Red Hot Christmas (Pride Series Romance Novels)

by Jill Sanders

  When she walked over to the bleachers, everyone said hello.

  “Amber, this is Sara Lauren. She's just moved back into town from Seattle. We went to school together.” Allison motioned to the dark-haired woman sitting next to her.

  “Hello.” Amber sat next to Megan. “Nice to meet you. Are you back to stay?”

  “Yes, sometimes you just wake up and know it's time to get out of the city.” Sara smiled.

  “I know what you mean.” Then Amber turned to Megan and asked, “No kids today?”

  “No, we decided to let Betty watch them at Lacey's so we can focus on cheering.” Megan smiled.

  Then Amber turned towards Lacey. “I can't believe they let you out of the house. Aren't you due any minute?”

  “Yesterday.” Lacey said. “I was due yesterday. I told Aaron that if I don't have this kid by tonight, he's going to have to induce. There is no way I'm waiting too much longer.”

  Amber smiled. “Well, you look wonderful.”

  “Bull, but thank you for saying so.” Lacey smiled.

  “Oh! Look, here they come.” Megan stood and started cheering. The other ladies followed along.

  Amber watched as eight grown men came running out of the locker rooms, all wearing green Jerseys with the name “Sasquatch” on the front. She laughed.

  “Yeah, their idea.” Megan laughed along, clapping as the men ran in circles, tossing a basketball back and forth.

  “Who's that?” Sara pointed to Allen.

  “Oh, that's right. You haven't met the new hunk,” Allison said over her shoulder. “He's the head of the coast guard that just moved in down the road. They've just opened a unit in the old saw mill. They plan on having a helicopter and base out of Pride. Allen's spent the last year overseeing the operation. He's going to be training all the new recruits. I guess he's some fancy pilot, too.”

  “Hmm.” Sara said with a sparkle in her eyes.

  “Yeah. Hmmm.” All the women chuckled in unison. Even the very pregnant Lacey.

  Then, from the other side of the gym, a group of thirteen and fourteen-year-old's came running out of the opposite lockers. They all had yellow jerseys that said Hornets on the front.

  “They're playing teenagers?” Amber asked as she clapped.

  “Yeah, they’re vicious,” Megan said, still watching her husband jog around the court. “Of course it doesn't help that our boys have to play by the rules,” Megan said this as two referees walked out of the lockers. “The Hornets never play by the rules.” She smiled at Amber.

  Thirty minutes later, Amber realized the Sasquatches were in trouble. They were actually down five points. The kids looked like they could continue running up and down the court endlessly, while the men were beginning to look a little winded.

  They were five minutes into the second half when Lacey squealed and a gush of fluid rushed out from under her skirt. Amber freaked. Megan and Allison smiled and cheered. Sara stood there wondering what was going, a look much like the one on Amber’s face. Aaron rushed over to his wife, interrupting the game.

  Ten minutes later, with the game canceled on account of a new baby, Amber stood around waiting for her ride back to the restaurant as Luke showered. She'd talked to Sara for a few minutes before she'd left and was excited to have someone else who had recently moved into town, even though Sara had lived here before.

  “Hey,” Luke said, walking out of the locker room with his bag slung over his shoulder. “Sorry it took so long, those kids really hog up the hot water.” He walked up and took her hand in his as they started walking towards the door. “How about we swing by the restaurant and grab some dinner?”

  She smiled and thought she'd give him one more chance. “How about we stop by my place? That is, if Jackie will be okay by herself? I can cook you dinner.”

  “Sounds good. Jackie is a big girl and tucked away nicely in the laundry room with plenty of food, water, and newspaper. You don't have to go back to work?” He opened the truck door for her.

  “No, I had just clocked out when I walked into Iian's office.” She hit her head with her hand. “Which reminds me, I didn't get a chance to talk to him about the changes.”

  “What changes?” Luke walked around and got in the truck.

  “I've been thinking about talking to Iian about some of my ideas I've had to change the place up a little.”

  “Yeah? Like what?”

  As they drove the short drive to her place, she told him about some of her ideas. He looked impressed by the time he pulled into the parking lot.

  “You have a talent for organizing things. I'm pretty sure Iian is going to love your ideas. After all, he hired you.” He walked around and opened her door.

  When she stepped out, she noticed Sara walking by the old antique shop across the way. “Hi.” She waved to her.

  “Hi.” Sara walked over to them. “I was just driving by and saw the “for sale” sign and thought I'd stop and look.”

  “Are you in the market for an old building?” Luke asked.

  She laughed, “Yes actually, I've been thinking about opening a bakery.” Sara turned back towards the building. “It's a lot bigger then I'd planned, but I think it'll work.” She turned back towards them. “I could even have tables in the front and offer breakfast items. The Golden Oar is great, but they don't open until lunch. I could sell coffee and maybe donuts and muffins.”

