“Thanks.” Keeping the hopefulness out of my nonchalant tone, I asked, “So, if you’re here for a cousin’s wedding, does that mean you live around here?”

  I may have been keeping my cards close to my chest, but Eli didn’t even try to hide his disappointment. “No. Boston.”

  That was quite the distance, but there was something to be said for a good holiday fling. No-strings, no expectations, just a round or two of fun and then goodbye. See ya. Au revoir.

  Get the hell out.

  “Are the bride and groom from here then?” If I knew them, it’d be a good way to verify he wasn’t a serial killer before we jumped to the window and wall action.

  “Nope. Destination wedding.” His tone held more than a little disdain and frustration.

  “A holiday destination wedding?” I gave a low whistle. “That’s a doozy of chaos, I’m sure.”

  Eli grimaced, but there was still more playfulness than scorn in his voice—as if even in frustration, he was happy. “Their first trip together was to Winter Falls. The lovely bride insisted on a Christmas Day wedding here.”

  “Well, at least he won’t forget their anniversary.”

  I spun my stool, giving Eli more of my focus as we talked about his career as a mechanic of some sort, my love of snowboarding, and all the best but lesser-known places around town.

  According to him, the wedding hoopla had monopolized most of his time, so he hadn’t been able to explore the town as much as he’d wanted. When I gave him some suggestions of slopes that were perfect for boarding, his megawatt smile nearly blinded me.

  And his words nearly sent me into cardiac arrest when he said, “Maybe we can meet up and you can show me what you like.”

  For snowboarding.

  He’s talking about snowboarding.

  I may have logically known that, but that didn’t stop my libido from twisting his words in the same way I wanted him to twist my body.

  Before I could accept his friendly offer—or extend an indecent one of my own—movement at my side caught my eye. I looked over to see Demi fervently tapping away on her phone. A blush spread over her cheeks, and I wasn’t sure if it was professional rage, thanks to people’s inability to understand basic technology, or something else of the wink-wink, nudge-nudge variety.

  I was about to ask if she was okay when she stood and beat me to it. “I have to handle something.” Her gaze darted from me to Eli then back again. “You okay here?”

  Here? With the attractive and charming guy?

  Yeah, I’m good.

  I didn’t say all that and just nodded.

  She headed toward the hallway that led to the bathroom, her face tipped downward at her phone.

  “Is the lovely couple here or did you ditch out?” I asked Eli.

  “Just the groom-to-be and us groomsmen. The other half of the wedding party stayed at the lodge.” He gestured over his shoulder. “But I definitely shoulda ditched.”

  I followed his gesture to see the small group of men who made up his party.

  A group that included the douche-canoe I’d bumped into.

  I watched as douche-canoe pointed to Eli and blew his cheeks up, gesturing exaggeratedly—and obscenely—before laughing and giving Eli a thumbs up.

  Eli didn’t see it as he shifted to grab his beer. But I sure as hell did.

  Oh.

  Fuck.

  Got it.

  Chapter 2

  Posey

  Two Cs

  I knew who I was.

  What I was.

  Curvy.

  Soft.

  Thicc—with two Cs.

  But I also knew I was pretty.

  Not pretty for a big girl.

  Not pretty despite being curvy.

  Just plain pretty. The same pretty as any other attractive woman of any other size.

  Which was why when Eli, this tattooed hottie, had started chatting me up, I hadn’t thought twice. I hadn’t cowered, wondering why this sexy man was smiling at not-so-little ol’ me. I hadn’t thrown myself at him, grateful for the attention.

  I mean, sure, I’d been tempted to throw myself at him because he was that attractive—not because I’d felt like I was required to.

  I’d just assumed he was flirting with me because he was a man with working eyes.

  But seeing the way his group was avidly watching—and mocking—I realized I’d misjudged Eli. He wasn’t a man.

  He was a boy in a man’s body.

