by Ostrow, Lexi
“Which means you’re going to clam up and look like a fucking idiot when you finally have the chance to speak to her, and she’s going to pity you.”
He growled and walked into the kitchen. Seven forty-five was far too early to drown himself with brandy, but the French drank wine with breakfast, and that was better than nothing. He fumbled open the cabinet and grabbed a glass, dropping it and letting it shatter.
“Fucking hell!” he snarled and turned to grab a broom from the closet across the hall. That was the second glass he’d broken in two days. At least it had been empty, and he wasn’t left bleeding. There was no way he was going to be able to sit through a meal.
Bending down with the hand broom in one hand and the dustpan in the other, a knock at the door sounded just before he finished.
“It’s not locked! Sorry, I can’t come open it,” he shouted as he brushed the last of the glass up and stood to dump it in the trash.
The sound of the door opening and closing without anyone screaming at him made him question who was there. His family was always loud when they entered during the holidays. Grabbing the dishtowel off the counter, he rubbed his hands, making certain to get off any glass that might be clinging to him, and stepped out of the kitchen.
His jaw dropped open as widely as it would have if Leena had walked in by herself. Her best friend, his client, Tasha Morningstar stood in the narrow hallway, looking as if she was ready to kill someone. Her red coat was freckled with snow, her black hair was tangled from the wind and her dark eyes were narrowed so harshly that he wondered if he wasn’t the target of her ire.
“Nick DeMarco,” she sat as she dropped her duffle bag on the floor and pulled her gloves off, “We have a problem.”
She was seeing a haze of colors as she spoke, without thinking really. Leena had done a number of things before, but this was the most despicable.
“Miss Morningstar, how can I help you?” he sounded confused and a good deal concerned.
She didn’t say anything as she stared at him. He was dressed in the same attire as always, a suit and tie, as if this weren’t a vacation for him. She couldn’t help but tilt her head to the side as she noticed the intensity in his midnight blue eyes. They were staring intently at her, and when he crossed his arms over his chest, she noticed the way the muscles bulged and had to shake herself from the thoughts. She’d always thought Nick DeMarco was attractive. A woman would have to be dead not to think as much.
“Miss Morningstar?”
“We’ve been setup.” Her voice was tight, and she was so angry, it was all she could do to not blame him for Leena’s idiocy. The cell phone clenched in her hand was beginning to cut off circulation.
Nick’s face scrunched up in clear confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I got a call from Leena telling me to arrive early this morning. When I just spoke to her to tell her I’m here, she informed me you would be here alone until late tomorrow afternoon.”
“How in the hell could she have known that?” he sounded bewildered.
She laughed harshly, “The woman was your assistant for eight years. She knows you, Nick, which is what makes this all the worse for me.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” He took a step closer, and his eyes flashed with annoyance.
“It means Leena felt that you and I were a good idea. It means she’s been trying to set me up with men for months and is now trying with you.”
Nick crossed his arms, higher up his chest this time, and stared at her. She felt as if he was assessing a piece of meat. His eyes traveled slowly up her marshmallow shaped form, and she wished she’d at least undressed rather than looking like Nanook of the North before this conversation. The stare was so consuming, Tasha figured out quite well how Leena could be turned on by this man. He was fierce.
“So what you’re saying is, you believe Leena is trying to set up us to fall madly in love, either, to one, take my mind off her. Or two, simply because she doesn’t want you single anymore?”
Tasha unzipped the red coat and handed it to him, a little miffed when he didn’t take it right away. She wasn’t used to him being less than attentive to her, but she wasn’t a client in this capacity. When he took it, she smiled as thanks.
“That is precisely what I mean she tried to do.”
“And you’re certain?”
“Think about what you know about her. You’ve known her to scheme. You know how concerned she is about this week, and you can’t possibly think I’d be so desperate to jump into bed with you I’d make this up.” She threw her hands up, exasperated.
The corners of his mouth twitched and quickly grew into a smile. “Why, Miss Morningstar, I had no idea you were interested in me in that capacity.”
“Leena said you could be playful when you wanted to be. It does add to your charm, Mr. DeMarco, but not what I meant.”
At the mention of Leena’s name, the smile completely vanished, leaving his face as cold and hard as ever — save for at the New Year’s party before Leena had walked out on him.
“I haven’t spoken to Leena in a year.” The way he struggled to say her name was painful. “But I do not disagree that it sounds like something she might try.” He sighed and gestured for her to follow him as he walked to the sofa on the other side of the short wall.
For the first time, she noticed the absolute beauty of the room. Ornaments glistened, glass sparkled and a menorah, with six candles there to catch them up to the proper night, sat in the room. Holly and poinsettias in gold and white were scattered around the room, and she’d bet, throughout the whole cabin. It truly was as remarkable as Leena had said. Her eyes scanned the open concept area farther and found the undecorated tree, just as Leena had said as well. There was no mistletoe hanging between the hall and entertainment space though, perhaps they thought it was a dangerous decoration after last year’s debacle.
“Miss Morningstar, are you listening to me?”
