Zoey And The Nice Guy (Big Girl Panties #1) (20 page)

“In that case, I’ll take some,” Tracy said. Mark and Addy also wanted some, so Zoey delivered it before popping in the DVD of
A Christmas Story.

Once everyone was settled, she ran out to the garage where she’d sent Kellen to wrap presents. As in everything he put his hand to, he turned out to be quite competent. So she sat on the step and watched him. “Looks good,” she said.

“Thanks.” He taped up the end of the last package. “Looks like the kids are gonna make out pretty good.”

“I hope so. Such a rough time to have their home broken up. What did you get them?”

“I made a photo collage for Maya. Got a skateboard for Matthew and roller skates for Sophie. I’m pretty sure Maya’s gonna kill me, but they’ve been asking for ages.”

Zoey smiled. “It’s good they have you in their lives.”

He gathered up the leftover rolls of paper, tape, and scissors and piled them in a corner. He reached down and pulled her to her feet. She sank into his chest and inhaled his scent. “It’s getting crowded,” he said.
 

“You can’t go. The kids will be heartbroken.”

“The kids see me all the time. I’ll come back in the morning. They’ll be fine.”

She tip-toed up and caught his bottom lip between her teeth.
 

He kissed her, taking her mouth with his. “God, you’ve been exhausting today,” he whispered in between kisses.

“I’m sorry. I’m so stressed.”

He kissed her jaw and neck. “I’ll share it, Zoey, but I won’t take it all. Work with me, okay? I want you so bad. I want you more than just for now. I want you for a really, really long time.”

She shoved her hands up his shirt and dragged her nails down his chest. He hissed and sucked hard at a spot on her neck.
 

“Well, look at you two go at it.”

Zoey jumped back. She hadn’t even heard the door open. “Hey, Mom,” she said, pulling her hands out of Kellen’s shirt.
 

Tracy smiled, all acid sweetness. She nodded towards the gifts. “Anything I can help with?”

“No, thank you. Kellen got it all finished.”

“Isn’t Kellen just the most helpful thing?” Tracy leered at him.

Zoey felt her face go red. “Yeah, I guess.” She turned to him. “You may as well go get the hide-a-bed set up, since you know where the sheets and blankets are.”

He frowned at her, and she silently begged him just to go and do it. She didn’t know why she was being so punitive toward him, but she did know she wanted him as far from Tracy as possible. His eyes held so much conflict, she just knew he was going to walk away any second.

He didn’t. He leaned down and kissed her, softly at first, and then with a sweep of passion. He buried his fingers in her hair and drained her of all her stress. She stared up at him, at a loss for words. He stroked her cheek with the backs of his knuckles and then went into the house.

Zoey blew out a breath and pressed her hand to her chest.

“Wow, what was that?” Tracy asked.

For the first time in her life, she had to stop herself from saying something harsh to her mother. Never in her life had she so much as thought about pushing Tracy away. But just then, after Kellen had given her an invisible, undefinable gift in that kiss, she wanted nothing but to be away from her mom and in his arms.
 

Still, she stopped herself. “Just a kiss,” she said.

“Mark kisses me like that. Drives me wild.”

Zoey smiled and moved past her and into the house. She doubted Tracy had ever been kissed like that. She doubted many people had. She poured herself some eggnog and settled into the couch next to Sophie. Kellen joined her a few minutes later, and she snuggled against him. Strange that in the few minutes they’d been apart since that kiss, she’d felt somehow incomplete. Like her world was fractured. Now, with him against her, by her side, at her back, everything seemed…right.

“You look hot in that t-shirt, Kellen,” Tracy said.

“Thanks,” he said flatly.

Tracy had always flirted with Zoey’s boyfriends. Somehow, this was different. It felt like a personal attack and she found herself getting angrier by the moment.
 

“This has been going on, what, a week?” Tracy asked. “That’s a record for you, isn’t it baby doll?”

Zoey forced herself to smile.

“You know, Mark and I have been together three months, now. Tell them what you do for a living, baby.”

“I’m a stripper,” Mark said in his deep voice. But his eyes were glued to the television. “Ha,” he laughed. “Here comes the flagpole.”
 

“What’s your man do?” Tracy asked.

“He’s a freelance photographer.”

“Freelance? As in code for unemployed?”

