Bring Me Home for Christmas Read Free

you having a word with Becca, see if you can sort things out enough to have a good week,” Jack said. “You can’t make everyone else miserable just because you have a bug up your ass about a girl. Call a truce or something. Whatever it takes.” And with that, Jack returned to the bar.
    What Denny really wanted to do was take off, out the back door.
    No, not true, he thought. What he’d rather do was walk back into the bar, grab her and kiss the hell out of her. And beat the crap out of anyone who tried to get between him and her.
    But he heard someone say Dream on inside his head. And the voice was hers.
     
    “That went well,” Becca said as soon as Denny stepped through the swinging door into the kitchen with Preacher. Jack quickly served Rich a beer and Becca a glass of wine before following Denny and Preacher.
    Becca took a breath and said to Troy and Dirk, “In case you missed the weird, shocked look on Denny’s face, we used to date.”
    “They know, Becca,” Rich said. “We were all in Iraq together, remember?”
    Troy was still leaning on his hand, elbow on the bar, gazing at her. “Believe me, I wasn’t looking at Denny,” he said.
    “I’m probably the last person he expected to show up….”
    “No,” Rich said, irritably. “Luke Skywalker was the last person. You were second to last.” He hefted his beer and took a long drink.
    “We didn’t part on the best of terms,” she explained. “But that was a while ago and we both told Rich there were no hard feelings.”
    “Because that’s what people say, Becca,” Rich explained impatiently. “I told you we should’ve called him first.”
    “Well, gee, it was last minute. Rich had been talking about this for weeks, I didn’t have anything to do.” She grinned. “I thought maybe some cold drizzle and the acrid smell of gunpowder might shake things up a little, be a nice change.”
    “Just so you know,” Dirk said. “We have a pretty strong rule about another guy’s girl. As in, no touching. Unless we’re given a pass by the guy. You know?”
    “Are you kidding me? Permission?” she asked. “Because that borders on icky.”
    Dirk just shrugged. “That’s how it is with friends.”
    “Well, it’s not an issue. He broke up with me. Over three years ago.” Actually, she could easily figure out the number of days….
    “That’s probably a pass,” Troy said. “Wouldn’t you say, Dirk?”
    “God,” Rich said. “I’m going to need another beer! This is my sister! Even if she is a pain in my—”
    Luke coughed. Colin laughed. “You starting to feel old?” Luke asked his brother.
    “Elderly,” Colin answered. “Much as I’d love to stay and watch this, I think I’d better hit the road. Happy hunting.” He winked.
    “Cabin number four, boys,” Luke said. “It’s unlocked. Jack or Denny will give you directions.”
    “Oh, are you Mr. Riordan?” Becca asked. To his nod, she asked, “Any chance there’s another cabin out at your place that I could rent? Otherwise I have to stay with Rich, and God knows…” She shook her head and shuddered as if in revulsion.
    “You bet,” Luke said. “Try number two—also unlocked.”
    “Cool,” she said.
    “Very cool,” Dirk said. “Thanks, man. See you around.”
    “Yeah, thanks,” Troy said. “Nice meeting you guys. See you later.”
    And then Denny was back. The expression on his face wasn’t much improved. It was starting to irritate her that he couldn’t at least fake being happy to see her. Maybe being finally finished with him would be easier than she’d thought.
    He walked around the bar and stood right in front of Becca. “I need to talk to you for a minute, Becca. All right?”
    That made her a little nervous; it sounded like he might be getting ready to tell her when her bus was leaving for San Diego. She hoped her emotions didn’t show. She tilted her head to one side, smiled into his brown eyes and said, “Sure. Shoot.”
    “Privately.” He