Unholy Nights: A Twisted Christmas Anthology (18 page)

He continued to greet guests even as he drew Dakota into the spacious, double-storied front hallway. She breathed deeply to inhale the wonderful aroma of cinnamon, pine, hot cider and baking apples. A cheerful din of excited voices, laughter and a pianist playing Christmas carols warmed the foyer.

"I have to stand by the front door for a while yet," Cabot said. He beckoned over a white-coated server. "Trixie will show you to your rooms and then feel free to circulate. I'll look for you in a bit."

When they came back downstairs, Dakota had something to mull over. The room she'd been shown definitely was a guy's room – all navy and gray, with a king-sized bed, and both an iPad and an open book on the nightstand table, as if the room were occupied, and not used just for guests. Two doors led out of the room, one closed, which she assumed was a closet. The other led to an attached bath which was large and well-appointed. The bathroom was spotless, with fresh towels laid out, and toiletries including a toothbrush still sealed in its package on the counter, but the shower stall had drops clinging to the tile walls. Someone had used it recently. Had she been placed in Cabot's room?

She really, really hoped not. She was attracted to him. If she were honest, there was even a chance she might have succumbed to sleeping with him tonight. But she would not do so if he'd presumed to assume that she would. He'd said no strings, and she expected that promise to be honored in its entirety.

Joe and Brenna got waylaid by a partner from Joe's law firm. Dakota felt free to wander off and followed her nose into a grand dining room. She figured it could seat two dozen people easily, although tonight the long table in the center was covered with a buffet including everything from a Christmas goose being sliced by one of the white-coated staff to a gingerbread house with Necco wafer faces peeking cozily out of latticed windows.

Large silver tureens stood over small burners to keep their contents warm, and two more staff members stood behind them to serve. Colorful fruit platters, vegetable trays, and baskets of various breads contributed to the bounty.

Dakota plucked a truffle off a dessert platter just as a tall, very pretty girl strode up to her and held out a hand. "Elizabeth Saltonstall," she said. "A mouthful, I know, but tradition is all."

"You must be Cabot's sister." Elizabeth had long, softly curling brown hair and the same toffee colored eyes as Cabot.

"Busted." Elizabeth laughed. "It's the eyes, right?" She hurried on, without waiting for an answer. "I know you're Dakota because Cabot kicked me out of my room for you."

Dakota stared in surprise. "That's your room?" She stopped before she uttered the words she wanted to say. She could have sworn it was a guy's room. In fact, she'd been certain it was Cabot's room, and she still hadn't decided how she was going to play that presumption on his part.

"Nope. He put your friends in my room."

"I'm sorry. We had no intention of dislodging the family."

Elizabeth waved a hand. "No problem. I'll bunk in with my sister. I can't say no to Cabot. He's my twin."

"But to put you out of your room—"

"Don't worry, I've done it to him. But tell me, how do you know Cabot?"

"I don't, really. I just met him this afternoon."

"Is that so?" Her honeyed eyes were speculative. "He's quite taken with you."

"How in the world do you know that?"

"I know Cabot." She shrugged, as if those three words said everything. "Where are you from, Dakota?"

"I'm based in London, right now."

"London?" Elizabeth's mouth dropped in dismay. "How'd you end up in Nantucket?"

"I'm on my way to St. Thomas for a short vacation. I had a chance to stop in Boston so I decided to visit Joe and Brenna, the two people who are using your room tonight."

"Joe's a hottie," Elizabeth said casually. "Too bad he's taken."

"Yes, they're recently married."

Elizabeth's mouth turned down. "And I'm recently divorced."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. In a foolish moment, I turned my back on all the good sense our parents raised us with and married a bad boy." Her gaze met Dakota's. "Not the good kind of bad boy, either."

"I'm sorry," Dakota said again. The pain in Elizabeth's eyes had been real.

"Cabot said everyone's allowed one colossal mistake in their life, and now I've had mine."

"Has Cabot had his?"

Elizabeth eyed her. "I might be looking at it."

"Oh—" Dakota took an involuntary step back. "That's rude."

Elizabeth shrugged. "You're not his type, you live in London, and you'll be sleeping in his bed tonight. What could go wrong?"

