Page 5 of Unholy Night

Vance threw his head back and laughed as he spit in his hand and slapped Penn’s. “I’m in just to watch Penny boy here grovel for some rich bitch pussy.”

Zander’s eyes darkened as he too spit and shook Penn’s hand. “Maybe we all will. Wouldn’t be the first time…”

As much shit as we spewed at each other, we were closer than brothers. Tighter than Robin’s band of merry thieves. We’ve shared a lot of things over the years. Women included.

I was the last to solidify the pact with a hard grip on Penn’s hand. “Let’s try to keep our dicks in our pants this time.”

I looked around at my partners, noticing how they each had that mischievous glimmer in their eyes. I had a sinking feeling that this weekend might not go as planned. But I always was the pessimist of the group. Now we all just had to get our stories straight so little miss feisty didn’t figure out what we were really doing here.

Easton

“He kissed her with a passion he didn’t know he had…” My fingers stilled on the keyboard.

“And then what?” Fuck. Writing this book was like pulling teeth.

I slammed my laptop shut and looked out the window. Well, I tried to look out the window through the blinding web of Christmas lights draped across it.

This room was offensive. The bed was covered with pillows shaped and decorated like Christmas presents. There was a tree in the corner that had so many ornaments on it, I wondered how it was still standing upright. Even the carpet was white and sparkly. I’m guessing to look like snow? That will teach me to book something on the internet without checking the reviews.

There was no television, no complimentary bottled water, no fancy amenities in the bathroom—unless you count the reindeer soaps and the elf toothbrush holder—and no room service. Ugh. Why me?

My stomach grumbled. The only thing I managed to get down on the flight was scotch and an over-salted bag of peanuts.

I needed a shower and a good night’s sleep even though I knew it was too early to go to bed. This fucking time difference was killing me. But I needed food more than insomnia right now.

I sighed as I changed into a pair of jeans and my favorite black cashmere sweater. I tossed my brown hair up into a bun and threw on some silver hoops. As I laced up my black leather boots, I wondered if those hot lumberjacks were capable of whipping up a decent meal.

The website claimed that dinner was included with the room. I figured I’d still go into town to a nice restaurant but there didn’t seem to be any. I glanced out the window again, looking for any signs of life. “Fucking miserable small-town bullshit,” I mumbled. This Christmas massacre of an inn really was the only place open.

It’s okay, you can do this, Easton. Just march out there and demand a hot meal. I creaked the door open halfway and peered down the hall. It was too quiet for this time of night. The other guests must already be downstairs.

Halfway down the stairs, without warning, the song Jingle Bells blasted out of the speakers. I ducked as if somehow the sound of it might knock me out. “What the fuck?” I crouched against the banister, a bit over dramatic I know, but holy hell it was loud. Oh, and did I mention I hate Christmas. Like loathe it.

A barrage of male voices, cursing and yelling, carried over from another room. “Turn that shit off!” one of them yelled. “It’s fucking stuck. Hold on,” another one fired back.

My head pounded as the creepy chorus of children’s voices seemed to grow louder. I envisioned psycho little Christmas dolls with those open and shut eyes. Yeah, I hated dolls too. Fuck, I really was a piece of work. My last therapist made me sit in a room full of them to face my fears. I fired that bitch so fast.

Like a vacuum sucking all the sanity out of my head, the music finally stopped. I rubbed my ringing ears. “Fucking finally.”

“You think you’re gonna live?” a low voice snickered.

I looked up to see a man. Another one? I gazed up the length of his hard body, tight abs stretching out his black T-shirt, broad shoulders, tattoos covering his arms and neck, black hair, and brown eyes. Sexy as hell with a shit grin on his face. Fuck.

Realizing I probably looked like a complete idiot sitting on the stairs, gripping the banister for dear life, I popped up with a little too much pep and stumbled forward. The man caught me on the last step.

He sniffed the air between us. “Are you drunk?”

I pushed against his chest and took a giant leap back. Yep, definitely perfect solid muscle. “More like deaf now thanks to the surround sound. I think my ears are bleeding.”

He leaned his massive frame against the banister, and I was actually concerned that he might break it. “Rom said you had a mouth on you. He just didn’t tell me how sexy it was.”

I rolled my eyes, fighting the flush that was creeping across my cheeks. “Great. You work here too. Just great.”

His eyes lingered a little too long on my hips. “Easton Radleigh.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Zander.”

Ignoring his hand, I brushed past him into the dining room. There were three long tables set for six and a couple of tables for two. The plates and tablecloths were of course made to look like they came straight from Santa’s workshop. It was a sea of red and green glitter.

“Where are all the other guests?” It was 5 PM and the place was empty. Plus, I thought it was odd that not a single person had come out to yell about the music.

---