Home for the Holidays Read online

  “Logan. This is not a good plan. You can’t take this girl with you to your parents. They’ll eat her alive. Look at her. She looks like she teaches the second grade.”

  “What’s wrong with teaching the second grade?”

  They both ignore me.

  “It will work. All she has to do is agree, and she doesn't have much time.” He lifts his eyebrows.

  “To be honest, I’ll do anything to get home, so deal,” I say. “Wait! Not sex. Not that you want sex, but I’ve never done sex before so I’m probably terrible at it and it would be great if someone would make me stop talking now.”

  The woman bursts into laughter. Logan’s hold on me only tightens at my admission.

  “Sex will not be required,” he confirms. A sliver of disappointment runs through me.

  “We have to go now,” the woman says through a laugh.

  “Deal!” I agree, knowing I don’t really have a choice.

  “We’ll go over the details on the plane.” Finally, he puts me back on my feet before grabbing my roller suitcase. I grab my big purse. I think this might be the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me. Logan snags me around the wrist and starts to pull me toward two double doors that lead onto the tarmac. I move along with him.

  It isn't until we’re at the stairs of the plane that he finally releases his hold on me. He motions for me to walk in front of him. My eyes almost pop out of my head when I see how luxurious the inside of the plane is. I’ve never even flown first class. Never mind in something so sleek and elegant as this.

  “Good morning, Miss Meyer,” the man says to me, giving me a bright smile. He looks to be a few years older than me.

  I read his name tag. “Thank you, Cory.” I glance around the plane, not sure where I should sit. It’s not a normal floor plan. There is a sofa on one side. Another section has four chairs around a table. Then there are a few bigger chairs that look extra comfy. They remind me of my dad’s recliner that my brother and I fight over at home. That’s only when my dad isn't there because it’s the best spot to watch TV. “Can I sit anywhere, or are there assigned seats?”

  “Of course.” He hands me a glass of champagne.

  “Stop staring at her and let her sit,” Logan barks from behind me. I almost spill my champagne.

  “Sorry, sir.” I rush to a seat, not wanting to get snipped at next. This Logan guy can’t be all that bad if he’s offering me a ride on his fancy plane, but then he also likes to issue orders. Such as demanding my ID, which I still need to get back.

  Logan takes the seat directly across from me. The woman walks past me, giving me a wink before snagging her own seat a few rows back. I take a drink of the bubbly goodness. The few times I’ve had champagne I didn't care for it, but this is yummy. I set my drink down before going for my phone to text my brother Beau. I promised that I’d give him my flight information. But I’m unsure if this is what he had in mind.

  Me: You’re never going to believe this!

  Beau: What did you step in?

  I snort a laugh. I do often find ways to step right into crap. I give him a small rundown of what happened. Not a second after I send the text my phone is ringing. I answer it. It doesn’t go unnoticed that Logan is staring at me.

  “Facetime.” Beau’s voice fills the inside of the plane. I pull the phone away from my ear to see my brother's face on the screen. “You got on a private plane with someone you don’t know?” Beau is trying to talk calmly, but I see the anger all over his face.

  “Ahhh.” Yeah, when he says it that way it sounds bad. “Oops.”

  Logan snatches my phone right out of my hand. “I’m not a stranger, I’m her fiancé.” I gasp. He did not just say that to my brother! I sit there in shock waiting for Beau to start yelling. “And who are you?”

  “I’m her fucking brother, asshole. Now give my sister her phone back or…” He trails off. “Are you Logan Duncan?”

  “Yes. We’re taking off.” He ends the call. “Phones have to be off until we’re in the air.” When he hands it back to me, I see he turned it off. I take it before he sits back down.

  “What did you do?” I pop up from my seat.

  “We’re closing the door. I’ll need you to have a seat, Miss Meyer,” Cory tells me.

  “Are you changing your mind about the fiancée thing?” Logan asks. “You can still change your mind, and Cory will let you off the plane before the door closes.”

