Current Day

Beads of sweat roll down the side of my face as the frigid weather stings my cheeks. How is that even possible? I wrap my arms tighter around the branches and tug upward, giving it my all. It barely lifts off the ground. “You will comply, you piece of Christmas crap.”

“Whoa, Cupcake. What on earth are you doing?”

At the sound of that voice, I stop trying to lift the bundled tree—emphasis on the word trying—and a branch springs loose from the twine and slaps me across the face. I flinch from the sudden sting, but I don’t know what makes me angrier: the fact I’m too short to manhandle this tree or the last man I want to see me in this predicament now stands behind me—laughing.

Asshole.

I turn around and narrow my eyes. My cheek burns, but I don’t dare rub it. I don’t want to appear weak in front of him, but I’m afraid if I let go I won’t be able to hang on. This tree is freakishly heavy.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m buying a Christmas tree.”

His laughter dies, and his eyes widen as his gaze lands on my now numb cheek.

“It looks like you went to battle with a tree, and the tree’s winning. Are you okay?” He gestures to my face.

“I’m fine.” I wave off his concern despite wanting to grab a handful of snow and turn it into a makeshift ice pack. Dang, that hurts.

“Where’s their help?” He glances toward the wooden shack by the entrance. A bright green sign reads “All Xmas Trees $50.”

“They were short staffed due to the sale, so I told them I could handle it.”

We both turn to look at my car and then back at the tree.

“How did you expect to get it home? I think the tree’s bigger than the car.”

“What are you doing here anyway?” I scoff, not wanting to admit he’s right.

“It’s a tree farm. I’m getting a tree.”

His matter-of-fact tone grates on my last nerve, but I am a little shocked he’s buying a tree. Somehow, I don’t see this burly man decorating for the holidays.

“This is the place to get one. They have quite a few to choose from.” I inhale deeply. “I suppose I better get going.”

“Here, let me help.” AJ lifts the tree up, as if the trunk is nothing more than a popsicle, and drapes it across the roof of my car. The length hangs over both panes of glass. Crap, I won’t be able to see forward nor behind me.

I throw a desperate look toward him. He presses his lips together, and I can tell he’s trying hard not to laugh, again.

“Uh”—he scratches the back of his head and squints at the car—“you want me to lift the car up and place it in the back of my bed?”

That earns him a glare, but I must admit he refrains from laughing.

“Are you in a hurry?”

“No.”

“Why don’t you help me pick out a tree, since you seem to be an expert, and I’ll haul yours home for you.”

I bite my lip and study the monstrosity engulfing my car. The help would be nice, especially when I go to drag it up three flights of stairs. I really didn’t think this purchase through.

“Deal.”

“What?” He mocks surprise. “You’re not going to give me shit?”

I punch his arm. “You want to help or not?”

His chuckle glides over my skin and settles in places it has no business being. This guy is definitely dangerous to my willpower.

“Settle down half-pint. I’ll place this on my bed, then we’ll go find me one of these things.”

Once he secures the tree in his trunk, he turns back to me. His gaze roams down my coat and lands on my stiletto knee boots. His eyebrows disappear behind his stocking cap.

“High heels at a tree farm? Mmm, sexy.”

I roll my eyes. “What are you, seventeen?”

He laughs. “At seventeen or twenty-nine, high heels will always be sexy, Cupcake.”

“Just get going.”

He laughs as we make our way toward the aisles.

“What kind of tree are you looking for?”

He glances down at me with a questionable look. “One with pine needles?”

“They all have needles.” The smell of pine surrounds us as we enter a row, and I breathe in the scent. “I mean, do you want a short, fat one or a tall, skinny one.”

“I’m partial to shorties.”

My gaze flicks to his. The corners of his mouth rise to a dirty grin, but the intensity behind those dark brown eyes screams he’s every bit serious. My breath catches in my throat, rendering me speechless. I’m not much of a flirt. Never mastered the skill. So, I don’t know whether he’s serious or just kidding. Luckily, he speaks before I make a bigger fool of myself.

“I don’t have any decorations, so I need a tree that will look good on its own.”

“You sound like me. I don’t have any either.”

“You don’t?”

“No, just a few strands of Christmas lights. I’m not a huge fan of Christmas anymore, since the fire destroyed everything, including the tree ornaments. I never had the heart to replace them.”

“Fire?”

“Yeah, it happened shortly after my sister died. Right around Christmas.” Tears spring to my eyes, and I blink them away. No matter how much time passes, losing family members is the hardest thing I’ve endured. But the fire took so much more and proved pain comes in many forms, including being humiliated by the campus super jock. That recalled memory is the dose of reality I need to remind myself why I hate the man beside me.

“I had no idea you and Drake lost a sister. I’m sorry.”

“She died of cancer. When it looked like you were on track to win back-to-back World Series titles, I thought of the calendar shoot.” Nothing erases the hurt of losing her, but picturing AJ in those ridiculous tights does brighten me up.

“That’s nice you did that.”

We continue walking down the aisle, and we both grow quiet. AJ points to a tall, but scrawny, tree.

“How about this one?”

“Hmm, I don’t think you can handle that one. You need one with a little more meat.”

“You keep talking dirty to me, and I may have to show you more meat.”

I shake my head. “Get serious.”

“I am.”

My stupid heart doesn’t know what to do. It skips a beat and then beats wildly. It’s a good thing my brain still works. I ignore his jibe and step toward another tree. One that isn’t too tall or too wide. The branches are full and evenly spaced. A perfect one.

“This one,” I say. “It fits you.”

He comes up behind me, and although he’s not touching me, I feel him everywhere: my skin, my hair, my core. I close my eyes for a moment and mentally curse as the emotions work through my system. It’s official. My body has betrayed me. If it weren’t for my brain working overtime, I’d lean back just a fraction and melt into his embrace. I haven’t forgotten how good it felt to have those beefy arms hold me as my world fell apart. Little did I know that was just the beginning of many long painful nights.

“That will work.” His voice comes out gravelly beside my ear, and I wrap my arms around myself to keep from touching him.

I nod and eye the tree once more. “Good, we need to get going.”

And I need to get away from you.

After AJ pays and places his finding in the bed of his truck, he follows me to my apartment. Alone in my car, I can breathe once again, and my senses slowly come back to me. AJ’s a player. A man who already hurt me. And now he’s following me to my apartment? I’m not sure how this happened, but allowing him into my personal space is a bad idea.