Just In Time for Christmas Read online

  Although there hadn’t been any real sparks at dinner, they were just getting to know each other and the night was young. After a lovely dinner, John had asked Miranda if she wanted to take a walk on the docks the restaurant overlooked.

  When she’d stood to leave, she’d noticed Logan coming into the restaurant with a friend. Miranda had rushed past him, but then suddenly remembered she’d forgotten her wrap. When she’d turned around to retrieve it, she’d run smack into a wall of hard muscle. Logan. Adrenaline shot through her and her heart beat faster than it had at any point during the evening.

  *

  “I’m sorry,” she said. He’d been smiling down at her, holding her in place. Until she came to her senses. “Excuse me.” She’d tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her.

  “No problem,” he said leaning in close enough to whisper. “But I believe you owe me a kiss.”

  “What?” she’d hissed. “I do not owe you anything, Logan, not to mention that I’m on a date.”

  Logan had glanced at the door where John looked extremely curious as to what was going on. “He looks like a nice guy, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

  “You’re nuts,” she’d snapped. But maybe she was nuts because her body was humming with anticipation, and it wasn’t for John.

  “And you’re standing under the mistletoe.” He pointed to the perfect green ball hanging above them. “It’s tradition.”

  “Good. Night. Logan.” When he let her go, she’d thrown on her wrap and rejoined her date, but she’d felt the loss of the connection long after she pulled away from Logan.

  And now he was here at her committee meeting, trying to upend things in the ninth hour. Usual sexy smirk. A big fat donation with strings attached. What did that mean? That he was definitely nuts? They were oil and water. This would never work.

  “Miranda.” He extended his hand. “Always a pleasure.”

  She sat in the only available seat beside him, determined to get down to business. When she gave his hand a firm shake, her heat fluttered.

  Damn heart.

  Chapter Two

  ‡

  Logan was playing with fire, he knew that, but oh, how feisty and gorgeous Miranda Hamilton was, right down to the soles of her very high heels. Which explained why he’d ponied up five grand for the privilege of getting under her very sensuous skin and would have paid more, a lot more, if he’d had to.

  Most of the time, he made a concerted effort not to notice her, but that was next to impossible. Magnolia Bay was a small town, and she? Well, she had all but fallen into his arms Saturday night, and he liked that. Besides Miranda was all sweet Southern sugar and hot Lowcountry spice. Why would he want to avoid that? He knew one reason for sure, but it was mainly due to the fact that they’d been verbally sparring since they’d learned to speak.

  One thing he was sure of, she did things to him and had for most of his thirty-three years. But something happened when he saw her with that guy, and he got this crazy idea that it would be fun to pursue her.

  It was a well-known fact that more than anything, Miranda Hamilton loved Christmas, which explained why he was working on this committee in the first place. Something he’d never done. Admittedly, bringing Pammy on board was a bad idea, but that was more the mayor’s suggestion. He couldn’t say much since he was partnering with Pammy on a handful of big real estate deals, and she’d volunteered her services just like he had.

  Pammy had sauntered over to the bar when he was talking to the mayor at Crusoe’s Saturday night and had offered to help on the committee. Not to mention she all but propositioned him in front of the mayor. But if Pammy pulled anything like that now, as competitive as Miranda was, that might work to his advantage.

  “Let’s get down to business, shall we?” Miranda drawled. “First item on the agenda, music for the cotillion. The band is still a problem since Fat Cats canceled on us in the ninth hour.”

  Logan pulled a signed contract out of his folder and slid it across the table. “Problem solved,” he said.

  “Oh, Logan, I knew you would be the perfect addition to this committee,” the mayor gushed. “I could tell you were a little reticent, Miranda, when I told you Logan had joined our efforts, but just look at him, already saving the day.”

  For a split second, Miranda looked like the Mayor had slapped her across the face, but her look dissolved into a thin smile. “Well, look at you, Logan. Saving the day. How nice. But this is a committee. We propose things, then we vote on them.” She put the document on top of his file folder without even looking at it.

