Hating Christmas (Holiday Series) (12 page)

Holly tried to overlook the cheesy plastic
decorations on the club door and focus on her mother’s enjoyment.
She had to admit that she and Levi hadn’t made much progress toward
breaking up their parents’ mistaken marriage and that she had a
disquieting mix of feelings about it now. Michael might have been a
nasty surprise to her and the marriage may have happened so fast it
couldn’t have been thought out, but she couldn’t deny that he
seemed to have genuine affection for her mother.

If only she could believe that this wouldn’t end
badly. There were bound to be disquieting discoveries when her
mother and Michael hadn’t seen one another since high school. He
could be a weirdo or a swinger or something. She made a mental note
that she should Google him.

The VFW hall occupied the basement of a local bar and
while the room was moderately warm after the chilly outside, it had
a battered wood floor that looked like it had seen better days and
dark corners where blankets were thrown over oddly-shaped piles of
what could only be storage. In addition to the tables of food,
smaller tables were set out for playing cards, eating and
resting—presumably—between turns on the dance floor.

Her mother bore a platter of beautifully-decorated
cookies, crossing the party room to place them alongside other
plates of goodies on the long tables to the side.

Thank goodness her mom had reminded her about the
Social Club party before she packed for this trip. Looking around,
Holly could see this was the event of the season for some partiers.
Most were dressed to the nines.

The hall held a biggish dance floor off to the side.
The smaller tables were already filling up quickly, but Holly
headed to the coat racks first. Hanging her coat, she soon became
aware of Levi beside her, having followed behind her to the racks
with his dad. He stood next to her, putting his expensive cashmere
overcoat on the hanger next to hers.

“Nice dress.” He gave her a sideways glance. “Very
retro. Very nineteen-fifties.”

Holly glanced down at her magenta pink, full-skirted
party dress and said smugly, “Thanks. That’s what I was going
for.”

“Leaves a lot to the imagination…and yet not.” He
looked at her in a way that made her feel warm before he turned
away.

Holly had taken one glance in the mirror when she’d
tried the dress on at the store and had known it was hers. Levi’s
comment was accurate. The snug bodice showed off her curves and had
a jewel-neck with short, fitted sleeves. This was a conservative
group, for the most part, and the only skin her dress revealed was
her arms and bare legs below the knee. It had a little fifties Mad
Men thing going and looked as hip as the women on that cable
show.

“You look pretty good yourself,” she murmured to Levi
as they drifted through the tables toward the dance floor.

A full band of older guys was set up in the corner
and they were playing a mix of Christmas songs and old standards.
Mixed in with a few eighties ballads were some seventies standards
and the occasional song from the fifties and sixties.

“Thanks.” Levi pulled down his jacket sleeve and
bowed slightly. “Care to dance?”

“Certainly.” She tucked her slim Tory Burch evening
purse in the palm of her left hand and let him spin her onto the
dance floor.

He danced well, which didn’t surprise her.

Across the room, she could see her mother and
step-father greeting a group of friends, chattering away as if they
hadn’t seen them for weeks.

“I liked that kiss.”

Her attention jerked away from the group of old
folks, Holly looked up into Levi’s face. His gaze felt intent and
she wasn’t sure where to look.

“Mmmm. I’m glad,” she said finally. “You’ll never be
a sledding champ, but you kiss pretty good.”

His shoulders shook with laughter. “Of the two, I
think I prefer the latter.”

He danced like a man who loved women. She registered
the thought as Levi moved against her easily. You couldn’t be sure
about a thing like that these days, but that kiss had confirmed her
very strong impression. He was as good to look at as he was to
kiss. He held her firmly, pulling her close. Her fingers lightly
resting on his broad shoulder, she tried not to think of how much
she’d enjoyed kissing him, too. The jacket beneath her fingers
looked to have been expensive and well-made and she tried to think
about how much money he’d spent on it.

Vulture. A really well-built, attractive vulture, but
still out for what he could get with no conscience or regard for
the good of man-kind. She needed to keep reminding herself of that
fact.

