A Little Country Christmas - Carolyn Brown Page 0,78
did such an amazing job.”
He winked and pulled her close so only she could hear.
“Yeah, but we totally won, right?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said, her eyes locked on his. “Totally.”
Also by A.J. Pine
Meadow Valley Series
Cowboy to the Rescue (novella)
My One and Only Cowboy
Make Mine a Cowboy
Crossroads Ranch Series
Second Chance Cowboy
Saved by the Cowboy (novella)
Tough Luck Cowboy
Hard Loving Cowboy
About the Author
A librarian for teens by day and USA Today bestselling romance writer by night, A.J. Pine can’t seem to escape the world of fiction, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. When she finds that twenty-fifth hour in the day, she might indulge in a tiny bit of TV to nourish her undying love of vampires, superheroes, and a certain high-functioning sociopath detective. She hails from the far-off galaxy of the Chicago suburbs.
Learn more at:
AJPine.com
Twitter @AJ_Pine
Facebook.com/AJPineAuthor
Chapter One
Peering closely at her image in the mirror over the bathroom vanity, Iris Nelson applied a coat of mascara to her upper and lower lashes and then took a step back to examine her handiwork. The smoky shadow on her lids, faint raspberry blush on her cheekbones, and the matching gloss on her lips complemented her chestnut-brown complexion. Not bad, she thought. She hadn’t lost her touch.
Taking up a small round brush, Iris smoothed back the sides of her short, chemically straightened hair before spiking the crown with her fingertips à la Halle Berry. She smiled, flashing straight white teeth. If the style worked for such a beautiful actress, Iris hoped it would do the same for her. The sophisticated makeup and hair, along with a body-hugging red dress and black suede stilettos, were a complete departure from her normal jeans, T-shirt, and apron she wore as the pastry chef at the Muffin Corner.
She left the bathroom, humming under her breath, then scooped up her phone, clutch bag, and keys. A cool November breeze swept over her exposed skin as she stepped out into the parking lot behind the row of stores where she rented a second-story, two-bedroom apartment above a gift shop on Cavanaugh Island; it was cool but not cold enough for her to go back upstairs for a shawl.
As soon as she slipped in behind the wheel of the late-model Lincoln MKX and tapped the start engine button, her cell phone rang. The name Tracy Daniels appeared on the dashboard screen. Activating the Bluetooth feature, she asked, “Are you ready?”
“Not really,” Tracy replied. “My professor wants to go over the entire thesis tonight instead of putting it off for another time. Once I revise according to his suggested changes, he’ll review it again so I can submit it before the end of the semester. I’m saying all of this to let you know you’ll have to go to the club without me.”
Iris groaned inwardly. It’d been Tracy’s suggestion to hang out together. She claimed they needed to dance and kick up their heels, to let off some steam.
“Iris, are you there?” Tracy asked while Iris stared out the windshield.
“Yes.”
“Are you still going?”
Iris’s first instinct was to say no. What self-respecting woman went to a club by herself? Then again, she’d been really looking forward to an evening with a little flirtation…and more. When would she have this opportunity again?
She closed her eyes and sighed. “Yes, I’m going,” she answered. After all, she’d taken the time to put on makeup and a hot outfit. The red color and narrow bands crisscrossing her bared back were a welcome departure from the requisite modest black dresses she’d worn to her ex’s fund-raisers and dinner parties.
“Good for you,” Tracy said. “Remember, you don’t have to look for Mr. Right—just Mr. Right Now.”
“I know. I’d even settle for Mr. Tonight.”
Picking up a man only for sex had never been Iris’s style, yet she wasn’t going to rule out a little harmless flirting. She also wasn’t looking for a relationship. Been there, done that. A whirlwind courtship and subsequent marriage to a man who’d revealed the ugly side of his jaded personality within an hour of exchanging vows made her wary of forming any lasting relationships.
Tracy laughed. “Have fun.”
The smile tilting the corners of Iris’s mouth reached her eyes. “I plan to. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She ended the call, taking one last glance at her reflection in the rearview mirror.
Twenty minutes later, Iris entered the town limits of Haven Creek, maneuvering into a parking space adjacent to the Happy Hour. It was minutes before seven, still early enough for her to find a parking spot close