  “When the mayor told me this was a problem, I called a booking agent friend of mine. Since it was such a dire emergency, the mayor said to sign the best band available, so I did. No more problem.” He slid the contract back to her and then leaned back in his chair. Check mate.

  “Bootie Call?” She actually blushed, and the fire in her eyes was so very sexy. “You want a band named Bootie Call to play at the Magnolia Bay cotillion? An event that’s been a tradition for over a hundred years?” Her voice was tight, as she glared at him like he was out of his ever loving mind, and he must be to rile her like this.

  This was more fun than he’d imagined, but it was probably just the thrill of the chase. What would he do with her if he caught her? He had no idea. Well, that wasn’t true, he could think of a million things he’d like to do with Miranda Hamilton and most of them were clothing optional.

  “The band tours but is based in Charleston. They’re usually booked months in advance, but the drummer’s wife is pregnant and got put on bed rest. Has a late December due date, so they canceled the rest of their gigs this year, and we have them now,” Logan said.

  “We?” Here it comes. She’s taking the gloves off. “Logan—” she bit out.

  “Before you get all high handed and high maintenance,” Pammy snapped. “Have you looked at ticket sales today?”

  “I’ve been busy. Decorating the cottage.” Miranda started to pull her iPad out of her bag, but Pammy beat her to it, sliding her smartphone across the table.

  “After Logan tweeted about the new band, sales shot up twenty percent over last year,” Pammy said, pointing to the graph on her phone. “If this keeps up, we’ll need a bigger venue.”

  “Bigger venue?” Miranda gasped. Of course, she’d wanted the event to be bigger and better. But courtesy of Logan Mauldin? And what would Daisy and Camellia say? They were already miffed about the event being open to folks other than Magnolia Bay residents. “But the dance has always been held at City Gardens. It’s tradition.”

  “But if we outgrow the gardens, it would be easy move it to the Marina,” Logan said. “I got the go-ahead from my brother Dane. He thinks it would be good business. Good for the town.” Okay she didn’t look feisty anymore, just dazed and beautiful. Was she worried about the money? “I know a guy with a party rental company. He’s doing an event for my company at Davis Island Country Club and wants the business again next year. If we have to move the cotillion, I should be able to get you a bigger tent from him for the same money.”

  Now there was something he’d never seen in his lifetime and might never see again. Miranda Hamilton. Speechless. For about ten seconds.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, and Logan, I’d like a word with my co-chair. We’ll just be a moment.”

  “Hope so, I have two employees out with the flu,” Fran Cooley, owner of Christmas Present, said. “Have to open the shop myself this morning.”

  “Oh, I assure you, this won’t take long.” She glared at Logan, then led him out the door and into the hallway.

  He closed the door quietly behind them. Just a hair under six feet three inches, he towered over her, but she wasn’t intimidated in the least. Until he got into her space.

  She took a step back, bumping into the wall of the narrow hallway of the historic city building, then squared her shoulders and glared. He knew what was next. She would come at him with everything she had.

  “What
in the hell are you trying to do in there?” she whispered.

  He took a step forward, almost touching her. He thought he saw her tremble, but he wasn’t sure. He was too busy enjoying their proximity and the show that was one hundred percent Magnolia Bay belle, Miranda Hamilton. “I’m helping out. Solving problems. Doing good deeds. For Christmas.”

  “Christmas my ass,” she bit out. “You’ve never been on a committee in your life. And now you want to help with this one?”

  “Co-chair,” he smiled, itching to touch a wisp of perfectly coiffed hair that was hovering just above her gorgeous blue eyes.

  “I could see you being on the committee to wrangle women or to chap my ass—”

  His face broke into a grin.

  “Don’t you dare make a smart-alek comment about my—Don’t you dare.”

  He moved in so close, she had to look up to glare at him. He was well acquainted with her perfect ass that was pressed up against the wall. Lucky wall.