  Luke took Sara's hand in his. “Marry me.” He laughed.

  “Luke, you know I'd never marry you.” She laughed and punched him on the arm. “Do you know if Allison's family still owns the building?”

  “I think so, but you might want to ask next time you see her. I expect a party the second that baby arrives. Maybe this time tomorrow?”

  “Yeah,” Sara bit her lip and turned back towards the building. “Maybe I will ask her. Well,” she turned back towards them, “I didn't mean to interrupt your plans. Have a great night.” With that she turned and walked back across the street.

  “Coffee.” Luke and Amber said in unison and laughed all the way up the stairs.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Luke watched Amber cook as he sat on her bar stool. She chose to make spinach stuffed chicken breasts with a side of spaghetti and marinara. It smelled heavenly.

  “So, are you disappointed you had to forfeit the game?” she asked as she diced tomatoes.

  He laughed. “No, those kids were killing us. It's better to walk away telling ourselves that we could have made a comeback than to know we would have lost big time. Do you know, the last game we played with them, four of us got fouled out, and we didn’t have enough team members, so we had to forfeit? We haven't beat them once in the last year. I swear they're getting better and we are getting worse.”

  She laughed and he enjoyed the rich sound. He'd been doing a lot of thinking since his gran passed. He didn't like coming home alone. Sure, now he had Jackie, but it just wasn't the same as having a living, talking person to be with. Especially a woman who smelled sinful and tasted like heaven. He shook his head as he realized she'd asked him a question.

  “I'm sorry, my mind was wandering. What did you say?”

  She laughed. “I could tell.” She took the wooden spoon and stirred the contents in the pan. “I was asking you if Jackie was potty trained yet?”

  “Oh, sure. We had that trick down on the first day. Now we're working on shaking. She has sit, lay down, and stay mastered. Shake is not working so well for some reason.”

  She chuckled, “Well, I wish I could give you pointers, but I never had any pets.” He could hear the sadness in her voice.

  “Well, if you want to come over and play with Jackie, you're welcome anytime.” He saw her blue eyes light up immediately.

  “Really?”

  He laughed, “Sure. Besides, it gives me an excuse to see you.”

  “Yes,” she narrowed her eyes and smiled. “Well, there is that.”

  When they sat down to eat, he enjoyed it so much he had seconds.
<
br />   “You know, you can always sneak back in the kitchen and be a chef yourself.” He smiled as he took the last bite.

  “No, I can't stand the heat.” She smiled, “Literally.” Her phone rang and when she answered it, her face changed. Gone was the happy smile from a second ago.

  “Hello, Mother.” He watched Amber's body stiffen and saw the light leave her eyes. “No, now's not a good time. I have company.” She turned and walked into the hallway. “No, I won't. I'm never going to call Mr. Malone. As far as I'm concerned, Dad can just rot away in his cell. Stop asking me to change my mind. I can't change what I saw that night.” He saw her push the button. Getting up, he walked over to her and engulfed her in his arms.

  She leaned into him, and he thought she would cry, but instead she shook with anger.

  “I don't get how that woman can turn her back on the only child she has, for a man she hasn't been with in years. I mean, she doesn't even know him anymore.” She pulled away and looked at his face. “Honestly, the last time I saw him I was ten. I probably wouldn't recognized him if he walked by me on the street.”

  He shook his head. What could he say to make it better? “She should believe in you. She should have taken your side. I'm sorry you have to go through that.”

  She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I got used to it years ago. But she's been pushing for this new appeal. Apparently, they reassess some of the older cases for the holidays. You know, letting convicts that have been rehabilitated out in the holiday spirit and all that. Well, I guess my father would have a pretty strong chance if I'd testify and change my story. After all, the courts took the word of a ten year old over that of a full-grown man.” She walked away towards the windows, rubbing her forehead. “Not to mention all the evidence they had found.”

  He walked up behind her and watched the clear night. He was sure that if her lights were off, he'd be able to see all the stars in the sky. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close.

  “You're doing the right thing. From what I read— yeah, I snooped and Googled your father.” He kissed the back of her head when she chuckled. “Anyway, from what I read, they had a pretty strong case and didn't need your testimony. It was just the icing on the cake.”

  “Yeah, because of that testimony, I never really had a relationship with my parents. Do you know what's funny?” She turned around towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Shortly after he was put in jail, my father called me and told me how proud he was of me. That was the last time I ever heard of him. I guess he changed his mind after seventeen years in prison.”

  He pulled her face up to his, using just his thumb under her chin. He could see the dull look in her eyes. Seeing the sadness, he realized he'd do anything to see those eyes sparkle again. Leaning down, he took her mouth and lost himself in her taste.

  He felt the jolt through her body, then she was pushing him backwards towards her room. The speed in her hands and mouth set his system in overdrive quickly. A zing went through his body, and he knew he had to have her.

