Santa’s Mistletoe Playbook

Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

DANICA

T he next morning, Bryson still didn’t want to make love before leaving for work like they used to do. Danica wondered if she was the problem. Didn’t she turn him on anymore? She recalled what her bestie suggested about going to the adult store to get some smexy lingerie. She’d drive down to Anchorage to do some shopping.

The snowplows made their way up and down the road out front of the house, and Danica concluded she could safely maneuver them. Bryson said she could use his mom’s Prius for running errands.

As she prepared to go, her phone vibrated. It was Bryson. “Another obstetrician called in sick, so I’m stuck pulling a double shift. I won’t be home until midnight or so.”

“Oh.” Danica did a poor job of hiding her dismay. But why should she?

He let out a sigh. “Hon, I’m sorry. Babies won’t wait. You know how it is.”

“Uh, huh.” She stared out at the white landscape, wishing they weren’t here on this godforsaken tundra or glacier or whatever this was, where she didn’t know a soul.

“I have an idea,” said Bryson. “I’ll arrange for Monty and the boys to take you to dinner so you won’t have to spend the evening alone. Sound good?”

“You don’t have to do that. I can make something here.” She liked his friends all right, but she’d rather spend time with him .

“I don’t want you to spend the evening alone. I dragged you to Alaska, and you’ve been a good sport about it. I’ll make sure the boys take you to an excellent seafood restaurant. I’ll try to steal away and join you for a quick bite.”

Danica perked up. “Okay, I suppose. Please make a quick getaway if you’re able.”

“I’ll do what I can. I’ll call Monty. I’m sure he’ll be happy to swing by and pick you up for dinner. Talk to you later.” Bryson ended the call.

Danica was familiar enough with Bryson’s friends to feel at ease, but she wasn’t sure if she was ready to spend an entire evening with them minus Bryson.

Her phone vibrated with Monty’s caller ID. “Hey Danica, Bryson tells me you need company this evening for dinner. Me and the boys were planning to go downtown to the Glacier Brewhouse. They have the best seafood fettuccine in town. You’re welcome to come with us.”

Even though Bryson wouldn’t be there, it sounded better than sitting around by herself with the moose and wolves cavorting outside. “Sure, I’ll go.”

“Great. Pick you up around five.” Monty ended the call.

Danica stood with the phone in her hand, staring at it. If Bryson had to work painfully long hours for the entire duration of their stay in Alaska, she might as well find activities to occupy herself.

Danica leaned back in her seat with a full stomach. She’d ordered the seafood fettuccine as the guys had advised, and it was delicious.

Monty, Jamin, and Benny were fun company and had filled her in on all things Alaskan, everything from earthquakes to politics and how fantastic the skiing was. Monty told entertaining stories about his public defender work, dealing with his sometimes wigged-out clients—in his words, the odds are good, but the goods are odd. Jamin and Benny talked about their work on the North Slope, working for the oil drilling companies.

When the conversation lulled, Jamin leaned forward. “There’s a good band playing at Yukon Johnny’s in Spenard, called Haley’s Comet. Spenard is a section of town next to Midtown,” he explained for Danica’s benefit. “Want to go listen to some excellent music?”

“I should get back to the house.” Danica glanced at her phone. “I guess Bryson couldn’t join us.”

“No worries, we won’t keep you out very long,” Benny chimed in. “We’ll only stay for an hour. We’ll have you home before Bryson gets there.”

Danica glanced at the three expectant faces. “Okay, sure. Why not?”

“Fantastic, let’s go!” Monty paid the bill and wouldn’t let Danica pay any of it. “My treat.”

The four of them piled into Monty’s truck and drove the snowy streets to the infamous bar everyone called Johnny’s. They stepped inside and found a table near the stage. The band hadn’t started playing.

Jamin motioned the server over. “Glacieritas all the way around.” He twirled his finger.

“Oh, no, not for me, thanks,” Danica waved her hand in a no gesture. “I’ll have a soda.”

Jamin turned to Danica. “These are made with glacier ice, which any Alaskan will say is good for you.”

“I’m sure, but I’ll stick with soda.” Danica thought of her promise to Bryson and shook her head.

The server arrived with their drinks, and Haley’s Comet took the stage and played popular tunes.

Monty pushed his chair back. “Want to dance?” He offered his hand.

Danica took it and shoved her chair back as well. “I’d love to.”

They hit the dance floor to the lively beat of one of her favorite songs. When it ended, Monty kept her on the floor for the next one. But when the third song ended, Danica pointed at the table.

“Let’s take a breather.” She wished Bryson were here to dance with her.

Jamin and Benny were already on their second glacieritas. Danica scrutinized the pretty blue drinks, and Monty motioned to the bar. “Your soda is empty, and I need to order. Let’s go get our drinks.”

