A Fool's Gold Christmas

by Susan Mallery

  A class for three-and four-year-olds could be during the day, which would be easier on her schedule. Maybe early afternoon. She could even consider a Mommy and Me type class. As for the performance, if the toddlers went first…

  There was no point in thinking about that, she told herself. Her plan was to leave town long before next year’s show. So the toddlers weren’t her problem. But for a second, she thought about how adorable they would be as they danced.

  “Let me get through the holiday show,” she told Dakota. “If you want to give me a call after the first of the year, we can talk about starting a class for the younger kids. I would enjoy teaching them.”

  “Thank you. Have a great holiday. I’ll be calling.”

  She walked off with Charlie. Clay paused to give Evie a brief hug before joining his fiancée.

  “Can three-year-olds dance?” Dante asked, sounding doubtful.

  “Sure. It’s good for them to study dance as they’re still developing. If done correctly, the practice will improve their motor skills, balance and posture. As long as the training isn’t too rigorous or boring. At that age, dance should be fun.”

  “And when they’re older?”

  “If they’re serious, then it’s a lot of hard work.” Talent was also required, she thought, remembering what it had been like when she’d been told she didn’t have what it took to make it at Juilliard. It didn’t matter that she’d trained the longest, had given the most. Without the raw ability, she would never be good enough.

  They walked toward the square at the center of town. Light from the streetlamps reflected off the decorations, but until it was lit, the huge tree was little more than a hulking shadow in the darkness.

  Evie recognized a few families in the crowd and waved at the people who had taken the time to help with her sets. She leaned into Dante.

  “Thanks for talking to my brothers,” she said. “For getting them to help.”

  “I didn’t do much.”

  “You made sure they showed up. That was nice. Thank you.”

  He groaned. “Not nice. Don’t say nice. I would rather be the hot, sexy lawyer you can’t resist.”

  She grinned at him but thought privately that he was all that and more.

  He looked at her. “They want to be there for you, Evie. You just have to give them a chance.”

  Before she could decide if she agreed or not, Shane and Annabelle wandered up and stood next to them. Annabelle was flushed from the cold and munching on a funnel cake.

  “I’m eating for twenty,” Annabelle announced. “That can’t be good, right?”

  “You’re beautiful,” Shane told her.

  “I’m going to need my own zip code.” Annabelle took another bite and chewed. When she’d swallowed, she looked at Evie. “I need you to be an elf.”

  Evie stared at her. “Excuse me?”

  “Okay, technically it’s not me. It’s Heidi. Even not pregnant I wouldn’t be a good elf. I’m too short.”

  Evie knew for a fact that Annabelle wasn’t drinking, so she had no explanation for the confusing topic of conversation.

  Shane put his arm around his fiancée. “You have to start at the beginning.”

  “What? Oh. The ranch offers holiday sleigh rides. We decorate the sleighs and the horses. Of course if there’s no snow, then they’re wagon rides. We have hot cocoa and cookies and…”

  “Elves?” Dante offered helpfully.

  Annabelle nodded.

  “I have to get everyone ready for The Dance of the Winter King,” Evie said quickly, thinking she didn’t have time to be an elf.

  “It’s only for a couple of evenings. Heidi will know for sure.” Annabelle finished the last of the funnel cake, then looked hopefully at Shane. “Do you think I could have a cookie now?”

  “Sure.”

  Dante watched them walk off. “You have a weird family.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “You’d be a cute elf. Do you think the costume has pointy ears?” He sounded hopeful as he asked the question.

  “You have a thing for pointy ears?”

  “No, but I’m picturing an elf costume. It’s very sexy.”

  “You’re as strange as my family.”

  “I can live with that.”

  He leaned in as if he was going to kiss her, but just then a voice came over the speaker system.

  “Hello, everyone. I’m Mayor Marsha. Welcome to the annual Fool’s Gold tree lighting ceremony.”

  Dante straightened. “Later,” he promised.

  She nodded.

  The crowd moved in around them. Dante shifted her so she was in front of him, his arms around her waist. She leaned into him, enjoying the contact and the warmth.

  After a few minutes of announcements, a song from the high school glee club, a cheer from the high school cheerleaders, and a drum roll, the lights of the thirty-foot tree came on.

  They shone brightly against the dark night sky, and the crowd clapped. There was a bright star at the top, and about half the lights blinked on and off. A few feet away, a little boy asked, “Daddy, do you think it’s gonna snow?”

  Everyone laughed.

  Unfortunately, the skies were clear. Evie found herself agreeing with the little boy—wanting snow on a magical night.

  “I have so got to get me one of those,” Dante whispered in her ear.

  She laughed. “Where would you put it?”

  “I’m not sure, but I’d figure something out.”

  * * *

  AN HOUR LATER they were back at her place. With the gas fireplace going and the heat up, they’d finally stopped shivering. Without jackets and scarves getting in the way, they could do some very interesting things with each other, as Evie discovered, stretched out on the sofa with Dante.

  He had his arms around her and his body pressed to hers. He was all lean muscle—masculine and strong. When he kissed her, she found herself more than willing to surrender. The idea of being sensible was highly overrated.

