Nice Until Proven Naughty Read online

  Tell Ben I love him.

  Make Ben fall in love with me.

  Kiss Ben some more.

  Have sex with Ben (in the bed, on the couch, on the bar, against the wall, and in the shower).

  I’ve never been on the Naughty list. They don’t call me Nice for nothing. But I’d gladly switch to the other side if it means having Ben all the ways I want him.

  I fold my hands and squeeze my eyes shut. Dear Santa, define Naughty.

  10

  Nice

  “How’d it go?” Sam looks up from a stack of papers scattered on the floor in front of her.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Ugh. Trying to get everything finalized before the big auction tomorrow. Back to you. Tell me how it went with Ben. Did you give him the card?”

  “No. And it was awful.” Exhausted and hungry, I fall onto a plush chair in Sam’s living room. “It couldn’t have gone worse.”

  “I don’t believe that for a second.”

  “Believe it. After half the town lost power, we turned Sal’s into a shelter. We cooked and ran around and shuffled old people to and from the bathroom. I even helped a guy wipe his butt.” I shudder at the memory.

  “Oh, man. You deserve a permanent spot on the Nice List for that.”

  “You’re telling me.”

  “Nothing happened with Ben?”

  “Well, we almost kissed twice, but we were interrupted twice, and to make matters worse, I was stuck in these damn heels all night.” I kick off the offending stilettos and wiggle my toes against the plush carpet.

  “Did you come straight here from Sal’s?”

  “Why else would I still be wearing this dress? Which is the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever put on my body, by the way.”

  Sam shrugs. “I figured maybe you and Ben spent the night together and you stopped by to gush about it.”

  “I wish. He took the last person home at one o’clock in the morning, and I laid down on the couch in our office. I must’ve fallen asleep, because I woke up an hour ago to an empty bar and a quilt draped over me.”

  It makes my heart hurt remembering how it felt to wake up there alone. I had visions of Ben coming back and us confessing our love to each other. We’d spend the rest of the night kissing and talking about all of the things we wanted to do together, and—stop it, Dani.

  Don’t do this to yourself.

  “He didn’t even wake you up?”

  “Nope. Not when he got back and obviously not when he left this morning. I’m worried, Sam. What if I waited too long to make my move? Maybe he’s just…” I swallow the bile rushing up my throat and push out the words that have been swirling in my head since I walked out of Sal’s. “…not that into me.”

  “What?” Samantha scoffs and shakes her head. She takes a moment to seemingly toss that thought around and then shakes her head again. “Impossible. Have you seen you?” Naughty waves a hand in my direction. “You’re a knockout.”

  “You’re just saying that because we’re twins.”

  Sam grins. “That and it’s the truth. I’m telling you, the guy is crazy about you. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason for why he left you at the bar all by yourself this morning. Maybe he went to get you coffee and donuts.”

  “I waited around for a half an hour before I left.”

  “Damn. Did you try calling him?”

  I frown and nod. “Straight to voicemail.”

  “Then there has to be something else.”

  “I’m not convinced,” I mumble. “Enough about me. Tell me about your evening. Kyle said his brother had to go to Lucas Dahlenberg’s place to pull your car out of the ditch.”

  Sam drops her pen, takes her reading glasses off, and looks up at me. For the first time in I don’t know how long, her eyes are shining bright with happiness.

  Happiness that I know has nothing to do with work and everything to do with a hunky man.

  “Lucas is amazing, Dani. Things started off a little rough, but we ended up having such a good time. We laughed and talked, and I helped him through a few things, and then we had a moment.”

  “A moment?”

  “Yeah, you know, when time stands still like it does in the movies or a really good book? You stare into your lover’s eyes, and you realize all you need is each other.”

  “You had that with Lucas?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  “Ben and I almost had a moment like that last night, but then we got interrupted, and he stepped away like his ass was on fire.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Ben.”

  “Yeah, well, it happened. Tell me more about Lucas. Let me live vicariously through you.”

  “There’s not much to tell. I invited him to be part of the auction tomorrow.”

  “You’re going to risk another woman bidding on him?”

  “Hell no.”

  “You’re going to buy him?”

  “If he shows up, hell yes.” She grins and nods.

  It’s disgustingly cute.

  “He’ll show up.”

  “Your lips to Santa’s ears.” She points up before grabbing her pen. “Maybe you should bid on Ben.”

  “Maybe.”

  “You know what you need?”

  “Ben under my tree?”

  “No, silly. You need to forget about Ben.”

  “But I don’t want to forget about Ben.”

  “Not forever, just for the day. You need to relax, regroup, and figure out a way to snag Ben’s attention without all of, well, this,” she says, nodding toward the dress and heels.

  “You want me to be aloof and dress like a slob?”

  “Yes. I mean no. I mean I want you to be you.”

  “Me?” I point a finger at my chest. “But I’m boring. I thought he’d appreciate me stepping out of my box.”

  “You’re not boring.”

