The CEO's Christmas Wish (The Christmas Wish Series Book 2)

by Ostrow, Lexi

  Leena flushed bright red, and Tasha couldn’t help but tease her friend as well. “Yes, I’m fairly certain it had been used more than once.”

  “Oh, hush you two. Be careful Anna, or I’ll swing by the lodge and tell Marshall you can’t handle being away from him.”

  Tasha could see Anna glowering in the rear view mirror, which caused her to look so much younger than she was. Turning, she decided it was time to find out as much as she could about the DeMarco family, now that she was truly dating into it.

  “What is with you and Marshall? That gift he got you, it was a pretty small box.”

  Anna turned redder. “It was a pair of earrings.” She tugged her beanie up just a little, exposing two snowflake earrings with small diamonds in the center. “They must have cost him an entire month’s pay.”

  “Men don’t do that when they don’t have feelings for you. I saw the way you reacted to him on Christmas morning, someone spill.”

  Leena was driving expertly down the slippery slope, something Tasha was rather envious of because her snow survival skills merited exactly zero.

  “We dated, back in high school. Mom and Dad, not Peter, caught us in bed together. I was forbidden from seeing him, and the next two years we didn’t come here.”

  “I remember that. Nick never said that was the reason. Just that the chalet was rented.”

  “Oh it was,” Anna said, annoyance lacing her tone. “To ensure I couldn’t come up.”

  “That doesn’t explain your relationship now,” Tasha probed.

  Anna sighed and looked out the window. “I came back, the year I was a freshman in college. He was engaged to someone else.”

  That was not what she’d been expecting. “Then why is he giving you gifts like that?”

  “His wife died. They were together all of six months when they found out she had breast cancer.”

  Tasha immediately felt guilty, but she couldn’t help wanting to find out why Anna hadn’t made a move to be with him. It was so painfully obvious they cared for each other. She didn’t push though, and they spent the rest of the ride in silence, the mood shattered with one question.

  Leena pulled into the exact spot Nick had parked in the day before, and Tasha could see the snowman still standing, sans nose, as they walked toward the salon. Anna pulled open the door and stepped inside, but Leena held her back.

  “I want you to know, I really am happy about you and Nick. At first, I wasn’t sure if you really liked him, or if you were just on board for some holiday hooking up. But I know the way you look at him. I looked at him like that for a lot of years. It’s a good way to look at him.”

  Tasha felt as if she’d swallowed stones. Leena was practically calling her out on the once lie, and she didn’t know if she was supposed to own it or bury it in the snow since it didn’t matter anymore. She wanted to tell her, it would feel so much better to not start a journey with someone based on a lie.

  The hope in Leena’s eyes stopped her though. Her best friend was smiling at her as if all the wishes in the world had come true. And for Leena, they might have. She had an amazing man, a dream wedding and now her best friend and ex no longer appeared to be alone. Swallowing hard, she sucked in a breath through her nose and tried to smile as genuinely as possible at Leena.

  “I like looking at him this way. I really do.” It wasn’t a lie, and thankfully, a rather star struck stylist, walked out and ended any possible further conversation on the matter as she was too busy answering questions about her lifestyle.

  Nick kissed the top of Tasha’s forehead, waking her from sleep. She stretched, opened one beautiful eye at him and sat right up. Well, we know who the morning person out of us will be, he thought wryly.

  Yawning, she stretched her arms above her head, and he couldn’t help but watch the sinful rise and fall of her boobs. Gracefully, he moved his hand over to one and cupped it, giving her a randy smile. He couldn’t believe how lucky they were, how little injury they had both sustained. It had killed him to let her go with Leena, but only after she’d already left had he realized he’d let her walk out and get into another car that would be driving on an icy road. But, Leena had brought her back safe and sound.

  “I thought you weren’t a morning person?” She laughed as she moved his hand away from her and slid sensually out of the bed, her jersey riding up and exposing the smooth skin of her thigh.

