Page 10 of A Not So Casual Christmas

“You’re not helping the situation. I’m hanging up now and calling the cops.”

“Wait!” Justin said. “17-22-16-5”

“Are you sure it’s not going to blow up on me?”

“Just open the fucking suitcase.”

With shaking hands, she flicked the tumblers to the correct sequence and the suitcase latch popped open. She was somewhat disappointed, but mainly relieved to see it was tissue paper. Poking through it though, she was surprised to see a tiara covered in large sparkling stones.

“Are those real?”

“Yes, and older than you think. Do you have a safe?”

“What was it doing in the trunk of your car if it was so valuable?”

“It was parked in my parents’ garage which is sealed tighter than your Fort Knox. It was a present for my mother.”

“And my sister stole it.”

“And my car.”

“I’ll make sure she calls you back, Justin. In the meantime, I’ll put the suitcase in my parents’ safe. It’s not Fort Knox, but it’s also not street racer bait. I’ll see if we can fit the car in the garage too.”

“Wait, you’re in New Hampshire?”

“Um…” Tessa didn’t want to lie.

“I’ll send a retainer to retrieve the car and the suitcase. I should have known she would run home.”

“Just who are you?” Tessa asked.

“I’m your sister’s husband.”

The car was gone by the time Becca got home. She refused to talk about Justin and ran upstairs in tears when Tessa pushed the issue. Tessa didn’t mention that she knew he was her husband because she didn’t want to ruin her parents’ Christmas. It was bad enough Tessa was moping around. They didn’t need a hysterical Becca as well. She left Mari and Leo to help her parents in the kitchen. Grabbing a sweater, she had to get some air. Her quiet little life had turned bananas. It must be the full moon.

As she strode out of the drive way, the first fat flakes of snow began to fall. Figured. It looked like it was going to be a white Christmas after all. Tessa resisted the urge to run. She was sure she wouldn’t be able to outrun her feelings and her lungs would only ache with the effort. She really should just go back inside where it was warm and gorge herself on cookies. That wouldn’t solve anything either, but it would taste good.

She wasn’t too far gone not to realize when a car had slowed down and followed her. She hoped it was Justin, because she was going to give him a piece of her mind. How dare he marry her baby sister without telling them. Whirling on the car with a snarl and a balled fist, she barely recognized the Crown Vic until it stopped. Ben opened the passenger door and leaned over.

“Going my way?”

Resisting the urge to tell him to go to hell, she got into the car because the snow was falling faster now and the flakes were blinding her. Tessa slammed the car door, though—once she was inside—so he knew she meant business. “Where the hell have you—” she got out before he grabbed her across the front seat and kissed her.

She should fight him. He couldn’t do this to her. Not again. Not three blocks from her parents’ house on the side of the road. There was too much shit going on. Becca was married. Ben had abandoned her.

But battling his tongue didn’t feel like abandonment. It felt like obsession. He pulled the lever on the seat, causing it to go flat back. Launching herself over the console, she lay on top of him.

“Am I hurting you?” she managed to ask between kisses.

“No,” he moaned, peeling her out of her jacket.

The gear shift poked her in the ass as she slid to the side so she could undo his pants. Pulling his cock out, she tugged on it roughly.

He sucked in a deep breath.

“Have I got your attention?” she asked, easing up on her grip but still stroking him hard.

“My full attention.” Ben slid his hand down the front of her pants.

---