Christmas Cowboy (A Standalone Holiday Romance Novel)

by Claire Adams

  I frowned and then shook my head. “I just want to show him my Hawaii,” I finally said, shrugging. “Anyway, I've already invited him. I can't un-invite him now.”

  “In that case.” Mina grinned at me, a gleam in her eyes. “You're going out on a date with Christian Wall, and you're going to need a new dress. Which means that today, we're going shopping.”

  I laughed and shook my head, but I might have known that that would be her reaction. “All right, all right,” I told her. “Let's finish breakfast first, though.”

  We managed to find a dress at the first store that we went to, a slinky, sky blue number that made my tan look especially nice. “God, I'd kill to have curves like you,” Mina said as we sat there in the salon getting our nails done.

  I laughed. “Yeah?” I asked. “You've got the skinny beach babe look going on; I don't see why you're complaining.”

  “I could never wear a dress like that, though,” Mina said, nodding toward the shopping bag at my feet. She laughed. “It would honestly just fall straight off.”

  “Yeah, but some of the things that you can wear I could never wear.” I protested.

  “And you get to go on the arm of Christian Wall.” Mina sighed. “Some girls have all the luck. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you, but I am also envious as anything.”

  I laughed, but I quickly sobered. “Yeah, I'm lucky,” I agreed. “But at the same time, I know this all has an expiration date. It feels a bit like a Cinderella story, you know? Pretty soon, the ball is going to be over, and I'm going to come back down to reality.”

  “And that's why you kicked him out of your bed?” Mina surmised.

  “Yeah, to be honest,” I admitted. “I just started thinking about all the other girls who he's been with, and the fact that this was just another fuck for him. And that he'll be headed back to New York in a couple of weeks, and then there will be however many more women, and-”

  “Oh, honey,” Mina interrupted. “You can't think like that. Remember what we were saying about your books and that whole line between reality and fiction? True love doesn't exist; the most we can do is just have a little fun with things. There's no problem with you just having some fun with Christian right now. Show him around, if that's what you want to do. Sleep with him, maybe, if you want to do that. But don't get too attached to him.”

  “I know,” I said. “I just don't know how not to get attached. I'm not like you, Mina.”

  “At least you know when the so-called expiration date is,” Mina pointed out. “For a lot of couples, they just never know that kind of thing, and when the end comes, they're totally surprised as well as upset.”

  “He doesn't know when he's going to leave Hawaii,” I said miserably. “For all I know, it could be tomorrow.”

  “It had better not be tomorrow,” Mina said, and I could hear a steely note in her voice. “He'd better at least stay through the luau because you just bought a killer dress to wear to it. If he stands you up, I swear I'll go after him, even if it means I have to dodge angry hordes of media to do it!”

  I laughed a little. “I don't know what I've done to get such a great best friend,” I said happily.

  Mina shrugged. “I know you'd do the same for me,” she pointed out.

  “Definitely,” I agreed.

  We sat there in contented silence for a long moment. Finally, Mina looked over at me, a gleam in her eye. “If you don't want to fuck Christian again, I definitely wouldn't mind having your sloppy seconds on that one.”

  I burst out laughing, knowing that she didn't mean it. She would never do that to me, and especially not when I'd admitted to having feelings for him. “Keep dreaming, girl,” I told her. “But hey, maybe once he's back to New York, his tales of beaches and luaus and pretty girls will send some of his fellow billionaires down. You can get the next one.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Christian

  When Gretchen walked into the hotel lobby on Monday evening, she looked stunning. She was always a beautiful girl, but this dress in particular was incredible. It did nothing to disguise her luscious curves, and the color was perfect next to her dark complexion.

  I was glad I'd gone with the loose, white tunic and khaki shorts; we were going to look amazing standing next to each other.

  I grinned and pulled her into my arms, kissing her once on each cheek. “Hey babe,” I told her. “There aren't enough words in the universe for how gorgeous you look tonight.”