  One of those who still snickered and bullied, as if my world revolved around their inability to see me for the gift I was. The boys who thought they were hosting their own hilarious version of Punk’d by talking to a curvy girl.

  To be honest, it didn’t happen often, but when it did?

  It hurt a little, sure.

  But mostly it annoyed and frustrated me. He was attractive and charming—or so I’d thought—and a no-strings holiday hookup would’ve been perfect. But his stupidity had to ruin it.

  I may not have been able to dismiss the other douche-canoe first, but I can dismiss the hell out of Eli.

  It’s that or I stab him in the eyes with my cocktail umbrellas.

  “Well, thanks for the drink. Better get back to your boys,” I snapped, turning away.

  “Whoa,” he muttered, easily picking up my vibe and attitude change. “Thought the storm wasn’t supposed to come until next week. Why the sudden cold front?”

  If he hadn’t been an immature asshole, his words would’ve made me smile. As it was, they just further irritated me.

  “Aren’t we done here?” I asked. “Mission accomplished. You talked to the fat chick. Ha. Ha. Fucking ha.”

  “Posey, I have no—”

  “No maturity? No actual humor in your sense of humor? No three working brain cells? No dick because it all went into your personality? Yeah, I figured that out. See ya.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” he rumbled.

  “I’m sorry, does winning the dare require you to fuck me? I assumed actual intercourse would be difficult to achieve, you know, thanks to the whole tiny dick thing.”

  Amusement and confusion warred on his expression. Surprisingly, there was no anger despite my low aimed insults. Even his tone was bewildered not pissy when he asked, “What the hell are you talking about, woman?”

  “A guy who looks like you randomly coming to talk to me.” Rotating my wrist as if I was speeding the interaction along, I said, “I’d give you the spiel about what you’re missing out on, like how I’m damn adorable, can cook like a Michelin chef, and do unspeakable things against windows and walls that would make you more than sweat. But this isn’t some rom-com chick-flick, and I don’t care enough.”

  I tried to spin around to face forward again, but Eli gripped my chin and forced me to look at him.

  It was too intimate of a touch. Too intense.

  Too exhilarating.

  “If you think the only reason I’d wanna talk with a gorgeous fuckin’ woman is because of a dare, that says more about you than it does about me.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “That there’s only one person being judgmental here, and it ain’t me.”

  If I had taken a breath and studied him, maybe I’d have seen that he was telling the truth. That he wasn’t trying to gaslight me. But I was riding the slope of wounded pride and self-righteousness and had no interest in purposefully snow ploughing so I could stop to hear him out. Not when lowering my guard could mean being the butt of his joke.

  Standing, I dropped cash on the bar for the drinks. “Go high-five your dude-bros and leave me the hell alone.”

  I turned around, thankful Demi was already there. Based on the wide eyes she was giving me, she’d clearly heard at least part of the interaction.

  With my back to him, I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I did. Eli was going to follow. Because the whole altercation wasn’t embarrassing enough, he had to make a scene, too.

  Before he could, a large party came in, pushing their way to the bar and conveniently wedging themselves between Eli and me.

  I knew I loved crowds for a reason.

  Chapter 3

  Posey

  Killer Butt

  “Fucking asshole. Prick. Douche.”

  I hadn’t even realized I’d grumbled the words aloud until Demi said, “But tell me how you really feel about him.”

  “I know people suck. I know it. Yet it still surprises me when I’m smacked in the face…” I paused to get into Demi’s car and out of the bone-chilling cold. My anger could fire me up, but it could only do so much against the bursts of icy wind. Once I was in, I turned and saw the way Demi’s eyes bugged out and the outrage that had quickly filled her. Realizing where I’d cut off, I amended, “Metaphorically smacked in the face, not literally.”

  “You’ve got to watch your phrasing. My brain already came up with fifty technological ways to ruin his life in addition to calling my dad to haul his ass to jail.”

