Chapter Ten Hayden
CHAPTER TEN
HAYDEN
I really wasn’t a fan of that man-elf. Brendon continued to find the perfect fucking times to interrupt me. It was like he knew I wanted to cross a line with Charlotte and stopped me.
Wait. My parents always believed in signs—was this one? Telling me to back off? Like this wintery, holiday version was my personal hell. I wanted to ask Charlotte if I could be the person under the mistletoe but I stopped myself?
What am I doing?
We legit just agreed to be friends. That was it. I was a single dad without my shit together. I could offer a one-night stand. Charlotte was a relationship kinda gal who deserved to be someone’s main priority. I couldn’t offer her what she wanted, plain and simple. She was off-limits despite my attraction to her.
If I had to tattoo KEEP AWAY FROM CHARLOTTE onto my eyelids so I would not forget, that would be great. Because what the hell had gotten into me? Kissing her would be a huge mistake. Nothing could come of it, and we had already learned our lesson, and I hated not having her in my life. I’d be a damn fool to repeat it. Even if the thought of her kissing someone else made my fists clench when I couldn’t stop fantasizing about her red lips and how full they were. They drew me in every time she spoke.
I had a craving for cherries all of a sudden.
“This is wild,” she said, those lips pursing as she scanned the room.
Bernie and his team of elves were scattered throughout the lobby carrying large bottles of alcohol. They didn’t just walk either. They jogged with jingle bells attached to their hats and socks. Obnoxious was too kind a word. They needed to be stopped.
“I’d never judge,” Charlotte said, a cute smirk forming on her face, “but do you think they keep the socks on all the time? Like, in the bedroom?”
I snorted. “Probably. Bernie absolutely does. I’d bet Gwen’s inheritance that he has a full back tattoo of Rudolph too.”
She swatted me. “No. No he doesn’t.”
I shrugged, tilting my head. “One will never know.”
Her quiet laughter made me smile. I loved the sound of her little chuckle. She leaned closer to me with her arm stretched out toward Bernie. “Looks like every table receives one large bottle, two small bottles, and a mini Santa bag. What on God’s green earth are we about to do?”
“Directions, here.” An elf tossed a sparkly scroll onto our table. “Don’t touch it.”
Written in a black font: DO NOT FLIP OVER UNTIL WE SAY GO.
Madness. I ran a hand through my hair just to rid myself of this restless energy. The high from the wrapping challenge never quite wore off. Hey, maybe that was why I wanted to kiss Charlotte. The adrenaline rush. The postgame adrenaline that I always had after a win.
See, I wasn’t a total jerk. Content with my solid investigation into why I had the hots for Charlotte again, I nodded. I wasn’t going to cross a line. I just needed to find a way to release this energy after the competition was all said and done. As I waited for the next round, I checked my phone and frowned at the third text from a random number. It’s me. Hayden, please call me back. This is important.
Who is this? I replied.
No answer.
It almost felt like a prank, but I shoved my phone in my pocket. If it was truly important, they’d call.
“Okay, folks, this is round two,” Brendon’s voice crackled over the speaker. “Each of you received some mystery materials you’ll use to create a holiday drink. The more festive, the better. The tastier, the better. This will challenge your senses and your quick thinking. You have ten minutes total before you present your drink to the judges in the sleigh. Wave, judges!”
Three people sat in a full-ass Santa sleigh near the front door. The women wore dresses from the early 1900s, probably, and the dude wore a top hat and a monocle. I had zero clue how that related to this holiday tomfoolery. Charlotte about buzzed with excitement.
“What do we have?” I picked up the green bottle and turned it over to find a label.
“We aren’t told yet.” Charlotte rubbed her two fingers together, a wrinkle between her brows. I knew that face well—she was making a plan.
“You seem intrigued.”
“This place is bonkers, and that means something coming from a Calhoun.” Her voice had a dreamlike quality to it, and I couldn’t tell if she loved the entire thing or hated it. Or maybe she was confused, just like me.
“It’s all a bit much.” I set the cool green bottle down as Brendon glared at me. “What?”
“Don’t touch the materials until the music starts. That’s the rules.” He pursed his lips, irritation written all over his face.
Big whoop. I touched a bottle. I rolled my eyes.
“Behave, Porter. He could turn the judges against us, and we need every point possible. Christian texted me a list of his favorite artists and freaking Butthole Surfers is on it. Who even is that?”
I choked on my own breath. Her brother was a pain in the ass. “Brendon needs to take his job less seriously, that’s all.”
Right on cue, the evil elf shouted into the microphone, interrupting me. “Okay, ready, go! Read your instructions and impress us!”
An upbeat version of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” blared, startling me for a second. How were we in a family-friendly resort with club Christmas music? Was there a DJ? Did reindeer even like this music?
Focus, Hayden. I let the thought of clubbing reindeer go.
“Okay, are you good with your nose?” Charlotte asked, unscrewing the lid on the green bottle.
“Wait, what?”
“I don’t know what this alcohol is.” She scrunched her nose, wincing. “Something not pleasant?”
She handed it to me, our fingers brushing. I ignored the spark as I sniffed. “Brandy. For sure. My mentor took me out for drinks, and he made me try all the expensive kinds. This is definitely brandy.”
“Great. Cool. Never had it.” She placed her hands on her hips after setting the supplies out. Her tongue traced the outside of her mouth as she stared at the ingredients. “Cranberries? Cinnamon? Candy canes? This is so not my thing. I’m panicking, Hop.”
