Wrapped In Red: Mistletoe Mantra / White Hot Holiday

Nomi opened her door and a gust of icy wind blew in, chilling him to the bone. Right about now, LA didn’t sound so bad. He’d never been. An added bonus—Nomi lived there. Sap.

He followed her up the front stairs of the cabin, her tight ass sashaying in front of him in her leggings. She’d tossed the impractical boots she’d worn yesterday, and opted for flat ones with sheep’s wool lining.

Nomi knocked on the door and waited as patiently as she could. After only a brusque knock, she was peering into the windows.

He ignored the twinge of guilt. He knew no one was coming. “Looks like no one is home.”

She tsked at him. “Linc, you give up way too easily. Where is your determination?” She hopped down the stairs and started around the back.

“Where are you going? You need to be careful.” He could only imagine how pissed she’d be if she slipped on some ice and twisted an ankle.

“I’m fine. I’m not some west coast rube who’s never seen snow or ice before.”

“Still, it’s a long time since you’ve been here, Nomi.”

She shrugged. “Last I checked the stuff doesn’t change. Cold, slippery, wet.”

“Suit yourself.” He couldn’t help the smile as she had to check her balance more than once.

At the back of the house, she looked inside the windows again, then frowned. “I don’t see anything.”

“Nomi, the guy’s not home.”

“Yeah, but maybe he’s fallen down and can’t get up and he needs our help. Listen.” He stilled and she added. “You can almost hear him calling out.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Surprisingly not the first time I’ve been told that.” She scooted around him. “Come on, I need a better view of the whole place.”

Linc stared at her. “You can’t break in.” Not to his place she couldn’t. “Nomi!”

Her laugh rang from around the corner. “Relax, I’m not breaking in. Think of me as more of a Peeping Tom.”

He joined her at the side of the house and cursed. She was trying to climb a stack of slippery logs to look inside. Linc stepped up behind her and dragged in a breath of chilly air. I’m just giving her a lift. No need to get all excited. It’s only for a second. The problem was getting his hands on her was all he could think about.

Nomi looked over her shoulder. “What’s the matter? I swear, I only want to have a quick look around. See if there’s any indication he’s been here or if this is even his cabin.”

Linc knew she wouldn’t find anything. He’d paid Hanna, the owner of Faith Woods Cabins, for a cellar to be added. Hell, he’d even brought in the crew and paid for all the work as a donation so he’d have somewhere to store all his equipment and files. “Fine, let’s get this over with.”

It wasn’t the safest move in the world to touch her since it was all he’d been thinking about since he’d picked her up from the train station. He might not be able to stop.

Nomi planted her hands on the sill and he hoisted her up easily. She might have been tall, but she didn’t weigh much. And, added bonus, she smelled heavenly. Like chocolate and something else. Something spicier. He gritted his teeth. All he had to do was not breathe in. “Do you see anything?”

“No,” Nomi panted. “Freaking nothing. For a photographer, there isn’t a single camera lying around, or even a photo. No photography books, no nothing.”

“Maybe we have the wrong cabin. Or maybe he was never a guest here at all.” He hated the disappointment he heard in her voice. A snake of guilt slithered over his skin.

“I’m starting to think I’m on a wild-goose chase.” She sighed. “Okay, coming down.”

It would have been an easy task to bring her down slowly. Should have been. It would have been no big deal. Should have been no big deal. It should have been simple. Should have been. But she let go of the windowsill and her shift in weight unsettled them.

Next thing he knew they were falling backward and Nomi gave a little squeak of surprise. Linc wrapped his arms around her and cradled her inward to protect her body as he landed on his back on the snow-packed grass. His teeth clinked together as he took the brunt of their fall.

“Oh my God, Linc. Are you okay?”

He did a quick mental check as his teeth rattled and a jolt of adrenaline spiked his blood. His back had a residual ache he’d likely feel for days. But for the most part, he could feel all his fingers and toes. He was fine. Except...Nomi was now plastered against his body. Her ass nestled right in his lap. He wasn’t sure if he was in heaven or hell—either way, his body loved it.

Chapter 7 (#ulink_c49aa162-fde4-5927-98be-2ad8ccbc5afd)

Nomi wanted to melt into the molten heat surrounding her body. Relax into it and nestle there forever. Except she couldn’t. Linc was the source of the heat, and right now, she was on his lap.

He sat up abruptly, bringing her with him, and she gasped. Through his jeans and her leggings, she could feel the insistent pulse of an erection. A very large erection. Shit.

Behind her, a wall of muscle braced her upright. In her attempt to scramble up, all she managed to do was rub against him, making her pulse quicken and her breath hitch as heat pooled between her thighs.

Linc planted both hands on her hips, his voice low and gravely as he squeezed gently. “Stop moving, Nomi.” He sounded like warm whiskey on a cold night. She stilled.

“W-what?” She could barely force the two brain cells she had left to cooperate enough for speech.

“It’ll be easier if you let me pick you up.”

Right. “Oh.”

Gently, he lifted her and set her next to him on the grass.

Despite the cold of the grass and the whipping air, Nomi flushed. Not only did Lincoln Porter have the devil’s tempting smile but apparently, he had the power to turn her bones to liquid too.

Just having him hold her on his lap was enough to make her brain conjure all sorts of interesting scenarios about him naked. Nomi cleared her throat in an attempt to dissipate the imagery. What was she supposed to say? “I couldn’t help noticing you were working with some serious equipment. Can I help you with that?” No.

She wasn’t here looking for a fling. She was here for work. And Linc was doing her a favor. He didn’t want her, current erection notwithstanding. She had pretty much given the poor man a lap dance.

Lucky for her, he took all the fumbling words out of her mouth and stood smoothly before extending a gloved hand to her. Swallowing hard, she placed her hand into his. When he spoke, his voice was low. “Tell me, Nomi, are you done with your adventures in B and E now?” He pulled her to her feet easily.

“Yeah. It’s clear he’s not here. If he ever was to begin with.”

He watched her with those intense eyes of his and she shifted on her feet under the weight of his scrutiny. “You giving up on me?”

She lifted her chin. “Nope. There’s still the auction tomorrow night.”

His smile was fleeting. “There’s the Nomi we all know and love. Come on, let’s head into town.”

The drive back to town carried an undercurrent of tension. None from Linc’s side apparently, as he chatted with her about happenings in town.

But she felt the tension. Every time he touched her. Every time he slanted a grin at her. It was damned inconvenient.

After three more hours searching through the town and a false trail with his post office box, followed by coming up empty-handed with Jilly’s contact at the bank, she was losing hope. Her feet hurt. Her back hurt. And to make matters worse, she was still hyper aware of Linc.

He pulled into the guesthouse entrance and she was surprised to find a car in the driveway. One she recognized. Her mother’s.