  “Yes, I am. I’m boring and sweet and—” I curl my nose. “—nice.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with nice. You’re a wonderful person, Dani, and if Ben wants to let you go because you made one teeny tiny mistake last year, he doesn’t deserve you.”

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “I’m always right.”

  “You sound like Jamie.” I roll my eyes and push up from the chair. Bending down, I snag the heels and turn for the door.

  “Where are you going?” Sam asks. “It’s almost lunch. We can head down town and grab a bite to eat.”

  “Nah. I think I’m going to go and just be me.”

  “Netflix and ice cream?”

  “Living my best life.” Without Ben by my side.

  “I’ll be there in an hour.”

  “You’re the best.”

  11

  Naughty

  “Who are you looking for?” Dani asks, stepping up beside me.

  “Lucas.” I scan the crowd one last time before giving her my undivided attention. “So, what do you think?”

  “I think you’re about to pull off the greatest Christmas fundraiser this town has ever seen.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really. Did you see the crowd here?”

  She looks at the people gathering inside of Sal’s and I follow her gaze. The place is packed wall to wall, and after a Facebook post a few days ago announcing the auction, we had an additional twelve people sign up to be auctioned off.

  “I’m nervous,” I say, clasping my hands together.

  “Don’t be. You’re going to do great. We’ve got about ten minutes until it starts. I’m going to go tell everyone to get ready, and then I’ll bring you a list of the guys as well as their stats.”

  “Thank you for helping me with this.”

  “You don’t have to thank me; we’re sisters. This is what I’m here for.”

  Dani disappears behind the makeshift stage Garrett, Greg, and Sarah set up, and I search through the crowd for Lucas one last time. I thought for sure he’d show up. We had one hell of a connection, a nea
r-miss kiss that I thought for sure he’d want to cash in on, and I all but promised to buy him in the auction.

  But maybe the connection was all me. Maybe I want so badly to find that special someone that I was searching for something that wasn’t there.

  “Here you go. There’s been an addition to the lineup. I threw him in at the top.” Dani grins from ear to ear and hands me the paper.

  My eyes hone in on the name penciled on the list.

  Lucas Dahlenberg.

  “He’s here?” I ask, my heart nearly beating out of my chest.

  “Yup. He’s in back. And he looks delicious. Maryann is back there right now drooling over him. Who knows, she might bid on him.”

  “Over my dead body. Here—” I shove the paper at my sister. “You’ve got to take over the auction for me.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because I’m about to win me a man.”

  “There you are,” Ben pants, standing beside Dani. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. We need to talk.”

  “Uh…” Dani looks at me, and I shake my head. “It’s going to have to wait. Sam needs my help.”

  “But—”

  “Later,” she says, earning a less than eager nod from Ben. “I promise. We’ll talk as soon as the auction is over.”

  Thank you, I mouth, hopping off the stage before anyone else can stop me. I bury myself in the growing sea of women until I find the perfect spot.

  12

  Lucas

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I mumble to some dude named Garrett.

  “You and me both. Sam promised there’d be a special girl here who would bid on me, and she’d better be right. If I sell for a measly amount to some old chick, my friends will never let me live it down.”

  His words stop me in my tracks.

  She promised someone would bid on him? That’s the same promise she made me.

  Did she say that just to get me here?

  Damn it. I knew she was too good to be true. I’ve been made a fool of once already by a woman; I’m not about to let it happen again. I turn for the door just as a Santa hat is shoved on my head and I’m pushed through a set of black curtains.

  I blink past the bright lights, and when my vision acclimates, I’m practically face to face with hundreds of women—and not one of them is Samantha.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Dani says, reading from a card. “I’d like to remind you that all bids must be paid for in full. All proceeds go to support the local women’s shelter. And whichever hunk you purchase is your date for the annual Christmas party tonight.”

  The crowd cheers. Women of all ages and shapes and sizes jump up and down, some of them waving money in the air as though they’ve never seen a man in the flesh before.

  If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was naked with the way their hungry eyes are raking over me. As it is, I’m wearing my favorite jeans, a simple black sweater, and boots. Oh, and that damn Santa hat someone put on me.

  “Up first is a home-grown stud. That’s right, ladies and gentleman, Lucas was born and raised right here. He’s hot. He’s single. He’s yours for the bidding.” Music starts blaring, and Dani waves at me as though I’m a prize on “The Price is Right.” “Who wants to start the bidding at one hundred dollars?”

  “One hundred,” someone yells.

  “Two hundred,” another voice calls out.

  Dani points toward the back of the room. “Two hundred to the woman in pink. Can I get three hundred?”

  A paddle gets raised, but I can’t see who it belongs to because there are so many people and the lights are blinding.

  “Five hundred,” someone shouts, causing Dani’s mouth to drop.

  “Wow. Five hundred. Anyone prepared to give six?”

  Another paddle.

  And then another and another.

  “Nine hundred.” This time I can see who the paddle belongs to, a pretty red head in the front row.

  “One thousand.”

  I lift a hand to block the spotlight, and that’s when I lock eyes with Samantha. She’s standing a few rows back, but front and center. Gone is the sexy Santa dress she had on the other night, but she’s still wearing the beautiful smile I spent all of yesterday dreaming about.