"Listen, sister dearest, I am not interested in a hump and dump with your stuffy brother. Okay?" Anger flashed in Dakota. First, because she'd liked Elizabeth right away. Second, because  she had this tiny wish that Elizabeth thought Cabot was smitten with her for some reason other than sex. That was foolish, of course. They'd just met. But still—

"That's what they all say." Elizabeth waved off Dakota's defensive words. "Next thing that happens is they're buying bridal magazines."

"Bridal magazines?" Dakota laughed. "Is he as arrogant as you are? Why don't you look on the bright side? Maybe he'll have the time of his life breaking my heart and you can watch with joy."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "He seems to think you invented sex appeal."

"You don't think he's old enough to make his own decisions about what's sexy?"

"Cabot's heart is a big marshmallow." Elizabeth's face turned as hard as such a pretty face could. "Don't incinerate it just to make yourself a s'more."

Dakota met her gaze with a hard stare of her own. "I think you're one s'more short of a barbecue."

Elizabeth laughed unexpectedly. "I could like you. But I make a bad enemy."

"Scare me."

"What's she telling you?" Cabot materialized beside them. He wrapped an arm around Dakota's waist. It felt good. "I see you've met my sis. Only believe the good things she says about me."

"Don't worry," Dakota said, giving him a warmer smile than she would have if Elizabeth hadn't interfered. "She hasn't had a chance to tell me the truth yet."

Cabot laughed, even as he glanced around the room. "Where is that infernal Hoot?"

"Hooooot!" he bellowed out through the doorway he'd just come through.

A tall, slender man wearing yellow suspenders, a blue-striped shirt, and round, horn-rimmed eyeglasses barreled into the dining room.

"What the f—" He cut the word short, his gaze winging from Elizabeth to Dakota. "Sorry, ladies, almost forgot the house rules. Cabot, I ain't gonna follow you around all night with this damned mistletoe."

"Just hold it over our heads," Cabot said, "and I'll forgive you for the swearing and maybe invite you back next year."

Rolling his eyes, Hoot lifted his arm and dangled the ball of mistletoe over Dakota.

"Finally!" Cabot swept her into a crushing embrace, and placed his lips on hers. Before she knew what was happening, he licked inside her mouth and touched her tongue.

She lit up like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. One tiny touch, and something big and explosive erupted inside her. She opened her mouth and kissed him back, seeking more of his tongue, raising her arms to wrap around his neck so that all of her was available to him. His entire body moved subtly against hers, caressing her, and she pressed herself against him as if they were all alone, and in bed. The only thought in her head, other than pleasure, was the yearning to be naked with him.

When Cabot released her, she stared at him, stunned. He bent his head to murmur into her ear. "I knew it would be like that."

"Damn," Hoot said, "get a room, kids. I can't watch that kind of action, y'know."

"Yup," Cabot said, laughing. "You're as pure as the driven snow. In fact, you ought to go take a header in one of the snow banks surrounding the house."

"No way," Hoot said. "I see Christmas goose!" He bolted for the far end of the table.

Dakota tried to regain her composure, smoothing down her sparkly red top. "He follows you around with mistletoe just to give you a chance to kiss the ladies?"

"Not just any lady," Cabot corrected. "You." His eyes were so hot, they flustered her. She didn't know where to look. If she looked at him, she might throw herself on him, despite the party in full swing all around them.

"He must be a good friend," she finally said, knowing it was a lame comment.

"They've known each other since they were little," Elizabeth said, stepping into the awkward moment. "Don't worry. Hoot's not offended. He'd do anything for Cabot."

"Must be nice to have a personal fan club."

"Hoot ran into some problems at boarding school when a class bully decided a gay guy was a good target," Elizabeth said.

"Hoot was taking care of it," Cabot said comfortably. "I just got tired of waiting for the bully to realize that Hoot had friends."

Dakota turned a startled look on Cabot. He couldn't possibly be gay, not after that kiss.

The twins burst out laughing at the same moment.

"No," Elizabeth said firmly. "Cabot is a born womanizer."

"Was, Lizzie, was." Cabot squeezed Dakota's waist. "Now that I've found Dakota, those days are behind me.

"Don't call me Lizzie." She punched his upper arm. "I'll call you Gekko."

"Ow!" he hollered in fake pain. "Hoot! Hoot! I've been wounded. I need sustenance from a lovely lady. Bring on the mistletoe."

