Santa’s Mistletoe Playbook

Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

DANICA

D anica stood in the middle of the enormous living room with a large brown bear rug sprawled on the floor. “Can I please use your phone? I lost my mine on the road someplace.” She tried unsuccessfully to keep the anxiety from her voice.

Devin Rasmusson smiled and handed her his phone. “Sure.”

She glanced around nervously. “Do you live here by yourself?”

“Sure do.” He smiled. “It’s a sizeable house for one person.”

A chill crept up her spine. This guy could be anybody. A rapist? An Alaskan serial killer? She’d heard about a few that were thankfully caught. Alone up here in a gigantic house away from everything and everybody. She quickly tapped Bryson’s phone number and waited.

It took a while for him to answer, and when he did, he didn’t sound like himself. “Yeah? Why are you calling me?”

“Bryson? It’s me. Danica.”

For a moment, it was quiet on the other end. Then he erupted in anger. “Why are you calling me on my cousin’s phone?” The shock in his voice was animalistic.

“What? You mean—this guy is your cousin? Why haven’t you ever mentioned him?” She stared at Devin as he entered the room with a tray of steaming beverages.

“We’re enemies—rivals—we freaking hate each other!” Bryson nearly shouted into the phone. “What are you doing with him, Danica?”

“I—my—my car skidded into the ditch after I tried not to hit a moose. I couldn’t get it started, so I walked up the road, and then I lost my phone?—”

“More excuses? Yeah, right! Yet another tall tale from Danica Livengood,” he quipped sarcastically.

“Honest to God, Bryson, it’s true!”

How can I convince him of the truth? Why is he being so mean right now?

“Please come get me. We’ll have to get a tow truck for your mom’s car—” she started.

Devin interrupted. “Bryson? You mean Bryson Cooper, my flipping cousin?”

“Let me talk to that mother freaking jerk!” Bryson hollered into the phone. He evidently heard Devin.

Danica’s jaw dropped. Stunned by this weird situation, she handed the phone to Devin. “He wants to talk to you.”

Devin smiled into the phone. “Well, hello, Dr. Cooper. After all these years, another one of your pretty women winds up at my house.” He tapped the speaker and held up his phone.

“She’s mine! Keep your hands off of her!” Bryson’s voice erupted from the speaker.

“What’s the matter, Cousin? Still sensitive from the last two women I stole from you?” Devin flashed a million-dollar smile Danica figured to be his woman-stealing grin. She wondered how many women he’d lured with it.

Her hand flew to cover her mouth. She couldn’t believe her ill-fated luck to wind up at the home of Bryson’s detested cousin. She remembered now. He’d talked about a guy who was his nemesis in high school and college. They’d competed with each other for everything, from sports to women. Bryson never mentioned the guy was his cousin.

Bryson’s voice barked from the speaker. “Same address?”

“Yep,” quipped Devin, then tapped the speaker off and handed Danica the phone.

“Are you coming right away?” she asked Bryson.

“Damn right. I’ll be there soon, so be ready to go. I freaking can’t believe this!” His words fractured her heart.

“Bryson, I’m so sorry?—”

“Save it, Danica. Don’t dig a deeper hole.” Bryson ended the call, and Danica returned the phone to Devin.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry for all this.”

“Hey, you didn’t know. What were the chances you’d come across my house in a blinding snowstorm?” Devin offered her a mug of tea. “So, you’re Bryson’s lovely girlfriend.” He nodded male approval.

“Yes, but chaos follows me around. It’s been one mess after another ever since we arrived in Alaska.” She forced back tears, not wanting to give Bryson’s adversary grist to use against him, cousin or not.

“Want to talk about it?” He sat on his ornate sofa.

“I don’t know you. That would be awkward.”

“Sometimes that’s the best way to figure things out. Kind of like talking to a shrink.” He fiddled with his tea bag.

Danica glanced at a large oil painting of a polar bear on one wall, then at a framed certificate over an oak rolltop desk. “So, what do you do?”