With his hand warm on her back and their bodies
close, Holly reflected that it was a real pity she disliked Levi so
much. Well, she didn’t dislike him actually, but she disliked that
he was so focused on Mac Toledo’s success—and his own income—that
he couldn’t see the importance of her project. He was so hot…so
attractive that when she didn’t want to beat him at sledding or
wrestle out of him his agreement to let Mac Do her film, she found
herself thinking about seeing him naked.

Drawing in a breath, Holly made herself think of
hungry children.

Across the room, she could see her mother and Michael
sitting at a table with several friends in the better-lit eating
area.

“Do you know what’s happening in Zambia?” Her
question was abrupt.

Levi cocked an eyebrow at her sudden question since
they’d been dancing in silence, just the sound of the music and
their breath between them. “Only what I’ve seen on the news.”

“People are starving there.”

“I imagine they are. According to the news reports,
the situation in most of Africa isn’t good.”

The dance floor held a few other couples, shuffling
to the rhythm with hush-hush sounds. She felt his dark gaze on her
face, almost as if he touched her. Holly breathed in the clean
smell of him and tried to disconnect from the feel of his hand on
her ribcage.

“The HIV crisis is massive. It’s hardest to see the
sick children.” Holly tried not to be so aware of the brush of his
thigh against hers; the way he held her close and smelled so
good.

“I imagine so.”

“That’s why this film is so important. Why we can’t
let people forget the terrible conditions there.”

“Mmmm. True. Why do you think I don’t care?”

She looked up to meet his gaze. “They need food and
medicine.”

“I know. They have many needs in Zambia. You’re very
passionate about this, aren’t you?” He tilted his head a little as
if to see her better in the shadowy light.

“Yes.” Holly couldn’t keep the husky note out of her
voice.

“Haven’t you ever wanted to make other films?” he
ask. “More commercial projects? I’ve seen several of your films.
The documentary you made a few years back on Asian women and their
children? Very impressive. You do good work. A little humor runs
through the serious subjects. It’s very well done. Haven’t you ever
thought about shifting your focus some?”

“Of course, I have. There are just a lot of things
that need to be brought to light.” She knew she let some of her
impatience with his question seep into the words. “It can’t always
be Saturday night at the movies. There are serious issues in this
world.”

“Sure there are, but we also need time to relax and
have fun. To sled and get beat by beautiful, sexy women.” It was a
low comment.

She looked up at him and Levi smiled at her, so near
that she could have reached up and kissed him right then. Holly
looked away, struggling not to succumb to her urge. Making out with
her mother’s new husband’s son on the dance floor was
not
a
good idea…even if it sounded really good at that moment.

They were here for a different purpose than to
succumb to a mistletoe moment. Not only were they supposedly both
committed to breaking up their parents’ foolish marriage, they also
lived very different lives.

Suddenly, Holly saw her mother bustling over to them.
Back in the café section of the room beyond her mom, she could see
several people standing around a dark-haired gentleman that she
remembered having seen going into the house next to her mom’s.

“Steve’s not feeling well.” Audrey announced when she
arrived in front of them, looking concerned. “You know, Margery’s
husband? They’re our neighbors. Steve had a heart attack last year
and we’re going with them to the hospital. He’s feeling some
tightness in his chest and Margery’s a wreck with worry. You and
Levi go on home and we’ll be there whenever we can.”

“Okay.” Having moved out of Levi’s embrace when her
mother came up to them, Holly reached out to place an arm around
her mom. “You’re sure you don’t need us to come along?”

“No, darling.” Her mom smiled at her reassuringly.
“It’s almost Christmas. Most people are celebrating with their
families. Hopefully the ER won’t be too busy and this will be
nothing. But with Steve’s history, we can’t ignore his chest pains.
We’re just going along to be with Margery. I hope we’ll be home by
midnight or so.”

“That’s a good idea.” Levi stood next to them. “Do
they have family they want called?”

“No, Steve said he didn’t want anyone in their family
to worry about this, in case it’s nothing.”

“If there was ever a season for a heart attack, Mom,
this is it,” Holly added. “Holiday stress.”

