The Accidental Christmas (Wild Rose Point #4)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

He didn’t need this. He definitely didn’t want it.

But he couldn’t deny wanting her. He’d wanted her since she’d first come to the campgrounds almost a year ago.

Peering past the partially lifted curtain on his upstairs window, Hendrix Becker murmured to himself, “Why is she here?”

Here where she could continually tempt him.

“You’d think a grown-ass man could resist one woman.” One soft, sexy, very sweet... mom. “Right, keep reminding yourself that she’s a mother.” Not that her mom-status figured into his fantasies. Or rather, it was there as something to further admire, a great example of her generous, caring heart.

Whenever he spoke with her, which seemed to be nearly every day, her status as a loving mother was as obvious as her beautiful hair and eyes, her smile, her friendly nature.

“Shit.” December was supposed to be his alone time, so he could suffer the holiday season in peace and quiet.

When he’d purchased the Wild Rose Point RV Park nearly two years ago, he’d deliberately planned the closure of the property to avoid all the fuss and fanfare of Christmas, the overbearing cheeriness, and the inevitable desperation shaded by sadness and disappointment.

Last Christmas had worked like a charm. For an entire month, he’d been the only full-time resident.

Ah, the blessed solitude. Just him with his thoughts. His annoying, grinding, caught-on-a-loop thoughts about shit that should have never happened on Christmas. At least no one had been forced to suffer his mood with him.

It should have been the same this year.

After the New Year, he would open again and every spot would quickly fill. Christmas would be forgotten and people would get back to normal. He’d be spared from most – or maybe just a few – of the memories.

Yet there she was, Josephine Collins, sweet Joey, sweeping off the porch of the tiny cabin while her seven-year-old son sat in the dirt, enacting fights among superhero figures.

One of those figures was missing an arm.

Hendrix squinted his eyes and realized one of the figures was actually a Barbie. ..wearing only a top.

Hmm... Even more interesting, Barbie seemed to be kicking the most ass. His mouth quirked – until he caught himself.

Screw it. Stepping away from the curtain, he headed down the stairs and strode to his front door with a long, determined stride. He’d remind her of the rules and put an end to this nonsense right now. If he kept it brief, he might even be able to resist imagining her in her swimsuit.

Or naked.

Or under him.

Josephine could be headstrong and she tried to direct everyone in her orbit. Nicely – which just made it worse. She’d utilize that sweet voice, tip her head a certain way and smile, and people found themselves doing whatever she wanted before they even realized it.

She was a people person and few were immune, including him. On top of wanting her, he liked her. A little too much and that was a problem because he was rarely fit company for nice, ordinary people. His own family could attest to that.

During the holiday? No, definitely not. Better that he spend it alone.

As he opened his door, a gust of wind cut through his long-sleeved T-shirt. The Oregon coastline offered plenty of cold, wet, windy weather in December, but thankfully no snow or near-zero temps. Not like Indiana.

And damn it, that put his thoughts right back to that awful day with pristine snow everywhere, the type of cold that could cut like a knife, and his miserable judgement that had cost lives. For a moment, he squeezed his eyes shut, willing the awful images out of his head.

Of course he had the perfect target, the very best of distractions. He opened his eyes and zeroed in on Josephine. His blood still surged, but now for a different reason. God, she would be the hottest type of distraction.

Her son, Ryder, let out a muffled shout as his play turned rough and Barbie sent superheroes flying. While still pantless.

Mouth quirking in amusement, Hendrix again got on his way. He was vaguely aware of an overcast sky with rain-bloated clouds, but mostly his attention was on Josephine.

Thanks to the wind, blonde, corkscrew curls escaped her loose braid to dance across her face. Still, she made an absurd attempt to sweep the walkway leading to the small – aka miniscule – wooden cabin that she rented.

She hadn’t yet noticed his approach, but Ryder called out in excitement, “Mr. Becker!” The boy launched to his feet and raced forward in his typical greeting that showed a desperate need for masculine attention.

No, that wasn’t fair, really. It was just that, for some reason, Ryder liked him. Hendrix wasn’t able to figure it out.

Skidding to a halt in front of him, Ryder held out the half-naked Barbie and said, “I got a Wonder Woman.”

Well, hell. How was he supposed to reply to that? Surely the kid knew it was a Barbie, especially with her absurdly arched feet and big boobs. Hendrix held back a smile. “Guess that explains why she was beating up everyone else.”

Ryder grinned, showing off an empty space where one of his front teeth should be. Leaning closer, he confided in a rasp, “I gotta find her some pants.”

