Chapter 3
Marci
It's Christmas Eve, and the weather forecast is dire. I've managed to drive myself to the Snowcap Inn on the treacherous roads of downtown Hope Peak. I'm freezing to death in this skimpy outfit, but there's no going back.
I made my decision to seduce Jacob Barnes, and now I'm going through with it. It all starts with a surprise that I'm setting up at his suite in the Inn. I asked around, and he's lived here for years.
I don't know why he hasn't gone down the traditional path of all mountain men and built his own cabin.
I've seen him do carpentry for folks around town, and he's overall very handy.
A hand-built cabin isn't too far or a reach for a gruff man like him.
Yeah, he's rough around the edges, and that's one of the things I like about him.
As I pull my bag out of the trunk, I look around to see if anyone is paying attention to me. This side of the Inn is not as full as the ones with the lake view. I tiptoe towards Jacob's room like a cartoon burglar and place my overnight bag on the floor.
I check again to see that the coast is clear and take out my lock-picking gear. These locks are old and are easy to open. My grandfather taught me how to pick a lock when I was seven. He spent a lot of time babysitting me back then and thought I needed some real-world skills.
Yes, my grandfather used to be a thief and a con artist, but I loved him with all my heart, and that's all that matters. Today, I'm reaping the benefits of my early education. I grab my bag and enter the suite as fast as possible.
I set my things near the little living room and scope out the place. I bring my bag with me and start putting small candles all over the dining and coffee tables. I have some sexy things to eat off each other's bodies and place them on that same dining table.
There are so many things in this bag that it surprises even me that I could carry it. I throw down some rose petals, which cost me quite a bit to ship here, and make a pathway from the front door toward the bedroom.
I take off my coat and place it over the back of the suite's sofa bed. I check my makeup in the mirror and give my reflection a double thumbs up. My stomach fills with butterflies as I lie down on Jacob's bed. I practice several poses, but nothing feels right.
As I look out the bedroom window, I realize the snow seems to be coming down hard now. I send up a prayer that Jacob arrives soon. If we're going to be snowed in, I want us to be together in this warm, beautiful suite.
I try to send my friend Sasha a message, but the reception is really bad right now.
My nerves are getting the best of me, and I wonder if I should take a sip of the cider I brought for us. I decide to drink some of it as liquid courage.
Cider seems safe enough to drink, right? I've never been a drinker, but I wanted something bubbly to celebrate that was affordable. I've already invested quite a bit in the sexy clothes, the candles, and everything else.
Three glasses later, and an hour has passed. It's approaching ten o’clock, and Jacob isn't here yet. I'm really sleepy, so I snuggle under the red throw I brought for the bed. I make sure I don't disturb the rose petals scattered on the bed, and I close my eyes for just a few minutes.
The warmest lips wake me up. This kiss has an urgency, and I give myself completely to it. As I open my mouth to receive an exploring tongue, I start making whimpering noises. That's when I'm dropped back onto the bed, and my lips are cold again.
I open my eyes and see Jacob standing over me, and I smile at him. I reach for him, but he steps back as if I'm someone dangerous.
"What are you doing here, Marci?"
"Surprise," I say. My voice slurs from the cider.
I start removing the throw from my lower body, and Jacob puts his hands on top of mine to stop me.
"Don't. You need some clothes."
I sit up in bed and try to grab him again, failing.
"These are my clothes. Let me show them to you. I know you'll like them."
"Oh my God, you stink of alcohol."
He picks up the bottle on the nightstand and sees that it's almost empty.
"Did you start the party before I got here? What is all this, Marci?"
"Liquid courage." I try to take the bottle from him, but he just moves it out of my reach.
"You need to get dressed and leave my room right now."
I'm pretty sure I only had three glasses of cider. How can I be this drunk? And I had a plan, and he's ruining it!
"Don't you want to open your surprise?"
Damn it, my words are still slurred. He's never going to take me seriously if he thinks I'm drunk. Yeah, I'm drunk. My plan is ruined, and I'm humiliated. His face tells me he's definitely not interested, and why would he be with me in this state?
"Marci, sit back down. Give me a minute."
I plop back onto the comfy bed and close my eyes again. This has turned into a nightmare. I need to sober up and leave. I open my eyes suddenly, remembering the snowstorm outside. I search the window, and see the snow is coming down heavily.
I'm not going to be able to leave. Wasn't this what I wanted, though? To be snowed in with Jacob?
He comes back with a mug of something for me. I'm guessing it's coffee. I think he wants to sober me up as well.
He hands me the mug, and I hold it close to me. I take a sip and am glad he put some sugar in it. I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but when I do indulge, I make sure it's very sweet.
"Things are crazy outside,” he says. “I'm going to go to the front desk and see if they have any rooms available for you."
"You don't need to do that. I can sleep on the couch."
I grab one of the pillows from his bed and my throw blanket and get up. I'm a little dizzy, but it soon passes, so I walk past him and go to the couch. I make myself comfortable there and look up at his surprised face.
"What?"
"You can't stay here."
"Why not?"
"You can't stay here."
"Again, why not?"
"People will talk. You know how town gossip spreads. Your reputation will be ruined."
"Don't you mean your reputation?"
"I don't care what people think of me, Marci."
"Then neither do I."
"You have your whole life ahead of you."
He comes forward and offers me the coffee I'd abandoned in the bedroom. I accept the mug and take another sip.
"Fine, go see if there's anything available. Just so you know, you ruined everything."
He doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying. It's better this way because I don't understand half of what I'm saying right now. I decide I need to sober up as soon as possible, so I take more sips of the dark liquid in the mug.
I watch him walk to the back of the suite, where a door leads out to other areas of the Inn. This place is cozy, but I'm not looking forward to spending Christmas Eve alone. I had hoped to gift my virginity to this gruff man, but things are not looking good for me.
There must be some way I can change the direction of what's happening tonight, but I'm at a loss as to what it could be. When Jacob finally returns, it's with a frown on his face.
"Bad news?" I ask.
"There are no more rooms available."
"I'll sleep here on the couch, no problem."
"That's not my main concern."
"Then what is?"
"What the hell are you doing here dressed like my wife?"
I open my eyes wide and finally realize he's dressed as Santa Claus. I match him with my costume as Mrs. Claus—a sexy one at that. I think I'm in over my head.
No, I know I'm definitely in over my head.