I squeezed her shoulder in a friendly, supportive gesture. Because I was a gentleman, I also ignored how warm her skin was.
“Don’t panic. We’re a good team.” I eyed the materials. “There’s cranberries?” I shifted my weight, which made me closer to her. Ignoring the brush of her arm against mine, I pulled out a quart of cranberry juice and some cinnamon. “If we have a lime and something like triple sec, we can make a modified sidecar.”
“For real? No idea what that even is, but I love the sound of your confidence.”
“Yeah. Here, let me do this.” I rolled up my sleeves and pointed to the knife in the bag. “Okay, is there a lemon or lime anywhere?”
Her gaze froze on my arms, her lips parting. I stared, unsure if I had something weird on them. Sometimes I colored with Gwen and didn’t realize I had marker all over me, but my forearms seemed okay. “What is it?”
“Uh, nothing.” She ducked her head. “Knife, you said?”
“What just happened?”
“Hayden, drop it.”
“Why are your ears red?” My lips twitched. Was she thinking something dirty? It’d be great to know I wasn’t alone in my overwhelming attraction. “Do you deserve to be on the naughty list, Charlotte? What’s going through that pretty head of yours?”
She ignored me. She stood a little bit too straight to be comfortable, but I appreciated her effort. I smiled, enjoying myself more and more. Charlotte was flustered about something, and I liked it.
“Lemon! Here!” she shouted ten seconds later, throwing it into the air.
“I need you to cut that.” I poured the brandy into one of the shakers. They didn’t have any shot glasses, so I did my best to measure two shots. I needed orange liquor, something to balance the flavor of the brandy. “Cura?ao or triple sec… hm.” I stepped closer to Charlotte, grabbing the other two bottles of mystery drink. Taking the lid off the clear one, I sniffed. “Think this smells orangey?”
I held it out for her. She met my gaze, and my stomach tightened from the eye contact. Charlotte had no idea what her large brown eyes did to me.
She broke the trance, closing her eyes and sniffing. “I think it’s citrus enough.”
“Works for me.”
I poured a swig into the cup and then stirred. I licked the stirrer and frowned. Something was off. It was almost great, but why settle for average? Taking another straw, I swirled the cocktail and held it out for Charlotte. “Hm, can you try this for me?”
“My hands are sticky.” She held them in the air as she leaned over and closed her mouth around the stirrer, just an inch from my fingers. Holy shit. That was hot.
“Mm. Hayden, that’s delicious.” Her eyes lit up like I had impressed her.
It had been so long since she looked at me like that… I wanted more of it. “Thank you.”
“I never knew I liked brandy until now. Makes me feel tougher. More boss-like.” She laughed at herself and eyed me with a maniacal glee. “What else do we need?”
Her energy was contagious. My goodness. I couldn’t stop smiling at her.
“Would you be able to grate the lemon? I want to pour it into the glasses and rim it with a sugary lemon mix.”
“Who even are you right now? I’m loving this version of you.” She nudged her hip into mine, like we were the best of pals. Hayden and Charlotte. BFFs. We could wear matching bracelets and everything.
“Because I can make a drink?”
“Yes! And that you care enough about a rim. I don’t know, I don’t hang out with a lot of men who worry about details like that. They’d just drink from a bottle.” She shrugged, a weird tinge coming through her voice. “I’m complimenting you. It’s not my best delivery, but it’s really cool that you pay attention to the little things. To even find someone normal to date, I spend time with guys who forget things like holding doors, or not checking your phone every five seconds. You’re focused on a sugary topping. That’s cool, that’s what I’m saying.”
“Huh.” In my effort to ignore her the last three years, my brain must’ve just shut off at the idea of her being with other guys. Obviously, she dated. She was a fucking knockout. But she must be dating idiots, because who wouldn’t hold the door or put their phone down when they were with her?
She liked that I focused on little things. It made me smile and want to continue it.
I took one of the bottles and crushed the sugar cube into smaller pieces as she grated the lemon onto a napkin. Her compliment warmed me. “Thanks, Charlotte. I know I can get caught up in my head often, so I make sure to pay attention to small things. I even keep notes in my phone—” I shut my mouth fast.
I had almost shared my secret.
“You what?” She faced me. “You keep notes on your phone?”
“Never mind.” My face heated as I picked up her lemon zest. “We need to hurry.”
“Hayden, you adorable man. I have so many questions. I’m not letting this go.” She handed me the third glass as I swiped the lemon around the top of the glass and then dipped it into the sugar mixture for the rim. Most of it stuck, and then I poured the liquor. “I think we need to name this. Might get us some more creativity points.”
“Sexy Santa Sidecar,” I said, without thinking. I met her gaze, and we shared a smile. God, I loved having this moment with her, like we had our own secret inside joke together. I tore off a piece of a napkin and wrote out the drink name.
“Wait!” Charlotte dove into the bag. She pulled out marshmallows and a toothpick. “We need little snowmen in the drinks!”
“Great idea.”
“One minute to bring your drinks to the judges! Once the music ends, you’re done.”
We finished the snowmen and placed them in the drinks. Carrying them, we walked over to the judges and set ours down next to our number without spilling. Done.
Charlotte gripped my arm and jumped up and down as we went back to our station. “This is so fun. I want more. I’m addicted to Christmas and competitions. I acknowledge that I, for sure, have a serious problem, but this is the best date night ever. I don’t want it to end!”
It had to be a slip of her tongue. She didn’t mean date as in the two of us, but I didn’t bother correcting her. I smiled. I sure as hell didn’t want it to end either.