  Dani points to her sister with a cheesy grin. “One thousand to none other than Naughty Kringle. Anyone want to go for eleven hundred?”

  The red head raises her paddle. “Twelve hundred.”

  Samantha shoves her arm into the air. “Two thousand.”

  This is kind of fun.

  All eyes bounce back to the redhead. She acts as though she’s going to raise her arm, but Sam slaps the paddle from her hand, causing the woman to laugh.

  “Call it, Dani,” Sam yells.

  “Two thousand going once…going twice…sold. Lucas Dahlenberg is sold to Naughty Kringle for two thousand dollars.”

  Dani stops me before I can step off the stage. She covers the mic so no one else can hear and whispers, “Hurt my sister, and I’ll cut your jingle bells off.”

  “Noted.” I dart from the stage, a hand cupping my package because damn, that was harsh.

  Although I can’t say I blame her for the warning. Sam is special, and I’d be a fool to screw it up.

  I try to keep my eye on Sam, but she’s whisked away to make payment, and I lose her in the swarm of women. I manage to shove my way to the back of the crowd and end up by the bar, where I see Ben.

  “Have you seen Sam?”

  “Nope. Did she buy you?”

  “Yup. Still can’t believe I got up there. Are you getting auctioned off?”

  He nods solemnly. “Dead last.”

  “Ouch. You have to stay here through all the other guys?”

  “It’s part of the joy of owning Sal’s.”

  “There’s another joy that comes along with that,” I say, looking up at the stage.

  “Dani,” he sighs. “Yeah, I know. Been trying to snag that girl for a while now.”

  “Try harder.”

  Ben blinks, and then his eyes land on something over my shoulder. “Go get your girl.” He motions to the opposite side of the room.

  I spin around to find Sam standing in the doorway between the bar and billiard room and she seems to be searching the crowd.

  I start to walk toward her, politely nudging my way through the crowd, when she spots me.

  With each step I take, her smile grows, and then I’m standing in front of her. “Hey,” I say, sliding an arm around her waist.

  She lifts an eyebrow when our bodies press together. “Is that a candy cane in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”

  “I’m definitely happy to see you,” I say, laughing.

  “Good.” Her hands slide up my chest, around my neck, and tangle into the hair at the nape of my neck. “Because I’m just as happy to see you. I was worried you weren’t going to show up.”

  “I knew I was coming the second you left my house the other night.”

  “Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

  “Because there’s this girl.”

  “Oooh, a girl,” she croons. “Is she pretty?”

  “She’s beautiful.”

  “I hope she’s sweet, because you deserve sweet.”

  “She is, but she’s also a little naughty.”

  “Naughty is good too.”

  “Sam?”

  “Yes?”

  “We’re standing under mistletoe.”

  She glances up. “So we are. My sister puts it everywhere during the holidays.”

  “Remind me to thank her. I’m going to kiss you now.”

  “Make it good.”

  With a big smile on both of our faces, I cradle her cheeks in my hands. She lifts onto her toes, meeting me halfway, and when our lips meet, my gray world lights up.

  Sam deepens the kiss, sucking my tongue into her mouth and kissing me as though we’re the only two people in the room.

  No way in hell am I going to sto
p her, because this is the best damn first kiss I’ve ever had.

  It’s so good it’ll go down in the history of best first kisses, and if I play my cards right, it just might be my last first kiss.

  When we pull apart, Sam’s eyes are glossy, her lips swollen, and cheeks flushed. “You’re so beautiful,” I say, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “Keep saying things like that I’ll have to drag you home and show you just how naughty I can be.” She presses her lips to my ear and adds quietly, “If you’re extra good, maybe I’ll roast your chestnuts.”

  “I’d rather eat your sugar plum.”

  Her eyes light up. “That dirty mouth might land you on the Naughty List right behind me.”

  “I don’t care what list I’m on, as long as you’re there too.”

  This time when her lips meet mine, it’s soft and slow. The kind of kiss you tell your grandkids about.

  Sweet.

  Seductive.

  Still naughty, but with a touch of nice.

  13

  Naughty

  “Where are we going?” Lucas asks, when I end the kiss and drag him toward the back of the bar.

  “My sister has an office back here.”

  “Do you need to use the computer?”

  I push open the door, kick it shut, and Lucas grunts when I push him against it.

  “Nope. I want to lick your candy cane.”

  His eyes light up. “Then you better get on your knees.”

  I lift a brow and press my thighs together. “Who would’ve thought quiet Lucas Dahlenberg could be so dominating?”

  “I’m usually not,” he says, burying his hand in my hair. “It’s you. You bring it out in me.”

  With my eyes locked on his, I drop to my knees and pop the button of his jeans. The sound of zipper lowering echoes through the quiet room.

  I yank his pants down, along with his boxers, and sweet Lord, he’s huge. His big cock bounces, swollen and heavy between us.

  I need to see more of him, so I slide my hand up his stomach, pushing his shirt and sweater up as I go. “Take this off.”