  He kissed her cheek, her jaw and then down her neck. Shivers accompanied the brush of his mouth. Very specific parts of her body were paying attention, and she found herself willing him to touch her breasts.

  She wrapped her arms around him and squirmed to get closer, hoping he would get the message. He shifted so he was kissing her mouth again, his tongue tangling with hers. Passion coiled around them, drawing them together.

  One of his legs slipped between hers. His thigh pressed against her center. She pushed against the unyielding surface, wanting the contact, the sweetness of his fingers or even his mouth. The image of them naked together filled her mind and made her catch her breath.

  He was hard already. She could feel that part of him pressing against her hip. They were both adults. Single. There was no reason not to—

  He sat up and stared at her. “I should, ah, go.”

  It sounded like more of a question than a statement. She could see the battle raging in his eyes. No doubt the fact that his business partner was her brother had something to do with it. And that he’d met her mother. He was being sensible. She should respect that. Which she did. Sort of.

  “Okay,” she murmured.

  “Unless you want me to stay.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Did you want me to order takeout? Are you hungry?”

  One corner of his mouth turned up. “Now you’re messing with me again.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I expected better.”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  He grinned. “Was that a yes on me staying?”

  She reached for the hem of her sweater and pulled it slowly over her head. As she moved, she felt him stiffen. What she knew and he didn’t was that underneath she wore a camisole. She was still completely covered.

  Still, as he stared at her, he looked like a man who had just discovered a miracle.

  “That was a yes,” she whispered as he reached for her.

  Chapter Ten

  Ev
ie carried a pot of coffee and a plate of toast upstairs. She was tired in the best possible way. Lack of sleep due to a charming, handsome man in her bed was an excuse she could fully embrace. She walked into the bedroom and set the plates and coffee on the dresser. She pulled two mugs out of her robe pockets. Before she could pour, Dante stepped out of the bathroom…naked.

  He smiled when he saw her. “You’re back.”

  “Are you surprised? I said I would return with coffee.”

  “I would have been just as happy to see you if you’d come back without any.”

  He crossed the space between them, took the mugs from her and put them on the dresser, then pulled her into his arms. As she stepped into his embrace, he pushed off her robe and she let it fall to the floor.

  Then his hands were touching her, and she was leaning in to have a little personal contact of her own.

  They’d made love twice in the night, then slept in a tangle of arms and legs. She would have thought he was the type to disappear after the deed, but he’d settled in and she’d been happy to have him stay. Now as he slid his hands over her hips and then up to her breasts, she felt herself starting to melt again. But just as they started to kiss, her stomach growled.

  Dante drew back. “You didn’t get any dinner last night, did you?”

  Food hadn’t seemed very important. “I’m fine.”

  “No way. You’re not starving on my watch.”

  He picked up the robe and draped it around her shoulders, then pushed her toward the bed. She pulled her long hair out of the way, shrugged into the robe and slipped between the sheets. After pouring them each a mug of coffee, he carried one to her and handed her the plate of toast.

  “Eat.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He returned with his own mug and settled next to her on the bed. He sipped coffee and watched her finish a piece of toast.

  “Better?” he asked when she’d finished.

  She nodded. “Like I said, I’m fine.”

  “You’re thin and you spend your day dancing. You need more food.”

  “I weigh nearly ten pounds more than I did when I was dancing professionally.”

  He leaned back in mock surprise. “And yet the earth manages to stay in its rotational orbit. Stunning.”

  She grinned. “You think you’re funny.”

  “I am funny.” He touched her face. “You’re so beautiful.”

  “That’s the sex talking.”

  “No, it’s me.” He leaned toward her. “Maybe later you can model some of your ballet costumes.”

  She laughed.

  “See,” he told her triumphantly. “I’m funny.”

  “You’re a riot.”

  “I’m not kidding about the costumes.”

  She pushed him onto the pillows, then bent over and kissed him. “Do you have a dancer fantasy?”

  “No, I have a fantasy about you. It’s specific. It’s also my favorite.”

  She knew he was playing, but his words were oddly touching. “I’ve never been anyone’s fantasy before.”

  “Sure you have,” he said before he kissed her. “You just didn’t know.” His mouth lingered. Then he drew back and pointed to the toast. “Eat more. You’ll need to keep your strength up for later.”

  “That sounds interesting.”

  He watched her nibble on the toast, then grabbed a piece for himself. “So why isn’t there a guy?” he asked between bites. “A husband or a boyfriend?”

  “I haven’t met anyone I can imagine falling in love with. Not in a forever kind of way.” She shrugged. “I’ve gotten close a couple of times, but somehow my heart never quite flung itself over the cliff.”

  “Interesting visual.”

  She grinned. “You know what I mean.”

  “I do.”

  She finished her toast and tied her robe more tightly around her midsection. “What’s your story? Why isn’t there a Mrs. Jefferson waiting in a suburban paradise somewhere?”

  “I’m not that guy,” he said with a shrug.

  “Don’t believe in love?”

