Page 3 of Mistletoe Mischief

Roger seemed happy for the interruption.

“How’s he doing, Zeke?” Roger asked, voice hushed.

The big guy paused for a moment, bright blue eyes shining. “Not too b-b-b-bad. You can tell he’s a little rusty.”

Cass thought she heard Roger mutter ‘aren’t we all’ under his breath and almost laughed.

With a broad smile, Zeke hustled over to the booth on the far side of the room. A man and a woman sat there, pretty much just staring at each other. The older guy finished off his beer and Zeke dropped the new one in front of him almost seamlessly.

Cass chuckled a little. It was obvious the two in the booth had been set up as well, and you could almostseethe attraction between them. “There’s a lot of tension in here tonight, and not just because of the holiday.”

Roger glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “You have no idea.”

Reaching out, she ran a fingernail down over the bulge of deltoid muscle in his right shoulder. She stopped at the edge of the prosthetic, then circled around part way. She didn’t understand why she had to touch him. It was very unlike her. But something about the night or the setting made her feel a little … reckless.

Roger gave her that look again, his dark eyes hooded and wary.

Cass drew her finger back, thinking she’d dared enough, and picked up her drink. Her heart raced, giving lie to her calm movements. She hoped Roger couldn’t tell how excited she was.

As she’d gotten ready for this party, she’d changed her clothes literallyten times,all in the hope of finding something,anything, that would make her look skinnier. Somewhat disappointingly, it didn’t happen. So, she went with a cable knit black sweater, a slinky red camisole visible in the deep V neckline of the sweater. Fancy blue jeans with a little bling on the ass pockets finished off the combo. Comfortable to wear and warm enough when she needed to go out. Okay, and the cut of the sweater made her boobs look good, too, but it didn’t matter. It wasn’t like anything would come of this date anyway.

She remembered seeing Roger a couple weeks ago, going into the business next door to hers, so tall and strong. He’d been dressed casually in low-slung jeans and a button down shirt. In her heart, she knew he wouldn’t be into her. As beautiful as he was, he would take one look at her and relegate her to the ‘friends’ category. Or if he did actually want to fuck her, he’d wait until they were in the parking lot, away from his own friends, before he let her know. One of her exes had flat out told her she had the kind of shape he liked to fuck, but he’d never stay with her.

Because it just wouldn’t be good to be seen with a girl as big as she was.

Now that she was here and actually talking with Roger, she started to think that she’d been wrong assuming he’d be like other men she’d known. Things weren’t going the way she’d expected at all, so she could only guess.

There was a burst of chatter from the front of the restaurant and she realized people were looking out the windows. The snow had begun to fall harder outside. The group seemed to be moving to wrap things up.

“I don’t want to leave yet,” she murmured.

Roger gave her a look, and she could tell he was once again trying to size her up.

“What?” she asked defensively. “I like your people. And I like you. It’s been a long time since I’ve been out and haven’t had to threaten to call the cops on my date.”

Roger’s eyebrows shot up on his forehead and she nodded. “Yep. Last two, anyway. Furry faced, web-footed, octopus mother effers.”

He chuckled at her look, or her words, she couldn’t tell. She only cared that she’d made him laugh.

Cass stared at his eyes, trying to see the bad. All men had something bad about them. Some men were all bad, others had just a little bit, but they all hid it well. She just couldn’t tell with Roger. Heseemedlike a gentleman. But she’d thought that before.

None of the other men she’d been with had been in the Marines though. Maybe the military had had a redeeming affect on him. It definitely had for her brother.

In the deepest, most protected corner of her heart she hoped he was as real as he seemed.

Roger had turned to look out the windows of the bar. “Did you drive here?” he asked, turning back to her.

Nodding, she looked out the windows again, praying that the damn snow would stop. She’d seen the weather forecast, though, and it hadn’t sounded good. She didn’t want this evening to end. “Yes,” she sighed. “I drove.”

Not like she’dnothave a car out here, living on her own. Damn she was feeling defensive right now. Was that because he had her emotions so off kilter?

Around them, the group had begun to pack up, the wrapping paper trash picked up and food being wrapped up for safe transport home. There were several people in a huddle over by Roger’s good looking boss. The woman with the striking auburn hair spoke a few words, then seemed surprised the direction the conversation went but she eventually nodded.

“I hate to rush you off,” Roger said finally, “but I think the weather has taken a turn for the worse.”

Dammit.

“Yes, looks like it,” she agreed.