“I was only planning to stay for a day or two. Not a whole week.”
“Plans are meant to be changed,” I countered.
He huffed a laugh.
“You drive a hard bargain, honeybee.”
I beamed up at him.
“Would it help if I threw in fresh baked cookies and homemade cocoa to sweeten the deal?”
“Damn it, Ruby,” Dean growled with a sparkle in his eye.
A thrill of victory zipped up my spine.
“Say it. You have to say it.”
He heaved a sigh.
“Fine. I’ll stay for Christmas.”
I cheered and rose up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. Dean hooked an arm around my waist, crushing me against his chest. Igrinned into his shoulder and closed my eyes, snuggling into his embrace for a brief, wonderful moment.
This was going to be the best Christmas ever.
Chapter two
Titan
At first, I didn’t recognize Ruby when I saw her standing there on that sidewalk. Her wavy chestnut hair dusted with snow, and her cranberry red sweater hugging her figure. My gaze strayed to the tight fit of her jeans, perfectly molded to her ass and long legs.
Then I scolded myself for looking. Just because she was a fully grown woman now didn’t mean I had any right to check her out. She was still my best friend’s daughter, and over twenty years younger than me.
“It’s freezing out here!” Ruby said through her chattering teeth. “Let’s go inside. I’ll get you something hot to drink. My treat, on the house.”
Before I could protest, she hooked an arm through my elbow and dragged me into the coffee shop. Judging by the dark green apron she wore, with the Cup of Heaven logo on the front, I assumed she worked here.
The interior was swathed in Christmas decorations—lights, tinsel, wreaths, candy canes, a Christmas tree in the corner, and a little train that ran in circles underneath it.
When it came to the holiday season, I did my best to make myself scarce. Under normal circumstances, I would bunk down for a week or two in some shit-hole motel, trying to ignore all that Christmas cheer.
But Ruby pulled me right into the thick of it.
“So,” she said, bustling around behind the counter. “Have you been seeing anyone special lately?”
I scoffed and crossed my arms.
“Hell, no. I like my freedom too much for that. What about you? Where’s your boyfriend?”
“Don’t have one,” she chirped, with a trace of smugness in her tone. She actually seemed proud of that.
I didn’t buy it for a second though. Someone like Ruby would have boys swarming all over her in a heartbeat.
“Why not?” I prompted.
Ruby flicked a quick glance in my direction. My stomach somersaulted at those chocolate brown eyes, sparkling with mischief. This woman had no idea how dangerous she could be with a look like that. She lifted one shoulder in a coy, partial shrug.
“Haven’t met anyone half as handsome as you, I guess.”
