Step-Santa - A Stepbrother Forbidden Romance

“And that’s why you should get it.”

Hm. She’s right. The simple black dress exposes my back and has a daring slit on the thigh, perfect for Kane to slip a hand inside.

“Ok, done.”

After we make our purchases, we stop at the resort’s café nestled under the snow-tipped pine trees for coffee. The golden bells on the door jingle when we step inside the merry shop. Holiday music serenades us as we walk past a life-size nutcracker to the counter wrapped in garland. The aroma of peppermint and mocha waft through the air, and I inhale, loving the smell of Christmas.

Once we order our coffees—gingerbread lattes—we find a booth near the back.

“So, tell me about this stepbrother? I saw him walking out of the resort. He’s fucking hot.”

I shake my head. “You have no idea.”

Aspen’s known me for so long she can garner an idea just by my tone. She picks up her mug with a tiny reindeer painted on it and blows, then says, “Care to share,” before taking a sip.

I sigh. “We may have kissed a little bit.”

Aspen sets her coffee down and leans in. “A little bit? Or a lot a bit?”

I suck in a deep breath, releasing it slowly. “A lot. I can’t help it. He’s just got this pull over me.”

“Listen, your mother is going to freak if she finds out.”

I cringe. “Well—"

“Oh, no.” she cuts in. “Tell me she didn’t catch you.”

“Not exactly.” I stare at the milky Santa hat design atop my latte. “She suspects something, though.”

Aspen sets her mug down and gives me her serious face. “Turn it off. Nothing good can come from this. Besides, do you even know anything about him?”

I think about this for a moment. “He works in publishing.”

“Anything else?”

I shoot her a half-smile. “He’s a fantastic kisser.”

“I can’t believe you just said that, Winter.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I know. I know. What am I thinking?”

“Listen, it’s normal. You lost your job, and the holidays are coming. It’s stressful. And he’s gorgeous. Anyone in your position would act on their crazy impulses.”

Is that really it? Am I just acting on an impulse? I feel like it could be more, but every part of my brain reminds me of how wrong it is.

“Tell me about your life,” I say, pushing thoughts of Kane out of my mind.

She fills me in on her recent dates and when our mugs are empty, we head to the salon to spend the next few hours getting hair and makeup done for tonight.

It takes longer than expected, so we change into our dresses at the salon.

We rush to the lodge, and as I walk through the doors with Aspen, my eyes seek him out.

I spot his dark hair by the makeshift bar in the room’s corner. He’s stunning in a black suit and tie. The material hugs his broad shoulders and firm ass, showcasing his virile manliness. My core coils into knots, and butterflies flap their wings within my belly. I shouldn’t be having this reaction to him, but boy am I.

I can’t stop fantasizing about what the two of us will do together alone in our cabin. He spies me from across the room and one corner of his mouth tilts up, nearly stopping my heart.

He’s beyond sexy.

He knows it too, because his smile gets cockier the longer our eyes stay connected, like he can read all the dirty thoughts I’m having about him. I try to turn my head, but it’s like there’s something stuck in my neck keeping me from moving.

He must know what I’m thinking, because he moves away from the bar, crossing the ballroom floor until his shiny leather shoes stop inches from my red tipped toes peeking out of black heels.

“You look, wow.” He leans down to whisper in my ear. “Good enough for me to eat.”

I grasp Aspen by the elbow. “This is my best friend Aspen.” I shove her at him.

He steps away, a polite smile gracing his handsome face. “Nice to meet you.”

“Same,” she says. “Heard a lot about you. Any brother of Winter’s is a brother of mine.”

She hugs him, and I wish someone would straight up murder me because I can’t handle the awkwardness of this situation.

“How’s the party going?” I ask him, after they’ve ended their bizarre hug.

“Well, it’s going.” He rubs at the back of his neck, looking at me from beneath thick lashes. “Much better now that you’re here.”

“Oh, looky there. I see my father,” Aspen says, rushing away from the two of us, leaving me alone with Kane.

Every part of me wants to reenact what happened earlier today, but our parents join us.

“There you are,” Randall says. “We’re introducing the family soon.”

“Great,” I mutter as they corral us to the mini stage at the front of the ballroom.