She snapped her head to Nick, who had sat down. “I’m afraid I wasn’t.”
His lips curled into a strange smirk. “I am actually glad to hear that because you missed me mourn over Leena. However, I think you’ll want to take me up on this next part.”
She sat down across from him on the other sectional piece of the ivory sofa. She noticed Leena’s stocking hanging on a fireplace along with the other DeMarcos’ and turned her attention back to Nick.
“Let’s give her what she wants.” There was a predatory gleam in his eyes.
“Excuse me?”
“If she wants to think we’ve been fooled into this and have fallen for each, at least lustfully, at first sight out of the office, let’s let her.”
“You’re joking, right?”
His midnight blue eyes narrowed, and for the first time, she saw the dark black ring that encircled them.
“Surely, being my client for some time, and Leena’s closest friend for longer, you are aware that joking isn’t something I do a lot of.” His voice was hard, not cold, but not kind either.
Tasha looked into his eyes, searching for anything that would indicate how serious he was. The idea was pure insanity, and something straight out of a terrible movie. She couldn’t even remember how many times she’d watched a film where people pretended to date to help with family or something nonsensical. Then it hit her.
“Hold on a moment, you enjoy fake relationships, don’t you, Mr. DeMarco?”
He laughed, a genuine one, and she noticed the way it changed his face. He looked much more like Jake in that moment, more fun and free.
“What happened with Leena last year was my attempt to woo her to be in my life as more than a business associate. I never intended for it to be fake. It was simply the only way I thought to get her up here.”
Leena raised a brow. “And this arrangement would be what, exactly?”
“A way to keep my mother off my back. A way for Leena to feel happy that she didn’t utterly destroy my life and piss her best friend off i
n the process.”
He was pleading with her, she realized suddenly. His eyes held something so unfamiliar to her when interacting with him, nervousness and possibly a little fear. Nick DeMarco was an industry leader, and one of the best. For him to show this level of unease was impressive and very telling of the job Leena had done on him last Christmas.
“I’m not saying I’m going along with this, for crying out loud it’s a tacky movie plot waiting to end in zany disaster, but I am curious. What exactly did you have in mind?”
A smirk slid over his face, and his expressions shifted immediately. He was a predator tracking his prey, and she had the distinct feeling that she was that prey.
“The way any good business deal or movie goes down, with a heavy dose of extraordinarily believable acting. Something you’re rather good at, and I’m phenomenal at.”
The competitive tone in his voice sent a shiver through her. Even had Leena not begged her to sign with DeMarco Communications, she’d enjoyed Nick’s business side and would have become a client either way. Seeing it again reminded her of why she’d placed her career in his hands. The man didn’t do second place. Leena had given him the silver medal for men in her life, and now he wanted to make certain she believed he didn’t give a shit.
“And you honestly think Christmas, full of family and while they’re planning a wedding, is the best time to convince them of a fake relationship?”
He gestured around at the glitz and glitter of the decorations. “Can you think of a time when they’d be more apt to believe we simply fell into one another’s lives?”
She sucked in a deep breath and looked around. She already felt like an intruder being there, especially without Leena. Pretending she was also instantly attracted to her best friend’s ex was shady. It was very unholiday-like, and she was slightly surprised Leena had even devised a plan to set her up with Nick at all.
“I don’t like it. But you’re right. Leena loves Christmas, and if she wanted me to get together with the man she almost married during it, she really needs to know you’re happy and likely, just that I’m getting laid. What did you have in mind? I’m still not saying yes.”
“We pretend for the week. I’ll give some grand story about how you slipped in the snow walking up and I saved you. We act as if we’re happy together, and at the end of the week, we can get into some fight over a terrible career move I feel I can suggest now that we’re a couple, and boom, over almost as quickly as we began.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Is there any particular reason I have to be a damsel in distress? I don’t slip. I grew up on the reservation where weather was a lot more than just a snowstorm outside a window. I’ve done more in nature than I bet you’ve ever even pretended to do, Mr. DeMarco. And, I’m the better actress. Leena will know signs of you bluffing, she can’t tell with me when I act. So I’ll come up with a story.”
He barked out a laugh. “Does that mean the rest of it sounded decent to you? Or is there more on this list of demands?”
She raised her eyebrows playfully and smiled. “Oh, there’s more. We’re not pretending we like each other enough to share a room. We’re not getting into any fake, detail-oriented sex lies with anyone. You treat me like your clients, one you’re trying to woo. I’ve seen your charm, and it can melt the panties off most women. So you behave the right way, and I’ll be the most convincing pity girlfriend you’ve ever seen.”
She watched as he contemplated the idea. Emotions passed over his face, something akin to anger, and then it washed away.
“I do not like to not be in control, Miss Morningstar.”
His words were so quiet and deep, they sent a shiver through her. The man was proving to be exactly what she thought he was — a captain of industry, not used to taking anything but a yes for an answer. She was rarely in control of anything, and if she needed to let him believe she was giving him the power in this game to make it work, well, she was an actress.