Hoot sauntered up, a plate of food in one hand, the mistletoe ball in the other. "Can't you kiss a lady without the aid of ridiculous superstitions?"

"You know I love tradition. Don't mind changing it when necessary, though." Cabot dropped a kiss on the top of Dakota's head. "The new rule is that I can claim a kiss as long as the mistletoe is in my vicinity."

"Never seen the lack of mistletoe stop you before," Hoot pointed out. "Dakota, don't let the Nantucket reds fool you. There's a wolf under all those fine fabrics."

"Hey, you're supposed to be my wingman," Cabot protested.

"You mean the pants?" Dakota asked. She glanced down at Cabot's khaki pants. They looked more of a deep rose color to her, rather than red.

Cabot and Hoot exchanged high fives, roaring with laugher.

"Thanks, man," Cabot said, winking at Dakota. "She checked me out."

"Subtlety, sir. That's my mantra." Hoot waved the mistletoe and Cabot didn't hesitate. He swept Dakota into another embrace, his kiss this time warm and tender. At least it started out that way, but soon he had one hand pressed against her head, holding her in place, and his tongue plunged into her mouth as he plundered freely.

Dakota breathed in his scent, an intriguing combination of heat with a touch of citrus, unique in this houseful of warm Christmas scents. She leaned closer. He held her so tightly that she couldn't get her arms up around his neck, so she wrapped them around his waist. His sweater was luscious cashmere, but she wished it would disappear. Even the cotton shirt was too much because she had an insane need to stroke his warm skin.

Some alarming sounds from behind her finally forced themselves into her consciousness. She pulled away.

It was Hoot calling their names. "Hey, Cabot, there are kiddos around. Never mind that, you're corrupting
me
. Since when did you get into pda's like this?"

Cabot released her slowly. When she looked at his face, he appeared dazed. "Pda's?" he finally said.

"Public displays of affection," Elizabeth said. "
Not
a Nantucket tradition." She nodded at Dakota. "Puritan forbears, y'know?"

Dakota glanced around the crowded room. Some people weren't paying any attention, some were smiling, and one or two might be thinking of disapproving. Mentally, she shrugged. She'd never see these people again, and she'd definitely done more outrageous things in her life.

Cabot dropped his arms and she glanced at him. Was he blushing?

She leaned in toward him. "Why is your face red?" she whispered.

"Because you about blew my head off." He ran a hand under his collar. "Whew. Is it hot in here? I need some fresh air."

"Yeah." Hoot waved the mistletoe. "Why don't you go soak
your
head in a snowbank? You look like you're about to explode."

"Your role is to be silent and wave the mistletoe," Cabot responded. "But you can take a break because we need some privacy right now." He placed his hand on Dakota's back and walked her out of the dining room.

"I hope that's not why you placed me in your bedroom," Dakota said. "The privacy thing."

"You figured it out, huh?" He raised his brows, but his eyes were amused.

"The trophies were a dead giveaway. Princeton crew? Exeter crew? Soccer. Baseball. You were quite the athlete."

"I'll take it as a positive sign that you were interested enough to check them out."

"You thought I was that easy?"

"Nope." He swung her around so her back was to the wall. They appeared to be in a library now, which was less crowded than the other rooms. When he placed both his hands against the wall by her head, she was effectively closed within a small space framed by him. She didn't feel trapped though, but...secure. A surprising feeling, as she'd never been interested in being controlled by a man.

"Look," he said, "your invitation to stay here obviously was a last minute thing. All the rooms in the house were already accounted for. I asked Elizabeth to bunk in with our younger sister, and I'm crashing with our younger brother." He shrugged. "No big deal. We all like company, so we make do."

Something a bit like envy snaked through Dakota. What would it be like to be part of a big, loving family like that? Her own brother was six years older than her. He'd left for the Air Force Academy when she was only twelve, and before that he'd attended a military boarding school. They were friendly as adults, but they had never had a lot of family time together.

In fact, she hadn't spent a lot of time with her parents either. Although she'd traveled a lot to vacation with them, she'd also lived frequently in the States with her grandmother until her grandmother died when she was seventeen. It suited her to be a free spirit, but still, there was something enticing about the Saltonstall family lifestyle.