Page 9 of The Naughty List

Jaxon nodded, looking relieved. "I'm glad to hear that. And, uh, I know this is a bit forward, but Kris mentioned that you didn't have anywhere to stay, so I wanted to offer you the spare room at my place for the night. It doesn't have the same amenities as the Winter Lodge, but it's warm and dry, and you wouldn't have to worry about being out on the street. I know this town, and I know how hard it's going to be to find somewhere at this time of night."

Holly hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should accept such a generous offer from someone she barely knew. But then she remembered that she was stranded in this Christmas village with no place to stay, and she knew she wasn’t exactly in a position to pass up this opportunity.

"Thank you, Jaxon. I appreciate it more than you know."

Jaxon smiled at her. "It's my pleasure. Come on, let's go and get your luggage from the lodge and get you settled in."

Two things struck Holly. First was that the guy she'd eaten with had a name. Well, of course he had a name. But now, she knew it. Kris.

The second one, she voiced. "How did you know my luggage was at the lodge?"

Jaxon shrugged, and... did the man just blush?

"Ah, well, obviously you don't have it with you, despite not having a room, but also Crystal might have mentioned how you helped her out, and how you gave up your room for the disabled child. The least I can do is try to make it up to you.”

That gave Holly pause, and an uncomfortable thought occurred to her. "Is Crystal your girlfriend?"

Jaxon's eyes widened. "What? Oh no! Lord no! She's my kid sister."

"Your sister's name is Crystal Frost?"

Jaxon's bright grin made another appearance. "Did I not mention my parents?"

Holly laughed, and Jaxon gave her a wink, putting her at ease as he pulled open the door of Winter Lodge, which, conveniently, was right next door to the restaurant. Five minutes later, he was ushering her out to his vehicle, a snow-friendly four-by-four which felt blessedly secure on the icy roads. And ten minutes after that, he pulled up at a cabin… except, cabin was really too tame a word for the magnificent building that stood in front of her.

It was rustic looking, sure, with its rough-hewn, split log cladding, but the proportions were on a far grander scale.

Holly was awestruck as Jaxon led her to the front door, feeling like she had stepped into a fairy tale. The inside was just as impressive, with high ceilings, exposed wooden beams, and a roaring fireplace that cast a warm glow over the entire room. Holly couldn't help but let out a contented sigh as she stepped further inside, feeling the warmth of the fire wash over her.

"Make yourself at home," Jaxon said, gesturing to the plush couches in front of the fireplace. "I'll go grab some spare sheets for the guest room."

Holly nodded, still a little in shock from the beauty of the cabin. She hadn’t expected someone who worked as kitchen staff to live so grandly. Oh lord! Was it his parents’ house? Was she going to have to explain to his family why she was here? Jeez, she was going to look like a hookup. Holly settled herself onto one of the couches, sinking into the soft cushions as she watched Jaxon disappear down a hallway, admiring his taut buttocks as he walked. Oh well, there were worse things in life.

As she waited, she took a moment to take in her surroundings. The decor was rustic and cozy, but rather masculine, in shades of deep greens with natural wood finishes.

Holly couldn't believe how lucky she was to have met Jaxon. He was kind, thoughtful, and incredibly generous. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to spend more time with him, to get to know him better.

Holly tried to shake the thought from her head. She had ended a long-term relationship not so long ago and wasn't ready to jump into anything new. But what about a holiday fling?

As she settled in front of the real wood fire, she couldn't help but feel a tingle of excitement. He was handsome, cheerful, and she'd be lying if she said she hadn't noticed how biteable his ass was. He made her mouth water, and Holly couldn't help wondering what he'd look like naked. Well, that was until another voice interrupted her reverie.

"Well, well... if it isn't Holly Evergreen." Holly jumped and looked around, her guilty thoughts making her cheeks flush pink.

"Nick? It is Nick, isn't it?" she asked of the man who had rescued her and her defective suitcase. "I wasn't expecting to see you here... uh, see you again, I mean."

He smiled at her with those calm brown eyes, which were like dark, peaceful pools that settled her nerves. Something about his easy, relaxed disposition cast a lovely sense of tranquility over her. He'd had that effect earlier, too. It was addictive.

His mouth kicked up lazily on one side in an endearingly crooked smile. "Oh, I live here," he told her, causing all of her inappropriate thoughts to come crashing down around her.

Oh god, she misread things completely. They were gay.

Figured! The best-looking men always were.

Well, at least you don't have to worry about being ravished while you sleep, the voice in her head responded in a remarkably catty voice.

Not that that would have been any great hardship, but at least she knew where she stood before she made a fool out of herself. One thing she didn't need was to add the sting of yet more rejection to round out what had already been a shitty enough year.

Holly gathered her wits. "I'm sorry. I hope I'm not intruding. Jaxon said it would be alright if I stayed the night. In the guest room."

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