  “I’m not. But when something tempting is in my bed, I make exceptions.” He yawned and dropped his head back on the pillow. “If you’re leaving the bed, then I am going back to sleep.”

  She laughed and swatted his knees before bending down to place a gentle kiss on his lips. “We missed the week anniversary of hatching this crazy plan. I was thinking, Anna said the lodge has a fantastic restaurant. Maybe we could head up there and spend an evening away from everyone else.”

  He smiled, eyes still closed. “As much as I want you all to myself, I’m going to veto that. As long as I can help it, I’m keeping you off the road until the rain and snow stop.”

  “I somehow think your parents will disapprove.”

  “No, I sincerely don’t think they’d mind me taking a beautiful, intelligent, talented woman as my hostage.”

  Her laughter was whimsical to his ears, and he realized he loved hearing it.

  “I think that sounds like a fine idea then. Especially since we’re starting this relationship off with me running off to Toronto to film a movie.”

  A knock at the door silenced him.

  “I’ve got hot cocoa!” Leena said far too cheerily.

  “And I brought the eggnog,” Jake interjected as they opened the door and just walked in.

  Nick shook his head, laughing. “You do realize that this ridiculous hot cocoa versus eggnog feud should have ended last week…with Christmas.”

  “Yes, well, we were all still at odds on Christmas, regardless of how well we pretended we weren’t,” Leena said as she passed Tasha a mug.

  Nick scrunched his face at her and took a mug from Jake. “Alcohol…it’s mandatory.”

  They all laughed at that, and Tasha realized she was wearing next to nothing. “I’m umm, I’m going to get changed and spend some time outside today. The snow seems to have stopped, and I think I’d like to walk just enjoy the air up here.”

  Nick reached out and grabbed her hand just before it was out of reach. “I’ll go with you. Maybe we can build snowman 2.0.” He winked at her. “But seriously, I’m not ready to let you out of my sight.”

  “I think that is a bit overkill. Not that I’ll complain about the company. I’m going to soak up every moment I can before we’re apart during filming.” She kissed him and passed the mug back to Leena. “You can have mine. I know you’d enjoy it more anyway.”

  “You got lucky, kid,” Jake said as Tasha walked out. “You got real lucky.”

  Tasha could still hear the joking as she slipped from the room and quickly darted across the hall. She didn’t feel like an outsider, but it felt wrong to be listening in on the conversation as she stripped off the Bronco’s jersey and exchanged it for a warm purple cashmere sweater and stepped into jeans.

  She couldn’t ignore the soreness that felt like it creaked through her body with each step, like an old busted floorboard. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head to the side and heard more than felt it crack. She was lucky to be alive and unharmed only a two days later, so was Nick. She didn’t really believe in Christmas season miracles, but she couldn’t deny that maybe all that good will and cheer meant someone had been protected them.

  “Because that isn’t the most foolish thing in the entire world,” she said to herself as she slowly tugged her brush through her hair. The pain raced through her head as intensely as it had when it’d first slammed into the car panel while it had been flipping. Wincing, she tried to stifle the groan and put the brush down, thinking that no one would be annoyed if she didn’t look her best right now.

  Looking at herself in the mirror, she
couldn’t ignore the red slash that marred her cheek. She was known for her beauty, and while the mark would likely be fleeting, if it scared, there was no telling what it could do to her career. Twenty-eight was no longer as young as it once was in Hollywood, thanks to the teen movies rocking the scene. The thirties were a vast gap in the land of fame and fortune, and she didn’t know if one small change in her appearance could ruin everything she’d worked for, even if it hadn’t exactly been a dream job.

  Walking from the room, she closed the door behind her and was pleased that the sound didn’t vibrate through her body. Nick was waiting at the end of the hall, her red gloves and black coat in hand. Smiling, she went to him and allowed him to help her into them. She couldn’t help but look into the open room and see Leena curled up on Jake’s chest. Nick wasn’t his brother, but he was so similar when he wanted to be.

