The dark red of her dress provided just enough contrast for them to make out the shape of her form. Her hair fell down her back, gentle waves that called for him to curl his fingers in and created a whole different set of pictures in his mind he really shouldn’t be indulging. At least not if he didn’t want to embarrass himself—and probably her, as well.
The room already looked perfect, but Lydia, as always, tried to make it just a little bit better. She was always trying to make the world a better place. In any small way she could. He loved that optimism she brought to everything she did.
If they were lucky, maybe she’d soon be making their lives better, too.
“Do you think she’s ready?” His brother glanced in Kyle’s direction, hope shining bright in his eyes.
It had been six months since that ass had ended their engagement and broken Lydia’s heart. If he were a more evolved man, Kyle would regret the pain she went through. But he didn’t. He hated that she’d been hurt, but he was glad that bastard was out of her life.
Not just because that opened her up for them—though he’d be lying if he didn’t admit that was an added perk. But that wasn’t the only reason. Jason hadn’t deserved her. Not for one minute. The selfish jerk had never treated her right. Lydia deserved someone special. Someone who would take care of her as much as she took care of everyone else. Not use her like his own personal maid and chef.
It had taken tremendous restraint not to punch the guy out after he’d seen the hurt on Lydia’s face. As sheriff, he had to maintain some composure. But Kyle had his own ways of inflicting pain on the asshole. The revenue for the town was up almost three hundred percent in the last few months, all thanks to Jason’s lead foot and a very clever hiding spot Kyle had found on the road right before his apartment.
Since the breakup he and his brother had kept their distance, giving her space to heal. Though it was impossible to stay away entirely. Kyle had taken to turning in all his office expense reports personally, just to get a glimpse of her.
And he’d been amazed by the number of parking tickets Chase had to come all the way into town to pay at the clerk’s office. Not to mention the number of parking tickets he got, period. Considering he only came into town a few days a week, and there were only three non-parking areas in all of Frostbite Falls, the volume was astounding.
It was torture to be around her and not be able to tell her how much he wanted her. But they both knew she needed time. Time to recoup. Time to heal. Time to be ready for them.
But time and his patience were close to being up. Not to mention the parking fees would eat them out of house and home if Chase didn’t curb them pretty damn soon.
“It is Christmas.” Or at least December twenty-second. Plenty close enough to hope for a Christmas miracle. “Now’s as good a time as any.”
It was better than most in his estimation. At least here there was booze to pave the way, or drown their sorrows in if she turned them down. The cheery Christmas music and the quiet murmur of townspeople enjoying the party provided a cover for the kind of intimate conversation they needed. And best of all, she was alone. No one was there to intrude or overhear their discussion. It was amazing how hard it was to find her without Victoria or Grace these days.
A big smile cracked Chase’s face. “Really?”
Kyle nodded. “It’s been long enough. I don’t see why we can’t test the waters.” If it didn’t feel right, they could always back off. Stepping back would be hard, but not impossible. Compared to spending the next six months not knowing, it was a price he was willing to pay.
A waiter walked by with a tray of champagne flutes filled with red bubbly liquid and a sprig of some green prickly plant on top. It looked like the kind of drink Lydia would like. All bubbly and girly, just like her.
“It looks like she’s been too long without a drink.” He grabbed two glasses off the tray.
Chase nodded enthusiastically, grabbing his own flute. “I agree, we should do something about that.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Stepping around the waiter and toward the woman of their dreams, he couldn’t help the large smile covering his face. Finally. The day was finally here.
* * * *
Lydia twisted the large red glass ball on the tree, forcing it to stay centered so the light glinted just right to set the whole orb glowed. “Stay right there,” she whispered to the ornament, as if talking to it would coax it into place. Though she wasn’t sure why. Her requests hardly ever worked on people, and they at least understood what she was saying.