  Her mouth was pushing him to his limit. He followed her as they shuffled, a disjointed dance, towards the back, to her room. When he reached for the door handle, she pushed him up against the wall and devoured the last thread of his control. He used his mouth as his hands pushed her shirt up and off, then he was running his mouth over her hot body, quickly.

  Clothing hit the hallway floor as they punished each other, pushing their limits as they shoved and pulled the clothes off one another. Finally, he stood in the hallway in his boxers as she looked at him in a matching set of blue silk patches that covered the last parts of her, the parts he'd been dying to have. She took a step back, her mouth swollen from his, and walked slowly backwards into her room, wiggling her finger for him to follow. And follow her, he did. Until he made it halfway across the room.

  “Shit.” He turned back around and pulled a package from his back pocket. Waving it in the air, he smiled. “Almost forgot.”

  She smiled and walked over to her night stand. Opening a drawer, she showed him a box inside the top drawer. “Don't worry, I was prepared.”

  He laughed and grabbed her around the waist and fell with her onto the large bed as their mouths connected again.

  She felt like she couldn't get her breath and was totally fine with it. Luke's hands roamed over her naked skin as she clawed his muscled skin. She was burning up and needed the speed, needed him to make all the hurt and pain go away. She'd wanted this, wanted him. And now that he was almost fully naked, she realized he was much better looking than she'd first assessed. His chest was only half the appeal; she'd admired his legs throughout the basketball game. She ran her hands over his backside and grabbed hold of his perfect butt. She needed to see it, squeeze it. Running her fingers under the band of his boxers, she started pulling until finally he moved aside so she could pull them away fully.

  Moving up to her knees. She pulled them down and tossed them onto her floor. He sat there, half on her bed, half off, smiling at her.

  “Magnificent.” She smiled at him. “How is it that you have the finest butt?”

  He laughed, “Basketball. It's all the running.”

  “Well, I suppose I'll have to start playing.”

  He shook his head and ran his eyes up and down her. “Lady, you have nothing to worry about.” His hands followed the trail his eyes had just taken. She closed her eyes to the enjoyment of him touching her lightly. Her head rolled back, and she lost herself in the feeling. His fingers slowly pulled one strap, then the other of her bra off her shoulder. He reached behind her and undid the clasp, and watched as the silk fell away.

  “Magnificent.” He smiled at her as he ran his eyes over her exposed skin.

  She'd wanted speed, needed speed, but now, as they sat there, her on her knees, him leaning back on his elbows, she wanted to take her time and enjoy every minute. Leaning closer, she ran her hand up his chest, up his neck, until finally she pulled his face towards her. Just before the kiss, she paused, a breath away. “Are you sure this time?”

  She watched his copper eyes heat as he smiled. “Oh, yeah. You?”

  “Oh, yeah.” She smiled as he pulled her down and took her mouth again. His hands ran over her body, slowly pulling her silk panties down and off her legs, where she kicked them to the floor. His feather light touches set fire to her skin. He ran soft fingers over her newly exposed skin, playing with her folds, torturing her until she squirmed and begged. Then he dipped a finger into her heat, and she almost jumped off the bed, his name on her lips. She was panting, her breath coming in short gasps.

  She'd heard it said that sex was always different, depending on the person you were with. Now she knew what they meant. The men she'd been with before paled in comparison to Luke. His touch, his smell, the way he moved, it did something different to her.

  He took his time enjoying every inch of her, running his hands and mouth over her skin until she shivered with want. Finally he moved her until she was lying down next to him. He paused to sheath himself, then smiled as he looked down at her. When he slid into her heat, twin moans sounded as he moved above her. Her legs wrapped around his narrow hips, holding him closer. Her nails dug into his hips as he slowly moved with her. She felt herself building faster then she'd ever built before and begged him for speed.

  He smiled down at her then moved faster, using his tongue in her mouth to mimic what he was doing to her down below. And when the lights exploded behind her eyes, he was there to catch her and slowly build her back up. His hands, his mouth, seemed to be everywhere as she held onto him again. This time she felt him stiffen and join her for the next explosion.

  Amber could feel his heart beating next to hers. She was being crushed and didn't mind. It wasn't that he was heavy, just dead weight. Her hands still gripped his hips and she realized her hands were cramped. As she slowly removing her fingers she felt him chuckle.

  “What?”

  “I might just have war scars tomor
row.”

  “What?”

  He leaned up and looked down at her. His hair was a mess from her hands running through it. His eyes were sparkling, causing them to look even more copper in the dull light.

  “You know, war scars. From the battle?”

  She chuckled and ran her hands smoothly over his hips. When she ran across a few small indents from her nails, she gasped and tried to get a look.

  “No, it's okay. Trust me, I didn't feel a thing.” He laughed as she looked at the nail marks on his butt and hips.

  “Besides, I think I earned them.”

  She pulled a small round pillow up and covered her face with it. “I've never done that before,” she said into the pillow.