Hostile for the Holidays

10. Jasper

TEN

JASPER

Tonight, Stella is dressed in a fuzzy black sweater that looks like a cloud, and jeans that hug her ass perfectly. Her hair is styled in soft waves that make me want to reach out and run my fingers through it. She’s wearing large jeweled Christmas tree earrings that shimmer in the bar lights every time she turns her head. They’re similar in style to the wreaths she had been wearing on the plane.

She’s fucking gorgeous, even when she’s fuming mad, and right now, she’s furious.

I’d given her a moment to retreat after the New York news had settled over the group. Everyone thought it was sweet that I was making our long-distance relationship work by moving to New York. Everyone except Stella.

Now, I’ve made my way to the back of the bar where she’s standing at the Skee-Ball game, her face flush with anger.

She points at the Skee-Ball machine where the top score listed has initials JJ. That’s me.

“I can’t believe you took my Skee-Ball record.” Her mouth gapes open in disbelief.

“I didn’t take it. I beat you fair and square.” Over the years, I’ve gotten good at the game to stay competitive with Stella. “You’re a talented Skee-Ball player, I’m sure you’ll be back on top in no time.”

Her eyes light with her signature feisty spark and I know even before she opens her mouth that she’s going to make me pay for it.

“You’re right, I do have many talents, Jass.” She licks her lips, then nods toward the table across the bar. “Just ask Tanner Windell.”

I follow her gaze to find Tanner and a few of his friends seated by the pool tables. While I hate that Tanner has touched Stella, I know he’s not current competition.

“Tanner Windell is an idiot.”

“Doesn’t mean he wasn’t a good kisser.”

“What was that, eighth grade? Jesus, Stella. I hope you’ve been kissed properly since then.”

But I don’t mean a word of it because no guy wants the woman they’ve been in love with half their life to be kissed by another guy. I’m still annoyed by the position I found her and Daniel in earlier this evening. She said it was innocent, an accident, and I believed her, but that didn’t stop my blood from heating with jealousy.

“Of course, I have. Lots of times. Lots of proper kissing.” She abandons the Skee-Ball game, marching off with her espresso martini to a nearby table, and I follow. “Just so you know, dating in New York City is harder than you think it would be. There are millions of people. Finding the right person is like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

“Maybe you’re looking in the wrong place,” I challenge.

“Maybe you’re judgmental and condescending.”

I move to redirect the conversation.

“Thanks for the tip about dating in Manhattan. I’ll keep that in mind when I move there next month.”

“About that. Did you tell everyone that to mess with me? I thought you were there for business. A meeting or something?”

“My company is opening an office there.” I watch Stella’s face pinch like she’s tasted something sour. “Don’t look so disgusted. There are millions of people, right? I’m sure we’ll never run into each other.”

It’s not what I want, but it’s clearly what she thinks should happen. The clash of how I feel about Stella and the charade I have to keep up to fight with her is starting to exhaust me.

“You’re single, too,” she retorts.

“You’re right. While I’ve been busy building my company, my personal life has taken a backseat. I plan to rectify that soon.”

“I’m sure she’ll be lucky to have you.” She bats her lashes mockingly. “And I’ve been busy, too.”

“I know. You’re the highest paid creative director in the lifestyle brand industry.”

“So, you’ve been keeping tabs on me?”

I give her a cocky smile. “I keep my ear to the ground.”

She takes a sip of her drink, assessing me.

“Stella, your career is impressive.”

“But?” she prompts.

“There’s no but.”

“There’s always a but with you.”

I know I’m being baited. It’s what we do to each other. Even when it’s honest feedback, it’s impossible to see the other person as a sounding board. Our egos are too involved. At least they have been in the past, and Stella’s still is.

“I mean it. You’re amazing at what you do. I have no notes.”

“As if I’d take advice from you. Maybe if you tried to sound like less of know-it-all when you talk to people, you’d have better luck getting a date.”

We’re treading into hot water and I hate it. I wanted tonight to be different. I’d hoped it would be different, but it’s clear Stella doesn’t want it to be. She likes the old us. Slinging barbs until one of us runs off licking our wounds. Fake dating isn’t changing anything.

“That’s not how I meant it. I think you’re an amazing artist and creative. East & Ivy is lucky to have you. I’d always envisioned you doing your own thing. Starting your own design firm or doing freelance collaborations.”

At my words, her mask slips for a moment. It’s like I’ve hit a soft spot in an otherwise hard shell. But it’s only a fraction of a second before her shields go up again.

“I don’t need you envisioning me doing anything. In fact, keep me out of your thoughts, okay?”

“That’s impossible.”

“Well, try.”

We’re at an impasse and I know I shouldn’t push her anymore tonight.

“I’m going to use the restroom,” I tell her, abandoning my empty beer at the table.

“Fine.” She takes a sip of her espresso martini and reaches for her phone.

After I use the restroom, I take a moment to cool off. This is not going the way I wanted it to. One minute Stella’s looking at me like she might actually see me, like the way her eyes softened and her mouth spread into a sincere smile when I was talking about my company and the technology I designed, then the next she’s angry about me being one of millions in the city where she lives.

When I come back from the restroom, Stella isn’t at the table anymore. My eyes scan the bar and find her talking to Tanner and some other locals.

“You ready to leave?” I ask upon my approach, trying to keep my cool.