  Gretchen blushed noticeably, which honestly was such an adorable reaction to being told she was beautiful. “Thanks,” she said shyly.

  I laughed. “I can't be the first person who's ever told you that,” I said teasingly. “In fact, I can't even be the first person who's told you that tonight, or if I am, it's only because the other guys were all too shy to say it!”

  She giggled a little, blushing even worse. “Shall we?” was all she asked, though, cocking her head to the side.

  I draped an arm around her shoulders and led her out to the parking lot, where Mark was waiting for us. He opened the car door and ushered Gretchen inside, mouthing wow at me as she climbed in.

  My thoughts exactly.

  I reached over and caught Gretchen's hand as we drove along. I wasn't normally the hand-holding type, but there was something about being there with her, with her in a dress like that, that just made me feel like I needed some sort of contact with her.

  When we got to the beach where the luau was being held, we found that there were already quite a few people there, milling around and getting things set up or else just mingling. I grinned as I looked around, realizing that I was the only non-local there, at least for now.

  “I'm honored that you've brought me here with you,” I murmured lowly to Gretchen.

  “I'm glad she has as well,” Mark said, grinning crookedly. “Means that I get paid to hang out at a luau for the night!”

  I laughed and aimed a swat at the back of his head, which he laughingly ducked. “Yeah, yeah, get out of here,” I told him. “Go have some fun. Maybe get a girl; the cab has a front seat that she can sit in, after all.”

  Mark snorted. “I've known all of these girls since we were kids, though,” he said. He shrugged a little. “I could never hook up with another Islander; I know too much about them.” He winked and wandered off, though, quickly attaching himself to a group of friends.

  “So, now what?” I asked Gretchen, only partially teasing.

  “Now we get a drink, and then I guess I introduce you to some people,” she said, smiling up at me. “Come on.”

  We grabbed drinks, and then Gretchen steered me over toward the group. I vaguely recognized her friend Mina from before, at the massage parlor. “Hey everyone,” Gretchen said, greeting them all with a wave and a smile.

  The group paused whatever it was that they were talking about and stared over at me. “Who's this?” one of the guys finally asked.

  Mina laughed. “It's Christian Wall, the real estate exec,” she said. “Duh.”

  One of the guys raised an eyebrow, looking at Gretchen. “You know these luaus are mostly for the locals to get together and see each other,” he said, a disapproving note to his voice.

  “I know that,” Gretchen said, tossing her hair a little. “But Christian and I have been hanging out a bit while he's here in Hawaii, and I'm trying to show him the real Hawaii, the places that the tourists don't normally see. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “Wouldn't he have more fun at the clubs?” someone else muttered under their breath.

  I winced and held up my hands. “Look, if you guys don't want me here, I can leave,” I said. “I didn't mean to intrude or anything like that.”

  “Come on,” Mina said, stepping into the middle of the circle. “We don't own the beach. And we get other tourists over here all the time. If he wants to have some fun and chill out with us, we can't just kick him out.”

  There were mixed looks from the group, but finally, the first guy who had spo
ken sighed. “All right,” he said, putting his hands up. “But if you pull anything douchey…”

  “Definitely not what I plan to do,” I said tightly.

  “So, how long are you here in Hawaii for?” one of the guys, Rob, asked me.

  I shrugged. “I'll probably head back to New York after the New Year,” I said, glancing over at Gretchen to see her reaction. But her smile didn't falter. She was proving to be a tough one to crack. I still didn't know what had happened after we had sex or why she'd still come back to find me a couple of days later, but I was starting to wonder just what the deal was.

  I liked it though. It kept me on my toes.

  “That's a nice little vacation,” Vicky said.

  I laughed. “It's been a very nice little vacation,” I agreed. “In fact, I almost wish that I never had to leave. The pace of life is so different here, compared to New York. It's so much calmer. I'm enjoying it.” I tightened my arm around Gretchen's shoulder. “And I've been enjoying this one's company, as well. Not just in the massage parlor; she took me out to some waterfalls the other day too. It was incredible.”

