “Yeah?”

  “Is this your current driver’s license?”

  “Yep,” she said, reaching for it.

  He moved it out of reach. “It expired two years ago.”

  “No, it didn’t.” Could it really have been that long since she’d renewed it? She didn’t drive in the city...and Brookhollow roads didn’t count as real driving. There was only one stoplight.

  He showed her the expiration date.

  Yep, two years. “I’ll renew it as soon as I get back,” she promised.

  Unlikely. Once she returned to New York, it was subways and taxis for her. This piece of crap car that had caused her nothing but trouble could stay right here in Brookhollow.

  “Heather, I can’t let you drive to New York without a valid license. I should be giving you a fine right now,” Jake said.

  “Jake, I have to get to this job interview. I’m begging you to let me off with a warning this time and let me continue on my way.”

  “I can’t.”

  She sighed. “Look, just because there’s a connection between us doesn’t mean you can pull this on me right now,” she said.

  “Hey! It’s because there’s a connection between us that I’m not dragging your butt into the station.”

  She stared straight ahead, fighting the tears she felt forcing their way into the corners of her eyes.

  “Look, I’d like to give you a break but, Heather, two years? You’ve been driving without a license for two years? Come on—you have to know that’s not a good idea.”

  She slumped against the seat. What was she going to do now? If she called and canceled the interview, would Mike Ainsley allow her to reschedule? Their office closed the following week for the holidays.

  So much for the weather being her major challenge this morning.

  * * *

  JACOB STARED INTO space next to Heather’s car, hands on hips, wishing he’d never pulled her over. His night shift was technically finished. Could he let her go? Pretend this never happened as long as she promised to renew the license right away? Could he ignore protocol and all of his gut instincts this one time?

  Who was he kidding? If she got stopped on the highway or in New York, the officers there wouldn’t be so kind. She could face huge fines. Or worse, if she had an accident, she could be in a lot of trouble.

  He couldn’t allow her to go.

  But she needed to get to this interview. It would really suck if she lost the job opportunity because of this. “Hey, I’m sorry. If I could go back ten minutes and not pull you over, I—” He shook his head. “No, that’s not true, I’m glad I did. Heather, you’re lucky I’m the one talking to you right now and that this wasn’t an accident or something.”

  “Lucky? Ha!” She folded her arms, staring straight ahead. Her pretty pink lips, set in a thin straight line, said it all.

  “Is there anyone else who could drive you?”

  “No. Luke is on a job site, and Victoria has to stay at the B and B. There are guests checking in any moment, and she has Harper to take care of.”

  “What about Melody and Brad?”

  She shook her head. “They’re in Newark giving a benefit concert this evening.”

  He sighed. “Is there anyone else you could ask?”

  “I really don’t have many close friends around here. Not ones who would drive three hours to New York and back.”

  He was afraid of that.

  “What about a taxi?”

  “A taxi from here would cost a fortune, and I spent all of my disposable cash throwing someone a birthday party,” she said tightly, still refusing to meet his eyes.

  A birthday party for a fake birthday. He still felt guilty about that. “I’m sorry, Heather... I’d drive you myself, but...” He couldn’t go to New York. He’d promised that he’d stay away and try to keep a low profile. And if he got hurt and couldn’t testify, who knew when his sister and nephew could return to their home? Their lives? There was so much at stake. And he couldn’t tell Heather any of it. His jaw tightened, and he wanted to kick something.

  “But?” She looked at him expectantly.

  The pleading and disappointment in her eyes was too much.

  He stared at the darkening sky for a long moment, going back and forth in his mind a million times.

  Screw it. “Turn the car around, and I’ll meet you at the B and B. I’ll drive you.” He could drop her off, wait in the car for her, then head straight back. His next shift didn’t start until that evening. How long could an interview take? An hour? No one had to know he was there, and Sheriff Bishop didn’t have to know he’d left town. Cody was spending the day with his wife, since it was her due date, so he wasn’t tagging along that morning. No one would know. Everything would be fine.

  When her face lit up, there was no changing his mind anyway. “You will?”

  “Yes. Meet you at the B and B,” he said, tapping the roof of the car.

  He must be out of his mind.

  Or falling in love with her.

  Fan-freaking-tastic.

  * * *

  SITTING IN THE passenger seat of her car a few minutes later, Heather removed her jacket in the warmth of the vehicle.

  That was a close one. For a second, she’d thought she might not make it to the interview. Jake’s offer to drive her was actually a good thing because she really was nervous about the slippery highways. By the time she arrived, she would’ve probably been too stressed to be at her best.

  Still, his offer had taken him quite a bit of thought, and she couldn’t help but wonder what that was about.

  “A little underdressed for an interview, aren’t you?” Jake asked, glancing at her as he put the car in reverse.

  “My interview clothes are in the backseat. I don’t think I’d be getting the job if I showed up wearing this.”

  He slowly scanned her white tank top and navy yoga pants. “I’d hire you.”

  A rush of heat soared through her. “Just drive. I’m going to be late,” she said, turning her attention out the window. Suddenly, spending hours in the car with Jake seemed like a terrible idea. If things went well, soon she would be leaving Brookhollow...and if her schedule was half as busy as it had been at Clarke and Johnston, she wouldn’t have time to visit often, if at all. She wondered if she should say something...but she couldn’t decide if it was necessary or not. Since his party, she hadn’t seen him; he hadn’t shown up at the bar again, and despite the intense look of interest he’d just given her, he seemed to have taken her instructions and had turned his focus strictly to driving.

  Kicking her feet free of her boots, she tucked her legs beneath her.

  He cleared his throat then turned down the volume on the Christmas music. “So about the
other night.”

  “At the party?” Okay, so she was going to pretend she didn’t know what he was referring to.

  “No, at the station.”

  She waved a hand and scoffed. “That was nothing. Don’t sweat it,” she said, hoping she sounded convincing. In truth, she’d thought about that “nothing” for two days straight.

  He nodded, looking slightly relieved. “Okay.”

  “Okay.”

  “Yeah, but it kinda wasn’t nothing, and I feel like I should apologize again and explain...”

  She swallowed hard. “There’s nothing to explain, Jake. Neither of us is looking for a relationship right now.”

  He still looked frustrated, but he nodded. “Okay. So we’re still good?”

  “We’re good. Besides, December 7—that would make you a...Sagittarius.”

  He shrugged. “If you say so.”

  “I’m a Virgo.”

  “Okayyy...”

  “It just further proves that we’re incompatible. So even if I wasn’t leaving Brookhollow and you weren’t so closed-off and antirelationship-y, this would never work.” Well, that solved that. Even the stars didn’t align for them—it was a sign. Too bad her heart was beating the crap out of her common sense.

  “Incompatible, huh?” Jake asked, swerving quickly into the outer lane and pulling to the curb. He released his seat belt and reached for her.

  Her eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

  “You have your way of determining if we’re compatible. Let me show you mine,” he said, placing his hands on her face and kissing her.

  She blinked in surprise, then quickly gave in, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his neck. His fingers tangled in her hair, and she didn’t even care that she’d spent over an hour painstakingly flat-ironing it to perfection. His mouth exploring hers was bound to be wreaking havoc with her lip liner, but again, she couldn’t care less. She deepened the kiss, moving closer to him until the gear shift was pressing into the side of her leg. She barely felt it, enjoying the way his tongue teased her bottom lip. She moaned softly, and he pulled away reluctantly.