All The Right Moves by Jannine Gallant

Part Three

As they exited the tunnel and pulled into the overlook, Tyne drew in a sharp breath, awestruck by the incredible vista before them. Snow glazed every inch of Yosemite Valley in crystalline splendor as the last of the daylight glimmered through a temporary break in the clouds to shine on the trees below. From the towering bulk of El Capitan’s sheer face to the shimmering beauty of Bridalveil Falls, she could only stare in wonder.

“That view alone was worth the torturous drive.”

She tore her gaze away from the breathtaking panorama to face Aaron. “And it only took us ten hours to get here.”

“Not what we were expecting, that’s for sure.”

He disengaged the brake, and they wound slowly down into the valley on the slippery road. Every time the tires slid, he gently corrected, maneuvering with precision and confidence. Strangely, Tyne wasn’t the least bit nervous.

“Wow, that was crazy.” He let out a long breath when they reached the bottom of the treacherous descent. “I wasn’t sure we were going to make it.”

“You were nervous?”

“Hell yeah? Weren’t you?”

She frowned. “No, I trust you implicitly.”

“Maybe that’s the problem.”

Tyne stared at his profile in the lengthening shadows, all stark angles and tight lips. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” He slowed a little as they approached a tight curve. “I’m just tense.”

“Pull over. There’s a turnout just ahead.”

He turned to stare. “Why?”

“Just do it.”

He stopped where she directed, parked the SUV, and turned off the engine. “We should be at the hotel shortly, but if you have to go that bad—”

Tyne grinned. “I don’t need to use the bushes. I thought we’d take a walk in the snow. You know, just chill for a bit.”

“We’ll chill, all right. It’s probably twenty degrees out. A far cry from winter temps in L.A.” He opened the door and stepped out. “But, I’m game.”

She reached into the back to grab their coats. After sliding off the seat to land in knee-deep powder, she handed him his down jacket and shrugged on her parka. “I sure hope I remembered to pack gloves.” She blew into her hands. “For now, my pockets will have to suffice.”

He took one of her hands in his warm palm and held it. “I’ll keep one hand warm for you. Let’s walk.”

They plowed through the snow, side-by-side, leaving a ragged trail behind them. When they were both out of breath, they stopped. Above them, fat snowflakes drifted lazily downward as the storm picked up strength again. Tyne dropped into the snow with a whoop and waved her arms and legs.

“You’re going to get soaked.”

“Probably, but I’m an angel.” When he reached down a hand, she grabbed it, then gave a hard tug to pull him to the snow beside her.

The air left him with a whoosh. “That does it.” Rolling over, he pinned her wrists while she squealed in protest, then straddled her. Bending near, he met her gaze. “You, Tyne Darling, are no angel.”

Her light-hearted laughter echoed through the trees. “Maybe not. What are you going to do to me?”

His eyes darkened. “I know what I should do, but instead…” He scooped up a handful of snow and slid it beneath the collar of her jacket into her sweater.

The shock of icy cold, wet snow on her warm skin stole her breath. “Oh, I’ll get you for that.” She jerked down the coat zipper and dug the melting clump out from under the soft knit fabric, but a trickle of ice water soaked into the waistband of her leggings. Her teeth chattered. “You’re mean.”

“Not always a sweet, trustworthy guy? Imagine that?”

Tyne stopped squirming and narrowed her eyes. “Okay, spit it out, Aaron. Something is bugging you.”

With a snort, he climbed to his feet and grabbed her wrist to pull her up. He brushed off the snow stuck to her hair, and his fingers lingered to wipe away a snowflake on her cheek. “Maybe I’m tired of always being the nice guy who finishes last. Did you ever think of that?”

Confusion swirled in her gut, twisting into a knot. His disappointment was clear enough, shadowing his eyes as he looked for something in her he couldn’t seem to find.

“You certainly don’t finish last. You’re so far ahead of the game in every way that matters, I can’t even begin to catch up. You have strength and integrity and kindness going for you.” She smiled, hoping to ease the tension tightening his lips. “And you’re ruggedly handsome to boot. Rarrrr…”

“A hug-worthy Teddy Bear.” He rolled his eyes. “Isn’t that special?”

“Maybe not a ferocious grizzly…”

“You could be wrong about that.” With a swift move, he scooped her off her feet and carried her toward the base of a massive pine tree.

“Aaron, what the heck?” She clung to his neck. “If you drop me—”

“I’m not going to drop you. I’m going to do something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time now. I’m going to take a risk and just go for it.”

She stared into glittering green eyes as his warm breath touched her cheek. Her voice was slightly raspy when she spoke. “Tie me to a tree and leave me as a snack for the bears?”

“Not exactly. Look up.”

Leaning back with her head against his arm, she stared into the branches high overhead.

“See that big dark ball up there.”

She nodded. “Looks like some sort of strange growth.”