  When her coat was fully on, she kissed his cheek. “Thank you for taking care of me. Don’t make it a habit, but thank you.”

  He smiled back at her, and she felt all the warmth radiating from him that she saw when Jake looked at Leena.

  “Come on then, let’s get you some fresh air healing,” Nick said as he took her hand in his. He let her lead them down the hall, allowing her to think she was in control, even though she knew he was supporting her a great deal.

  She shivered as she pushed the door open, welcoming the whisper soft touch of the winter wind. Her boot squished in the slushy snow in front of the door, and she laughed at the sensation. Step by step, she could feel the remaining dizziness, the one that she’d ignored while making love last night, vanishing fully.

  Tasha couldn’t help but enjoy the warm rays of sun shining down through the curtain of cold winter air. She felt her feet sinking deeply into the freezing snow but couldn’t seem to care as the beauty of the woods surrounded her. Tilting her head back gently, she smiled as the sunshine enveloped her.

  “Careful,” Nick’s warning came as he put his hand on her back. “I may have been a little demanding during sex because I wasn’t thinking right. Now I am, and I don’t want you leaning too far back.”

  Turning her head to look at him, she gave him a smile. More because his concern made her feel happy in a way nothing had in a long time. “Okay, Dad. Though, I must say, I think I liked you when you were just charming and out for your own personal gain.”

  Stepping behind her, he wrapped her up in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “This is still me out for personal gain. I just found the most amazing woman. Who, by some stretch of luck, knows how perfect I am for her. I’m not going to risk losing that.”

  She melted at the words and felt herself sag against him. She’d been raised to be strong and confident, to not need the affection or praise of another. Then she’d stepped into the limelight of show business and had never had to worry about a lack of interest from others — much to her father’s annoyance. Yet, somehow, Nick’s words were the most important she had ever heard. There were faults to this man, she’d heard and even seen some first hand. However, right then, he was flawless to her.

  She spun, albeit slightly awkwardly, to face him and kissed him softly. Little jolts of desire sparked through her, but she pushed them off. Now was certainly not the time. “I think that is very chivalrous of you. But remember, I’ve been on my own since my career began. I can take care of myself. Not that I don’t like the extra care and concern.”

  He smiled down at her and gave her a little squeeze. “I’ll do my best to remember that.”

  “Oh, my god! You’re Tasha Morningstar! Oh my god!” a shrill voice pierced through the serene silence.

  It wasn’t something she was unused to. She’d been spotted twice since being up there, and despite attempts to cover it, her accident had been in the paper. She was shocked though, when she turned and found a group of kids, no more than twelve years old. Her fans were typically in their teen years and up.

  Breaking out of Nick’s hold, she smiled and bent a little lower, grabbing some snow in her hands and letting it fly at the kids. Laughing, she threw yet another. “It sure is! And I’m in the mood for a snowball fight!” Letting loose a noise that her father would have called a Lakota war cry, she quickly began to scoop up and throw snow.

  The kids let out various whoops of delight before ducking and grabbing their own snow.

  Nick grabbed her wrist and gave her a telling look. “Be careful,” the look in his eyes practically demanded.

  In answer, she took the pile of snow in her hands and slammed it against his face.

  “Now that is war.”

  A snow pile crashed into her chest, thankfully blocked by the coat. It didn’t save her from the one that crashed against her jeans, the chill jolting her upright. She whirled to see a little redheaded girl grinning wickedly at her.

  “Get her!” Nick roared playfully.

  All at once, snow seemed to attack her from every angle. The freezing piles were thankfully not too hard as they slammed into her head, back, chest and even two in her face. She hadn’t laughed like that in such a long time, and she could hear Nick enjoying himself as well. The kids were shrieking and screaming, and it wasn’t long before they’d fully turned their sites on each other.

  Ducking and dodging, she felt a roll of nausea pass over her, but she couldn’t help but smile as she tripped right into Nick’s arms. His eyes shone brightly down at her.

  “I’ve got you.”