  “Love is too dangerous.” Dante put down his mug of coffee on the nightstand and looked at her. “I was in a gang when I was a kid. I got in early. It was a way to be safe on the streets. My mom didn’t like it, but she was working all the time, so she couldn’t stop me. Plus I was a kid and pissing her off didn’t matter.”

  He took her hand in his and stared at their linked fingers. “When I was fifteen, I met a girl. She belonged to a rival gang leader, but we didn’t care. We were in love. And stupid. When he found out, he went after my mom.”

  Dante raised his head and looked into her eyes. “She was killed in a drive-by shooting. To teach me a lesson.”

  If Evie had been standing, she would have fallen. She could feel her legs giving way and her breathing stop.

  “I stole a car to go after him,” he continued. “I was caught and instead of being put into jail, I went into a trial program that pulled younger teens out of the gang world and put them in a completely different environment. For me, that was a military school in Texas.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered and reached for him. She put her hands on his shoulders and lightly kissed him. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Thanks. I don’t talk about her much. It was a long time ago, but I still miss her.”

  “Of course you do.”

  She couldn’t comprehend what he’d told her. The words all made sense, but the images were painful, and she was picturing them from a distance.

  “I would give anything to have her back,” he said quietly. “She was so good to me, and I was a typical teenager. She never got to see me grow up.”

  “She would have been really proud of you.”

  “I know.” He glanced at her. “I’m not prepared to put my heart in someone else’s hands again, but she’s the main reason I’ve pushed you about May. I would give anything for a second chance with my mom.”

  The situations were different, but she understood how he would think that. “I can see how you’d want to ride to the rescue. You do that a lot.”

  “Me? Never.”

  “You, always.”

  He kissed her. “Don’t make me too much of the good guy.” He paused. “I meant what I said before. I don’t talk about this. Rafe doesn’t know.” He hesitated.

  She squeezed his hand. “I won’t say anything to anyone.”

  “Thanks.”

  He drew her down next to him and kissed the side of her neck. “Enough with the serious topics. What are your plans for today?”

  She snuggled close, thinking she would happily give up all her plans to spend more time with him. But she wasn’t going to push or assume.

  “I have laundry,” she said. “I might go buy a Christmas tree later, and I have nothing to eat in the house but a loaf of bread and coffee.”

  “Sounds like a full day,” he said, leaning over her. His blue eyes sparkled with something she would like to think was passion and maybe a little anticipation. “Any room for me in it?”

  “What did you have in mind?” she asked, her voice breathless.

  “A lot of things.” He brushed his mouth against hers.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself over to the sensations washing through her. His hand fumbled with the tie on her robe, then the silky fabric fell free. His fingers caressed her belly before moving higher and—

  She stiffened, sure she’d heard something from downstairs.

  “What was that?” she asked.

  Dante raised his head. “It sounded like voices.”

  “And footsteps.”

  She wasn’t the type to hear bumps in the night. Besides, it was practically midmorning on a weekend. The sun was out and people were around.

  “I’ll go investigate,” Dante said, sitting up. He reached for his jeans, but before he could pull them on, the bedroom door was pushed open and her brothers rushed inside.

  “Are you all—”
>
  Rafe had been speaking. Now his mouth fell open as he stared. Three pairs of eyes widened in identical expressions of astonishment. Evie had a feeling she looked just as shocked.

  “You’re naked,” Clay said at last, obviously horrified by the realization.

  All Evie had needed to do was hold her robe closed, but Dante had no such luck. He was caught, sitting on the edge of her bed, jeans in one hand, and that was it.

  Rafe’s gaze narrowed. “You’re sleeping with my sister? We talked about that.”

  Evie scrambled to her feet and stepped in front of Dante. “You so did not. Because there is no way you have the right to get involved in my personal life. And just because you’re paying for this townhouse doesn’t mean you have the right to enter unannounced.”

  Rafe ignored her. “I told you to check on her. To look after her.”

  Evie spun to face Dante, who was pulling on his jeans. “He told you that?”

  Dante stood and fastened his pants. “He mentioned something about it.” His gaze settled on her. “You know that’s not why I’m here.”

  She paused, then nodded briefly. “I do. It’s okay.”

  “It’s not okay,” Shane told her. “Nothing about this is okay.”

  She turned toward her brothers. “No. You don’t get to dictate my personal life. You gave up that right a long time ago and you know it.”

  She expected them to back off. It wasn’t as if they could have much of an argument. But Clay actually stepped forward.

  “Evie, don’t you get it? You’re our sister and we love you.”

  * * *

  FIVE MINUTES LATER Dante finished dressing. Evie had sent her brothers to the kitchen to wait. She drew a sweater over her head, then pulled her hair free. Dante pulled her into his arms.

  “Freaked out?” he asked.

  “A little.”

  “Sorry that had to happen. Families are a complication.”

  She nodded, knowing in this case, he didn’t have a problem with complications. She knew he would do anything to have his mom back. Because of that, she wasn’t about to complain about her brothers showing up the way they did.

  “I’ll see you later?” he asked.

  “I’d like that.”

  “Why don’t I come over around five with takeout and a movie,” he told her. “We can have a quiet evening in.”