“It’s mistletoe, and you know what that means…”

He bent and kissed her…and kept kissing her, his firm lips exploring hers until her head spun and she gasped for breath. Her heart pounded out a frantic rhythm when he finally lifted his face a few inches.

Amazed delight filled her. “Wow, I guess you really do have all the right moves.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Just me, realizing how wrong I was.” She touched his cheek. “Why’d you kiss me?”

“Because I don’t want to finish last. Not ever again.”

She smiled as she gazed into familiar eyes that held so much more than simple friendship. “Do you know what? I think we’re both finally going to be winners. Aaron?”

“Hmm?” He dropped another kiss on her upturned lips before letting her slide down to the ground.

“What took you so long?”

* * * *

I hope you enjoyed All The Right Moves! For information and buy links for my books, check out my WEBSITE. Up next is the incomparable Vonnie Davis. You won't want to miss her story beginning tomorrow. Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

All The Right Moves by Jannine Gallant

Part Two

Tyne settled in the passenger seat of Aaron’s SUV and covered a yawn with her fingers. “Thanks for offering to drive. I’ll admit I’m not at my best this morning. What the heck did they put in that punch?”

“Vodka. Lots of vodka.” He shrugged. “I enjoy driving. Anyway, they’re predicting snow in the high country, so it makes sense to take my car since it has four-wheel-drive.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want to get stuck.” Her headache finally started to abate as the aspirin she’d taken earlier kicked in. Maybe trying to drown her sorrows last night hadn’t been the best idea. Lucky for her, Aaron had been her savior like he always was and had given her a ride home after the party.

He drove easily through the early morning traffic, a half-smile curving his lips as he hummed along to Silent Night playing on the radio. Aaron was always cheerful. A glass half-full kind of guy who tried his best to buck her up when she was down. He was the best friend she had in L.A., and the last thing in the world Tyne wanted was to endanger their relationship. Too bad she hadn’t thought of that before agreeing to this long weekend date. Sharing a room might get a little awkward…not that Aaron would expect anything. They were friends, nothing more.

Why not, Tyne? He’s a good looking guy.

She covertly studied him, noting the bump on his nose—probably broken playing hockey when he was in college—, square jaw and shaggy, dark blond hair. Aaron was ruggedly handsome in a Robert Redford sort of way. But she’d always been more of a Paul Newman kind of woman. Suave and sophisticated made her heart beat faster. A man with all the right moves. That wasn’t Aaron.

Heath Northrup epitomized smooth.

Don’t forget two-timing and arrogant.

If she had half a brain, she’d ditch her usual type and go for a nice guy for a change. Not that Aaron had ever expressed any interest in taking their friendship in that direction. When it came to a life partner, he’d choose a woman who was more like him, smart and dependable and not prone to making bad relationship choices. She let out a sigh.

“You can sleep if you want.”

“No, I’ll keep you company.” Tyne shifted in her seat and wrapped her arms around knees encased in her favorite black leggings patterned with snowflakes. “Why aren’t you going home for Christmas this year?”

“My parents flew to Switzerland. They’ve been wanting to take this trip for years.” He flipped on his blinker to pass a big rig. “And my older brother and his family are spending the holiday with his in-laws.”

“Oh. You were going to be alone?”

Aaron glanced her way and shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“Then I’m glad you agreed to come with me.” Turning to face him, she spent a moment building on her earlier thoughts. “You should be married with children, living in a small town in a house with a white picket fence. You would be if you weren’t so picky about women.”

He glanced over again and regarded her for a moment before returning his attention to the road. “Maybe the right lady hasn’t shown any interest.”

“Then she’s a moron. You’re kind and sweet and genuine.” One shoulder hunched. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I don’t know what I’d do without your friendship.”

His expression was unreadable. “You’re sweet…usually. You don’t want a white picket fence?”

“Sometimes I do. That’s exactly the type of life my sister will have…a marriage with a good and decent man. Kids in a few years. She already has the dog. I’ll admit to being more than a little jealous.”

His moss colored eyes darkened as he kept his attention on the road. “Men line up to date you, Tyne. Literally. Remember when you did that charity auction? The line to bid on a date with you snaked out the door and down the block. If you want a kind and decent guy, surly you could find one to fill the bill.”

“You exaggerate.” She kept her face straight. “The line didn’t even reach the corner.”

He met her gaze then snorted with laughter. “My point is, you date idiots like Northrup, instead. Men who wind up disappointing you.”

“I know.” She let out a soft groan. “I’m attracted to smooth-talking players. I can’t seem to help myself. It’s a sickness.”

He gritted his teeth. “Then someone should come up with a vaccine.”

“Aren’t you hilarious?” She blew out a breath. “If we’re going to listen to Christmas music the whole way to Yosemite, turn up the radio, please. I like this song.” She belted out the chorus to “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” along with The King.

Aaron rolled his eyes. “Of course you do. Elvis Presley was the original slick, bad boy.”