  “This is important to me, Logan.” Still hissing so that the folks in the conference room couldn’t hear. But, knowing Magnolia Bay, they probably had water glasses pressed against the door, listening. “You’re going to ruin this.”

  No, but he wanted to ruin her for all men. Scratch that. Until now, he didn’t realize just how much he wanted to keep her for himself.

  It didn’t take much of an invitation. After all, he was playing with fire. And with Miranda, it could go either way, but when her gaze went to his lips, he slanted his mouth over hers.

  With her hands on his chest, sandwiched between them, she pushed him away, but only for a second. He took that as permission to deepen the kiss and was rewarded with her hands snaking up his chest until her fingers were in his hair. When she moaned into his mouth, he lost his mind.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” She pulled away, like the current that had brought them together had suddenly short-circuited.

  “Collecting. You owed me a kiss.”

  “You can’t just kiss someone at City Hall,” she said.

  “People do it all the time,” he smirked, “Besides, if you don’t want to be kissed, you really should be more careful about where you stand.”

  She caught sight of the mistletoe above them and growled. “This will never happen again.” She looked around to make sure no one had seen them and dabbed at her lips like she was trying to wipe the kiss away. Then, with one honest look, she slayed him.

  “Please, Logan. You know what this means to me.” And, for a moment he thought she was talking about more than the Holiday festival.

  “Why are you doing this?” she whispered.

  “Just being a good citizen,” he said, and then he did push that blond silk into place. His fingers lingered until she swatted them away. Yeah, he was doing something good for his town, donating to charity. At Christmastime, no less. But after that kiss, after that look, the game had definitely changed.

  *

  Miranda smoothed her hair and ran her finger around the outline of her lips, praying to God her lipstick wasn’t smudged. That’s all she needed, Pammy Anderson smirking or making a smart remark that would have the whole committee laughing and set every tongue in Magnolia Bay wagging. Not to mention Daisy and Camellia would never let her work on the Holiday Festival again; they might even bar her from attending.

  “Sorry,” Miranda said, retaking her place at the head of the table. Logan sat down beside her and whether intentionally or unintentionally, his leg pressed against hers under the table. She pushed back just enough to break the connection, and he smiled at her with perfect crinkles around green eyes that were always full of mischief. But she’d seen more in those gorgeous eyes a few minutes ago, and had no idea what to do with that.

  “While I am not in the least bit happy about having—” Miranda paused. Good God, was this really happening? Daisy and Camellia will be mortified and there won’t be a chance in hell of her keeping this job. But her back was to the wall, as figuratively as it was literally a few moments ago.

  “Bootie Call,” Logan finished her sentence with a crooked grin, rolling his chair a little closer to the table, his pant leg brushing against her leg again.

  “Yes. That,” she continued, “let’s get on to the next order of business.”

  “With so much on your plate, Miranda, and Ivy Cottage booked until Valentines Day,” the mayor began. “I think it would be a good idea for you to delegate more of your responsibilities. After all, there are six able bodies on this committee. Seven now that Pammy has so graciously offered to join us, and she has a fabulous idea to raise a ton of money for your mother’s foundation.”

  Could Miranda do that? Give up more responsibility? Everyone in the room had resources and contacts and experience with this kind of thing. Except Logan. He had the resources and contacts all right, but he was lacking in the experience department. Well, that kind experience. Sure, he knew what he was doing when he kissed the stuffing out of her a few minutes ago. Just the thought of him pressed against her, their tongues tangling was enough to send her heart racing.

  Enough. She needed to keep her mind on the business at hand, which was making the Holiday Festival a huge success and raising a ton of money for the foundation named for her mother.

  “Of course, Mayor Delaney. We need all the help we can get and are happy to have Pammy on board.” There. That sounded convincing. Logan’s eyebrows were raised, damn smirk. What about you, buster? Not. Going. There. “Although, I do feel we have enough things in play at this time. I’m thinking Pammy could take over the vendor table rentals for the Christmas tree lighting. That would be a huge help.”

