Nice Until Proven Naughty

“And I wish you’d consider coming to the party.”

“We’re both being stubborn, aren’t we?” I suggest.

She gives a one-shoulder shrug. “They don’t call me Naughty for nothing.” There’s a loud honk from outside, and Samantha hooks a thumb over her shoulder. “That’s my ride.”

As though I’m on autopilot, I walk around her and hold open the door. She brushes past me, takes two steps down the front porch, and turns around. My heart rate picks up when she pushes her body against mine and presses a soft kiss to my cheek.

“I hope you’ll come on Christmas Eve. Not so I can auction you off, or because I want to see you—although I really, really do—but for you. I hope you come for you, Lucas, because you deserve to be happy this Christmas, and selfishly, I think I can help you with that. If you change your mind, the auction is at Sal’s at eleven o’clock in the morning. Your date for the party will be whomever buys you at the auction.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask if she’d consider buying me and tell her there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than at the party with her on my arm, but the words get stuck, and next thing I know, she’s gone.

7

Nice

“Stop fidgeting. You’re going to be fine,” Jamie says, pulling up along the curb in front of Sal’s.

“Are you sure you can’t come in with me?”

“It’s a work party. And in case you’ve forgotten, I don’t work for you.” She puts the car in park, turns to me, and fusses with my hair.

Normally when I have to work, I keep it pulled back. Tonight, I wanted to try something a little sexier: big, beachy waves that hang loose over my shoulders.

I’ll probably regret that decision around ten o’clock tonight when I’m sweating my butt off, but at least I’ll look good doing it.

And, maybe it’ll catch Ben’s attention, which is the ultimate goal. I need to get him to look at me the way he used to, before I messed it all up.

I would give anything to go back to last Christmas. I’ll never forget the look on his face when I told him the biggest lie I’ve ever told anyone in my life: “I think we’re better off as friends.”

It took all of five minutes after he walked out the door to realize I’d made a huge mistake. But the tiny voice in the back of my head kept me from chasing after him.

What if you don’t work out?

What would happen to Sal’s?

What would happen to your friendship?

“What changed?” Jamie says, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Huh?”

“Why do you all of a sudden want more with Ben?”

“It’s not all of a sudden. I’ve wanted more with Ben for years. At first I didn’t think he felt the same way, and then last year…” My words trail off because if I talk about last year again, I’m afraid I’ll burst into tears. Ben and I have wasted so much time—time we could’ve spent together, building a beautiful life. “It’s just taken me this long to pull my head out of my ass and actually do something about it.”

“Okay, but why now? Did something happen? Did you see him with another girl and get jealous?”

“What? No.” I shake my head and feel the blood drain from my face. “Why? Did you see him with another girl? Oh God, am I too late?”

“No.” Jamie shakes her head vehemently. “I’m just asking. Breathe, Nice.”

I take a few deep breaths. “I’m not scared anymore,” I say. “And I love him, Jamie. I love him so much.”

She smiles thoughtfully. “I know you do.”

“I’ve been so stupid, but not any more. I want him, and I’m going after what I want, because I’d rather try with him than spend my whole life wondering what if.”

“I don’t think you’re going to have to try very hard. The man looks at you like you hung the moon. You might not see it, but we all do.”