“Hush, sweetie.” Her mother said, giving Levi a key
ring before patting his arm. “Here are the keys to your dad’s car.
Just put it in the garage.”

Holly couldn’t help saying in a teasing tone, “I
don’t know, mom. Maybe you’d better give them to me. I mean, with
his record at driving in the snow….”

***

In the shelter of the fenced back yard, Holly pushed
back the hot tub cover and climbed up to step down into its steamy
water. She shook her robe off her shoulders quickly in the chilly
air and dropped it on the pavement near the steps, sinking into the
warm water.

The ride back from the VFW Hall had been absent of
any traffic mishaps. Successful, but quiet. Not feeling like
teasing Levi anymore about his bumping into her with his rent car,
she couldn’t seem to find anything to say. Her mind kept returning
to his body brushing hers on the dance floor as they danced. Riding
home alone with him seemed
intimate
. After her mom and
Michael had left with their friends, she’d danced several more
songs with Levi, but they hadn’t said much then either.

She just kept thinking about that kiss and the way
his lips had been warm and mobile beneath hers.

Holly drew a deep breath as she sank back in the hot
tub now, blowing out a little puff in the frosty air. Sitting on
the acrylic seat, she swiveled around to start the bubbles. The
water started swirling around her, pulsing against her back and
arms as she leaned against the tub, letting her head fall back
against rim. Snow piled around the small deck surrounding the hot
tub and she huddled under the water to keep the cold air away.

Eyes closed, she saw no reason not to let herself
think about schtupping Levi. Alone in the water, she fantasized
about pinning him to the floor and kissing him for all she was
worth. Images of his hard body, tight buns and thick thighs flooded
her brain. Not to mention his laugh. The man had a wicked
laugh.

Sighing, she shifted restlessly in the water. She’d
kiss him and then work her way down his body….

“Mind sharing?”

The husky question jerked her out of her fantasy and
Holly found herself looking up at a bare-chested Levi with nothing
but a towel slung around his waist. The light from the back window
gleamed on his chest, leaving delectable shadows and hollows.

Holly stared at him a moment, struggling to separate
her fantasy from the reality of this moment. She looked away from
him then and made herself scoot over in the water. “Sure. It’s a
big hot tub.”

His responding smile sent shivers over her skin.
“That’s good. Wouldn’t want you to feel crowded.”

Levi climbed up the steps and dropped his towel
before sinking into the water. In the flash of a moment, the light
from the back window revealed bare, naked man. He wasn’t wearing
anything under that towel….

OMG.

A breath lodged in Holly’s throat and she regarded
him across the hot tub. He was a big-time Hollywood agent who
wanted to wrest her star away from her…and he didn’t want his
father to stay married to her mother any more than she did.

And damn, she wanted him now. It made no sense.

“Levi?” She tried to keep the wobble—damn, the
excitement—out of her voice.

“Yes?”

“Um. You’re not, um,…wearing anything.”

“No,” he agreed matter-of-factly. “Did you want me
to?”

In an easy moment, he moved from across the tub to
hover in the water in front of her. “Is there a problem with my
being naked here with you?”

“I—I don’t really know.” Her mouth was dry and she
couldn’t stop the excitement rising in her.

His voice was soft. “All the way home in the car, I
kept thinking about kissing you again, the way you kissed me after
the sledding.”

“You did?” She swallowed, taking another shaky
breath.

“Yes.”

She felt his hand stroke her submerged arm.

“Shall I tell you what I imagined?”

“Uh huh.” It came out as a gasp. He was right there
in front of her, naked in the warm, swirling water. She saw the
gleam of droplets on his collar bone and wanted to place her mouth
there to lick it off

“I kept thinking of you kissing me in the snow. All
while we danced—of you tackling me and pinning me down.” He stared
into her eyes as his fingers slid up and down her arm, the strength
in them gentle, his skin sliding on hers.

Looking at him with a sense of inevitability—of
wanting this to be inevitable—she shifted on her seat, her body
feeling erotic in the water, her nipples beading against her wet
swimming suit. Oh, God, she wanted to have sex with her mother’s
soon-to-be ex-husband’s son. This was so wrong.