She pulled her hand back and almost let out a whoop of glee when the ornament stayed where directed. Fifth time was the charm. She stepped back, inspecting her handy work. The tree looked fantastic. The whole party was beautiful. Victoria had outdone herself. Lydia glanced around the room, watching the townspeople enjoying themselves. It really was a beautiful sight.
Before coming to Frostbite Falls Lydia hadn’t realized places like this still existed. Towns where people not only knew their neighbors but spoke to them and liked them. Most of the people in Frostbite Falls didn’t even lock their doors.
A roaring chuckle scraped down her nerves like nails on a chalkboard. A laugh she knew all too well and the reason she was in Frostbite Falls to begin with.
Because she was a masochist at heart, she turned toward the sound. Her ex-fiancé, Jason, sat with his buddies at the farthest table, slurping down the holiday-themed drinks Victoria had demanded. The bimbo he’d left her for clung to his side in a skintight silver dress that clashed with her bleach-blonde hair.
She’d moved to Frostbite Falls for him. For the sales manager position he’d been promised at Calver Security. She’d given up her whole life for him. Her job. Her friends. Her nice apartment in downtown Boulder. All so he could work one more rung up the corporate ladder. And three months after they’d moved here, he’d dumped her for that girl. Tracey. His new boss’s daughter.
Leaving her to figure out where she belonged in this new town where most of the people in Frostbite Falls had known each other their whole lives. Their families had known each other for generations. They didn’t mean to make her feel uneasy or like an outsider, Lydia knew that down to the bottom of her heart. But even with Victoria’s help, she still didn’t feel like she belonged in Frostbite Falls. She was always the new girl, the city girl, the transplant.
Jason didn’t appear to have the same problem. He acted as if he’d was king of the damn town. And dating the daughter of the town’s biggest employer, he was pretty close.
“You look like you need a drink.” Kyle Manning stepped in front of her, holding out a champagne flute. His large body blocked her view of Jason and Tracey. She couldn’t tell if he stood in that spot on purpose or if it was just a coincidence, but either way, she was grateful.
She took the glass from his hand, her fingers shaking a little as they brushed against his. The soft caress sent a shiver of heat straight through her arm and down into her stomach. A shiver she fought very hard to ignore.
“Thank you.” She couldn’t remember the last time someone had brought her a drink. She was always the one who fetched things for other people. Ran for coffee, picked up mail, drove people to the airport. She didn’t know quite how to respond when someone else did the same for her.
“The room looks beautiful.” Chase saddled up beside his brother, his own cocktail in hand and the biggest goofiest grin on his face. Just the sight of that smile eased some of the tightness from her chest, though she had no idea way.
Chase wasn’t half as serious as Kyle, but in every other way they were close to identical, with their deep chocolate eyes and broad bodies. Their dark wavy hair always looked unkempt, like it couldn’t be controlled, just as she imagined they couldn’t be. A light scar running from Chase’s temple to the hairline in the middle of his forehead was the only noticeable physical difference between them. Not for the first time she wondered how he’d gotten the scar. Tonight she had a strange urge to re
ach out and touch the bumpy flesh, to feel the imperfection beneath her fingertips.
What is wrong with me? Have I gone insane? Thinking about the two of them at night was bad enough, but to touch them—either of them—would be insane.
“Thank you.” She took a grateful sip of her drink, trying to camouflage the heat rushing to her cheeks. She couldn’t be sure if the extra warmth was due to the compliment or the two of them staring at her like she was the most interesting person in the room. Which she knew wasn’t true. The mayor was in this room, and at least two of the other townspeople were authors. All three of them had to be more interesting than her.
But it was hard to keep her wits about her when they stood before her, with their deep soulful eyes staring at her so focused. Even in their suits they exuded power and strength that only true men could. The stiff linen of their pressed shirts and jackets couldn’t hide the firm bodies beneath, muscles that were built working with their hands, out in the wild Montana landscape. Even now she swore she smelt fresh mountain air on them. They were the kind of men that made a woman sweat behind the knees, and that she’d never regret holding on to long into the night.