  “But don’t you want to hear my ideas for the festival?” Pammy said in a sweet but slightly irritated voice.

  “Yes. Of course. I’m just saying with the event a few weeks away, I’m not sure we need to add anything to the pot,” Miranda said evenly but was met with a sneer.

  “Granted what I’m proposing has been done before, not in Magnolia Bay. But it’s easy and will run itself. There are no hard costs involved, everything is pure profit. And knowing just how great this idea is, I asked my brother, who as you all know is a techno-wizard to design a website with a fabulous app for mobile devices. It can go live as soon as the committee says yes.”

  “Oh, this sounds good,” Jamie Saunders said. “Since the pony farm in Awendaw went out of business and we won’t be selling pony rides this year, we could replace that profit center with something better.”

  “That doesn’t smell,” said Mr. George, owner of Hawk House, a stodgy old competitor of Ivy Cottage. “Anything’s better than those ponies being led up and down Spencer Road, craping every three feet.”

  With the social media campaign Miranda put into place weeks ago, everything was lining up to be bigger and better than years passed. And more money with no effort? Definitely a plus. Would it really hurt to add one more thing?

  “Oh, all right,” Miranda said. “Let’s hear your idea.”

  “I want to launch the first, and, hopefully, annual, Magnolia Bay bachelor auction,” Pammy gushed.

  “I love it!” Janet sang, looking at Logan and licking her cute librarian lips. “I think it’s wonderful to do something different for a change.”

  Miranda stiffened, then felt her eyes sting. The idea of a bachelor auction wasn’t new to Magnolia Bay, but it was never held at Christmastime. It was always held on the first day of spring. Her mother, who was in high school at the time, had bid twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents on Miranda’s dad. She had to borrow fifteen more dollars to bid on a date with Jack Hamilton, and she still ended up losing to Emma’s mom. But Mama had gotten her man in the end, and they were married thirty years before he passed.

  “I don’t know. Do we really want to do that?” Logan asked, threading his fingers together and resting them behind his head.

  Before Miranda could answer, Pammy butted in. “Yes. We do. You and your brothers alone will bring in a fortune.”
/>   “Trent’s getting married,” Logan protested. “And—”

  “But you’re single,” Jamie purred. “And I can think of at least three dozen hot Magnolia Bay guys who would rake in a ton of cash that weekend.”

  “I think what Logan means,” Miranda began. He raised his eyebrows, maybe a little shocked that she was coming to his rescue. “Is that there may not be enough interest from said hot guys to participate.” He smiled his know-it-all smile at her. “And,” she continued. “I doubt there’d be much interest from the ladies.” Oh really? his damned eyebrows said. “Really,” she said firmly.

  “You’re wrong.” Pammy was glowing as she opened her laptop and pressed a button. The screen illuminated with a Pinterest page of Magnolia Bay’s hotties, most of them shirtless and in board shorts. Logan was on the cover pic, hard and muscled and on his boat. The pic was close enough to see the delicious stubble that she hadn’t felt when he’d kissed her, and she got a little chill wondering what that stubble might feel like against her cheek. And other places, her girl parts suggested happily.

  “I started this Pinterest page Saturday night after I spoke with the mayor,” Pammy said. “Already we have sixteen hundred followers. I’ve gotten tons of messages, some as far away as Montana, from women asking about the auction. This could be big. Really big.”

  “Hey, you have to have someone’s permission to use their picture like that,” Logan countered.

  “Check ’em out, Mauldin, I’ve got signed releases from thirty-two sons of the bay, including your single brothers. And here’s one for you to sign.” She pulled a paper out of the stack and handed it to him.

  He looked at the thumbnail picture of himself looking all gorgeous and hot and rolled his eyes.

  “I take that back,” Pammy said, “there’s one less. Sawyer Carrigan’s mom signed him up, and Stacia threatened him with his life.”