Page 2 of Stuck with Me

I already know my answer. It’s a big fat HELL NO. But I lean my elbows on the table and appease him. “And how do you suppose we do that?”

“We switch off holidays and summers each year. You let me have it for New Year’s this year and you can have it next year. That sorta thing.”

“Absolutely not,” I fire off.

“You’re not even going to think about it?”

“I don’t have to think about it. I use the cabin every New Year’s. It’s tradition.”

“Maybe it’s time you start a new tradition.”

“The hell I do.” I stand abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. The few customers in the café glance my way. I press my palms to the table and lean in closer, fixing to lower my voice. “In case you’ve forgotten, my grandma died. Meaning my normal holiday traditions are already shit. This is one I’m not willing to budge on.”

Nico rises slowly and leans across the table, matching my stance. He narrows his eyes and the shared animosity for one another pulses between us. There’s a defined line in between his brows that’s insanely hot. It distracts me from my indignation. But only for a moment.

“And in caseyou’veforgotten, I just lost my granddad. I’m not about to lose the cabin too.”

“Up until a few weeks ago, you didn’t even fucking know about the cabin,” I holler, straightening and crossing my arms.

His jaw pops.

Take that.

Maybe my raised voice or the curse word has shocked this strait-laced cowboy. Whatever it is, I don’t much care because he better choose his next words carefully.

“I can see we’re not going to come to an agreement.”

I glare at him. “I guess not.”

“So I guess we’ll be spending New Year’s together then.”

“Guess so.” The breath cuts out in my throat as the realization of my response sinks in.Wait, what? No.There’s no way in hell I’m going to spend New Year’s with this guy.

He opens his mouth to speak but must think better of it and shoves his tongue into his cheek. Warmth expands in my core and shit, I’m paying way too close attention to his mouth.

Standing tall, he returns the cowboy hat to his head and clears his throat. “Fine. I’ll see you in a few days, Miss Rosalie Milano.” He tips the brim of his hat.

I hate the way he’s so proper. Calling meMisswhile also using my full name. No one calls me Rosalie.

But I also can’t ignore the dip in my belly at the gruffness and twang in his voice. My dirty imagination runs away from me briefly. If this keeps up, I better plan on packing an entire suitcase of undies to bring with me to the cabin.

Nico takes his time shuffling through the café and I can’t help but admire the way his dark Wranglers hug his ass perfectly.

“You’re not fooling anyone with that mountain wardrobe bullshit you got going on,” I holler, glaring at his back. “Next time, don’t forget to take off the price tags.” I shake my head, and mumble under my breath, “dumbass.”

* * *

Cammie has invitedme to the Martins for Christmas Eve. It’s always a good time. They eat hors d’oeuvres, sing Christmas carols, and decorate cookies. But my favorite thing is harassing Jones about which girl he’ll be bringing with him to the cabin for New Year’s.

Over the years, there’s been a yoga instructor who was completely infatuated with him but dumb as a doorknob, an alligator trainer from Florida who was gorgeous but had a difficult time interacting with people, and a violinist from Italy who couldn’t speak a lick of English. Each of these women made for an interesting week at the cabin.

But my favorite of all of Jones’ women was Mia. She was a year ahead of Cammie and me in school, but we were all inseparable as kids. She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. We all thought she and Jones were going to end up together. The sad thing is, I think he did too.

But after their first year of college, she up and left Maple Ridge without a warning. As far as I know, she hasn’t been back. Not even to visit her parents who still live in a small house off Main Street.

I think she’s the one who broke Jones. He hasn’t had a real relationship since. He’s the biggest playboy in Maple Ridge. It used to be a tie between him and Maverick but since Cammie locked Maverick’s tongue down over a year ago, Jones is the reigning champion.

A fucking pathetic title if you ask me.

---