  “No. Please. I want to get home to see my family for Christmas.” I swear I see a moment of regret in his eyes.

  “Then I advise you to sit.”

  I bite the inside of my cheek, plopping back down. I guess I was wrong about the regret thing. I pick up my glass and finish the rest of it. Cory pops back up, grabbing the now empty glass and replacing it with a fresh one as the plane starts to move.

  “Seat belt,” Logan says, his tone now lazy and of course still bossy. I put it on, doing as I’m told, not wanting to get kicked off the flight. Once I see that we’re air bound and there is no way for him to get me off this plane until we land, I plan to tell this Logan guy exactly what I think of him.

  4

  Logan

  “You’re a jerk.” She tilts that little chin of hers up. I am a jerk. I rather enjoy being one. Most would call me a flat-out asshole, but not Angel. I stare at her, but I don’t respond. She starts to wiggle in her chair. “That was mean. I’m sorry.” A bark of uncontrollable laughter comes from me. That’s twice now she’s gotten me to laugh.

  I have been trying to be nice to her. I’m finding I don’t much care for the idea of her thinking I’m a jerk. I’m so used to being one that everything I say seems to come out wrong. She has me on edge, which is causing me to be abrupt. From giving orders instead of asking for things to dragging her on to the plane before she called me on one of the many bluffs.

  I sure as hell wasn't going to kick her off the plane, but I needed her to think that I would. Again I’m an asshole. Having her walk off the plane wouldn’t work for my plan at all. Even my dick rebelled against the idea of her leaving my proximity.

  I was acting out of character where she is concerned. Before I knew what I was doing I had snatched her phone right out of her hand when I heard a man talking to her. I’d quickly gotten to my feet with the phone in my hand. There had been a sudden need for me to make sure whoever was on the phone understood who I was to her.

  I didn’t want them to know me as Logan Duncan. I wanted them to know me as Angel’s fiancé. Don’t even ask why because I have no clue what spurred that on. I could tell she was displeased and shocked by the look on her face, but she didn’t say anything. Yet again a weird feeling nags at me.

  “You agreed you’d be my fiancé.” I shrug. Jealousy. That’s what that feeling was I felt over this tiny girl in front of me. She starts wiggling again. She does it when she grows uncomfortable. I hate that I made her feel that way, but it doesn’t override my ridiculous jealousy.

  “Not a real one though. Right? We’ll be like one of those Hallmark movies where we pretend to be getting married so your family will leave you alone about finding someone to settle down with.” A smile spreads across her full pink lips. Her tongue darts out to lick her bottom lip.

  “I suppose so.” It was more about the company, but whatever.

  “I knew it. It sounds a little bit fun but also not real? Wait. How did my brother know who you are?” Her eyebrows furrowed together.

  I shrug. “I’m a very rich man. He likely saw me in an article or something. The Duncan last name carries some fame with it.”

  “You don’t say.” She looks around the plane. I pull out my phone and text Kelly who’s sitting a few rows back. “What about my parents? We don’t have to put this show on for them, right? I don’t want to lie to them.” That smile drops from her face as she starts to chew on her bottom lip.

  “Well, I guess we really are engaged then. That way you won’t be lying. People break up. You already agreed to the deal.�
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  Her shoulders drop. “I know. Can I ask why you’re doing this?” She starts to wring her fingers together. I want to reach out and put my hand over hers.

  “It makes the board at Duncan feel better.” Her mouth forms a perfect O. She’s putting together who I am or at least who I’m connected to. Her being my fiancé will help my standing in the company. That’s the only reason I’m doing this. That’s what I make myself believe anyway.

  “You think that people will believe we’re engaged when you’re part of the Duncan family and I’m, you know, regular. Aren't you all like billionaires or something? On the Forbes list and crap!” Her voice goes up a few octaves.