“No…I mean, he doesn’t have an employer, but he earns a good living.”

“Well, if he ever needs extra, he could definitely strip. Bodies like that are in high demand.”
 

Kellen sat up. “You know what, Tracy, tonight is about Matthew and Sophie. We’re just trying to give them a Christmas as close to what they’re used to as we can, so if you don’t mind letting them watch the movie, maybe you could move your conversation to the kitchen?”

Tracy gaped at him. She barked a laugh. “Are you serious?”

Zoey opened her mouth, but Kellen clamped his hand over it. “I’m not meaning to be rude. This is just their tradition. So, if you don’t mind?”

Tracy rolled her eyes and slumped back in her seat. Zoey felt Kellen relax, and she was grateful not to have to intercede. She leaned against him, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder.
 

After the movie, they played a couple of board games and then it was bedtime. The kids sat cookies out for Santa along with a note. Zoey thought the whole scene was über precious. She clung to Kellen’s side and for the first time in her life, felt a stirring of something she could only describe as maternal longing.
 

Maya tucked them in, then they all sat around chatting until they were sure the kids were asleep. Maya and Kellen brought the presents out and arranged them under the tree, so the kids would have something exciting to wake up to.
 

At last, Maya sat back on her heels and sighed, holding her injured rib in the process. “Guys, thank you so much for this. Zoey, Addy, Kellen…I wouldn’t be here without you. You guys are truly my family.”

Kellen knelt next to her, slipped his arm beneath her shoulders, and helped her back onto the sofa. Addy sat next to her and kissed her on the cheek. “I love you, Maya. No matter what, I’m here for you.”

“Me, too,” Kellen said.

Maya looked up, and Zoey nodded to her.
 

A few minutes later, Maya was ready for bed. Addy went with her to help her into the bed. That left Zoey uncomfortably alone with Kellen, Tracy, and Mark. The latter two were whispering and giggling to each other.
 

Kellen was perched on the edge of the sofa, his elbows leaning on his knees. “You ready for bed?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

She offered her hand, and he took it. “Goodnight, Mom,” she said. “Goodnight, Mark.”

“‘Night,” they both muttered without looking up at her.
 

She led Kellen downstairs and did a little strip-tease for him before climbing under the sheets. There was a dip in the middle of the bed, so they couldn’t help but roll into each other, which was fine while they were making love. Late in the night, she found she was either shoving him or he was shoving her. Sometime after midnight, they got up and dragged the mattress onto the floor. There was still a dip, but it wasn’t quite as deep. But, since the floor was hard and unforgiving, they both woke up stiff and exhausted on Christmas morning.

Kellen couldn’t speak, he was so tired. He took Zoey’s hand and led her to the downstairs shower. They held each other and stood under the hot spray until they finally became alert. They dried and dressed. Then they heard a child’s squeal above them. They grinned at each other and raced upstairs to see Sophie.

She jumped up and down in the living room. “Santa came! Santa came!”

Matthew came out, bleary eyed, but grinning. “Hey, Uncle Kellen.”

“Hey, bud.”

Zoey leaned into Kellen. “Can they open their presents?” she asked.
 

“They usually wait for their mom.”

Zoey nodded, then she asked, “Can I tell Sophie I got arrested getting her one of those presents?”

He whispered back, “You’d ruin the whole Santa thing.”

Zoey snapped her fingers. “Darn.”

He kissed the top of her head. Maya and Addy filtered out, headed straight for the coffee pot, and then moved into the living room. After a few sips, everyone seemed awake and ready to go. Maya let the kids tear into their gifts.
 

They were the most grateful children Kellen had ever seen. They stopped after each gift to show their mom and gush over how excited they were.
 

It was over too fast. When the kids were done, they simply spread out on the floor and began playing with their toys.
 

Addy gave Maya and Zoey each a small, rectangular box. They ripped them open. “A Kindle!” Maya shrieked. “Oh, Addy, thank you!”

Zoey lunged at Addy, tackling her on the sofa and kissing her face. “You’re the best!”

“Ick! Stop! Jeez.”

“Okay, my turn,” Zoey said. “Only, maybe you shouldn’t open these in front of the kids.” She handed Maya and Addy each a box.
 

“Mattie, honey,” Maya said, “Would you and Sophie mind playing with your toys in your room? We’ll have breakfast in just a few minutes.”