Stella takes a step away from Tanner’s table, but she barely looks at me before responding. “Sadie and Tom are still here. I think I’ll catch a ride with them.”

“What about Daniel?” I ask, searching the crowd.

“He’s talking to Cady Cosgrove and he looks smitten.” She smiles, excitedly bouncing on her toes, “I think I might be in the clear.” She grips my forearm, her eyes alight with joy. “If Daniel finds someone else, we might be able to break up, or at least not hang out as much. I mean I wouldn’t tell him we’re broken up, just in case.”

My stomach drops at her suggestion. I thought we were making progress this afternoon and now she’s looking for an excuse to back out of our arrangement?

“Stella, I told my family we were together and they’re expecting you at the Christmas Eve party.”

“Okay, fine.” She sighs. “I’ll still go to that.”

“I’d like to take you home.”

“We’re fake dating but we don’t need to spend every moment together. And I want to stay and hang out with Sadie.”

“Listen, I’m sorry about Skee-Ball.”

“It’s fine. I already beat your score while you were in the restroom.” She motions toward the game.

I laugh at that, because of course Stella has found her way back on top.

“What I said about your job. If you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

“And how would you know if I am? All we do is fight.”

“I don’t want to fight with you. I try to stay calm, but then things get heated and you drag me back in.”

“Well, sorry I’m such a bad influence.”

“That’s not what I mean.” I groan at my words being taken out of context again.

From behind us, Tanner pipes up.

“If you two would stop arguing for a second, you’d see you’re under the mistletoe.”

My eyes lift to the sprigs of green hanging from a single hook in the middle of the door frame. I watch as Stella’s eyes find the mistletoe above our heads, before falling back to mine.

“Kiss! Kiss!” Tanner chants, and soon others around us join in.

Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.

They’re probably looking for proof that this relationship is real. Everyone here tonight was a mix of curious and shocked that Stella and I are together.

If Tanner wasn’t doing me a favor with his obnoxious chanting, I’d be inclined to tell him to shut the fuck up.

Stella and I didn’t discuss this part of our fake relationship. Clearly, we’d never anticipated being caught under the mistletoe together, which in hindsight maybe we should have. It’s Christmas after all.

“Are you going to kiss me, Jasper?” Stella’s gaze falls to my lips then quickly flicks back to my eyes, her full lips twitching with amusement. “Or are you too afraid?”

Her teasing words ignite the fire in me.

Does she have any idea how long I’ve waited for this moment?

Every muscle in my body is coiled tightly, but no, I’m not afraid. On the other side of our first kiss, I’m already planning a million more. She’s the one who should be nervous.

“Why would I be afraid, Stella?” I ask.

She shrugs. “Maybe you’re out of practice. How long has it been anyways?”

“Doesn’t matter. All that matters right now is that you want me to kiss you. Do you want me to?”

“Oh, I want it.” She smiles smugly. “I want to know exactly how bad of a kisser you are so I can tease you mercilessly.”

“Okay.”

My right hand reaches out toward her hip, my index finger hooking into one of the belt loops of her jeans and with one firm tug, she’s flush against me.

The movement, or the quickness of it surprises her and she lets out a soft gasp, her hands lifting to my chest to brace against the impact. Beneath my palms, Stella’s body is soft and supple. I’m dying to trace the line of her curves with my hands but I need to focus on the task at hand.

Kissing her plush mouth and tasting her.

The kiss that eluded us earlier is going to happen now.

Lowering my head, my left hand cups her jaw.

“Last chance, Stella.”

“For what?” she whispers, searching my face, as the concern in her expression grows.

“To not know what it’s like for my mouth to claim yours.”

“Jasper.”

My name on her lips is a catalyst. I can’t hold back any longer. Tightening my grip on her face, I hold her where I want her and then claim what is mine. Our lips crash together with the force of two opposing magnet ends that have been flipped and finally found their connection.

Our mouths have only been used for teasing and bickering. It’s a new dance for us, but I feel the moment Stella gives in. The way her mouth opens to me, and her tongue strokes against mine, inviting me in.

The way she mews into my mouth is obscene. I wish we weren’t in the middle of a crowded bar. I wish there was a solid wall nearby that I could press her up against and explore her further.

“Fuck,” I growl.

Too soon, the cheering around us trickles in and I know I should pull back before our display becomes indecent.

When I do, Stella’s lips are still pressed outward, searching for contact, her eyes still closed.

“Stella?”

Her lashes flutter twice before her eyelids lift and she looks at me. “What?”

I comb a piece of hair over her shoulder.

“It may not seem like it, but I’ve always wanted to see you win. Whether it’s Skee-Ball or a promotion in your career.”

She’s quiet, but gives a slight nod of her head. Her soft, unfocused eyes telling me she’s still reeling from our kiss.

I drop my hand from her waist and turn to leave, but then I remember one more thing I wanted to tell her.

“Oh, and Stella?” I brush a thumb across her lips. They’re still wet from our hungry kiss. “I don’t want to hear about you and other guys. I don’t care if it was ten years ago or ten days ago, for the next two weeks, you, and these lips, are mine.”

I press a firm kiss against her mouth. It’s clear from the way her lips part and her body leans into me that she wants more. It kills me to do it but I pull away, leaving her there, breathless and aching for more. It’s how I’ve been living my life for years, Stella can feel what it’s like for one night.