  It was bizarre and probably didn’t speak highly of me that my first instinct was to be touched. But it was what it was. I squeezed my friend’s arm, warmth swirling through me. “You’re a good friend.”

  “I know. What I don’t know is what the hell happened.”

  As she began driving, I filled her in on what I’d seen. As I repeated the rounded-fat-girl gestures the yuppy bastard had made, my cheeks heated with anger and embarrassment.

  “I knew I should’ve gotten that asshole kicked out,” Demi seethed. “Who even does that shit?”

  “That’s what I was saying! Even though I know there are cruel people in the world, when I’m smacked in the face with their nastiness, it still manages to shock me. Like, really? Are we back in middle school?”

  “Some people’s brains never mature past adolescence.”

  “Or evolve past neanderthal,” I added.

  “Or that. Which explains why you should kick that pretentious asshole in his khaki covered shin. But what does that have to do with Eli?”

  “He was clearly in on it.” The skin on my cheeks flamed hotter, traveling down my chest. “They were all watching. And laughing. Because a hot guy talking to the likes of me is the height of entertainment.”

  “How do you know that, though?”

  “I saw them.”

  “No, not them. They’re childish assholes, and if I ever find out their names, I’ll flood their email and cell phone with spam from every dick enhancement scam there is.”

  Here it is again, that warm and fuzzy friendship feeling.

  “But how do you know that Eli was involved?” Demi clarified.

  I thought about Eli.

  The way he’d just happened to come up behind me, despite the expansive length of the bar—not to mention, the other women sitting at said bar.

  The way his warm brown eyes lit, like we were sharing a joke and not that I was the joke.

  The way he’d smiled at me.

  The way he’d said all the right things.

  The way he was just so damn hot, with a muscular physique and the scroll of tattoos weaving up his neck.

  I’d wanted to inspect them further.

  Preferably with my tongue.

  That was before he’d shown his true colors.

  “Trust me,” I said, “I know.”

  But…” Demi’s words trailed off, her fingers tapping on the steering wheel.

  “Yes, I have a killer butt that is clearly distracting you just by thinking of it. What’s that have to do with that bastard?”

  “See?” She gestured to me. “That’s what I was going to say. You’re confident.” Before I could interject, she rushed on. “As well you should be. You’re a damn treasure and any man would be lucky to have you. You know that and have never let anyone make you feel otherwise. So I’m confused why you suddenly seem to have forgotten that fact.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Is it so hard to believe Eli had nothing to do with those dumbasses?”

  “And they just happened to be watching and joking at my expense?” I scoffed. “Birds of a feather and all that.”

  “He didn’t exactly seem thrilled to be hanging out with them.”

  She has a point.

  Rather than admit that, I inhaled deeply and let all that shit go. Unclenched my jaw. Relaxed my shoulders. All thoughts of revenge and shin kicking dissipated from my head, like frigid snow flurries snuffing out the remaining embers of my anger.

  And, yes, fine, also my residual lust.

  “Whatever,” I said on a sigh with none of the teenage angst the word usually conjured and all of the deep adult exhaustion I felt in my soul.

  God, I’m getting old. One night of flirting and tequila and I’m ready to crawl into bed for a month.

  Demi didn’t look convinced, glancing at me before focusing on the road. Her expression was almost as pensive as I felt. After a long, silent moment, she offered, “Why don’t we go to my place? I’ve got tequila and a makeshift guest room with your name on it.”

  Since her fixer upper with beautiful potential was still more fixer than upper, a guest room could mean exactly what it implied. Or it could mean an air mattress on the floor of a room with no outlet covers, curtains, or lighting.

  Or walls, for that matter.

  I’d be willing to risk it if it weren’t for work looming over my head. If I had to get home in a hurry, and we were both drunk, I’d be screwed. Our houses weren’t far from each other, but they also weren’t close. Technically, I could hike home if motivated.

  But exhausted and buzzed, I was far from motivated to do anything more than crash.