  There were smiles all around at that one. “I'm glad you're getting out and seeing different places,” Mina said. “We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful place.”

  “Amen,” was the chorus all around.

  Later that evening, after the food had been eaten and I had drunk my way to a pleasant buzz, I sat with Gretchen down on the beach, staring out over the waves. “It is pretty here,” I said quietly, almost reverently.

  “It is,” Gretchen agreed. “And I know we don't get more tourists over to this area because it's a little bit of a drive from the hotels and everything else. But honestly, I think these beaches are nicer than some of the other beaches in the area. I love them, but I'm sure it's partly also that there's just so many good memories tied to these beaches.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “I didn't go to luaus for most of the year, and when I finally came back, it's like coming back to family. I know everyone, and they know me, and they just all wanted to know how I was doing and everything.”

  “It's a good vibe,” I agreed, glancing back as well.

  “Sorry they were a bit rude to you to start with,” Gretchen said, grimacing a little. “They're not usually like that. I think it's just partly jealousy and partly, I don't know. But they warmed up to you after a bit.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed. “I wasn't too worried either way.”

  “Hey, Gretchen,” someone said, walking up to us.

  I could see the way that Gretchen stiffened and then forced herself to relax. “Hey Lino,” she said, frowning up at him. “How are you?”

  “Good. You?”

  “I'm fine,” Gretchen said, her tone a bit cool.

  “It's good to see you out at another luau,” the guy said. “Did Mina drag you out, the little rascal?”

  Gretchen laughed at that. “No,” she said, her voice warming a little as she spoke about her friend. “No, I decided I wanted to come here on my own. I'm trying to show Christian a little of the local culture and everything while he's here.”

  “That's good,” Lino said.

  Gretchen yawned. “Anyway. We were just going to take a little stroll down the beach and then call it a night,” she said, pushing herself up to her feet and then reaching around to give me a hand up. “But it was nice seeing you. I'm sure I'll see you for the New Year's luau too.”

  “Oh, definitely,” Lino agreed, pulling her into a quick hug and kissing her cheek. I felt my hackles rise, but I wasn't about to act like the jealous boyfriend, not when I didn't know where Gretchen and I stood at the moment and not when I didn't even know who this guy was or what he was to her.

  Still, it was good to drop an arm around her shoulders and steer her away from the crowds and down the beach.

  “Sorry about that,” Gretchen said, grimacing.

  “No problem,” I said easily. “Who is this Lino, though?”

  “He's just an ex,” she said, shrugging a little. “We broke up a while ago, don't worry. I don't know why you would worry either way, but whatever Lino and I once had, it's done now.”

  “Oh,” I said. I frowned. “To tell you the truth, I've never really dated anyone,” I confessed.

  Gretchen laughed. “Never?” she asked. “It's just been one-night stand after one-night stand?”

  “Something like that,” I admitted.

  “You do a pretty good job of taking a girl out on a date,” Gretchen told me warmly.

  I laughed and shook my head. “I'm still smarting from that first date,” I told her. “I did not do a very good job with that one.”

  “Okay, maybe not,” Gretchen said. “But it's cute watching you flounder a little.”

  I laughed, wondering if I should feel defensive. But she hadn't said it meanly, so I supposed I'd let it slide.

  We continued to stroll down the beach, moving further and further away from the crowd that was still left at the luau. “God, it's so peaceful out here,” I said, shaking my head a little. “Seriously. It almost feels like we have the whole world to ourselves.”

  “It does,” Gretchen agreed, sliding a little closer to my side.

  “I'm really happy that I've met you,” I told her, suddenly drawing us to a halt, looking seriously down into her warm eyes. “You've made my time here in Hawaii into something special.”

  “I'm glad I could help,” Gretchen said, smiling shyly.