Lydia took another fortifying sip, hoping the alcohol might clear some of the cluttered sexual thoughts from her brain. This was all Grace’s fault. If she hadn’t mentioned her love life, Lydia wouldn’t even be thinking about the Manning brothers that way.
Well, that was a lie. She always thought about sex when they were around. But it might not sound so possible. Instead they’d just be unrealistic fantasies, like they had been for the last few months. Her wild mountain-man fantasy to fill her lonely nights. Not the flesh-and-blood real men in front of her, staring at her, waiting for her to speak. Waiting for her to do anything to ease this tension between them.
She shifted her eyes restlessly around the room, pretending to stare at the decorations as she avoided their gaze. Her whole body was a little shaky beneath their stares. “You should make sure to tell Victoria how much you appreciate the event. This is all her doing.”
“I don’t believe that.” Kyle winked at her.
Most of the town would. The Frostbite Falls Christmas Ball was the biggest event in town all year, and Victoria was queen of the ball. She spent months planning it, managing each meticulous detail to a level that drove most party planners insane. Lydia had been happy to help, but would never claim any part of the event as her own. But Kyle Manning wasn’t most people.
He didn’t say anything else, leaving the almost compliment dangling there in the air, up to her interpretation.
Chase took a sip from his glass. His face contorted, and he choked a bit before swallowing down the liquid. “What is that?”
Lydia giggled at the pained look on his face. “It’s called a Mistletoe Mimosa. It’s like a normal mimosa with cranberry juice instead of orange juice.” And a sprig of thyme thrown on top. Though she doubted that was his issue with the drink.
Chase tried to smile through his grimace. “It’s lovely.”
Lydia’s laugh turned into a full-blown deep belly chuckle. “You don’t have to lie for me.” Her laughter seemed to calm some of the lines across his forehead, and his shoulders dropped a half an inch, setting a warm glow to life in her stomach. She hated those lines of worry that crossed his forehead. She’d do almost anything to banish those suckers right off his face for good.
She’d always prided herself on making everyone around her comfortable, but something about putting the Manning boys at ease did funny things to her insides. Something that no one else’s smile had ever done. Not even Jason.
“Victoria insisted on these drinks.” Countless people had tried to convince her to have at least a few other options, even if they were just behind the bar. Beer, whiskey, something to satisfy the real men of town. But Victoria wouldn’t hear of it. She said real men could survive one night drinking something more festive than beer, or they didn’t have to drink at all.
In the end, everyone must sacrifice for the theme.
“They’re nice.” Kyle smiled through his owned pained expression, and Lydia fought back an even bigger laugh. These real men in front of her seemed to be struggling with the festive cocktails. She could only imagine what they’d do for a beer right now.
“I have to say, Sherriff, I’m surprised you’re here tonight,” Lydia teased Kyle, loving the way his cheeks would pink up and his eyes would glow whenever he was about to laugh. It was so unlike the reaction most would expect of the broad rugged man before her that it always made her smile. It had nothing to do with the pleasant queasy feeling it created in her stomach. Nothing at all.
“I think she’s calling you no fun, brother,” Chase added in, turning the heat in her stomach up another degree with his own devastating smile. “I have to say, I completely agree.”
“No, I wasn’t,” Lydia immediately corrected even though the twin shining eyes of the men around her showed she didn’t need to. “I was just concerned with who will be keeping the streets safe while you’re here.”
“Don’t you worry. My deputy is on duty.” He smiled back at her. That truly dazzling smile that could put any woman on her knees in no time. And Lydia was no exception. “If anything comes up, he knows how to get ahold of me.” He tapped the cell phone strapped to his belt. “You’d be surprised how little crime happens on a night like tonight.” He winked at her.