  Shaking my head, I said, “I should be home in case the publisher needs me to re-record something. Next time, we’ll skip the bar and just have a good ol’ fashioned sleepover. Drinks, movies, face masks, a little hacking of a Fortune 500 company. You know, the classics.”

  Demi smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Still, she nodded. “Sounds good.”

  I’m not the only one feeling drained.

  We made the rest of the short drive in silence. I wasn’t sure where her thoughts were but mine most certainly were not on a certain tattooed man, his warm eyes, or his charming smile.

  Nope.

  Not.

  At.

  All.

  Chapter 4

  Eli

  Fairy Godmother

  What the hell just happened?

  One moment, Posey had been smiling at me—a smile that’d shot straight to my dick almost as much as her fuckin’ voice. The next, she’d been glaring at me like I was sugar water in a fuel tank.

  I didn’t get it. And with my failed attempt to follow so I could press for answers, I wasn’t gonna get it.

  Because in a blur of narrowed hazel eyes, angrily flipped brown hair, and then a shit-ton of people, she was gone.

  I was over the whole night.

  Actually, I was over the whole fuckin’ trip.

  The bullshit wedding that was stressing me out—and I wasn’t even the one getting married.

  The bridesmaids on my dick—not literally, much to their motherfuckin’ disappointment.

  The groomsmen that were so polar opposites, I was willing to bet Hutch felt like he was physically being split in two. Old versus new—money, friends, and life.

  It was a clusterfuck of a nightmare. I’d have much rather been at home celebrating the holidays with my makeshift family. The one I’d chosen. It’d be all easy laughs, flowing booze, and fun. Plus, Piper—my boss’ wife and my friend—would go all out with Christmas baked goods.

  And since she had the magical skills to make fruitcake palatable, I was sure as shit missing out.

  Kelsey, the lovely bride, had picked gourmet bird food for all the catered events. I could deal with that shit if she hadn’t insisted every group activity be catered, as if ordering off a menu was a sin. I didn’t want food that looked beautiful. I wanted it to taste good, dammit.

  After closing my tab, I was heading for the exit when someone called my name.

  “You okay?” Hutch asked, coming from the bathrooms, his cell still in hand.

  “Could ask you the same.” I tipped my head toward his phone. Since he’d been in the bathroom the whole time I’d been throwing my best game at Posey, something was up.

  “Kelsey called about an issue with the caterer. We got it straightened out.”

  I would put a bullet in my head having to deal with Kelsey full-time, but Hutch clearly didn’t feel the same. Even as he spoke about the latest drama, he did it smiling.

  More power to him.

  And better him than me, that’s for fuckin’ sure.

  “I’m gonna head back to the resort and turn in,” I said.

  “I was thinking of doing the same. I’ll let them know we’re leaving and meet you outside.”

  I’d been looking forward to some quiet, but time alone with my cousin was good, too.

  Bypassing the crush of people, I stepped into the frigid cold and inhaled deeply. The timing of the wedding may have been a pain in the ass, and travel around the holidays was hectic as hell, but Kelsey had been right about the location.

  Winter Falls was beautiful.

  Without meaning to, my thoughts shifted from the snowy mountain scenery to the brunette scenery I’d been enjoying earlier. It bothered me that she thought I was a scumbag who’d only talk to her on a dare.

  But it bothered me a helluva lot more wondering if there was a reason she’d made that superhero jump to conclusions. If what she’d accused me of had happened to her before.

  If it had, whoever the bastard was, he was a dumbass.

  Posey was gorgeous. She had a voice that could raise dicks with a single word, a smile that was equal parts happiness and seduction, and a body to rival any classic centerfold.

  Curvy.

  Sexy.

  Soft.

  So fuckin’ soft.

  “Ready?” Hutch asked, startling me and reminding me I was in public. It wasn’t the time to be fantasizing about Posey’s soft thighs.