  She almost missed the words over the screaming and laughing kids. She leaned up and pressed her lips to his as her arms wound around his neck. Her body responded far quicker than she’d expected it to, heating up and sending liquid between her legs as his tongue flicked and stroked hers.

  “Eww! They’re kissing,” shouted one of the kids.

  Both laughing, they pulled back from the kiss, and Nick helped her to stand upright. “Adults do that sometimes,” he said, ruffling a boy’s dark brown hair.

  “Yeah, well, we don’t.”

  Tasha laughed at the utter stubbornness in the kid’s voice. “Well, you will one day. Run along now. I’ve got to get back to my day.”

  They all nodded vigorously at her and took off in the direction of cabins. She watched as they ran, and for the first time, had the smallest curiosity about if she would make a good mother. She was used to interacting with people of a certain age. She’d never done a Disney movie, or anything animated, so the reaction from the children had taken her off guard, but she’d enjoyed herself.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” Nick asked as he slipped his hand in hers.

  “I’m just shocked those kids knew me. That doesn’t happen often, and I wondered how I did. I didn’t feel like I was presenting myself to anyone, just having fun.”

  “I didn’t see an actress. I saw a woman enjoying herself,” Nick said as if confirming what she’d thought. “Now,” he swung her arm playfully, “I think it’s time to head back. Nervous or not, it’s cold outside, and I don’t want to put you in any danger. You’d likely kill me if you can’t make it for that big movie of yours.”

  He started slowly tugging her back in the direction they had come, but she froze, realizing that if they were going to be together, she needed to tell him about the movie. She hadn’t meant for the words to simply spew out, but they did.

  “They only offered it to me because they thought we were a couple.”

  Nick didn’t miss a step. “Well, we are. So don’t worry about it. Consider it another side benefit of the deal that brought us together.”

  She wasn’t certain how she’d gotten so lucky. “You’re not upset?”

  He did stop that time, but only to run a hand down the side of her face. “What could I be mad about? We were using each other to enjoy a weekend without upsetting, or being upset by Leena. If something else came out of it, there’s no harm in that.” He gave her his famous side smile. “Besides, look what else came out of it.”

  She laughed and shoved him playfully. “I’m beginning to un
derstand why women like you for your money. Between your charm, job and arrogance, there’s hardly any room for a woman.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing I’m dating a woman with a career bigger than mine, isn’t it?”

  “You are incorrigible, Nick. Completely, incorrigible.”

  They fell into a comfortable silence just as the wind began to pick up. She felt the chill settle into her ears first and run a quick path over her entire body. Nick wasn’t fazed, but men always did seem to run warmer.

  “Any shot I can tempt you with homemade brownies? I saw the ingredients and recipe on the counter the other day. I bet Leena would at least help me. I’m not the best cook.”

  Nick laughed and kissed her cheek, his lips were warm against the coolness of her skin. “I think that’s the perfect addition to the other plans. Come on. Let’s get you back someplace warm.”

  Nick wasn’t certain he was ready for tomorrow. That would mean the last day with Tasha until after her movie was done filming, with the exception of the wedding of course. He looked at her, sitting on the couch trying to beat Jake at Need for Speed, and his heart tightened. It had been so long since he’d felt anything at all, he didn’t think he was ready to feel a certain type of loss again.

  It’s not like you can’t take time off and go see her. The thought nearly made him choke. Nick didn’t take days off, and if Tasha was inspiring such ideas in him, he didn’t know whether to be happy or concerned. It’s just the honeymoon phase and all the holiday magic that Leena’s always going on about. Once you get back to Denver, it’ll slip into being just like any other relationship you’ve ever had. But did he want any other relationship?

  They’d only been officially together for three days, and yet, he wasn’t ready to think about losing the instant surge of desire he felt every time he saw her, every time they touched. The slice to her cheek was far less of an angry gash, slowly knitting itself back together. The bruising on her neck and face were still a glaring purple, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she would cover them up before the party tonight.