“I’m not certain what you’re implying, Mr. DeMarco. However, I’m willing to let you take the lead. This is your scheme. I’m simply along for the ride and the beautiful family Christmas you must have up here.”
“Good,” he said with a curt nod and leaned a little closer to her. “Then there are just two things.”
She could feel the heat of his breath on her skin as he spoke and swallowed deeply. “And those would be?”
“You had best stop calling me Mr. DeMarco, and this.” His lips touched hers.
A spark of static electricity raced through them, and they both pulled back, laughing. But, when her eyes locked on his, some of the laughter faded, and the hard determination was back. His hand went behind her neck, and as he pulled her closer to him, he kissed her again.
Their lips touched, and all she felt was the softness of Nick’s. His hand tangled in her hair as he kissed her deeper, slipping his tongue along the seam of her mouth until she opened, allowing him to turn the heat up further. She responded instinctively, wrapping her arms around his neck and meeting every stroke of his tongue with one from her own. Her body hummed lightly with delight as tiny sparks raced over her skin as they kissed. It was passionate, and highly inappropriate, given she knew where she’d like it to lead.
Seconds passed, turning into minutes, and the kiss continued. It was only when she scooted forwarded and molded her body against his that he pulled back. His eyes were bright, shining with lust. His lips were wet from their kiss, and she knew she must look similar. She could feel the labored rise and fall of her chest as she tried to get her breathing under control. She couldn’t remember a time she’d been kissed like that—real or for a movie.
“That was…” his voice trailed off, and he cleared his throat, ridding any laden lust filled vocalization, “…necessary. We couldn’t do that for the first time around my family. We could have had a reaction like that and confused the hell out of them.” He pulled back, leaning his arms over the back of the couch and bringing his right foot up to rest on his left knee.
Her eyes followed, and she saw the bulge in his slacks. The urge to grin was strong, and she covered her mouth, faking a cough to hide it. That had been one hell of a chemistry filled kiss, and she was glad she wasn’t the only one who’d felt it.
That is what happens when you are a woman trained to make kisses seem real. She didn’t even believe her own thought, but she pushed it aside. His reaction might have been sensual, but it was clear he wasn’t interested in her, and there was no way she was going to confuse a hot kiss for a potential interesting match.
“Yes, we can’t practically screw each other for our first kiss, now can we?” she quirked an eyebrow and smirked playfully at him.
A smile curved over his lips as he laughed. “I cannot imagine how you and Leena are friends. She’s so quiet and reserved unless you get her in her element. You’re, well, you’re like a breath of fresh air every time you speak. Feisty, vibrant and utterly aware of the fact that you’re a star.” He paused for a moment, and his smile turned just a little dark. “I enjoy that.”
She shook her head. “Well, I’m glad that we can at least take some mutual pleasure out of this. Especially seeing as how Leena is going to expect us to be very touchy-feely with one another. Do we need to pretend to know anything about one another?” She felt herself slip into research mode. The actress in her was ready to take over, she was grateful for because, if Nick DeMarco always kissed like that, he’d have her in bed before Christmas morning.
“I don’t think so. We know of one another, and we’re pretending an instant connection. We could make believe we sat here all morning, getting to know each other, but that seems frivolous.”
She nodded and stood. “Then how about you show me to the alcohol. It may be early, but I’m about to do the role of a lifetime, and I need some liquid endurance.”
He stood and laughed, shaking his head as he walked passed her. “I’ll have you know, I’m a very attentive boyfriend, and you’re going to love Christmas
with my family. Even if I’m not the biggest holiday man myself.”
She had to admit, she was impressed with the kitchen. Stainless steel shone in the light and marble countertops gleamed so perfectly, Tasha wondered if a meal had ever been cooked there.
Nick walked past her, grabbed two glasses and turned to a small wine cooler under the counter he stood next too. “You can’t tell me this is better than the kitchen of Academy Award nominated Natasha Morningstar?” He teased as he poured a deep red merlot into the glasses and passed one to her.
She smirked as she took it. “No, I was musing if this kitchen was ever used. It’s impeccable.” She sipped the wine but continued to look at Nick over the rim of the glass.
“My mother is a huge cook. We don’t even have a chef. I think it goes back to when she and my dad were first together. They had next to nothing, and I think she likes things simple sometimes.” He took a deep sip and frowned. “Never going to pick wine over brandy again,” he said with a laugh.
She smiled. It was rather endearing to see this side of Nick DeMarco, CEO extraordinaire. He had a softer side when he talked about his parents, one she never would have expected of the stone-faced business mogul.
Snow was beginning to fall, and she caught sight of thick flakes falling outside the glass door that led out of the kitchen. It was beautiful, she’d never spent a winter in the mountains, and she could see the appeal as she watched the snow fall.
“It is rather a beautiful view, isn’t it?” Nick said, so close to her ear, she could feel the caress of his breath as he spoke.
“It’s stunning out there.”
“I wasn’t talking about that view.”
She turned and looked at him. He was staring at her rather intently, and she felt part of her come alive under his hungry gaze. Nick DeMarco had a way of stirring anyone’s desires, she assumed. Hers included.