Danica followed him to the bar, where a server flirted with him, chatting him up. Monty was eye-candy to single women with his shaggy, grown out hair, giving off a bad-boy vibe. She noted several heads turn in his direction. He was almost as handsome as Bryson—almost. In her view, no one was better looking than her hot-bodied boyfriend. She wondered if the women at the Anchorage hospital were hitting on him like the ones did in Phoenix.

Danica made it crystal clear at parties and work functions that Bryson was hers and he wasn’t up for grabs— hands off! She trusted him, and so far, he hadn’t given her a reason not to. A friend of hers who worked at the Phoenix hospital had assured her Bryson kept things professional on the job.

Monty pointed to two shot glasses on the bar. “Have you ever had Jell-O shots?”

Danica shook her head. “I know what they are, but I haven’t tried them.”

“How can you not? They’re delicious!” He picked up a glass of blue liquid. “They’re just gelatin with a smidgeon of vodka. Want to try one?”

She eyed the colorful shot glass, then moved her head back and forth. “I better not.”

“Don’t worry, the tiny amount of vodka isn’t enough to affect you.”

One woman who’d flirted with Monty appeared next to them. “Oh honey, you’ve got to try one! It’s like having a luscious dessert.” The server picked up the red one and handed it to Danica. “Come on, try it.”

Danica stared at her, deliberating. “Oh, what the heck, okay.”

On impulse, she took a tiny, cautious sip. After all, Monty said there was hardly any alcohol.

“Not like that. Like this.” Monty lifted a blue one and threw it back like a shot of tequila.

Danica mimicked him, and the red liquid slid down her throat. It was astonishingly good.

“Two more!” Monty motioned to the bartender. “Different colors this time.”

Like magic, two more appeared, a green one and an orange one. He handed the green to Danica, who downed it instantly. Her stomach responded with a tingly sensation.

“Yum, they’re so good.” The familiar warm buzz jettisoned through her bloodstream. “I’d better sit down.” She knew better than to stay at the bar.

Monty followed her to the table, where Jamin and Benny had two young ladies sitting with them. More gelatin shots appeared on the table in front of Danica. She stared at them, hesitating. Her long-ago promise to Bryson dissolved like it never happened.

She reached for a blue one and downed it.

Jamin motioned to the two young women at the table. “These two ladies have never been to the Devil’s Club.”

“Seriously?” Monty raised his brows. “Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?”

Jamin aimed a mischievous grin at him. “I’m thinking so.”

Danica did her best to follow the conversation. “What’s the Devil’s Club?”

All heads swiveled toward her as Monty explained, “It’s a dance club.”

“Do they have wonderful music like this?”

Jamin’s and Benny’s heads bobbed up and down emphatically. “Fantastic music.”

Danica stood, her lightheadedness making her woozy. “Then let’s go! What do you say, ladies?” She glanced at the two women, who clearly wanted to go wherever the men wanted to go. All three of them were chick magnets.

They all piled into Monty’s crew cab pickup. Danica sat next to the frosty window in the back seat. When Monty pulled out of the parking lot, the city’s holiday lights sped past, and dizziness kicked in. She squeezed her eyes closed to force the world to stabilize.

She tapped Monty’s shoulder. “Did Bryson say he’ll join us when he’s done working?”

Monty hesitated. “Yeah, he mentioned that earlier, but it sounded like he’d be working late.”

“Right.” Danica sat back, disappointed. She missed her honey-bunny and wanted to be with him. It’s why she came with him to Alaska. Her self-control had gone on vacation, and she had a sudden urge to make love with Bryson—for sure she’d seduce him into making love with her tonight.

I won’t take no for an answer!

The truck lurched to a stop in front of a large two-story wood building with lights blinking all around it and a grinning devil’s face lit up in red. Everyone piled out and walked inside to a cacophony of whistles and yells.

Danica wobbled, and Monty took her elbow, guiding her to a large, round table. She squinted at a large stage with poles all around it. “Oh my God, are those naked women dancing up there?”

Monty laughed. “Indeed, they are!” The rest of the table laughed right along with him. So, they’d tricked her into coming here, but apparently, the other two women didn’t mind, as Jamin was making out with the redhead, and Benny had his hand under the blonde’s crop top.

Danica leaned over to Monty and grabbed his forearm. “I’m not into this stuff. Can we go back to Jimmy’s?” The music here wasn’t as good, either.

He patted her hand. “Sure. We’ll throw back a few, then head back over to Jimmy’s.”

“Promise?” she persisted, regretting that she’d agreed to come here. She thought by dance club, they’d meant one where everyone danced, like at Jimmy’s, not a strip club.

“I ordered you a glacierita. You can’t visit Alaska and not try one.”

Drinks appeared on the table, and Danica lifted the blue one and sipped through the straw. So yummy!

The last thing she remembered was a topless woman with huge boobs that was giving her a lap dance, and Danica asking her to please teach her how to do one so her boyfriend would make love to her.