  “You’ll be fine,” I tell her. The more I look at her, though, the more I’m not so sure she will be. My mother might eat her alive. I clench my jaw. She’s going to be a bunny surrounded by wolves. My younger brother being the biggest one of them all. The mere thought of him being near her has a sense of rage filling me.

  I get an alert from Kelly letting me know she’ll have everything handled by the time we land. She also lets me know I’m out of my mind. I move to sit next to Angel. She noticeably tenses up.

  “You can’t tense up when I come near you.” I put my hand on top of hers. “If we’re engaged and all.” She nods her head.

  “What else? I might know who you are, but I don’t really know anything about you.”

  “I guess we better make the best out of the next few hours then.” By the time I land I’m sure Kelly will know everything there is to know about Angel Meyer.

  “Are you sure there isn't someone else? I know I said I would do this, but I’m not a good liar.”

  “I’m sure. You should know I was engaged up until today.”

  “You move fast.” She lets out a small laugh.

  “It was Kelly.” I point back toward her.

  “I take it that it was fake too?” I nod. She looks back at Kelly, who is on her laptop already.

  “She went and fell in love on me. Leaving me in a lurch.” Angel titles her head, her eyes searching mine.

  “Isn't that something to be happy about?” One dimple forms in her left cheek. I swear I have the urge to bring my lips to it. It takes all of my self-control to stop myself.

  “I suppose if you believe in those kinds of things.” Her nose scrunches, making her look adorable. I can’t pull my eyes away from her. What is it about her that is so alluring? Why the hell do I have such a strong pull to her?

  “So you think love is kind of like Santa Claus.” She gives me a sad smile. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I think my family might do you some good actually.” I have no idea what she means by that.

  “Tell me about your family.” I lean back, maneuvering my hand that is on top of hers so that our fingers are now intertwined. “I’m trying to get you used to my touch.” The lie rolls off my tongue, but I know it’s a bunch of bullshit.

  I want to hold her hand, but I don’t want to openly admit it. I usually hate it when people are touchy feely. Kelly and I weren't when we went to gatherings together and had to act like a couple. No one even questioned it because everyone thinks I’m an asshole, so they don’t expect that type of behavior from me.

  “Oh gosh. I don’t know where to start.” Her pretty blue eyes light up. The opposite of what mine do when I think about talking about my family.

  “Start from the beginning, Angel.” To my delight, she does. I find myself hanging on every word that leaves her perfect lips.

  5

  Angel

  “Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” A woman’s voice drifts toward me.

  “When was there a time since you’ve known me that I haven’t known what I’m doing?” My eyes flutter open to see Kelly talking to Logan.

  “I’m starting to think right now.” Her eyes lock with mine. It wasn't a dream. I was sure it was. It was too crazy to not have been a dream. “Hi.” She gives me a warm smile. Logan turns to look at me. The firm line of his mouth softens when he looks at me. Or maybe that was my imagination wanting this thing between us to be more than it is. I’ll need to keep reminding myself that this is a business deal, nothing more.

  “You’re awake.”

  I sit up with a yawn. “I think this chair is nicer than my bed.” I stretch. My sweater rides up more than it already had while I was sleeping. Logan’s eyes drop to my stomach, and I quickly pull the sweater back down.

  “You need a new bed then.”

  “I need a lot of things when it comes to my apartment.” I open the screen on the window to see we’re on the ground. “We’ve landed?” I jump up from my seat. “Why didn't you wake me up?” I start to gather my things. I’m home. A sense of relief fills me knowing that I’m at least on my home turf.

  “You were tired. You were talking and passed out mid-sentence.” Did I?

  “Oops.” Oh noes. I was telling him about my life. We haven't really gotten into his life yet. He is a workaholic, and his family sounds cold. Even when he talked about them there was no emotion. It was sad. It made me realize that I was lucky. I may not have a lot of money, but I have a family that loves me. I’d take that over money any day.

  “We can talk more in the car,” he says.

  Kelly’s phone dings. “Which is here,” she lets us know. She and Logan share a look.