No, she’d believe it. Very little crime happened in Frostbite Falls at all. Besides a few teenagers selling drugs and the occasional car accident, the town was almost crime free. And given ninety percent of Frostbite Falls was in this room, she wasn’t sure who might be on the streets to commit a crime right now. But if someone did want to pull off the great Frostbite Falls caper, now would be the right time. No one would even figure out a crime occurred until tomorrow or maybe later.
“You’ll never have to worry.” Kyle’s tone dropped a few octaves, leaving the joking tone they’d been using behind in the dust. He shifted a little closer, not enough that he touched her, but her body didn’t seem to know the difference. It heated up, flaring hotter than a yule log. On her other side, his brother did the same.
“I’ll always make sure you’re safe.” Something about the way he said it made her think he meant something more than keeping a burglar from entering her home. Something deeper.
Across the room Jason’s laugh echoed again, and she flinched beneath the sound. Her eyes shifted to Jason. She didn’t want to. She didn’t mean to. It just happened. He didn’t appear to have a problem with the frilly drinks being served. He practically sucked them down two at a time. He’d never had a problem drinking a pink cocktail, unlike the real men in front of her. Hindsight that might have been a sign of something. She should pay attention to that next time. If there was a next time.
“He’s not worth it, you know.” Chase interrupted her train of thought.
She tried to hold back her cringe at his words. She’d never get used to everyone knowing her business. She doubted a single person in this room didn’t know what had happened between her and Jason. It was bad enough to be dumped. It was worse when the whole town had watched and given her pitying looks.
Except the Mannings. They’d never looked at her with sympathy. They’d only ever been encouraging. She hoped it wasn’t because they’d gone through something similar. Though she found it hard to believe either of them had been dumped and she hadn’t heard about it. Town gossip was an impenetrable force that worked on everyone. Kyle and Chase were no different.
More impossible than the town staying silent about any breakup in their pasts was the idea of a woman walking away from either of these men. That woman would have to be a total idiot.
“I know.” She nodded along, just as she had with every girlfriend who wanted to comfort her after her broken engagement. And the other clerks in her office. And the church ladies who sold baked goods at the Fourth of July festival. And a great many people in line at Herbert’s grocery. She was surpr
ised Tracey hadn’t tried to comfort her with those same exact words.
“He didn’t deserve you if he treated you that way.” The second sentiment she normally received, but somehow when Chase said the words they didn’t sound as pathetic as they normally did.
“Thank you.” She stared into the crimson liquid in her champagne flute, fighting the urge to swallow the rest of the glass in one shot. But she had a feeling this was going to be a long night. She needed to save some space in her liver for the rest of the ball.
“He’s an ass.” Kyle’s growl shocked her a bit. As the sheriff, she would have thought he had to remain impartial. Apparently not. Her heart pounded a little faster now that he was on her side. It was childish, but she liked having the Mannings defend her. Though she didn’t hear from them, she assumed a portion of the town had picked Jason’s side. It was nice to know the law was on hers.
Jason’s laughter rang through the air again, and she couldn’t stop the slight wince of her shoulders.
Clearly Chase and Kyle had seen it, too. “You don’t have to stay here and listen to that. What do you say we get out of here?” The question through her off guard, and she glanced up at Kyle in surprise. Had Kyle Manning just asked her to leave with him? It was almost as amazing as how fast she wanted to take him up on the offer.
She’d spent months working with Victoria on the ball. Planning, coordinating, toiling into the night. She’d been looking forward to this party for weeks, to see the results of all their hard work. But in only a few short cackles everything had changed. Now she wanted to be anywhere else. Or at least anywhere that didn’t have Jason’s raucous laughter or Tracey’s matching twine.
“I can’t.” She had to stay. There had to be more to do. Just because she couldn’t think of anything at the moment didn’t mean there wasn’t anything to handle. There always was with parties like this. Sure, she didn’t have to rub elbows with most of the town like Victoria, but she’d put a lot of work into this event. She should stay to see it through.
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