Not smiling became harder. “Fighting would probably be easier that way.”

Ryder laughed.

Suddenly, Josephine said, “I plan to sew her a pair or two tonight using a shirt that doesn’t fit Ryder anymore.

” Carrying the broom, she stopped beside her son and tunneled the fingers of her free hand through his thick mop of always-disheveled fair hair.

Not quite meeting Hendrix’s gaze, she asked, “How are you, Mr. Becker?”

So now he was Mr. Becker? Something was up, but what?

Tucking his hands into his pockets, Hendrix resisted the urge to clear his throat like an awkward teenager. “If I could have a word?”

For a moment, she visibly faltered, then she met his gaze. “Actually, Ryder and I were just about to eat.”

Bouncing, Ryder reached for his hand and said, “Eat with us, Mr. Becker! Mom makes great peanut butter sandwiches.” Switching his green-eyed gaze to Josephine, he said, “Can he, Mom? Please?”

As if it was only up to her? Hendrix said, “Actually –”

At almost the same time, Josephine blanched and said, “Oh, but –”

“Please?” Tugging on him, Ryder tried to sway them both. “C’mon. It’ll be fun. Please, please, please.”

“That’s enough, Ryder.” Josephine stepped back. “Get your toys together and then go in and wash your hands.”

With a pitifully long face, his skinny shoulders dramatically drooping, Ryder turned away. He dragged his feet as if cement blocks were tied to them.

Hendrix couldn’t take it, damn it. “Fine. I’ll join you – after I’ve spoken with your mother.”

Just like that, Ryder rebounded, jumping into the air with a loud whoop, then racing off before Josephine could chide him.

Scowling at Hendrix, she started to speak, but he beat her to it.

“There’s been a misunderstanding. No one is supposed to be here in December. I assume you plan to be leaving shortly?” There. He’d been quick and to the point, blunt enough that she wouldn’t dare argue.

Chin lifting, she said, “I can’t.”

Slowly, his brows gathered together. “Can’t what?”

“Leave.”

Well, that confounded him. “Josephine...”

“Come off it, Hendrix. You know I go by Joey, and I only call you Mr. Becker when Ryder is listening. It’s not easy to teach manners to a seven-year-old.”

Hendrix ran a hand over his bristly jaw. Since he was kicking her out, it didn’t feel right to be familiar with her now. He didn’t want to be...anything with her, no matter how she tempted him. “Fine. Joey.”

“You barely managed to get those two words out between your teeth. Why are they clenched?”

“What?”

“Your teeth. Why are you grinding them together like that?”

Before he could stop himself, he did a little more grinding.

Joey smiled at him, a mocking smile that sparked unfamiliar feelings, not all of them annoyance. “Relax, Hendrix.”

Oh no, she would not boss him, not even with her pretty smile. “Why is Ryder playing with a half-naked Barbie?” Damn it, that wasn’t at all what he meant to say.

“Because he wanted Wonder Woman and all I could afford was a secondhand Barbie, sans pants. He has an old red T-shirt and I’m going to try my hand at creating a costume. Don’t expect much though. Other than patching a hole, I’ve never shown any seamstress skills.”

He didn’t expect anything, because she shouldn’t be around here sweeping walkways and sewing pants so Barbie wouldn’t have her ass on display.

Yet his thoughts faltered. She’d just said a lot, and his brain snagged back on the beginning. “What do you mean, you couldn’t afford it? How expensive can a Wonder Woman be?”

One narrow shoulder lifted. “It varies from fifteen to fifty, and I don’t have that much to spare.”

Personal, financial problems? He didn’t want to know but now questions pinged around his brain. He liked her, he wanted her, he knew her to be an amazing mom and a nice person, but he shouldn’t involve himself in her personal issues.

“I can tell you’re dying to ask.”

“Not really,” he lied. “I’d prefer to stick to the point.

” With his posture stiff, he struggled to remember the point.

Unfortunately, all his concentration was on keeping his feet planted instead of pacing.

It didn’t help that with her this close, he breathed in the scent of her, all warm and sultry.

This close, he could see the striations in her pretty green eyes. And her lips...

Ever helpful, Joey asked, “The point being that you want me gone?”

Damn it, had he been leaning toward her? Thank God she’d spoken before he did something stupid, like kiss her. “I wouldn’t have said it so rudely, but yes, the park should be empty in December.”

“Except for you?”

“I live here.”

In a rush, she stepped even closer with her hand lifted as if she might touch him.