  “Come.” He offers me his hand. “They will get your things.”

  “I can carry my own stuff.” I start to go for it again, but Logan grabs my hand, leading me off the plane. A man standing next to a giant black SUV goes to open the back door, but Logan waves him off, opening the door for me himself. I climb up inside. “This is different.” The back of the SUV reminds me more of a limousine but shorter. There is even a divider between the front and the back for privacy.

  “We’ll be in Rocky Hill soon. You need an SUV or truck to get around this time of year.” True. He shuts the door behind him.

  “Are you dropping me off? Oh, my brother.” I start to look for my phone. “He's supposed to pick me up.” Logan pulls my phone out and hands it to me.

  “Text him and tell him you have a ride.”

  “You’re taking me to my parents’?”

  “I thought we should stay at my house. Wouldn't that be more normal for an engaged couple?”

  I stare at him. “You want me to stay with you?”

  “Isn't that what an engaged couple would do?”

  I suppose. My stomach starts to knot. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I was hoping to stay with my parents. There’s nothing like waking up to my mom’s fresh baked cinnamon buns in the morning. But I guess a deal is a deal.

  “They aren't going to believe this. I barely believe this is happening.”

  “Your mom believes in love at first sight,” he reminds me. Right. I’d told him how my parents met. I bite my lip. A small scream leaves me when I’m pulled into Logan’s lap.

  “What are you doing?” My body melts into his.

  “Getting you used to me.” His hand goes to the back of my neck to pull me closer to him.

  He presses his mouth against mine. I sit there in shock for a moment. When his tongue slides across my lips I part them for him a little. He slips his tongue right in. My mouth moves against his as if it’s done it a million times before.

  I wish I could say he sucks at it, but that’s not the case at all. He kisses me as though he were always meant to. My whole body lights up, feeling things I’ve never felt before.

  I get lost in him for a few minutes, forgetting all about what this really is. He suddenly pulls his mouth from mine. I feel the loss immediately. When I open my eyes, he’s staring into mine.

  “How was that?” His words break me from my thoughts of the kiss having more meaning to it.

  He was only trying to perfect it so that everyone will buy into the lie we’re feeding them. I know I shouldn’t be, but somewhere deep down inside I’m disappointed. I remind myself that this man is a stranger even though it doesn
’t feel that way. I get myself together realizing I haven’t responded to him.

  “It was good.” I reach up to touch my lips. I watch as his eyes drop to them. Do his tingle too? “You think we could stay with my parents for a few nights? Maybe split the time between your house and theirs.” I changed the subject not wanting to delve deeper into how his lips felt against mine. That feels safer because I'm starting to think I might be in trouble here. I could fall for this man. A man that is nothing like the one I’d thought I’d fall for.

  “The more time we’re with them the more likely we are to get caught,” he points out.

  “I can just stay there,” I suggest. I wish I could say my parents would never go for me staying with him. I also know they won't push for us staying in separate bedrooms. “Then you stay at your place.”

  “I’m on the other side of Rocky Hill.”

  “The fancy side.”

  “I think it’s best you stay with me.” I miss my family so much. I’m not sure he knows what he’s asking for here.

  “I miss them.” I can’t keep the emotion out of my words. “Can we stay with them tonight at least?” I push. “Please.”

  “Fine.” He gives in.

  “Thank you!” Before I know what I’m doing I’m pressing my mouth against his. He digs his hands into my hair, deepening the kiss. A deep rumble comes from him, going straight to my sex. I gasp, jerking back when I feel that he’s hard. “Sorry.” I breathe out, trying to catch my breath. Why did I kiss him?

  “No, it’s good.” He slowly releases his hands, which are tangled in my hair. “Kissing should be natural.”

  “It kind of is. I’m not as experienced as you, but it felt right.”

  “That was more than right.” He leans in to kiss me again, but my phone starts going off. Crap. I forgot to text my brother after I turned my phone on. I try to slip off his lap, but he’s got a firm hold on me.