“I’m a shrink.”

“Oh.” She raised her brows and sipped her tea. “You’re a doctor too.”

“Guilty.” He nodded. “My aunt and uncle—Bryson’s parents—told me he’d found a wonderful woman.”

Her ears burned with the compliment. “It’ll be two years tomorrow, on Christmas Eve, that we’ve been dating.”

“Has he asked you to marry him?”

She didn’t want to answer and swiftly changed the subject. “You have a lovely place here.”

“Why are you both here? I heard Bryson’s parents went to Belize for the holidays.”

This was an easier question to answer. “He’s filling in for another obstetrician. We were supposed to be at a resort in Sedona, and last night, I got messed up and lap-danced bikers at the Devil’s Club because all Bryson does is work.”

Danica said it casually, shocking herself for telling him this. She was so distraught over ruining things with Bryson that she didn’t care what his cousin knew.

“Messed up as in inebriated?” His brows winged up. “What an odd choice for a two-year anniversary.”

“It wasn’t a choice! I don’t know what it was…” she trailed off, pinching the bridge of her nose. She shouldn’t be pouring out her miserable regret to a total stranger, but she had no one to talk to, and her relationship with Bryson was in serious trouble. “I’ve made a mess of things ever since I got here. And now this. Running into you, of all people.”

“It is rather strange,” he said with a thoughtful expression. “Quite the coincidence, actually.”

“If you guys are cousins, why do you dislike each other so much? What happened?”

Devin let out a long sigh. “We were inseparable until our senior year in high school. Then both his girlfriends that year decided they wanted me instead of him. Things headed south after that. It’s a shame, because I’ve always thought of Bryson as a brother.”

A pounding on the door caused Danica to stiffen, and she braced herself. She hated confrontation and conflict. She wasn’t good at it.

Devin swung open the door. “Hey, Bryson. Been a long time.”

“Where is she?” Bryson’s sharp tone sliced the air.

Devin stepped back and pointed. “In there.”

Bryson strode past him, and Danica moved to him, throwing her arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Did this guy try anything?” He penetrated Devin with a look that could kill.

“He’s been a total gentleman. He invited me in to warm up, and I used his phone.”

“I’ll bet he did. But he’s no gentleman.” Bryson stepped back from Danica and turned toward his cousin. “How did you warm her up? You can’t steal this one, so hands off!” His chest puffed up, and he stiffened.

“I don’t intend to steal her.” Devin recoiled at his remark. “Maybe it’s high time you let go of the past and focus on your future.”

“Who are you to tell me what to do?” Bryson whirled on Danica. “Did you spill your guts to this loser? What did you tell him?” His face reddened.

“I—I didn’t tell him anything—” she faltered, her entire body prickling.

Bryson stepped close to Devin. “We never did even the score. There’s something I’ve been wanting to do since you stole the woman I planned to marry in high school.” He took a step back and swung at Devin, his fist connecting with Devin’s jaw.

Devin stumbled back and fell backward onto the sofa. “Dammit, Bryson! What the fuck?”

Bryson pointed at him. “That’s for stealing Jennifer. And this one’s for stealing Amanda.” He took a menacing step forward. “You better not even think about stealing Danica!”

Danica planted herself between them, placing a firm hand on his chest. “Bryson! Stop!”

“What, now you’re sticking up for this guy? This doesn’t concern you. It’s between me and him.” Bryson’s eyes glinted in a way that alarmed Danica.

“Come on, we’re leaving.” Danica grabbed hold of Bryson’s jacket and tugged him toward the door. She glanced back at Devin, seeing him rubbing his jaw. “Thanks for helping me out. Sorry for the hassle.”

“Don’t apologize to him!” muttered Bryson, pulling keys from his pocket.

Devin shouted after them. “You’re lucky I didn’t steal Danica, too. Maybe you should learn how to treat your women!”

Danica tugged Bryson out the door before he could deck his cousin again, slamming the door behind them.