“Sure, Mom,” Mattie said cheerfully. Kellen stood and helped them. They sprawled out on their bedroom floor with their new things, and Kellen smiled, for a moment, as he watched them.
 

He returned to the living room where Maya and Addy were ripping open their presents. He lounged back on the sofa next to Zoey.

“Yes!” Maya shrieked, pumping her fist. “I’ve read great reviews on this.”

Addy gaped at her. “Are you kidding me? You’ve researched..personal massagers?”

“It’s really great, Addy, you’ll love it,” Zoey said.

Addy shook her head as though she couldn’t believe Zoey had done this. “You’re crazy, you know that? Who gives these things out on Christmas?”

“The best kind of friend. You’ll be thanking me soon. You’ll be all, ‘Thank you, Zoey, oh, oh, ooooohhhhh!’”
 

Kellen had a hand over his mouth, his face turning bright red. There was a knock at the door and Zoey hopped up. “I invited Jayce,” she said, as she made her way to the door.

“Really?” Kellen said. “That’s so sweet.”

“Yeah, well, I hated to think of him all alone and pathetic on Christmas.” She had the door open for most of this sentence.
 

Jayce, with a case of some kind of liquor propped on his hip, pressed his lips together. “Thanks,” he said flatly.

“You’re welcome. Come on in.” Zoey stepped aside.
 

He stepped inside and carried the clinking bottles to the kitchen.
 

“What did you bring?” Zoey asked.

“Your favorite wine. Kellen’s favorite beer. And Addy’s favorite scotch.”

Addy laughed. “I don’t drink scotch, Jayce.”

“Yeah, well, you said the professor does. Keep it at your apartment just in case.” He winked at her and she blushed to her ears, then he passed a bottle of RumChata to her and plopped down on the couch between her and Maya.
 

Addy hugged the bottle to her chest. “I love this stuff.”

“I know.” Jayce turned to Maya and handed her a card in an envelope. “Merry Christmas. Open that later, okay?”

Maya blushed and hesitantly took it. “Thank you.”

“What do you like to drink, Maya?”

“Um. I don’t really know. I like wine. I haven’t tried much else.” She glanced at Jayce but wouldn’t hold eye contact. Kellen felt sorry for her, seeing how nervous she was with someone she’d known forever sitting next to her just because he was a guy. But, at least, she didn’t move away.

“What about your kids?” Jayce asked. “Matthew seems like a Jack Daniels man to me.”

Maya laughed. “My precious boy is definitely still in the chocolate milk phase of his life.”

“You’re right,” Jayce said. “Sophie, though: closet drinker. She’s shooting tequila every time you turn your back, admit it.”

Maya laughed harder and then hissed as she pressed a hand to her injured rib. “You’re funny, Jayce.”

Jayce sat a little taller.
 

Zoey brought in a tray with mugs of coffee. She sat it on the coffee table and Addy immediately poured RumChata into hers. Jayce held his mug out to her and she boozed up his coffee for him. “My kind of woman,” he said.
 

Addy clinked mugs with him.
 

“Between Zoey’s present and Jayce’s,” Maya said, “your Christmas is looking very promising, Addy.”

Kellen grinned, because he knew it was the embarrass-Addy portion of the morning. She was already bright red.

“What did Zoey get you?” Jayce asked, reaching for the package tucked into the arm of the couch on the other side of Addy.

“Nothing,” Addy said as she tried to grab the gift. “Jayce, come on.”

But he was already peeking inside. He grinned and shot Kellen a look. “Ah, the Power Stud. Janice has one of these. Of course, she had to retire it after she started sleeping with me.” He leaned back and splayed his legs out in front of him. “Ain’t no substitute for Jayce.”

Addy glared at him from behind her glasses. “You’re a pig.”
 

He just shrugged. “You know how to use that thing? You want me to give you a few pointers?”

Maya was giggling, and Jayce flashed her a smile, clearly pleased to be entertaining her.

“Have you all no decency?” Addy said, her face bright red. “What normal people talk about stuff like this?”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Addy,” Kellen assured. And then he stopped talking because Zoey sat on his lap. He hugged her against him and felt suddenly overwhelmed with warmth. He nuzzled his cheek against her soft sweater.