  I bent down to kiss her, sliding my lips softly against hers. I could turn this into something filthy, but I found myself wanting to take my time, to get her riled up. I went slow, carefully increasing the pressure and finally sliding my tongue alongside hers. She moaned into the kiss as I altered the angle slightly, and I pulled her closer into my arms, holding her body close to mine.

  “Fuck,” I said, long and low as we pulled apart. I didn't release my hold of her waist, and I kept my forehead pressed against hers.

  “We could,” Gretchen suggested, the words barely a whisper.

  I blinked at her, wondering if she was suggesting what I thought she was suggesting. I glanced back toward the luau and saw that we had come far enough away that we were alone on the beach. We really could have sex there, if we wanted to.

  Still, I couldn't help remembering the debacle at the end of the last time. “Are you going to tell me I can never see you again if we have sex?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

  Gretchen groaned. “I'm still so sorry about that,” she said. “I don't know what came over me. I mean, I do, but-”

  I silenced her with another kiss, this one more passionate than the last, filled with intent. I hoped she wasn't about to change her mind because I was already rapidly hardening in my shorts even just thinking about it.

  I wasn't sure what kind of spell she had over me, but sex with her had me feeling almost like a teenager again. It felt like if she so much as got a hand on me, I would come like a fountain. Of course, I wasn't about to let that happen.

  “Fuck me,” Gretchen murmured against my lips. When she pulled back, there was a devilish, crooked smirk on her face. “Fuck me, right here, Christian Wall. Prove to me how much you like Hawaii.”

  I couldn't help laughing at that, but the lust in her eyes and the matching dark desire in her voice lent a gravity to the situation that I couldn't ignore. I shook my head and moved my fingers toward my shirt, pulling it off over my head. “Lie back and get comfortable, then, babe,” I told her.

  Chapter Twenty

  Gretchen

  I didn't have that much to drink at the luau, and I wasn't drunk, but something about seeing Christian there with my friends, and looking so sexy in the firelight, had gotten me hot over the course of the night. And there was something in me that wanted to be bold, to be more spontaneous, to be more like the person that Mina kept urging me to be. Where was the harm in letting Christian claim me here on the beach? It was a special night.

  Or maybe this was just to spit
e Lino, whom I still couldn't believe had had the balls to come up and talk to me when Christian and I were off on our own. I had toyed with the idea of telling Christian why Lino and I had broken up because I had an idea Christian would think differently about the guy if he knew.

  But I didn't want to start something. Whatever I'd had with Lino, it was over now.

  I moaned as Christian stroked his fingers up my bare skin, kissing along my jawline and nibbling at my earlobe, making heat flare in my groin. There was something about being out there, beneath the open sky, that had me so incredibly turned on. Something about the way he had managed to charm all my friends by the end of the night. Something about the fact that he seemed to fit so naturally into my life.

  I was in definite danger of getting attached to him, in ways that I knew Mina would frown about. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on just being there.

  Christian nudged my legs further apart and began to slide his hips back and forth, his hard length dragging against my velvety folds, making me arch with desire there against the sand. I caught his hand in mine, tangling our fingers together, giving me something to anchor myself against what I could already tell was going to be one of the biggest orgasms that I'd ever had. It was already building inside of me, already so close to consuming me.

  He bent down and captured my lips in a passionate kiss, his lips searing against mine. His tongue, when it entered my mouth, was more heated than the fire at the luau, prompting little mewls from me as he licked along all my sensitive spots, sucking at my lower lips and nibbling gentle sparks of flame there as well.

  Then, he moved down, sucking a mark into the side of my neck, one that I knew, distantly, would be visible when I went to work, but I couldn't find it in me to care, in the heat of the moment. Instead, that little bit of pain, there amongst all this pleasure, was enough to push me spiraling toward new heights, and he hadn't even entered me yet.

  His mouth slipped lower, his teeth grazing across my pert nipples, tongue lapping at the buds and making me wild with desire.