* * * *

The road wound through snow covered Sequoias towering so high they disappeared into the thick layer of clouds overhead. The forest glistened beneath shifting shadows as a gust of wind shook the car. They drove slowly with the snow piling up on the pavement at an alarming rate. Traffic was non-existent. Unlike the freeway, which had turned into a giant parking lot the second it started to rain earlier. Nothing like wet conditions to jam up the heavy holiday traffic. When they finally reached the gated entrance to the park, Tyne had begged and pleaded, then used every ounce of her charm to convince the ranger to let them through before he closed the road behind them.

Aaron peered past the wipers slapping away heavy flakes as the windshield fogged. He switched the heater over to defrost. “Maybe we should have stayed in Wawona until this storm lets up instead of trying to make in down to Yosemite Valley tonight.”

“Except the ranger said the snow isn’t supposed to stop any time soon, and who knows when they’ll get the road plowed and reopened tomorrow. I can’t exactly miss my sister’s rehearsal dinner since I’m maid of honor.” Tyne rubbed her arms despite the warmth in the car. “The prediction was for a little snow. A gross underestimation if ever I’ve heard one.”

“More like a blizzard.” Aaron gripped the steering wheel hard with both hands as the tires slid before grabbing hold again. “We’ll be a whole lot worse off if we land in a ditch, but I imagine the accommodations in Wawona were all booked, anyway. At least we’ll have rooms waiting for us when we get to the valley.”

She turned slowly to face him. “Uh, about that…” She traced the outline of a snowflake on her leggings and cleared her throat.

He glanced in her direction before focusing his attention on the road. “It’ll be nice to kick back and unwind after this white-knuckled drive.”

“Definitely, but we’ll be doing it together.”

“Huh?”

“We’re sharing a room.”

His head snapped around. He took his foot completely off the gas, and the SUV rolled to a stop as their gazes locked. “We are?”

Tyne nodded. “I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly last night. That damn punch…” She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “Anyway, I called my parents this morning to ask them to book another room, but the hotel is maxed out.”

His heart thumped as visions of Tyne wearing something short and red and silky drifted through his mind. He swallowed hard.

“Not that I’m the least bit concerned about it since I know you’ll be a perfect gentleman, but—”

Aaron lost the rest of her sentence as the dream nighty morphed into a long flannel gown that covered every inch of delectable skin from her neck to her toes. He let out a sigh and caught the end of what she was saying.

“—no big deal, right?”

“Sure.” He pressed down on the gas pedal. Apparently, as a roommate, he was as trustworthy and asexual as a monk. The most irritating part of her assumption was that Tyne, of course, was correct. They both knew he’d suck it up and be her good buddy—just like he always did.

* * * *

Stop by tomorrow for Part Three of All The Right Moves! For information and buy links for my books, check out my WEBSITE.

All The Right Moves by Jannine Gallant

Part One

This was the absolute last time she kissed anyone under the mistletoe. At least it would be if Aaron Knight had any say in the matter—which he didn’t.

Standing alone near the buffet table on the other side of the conference room, he took a gulp of his drink. His eyes watered from the alcohol laced punch. Unless, of course, Tyne Darling chose to kiss him under the sprig of holiday greenery. Hell, a kiss from Tyne wouldn’t just make his night. It would make his whole damn year.

Aaron narrowed his gaze on the lip lock still underway near the Christmas tree in one corner of the room. For tonight anyway, the place was decked out in enough holiday cheer to make him see red…and green. That idiot Northrup from accounting had Tyne bent backward over one arm like some silver screen movie idol from the Golden Age. Typical of a man who considered himself God’s gift to women.

As the kiss ended and his two co-workers headed toward a small table by the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Los Angeles skyline, Aaron set his drink down with a thump that sloshed its contents onto the white tablecloth. After finally completing the ad campaign for a romantic comedy scheduled to release early in the New Year, he had Hollywood on the brain. The project had been a rush job that kept him and Tyne working until well after midnight most nights for the past week. He’d hoped the long hours spent alone together would change the way she looked at him. Apparently that hadn’t happened.

A sigh slipped out as he swirled the ice cubes in what was left of his drink. Kissing him under the mistletoe wasn’t something the woman he was crazy in love with would even consider. After all, he was her buddy, her pal, the one she came to with her man-problems. His fault entirely for falling into the role of best friend instead of romantic lead. If he wanted to change her perception of him, drastic measures would be necessary.

“What’s with the intense look, Knight? This is supposed to be a party.”

Aaron glanced over at the CEO of Gentry Advertising who ladled cranberry punch into his cup then took a swallow. The holiday libation resembled the Kool-Aid Aaron had drunk as a kid but tasted like someone had spiked it with a gallon of vodka.

“It’s pretty potent. I wonder who’ll be the first to lose all their inhibitions after drinking that stuff.”

 Steven Gentry flashed a toothy smile. “Let’s hope it’s Darling. The woman is smokin’ hot wearing that little red number.” He gave her curvy figure a slow up and down perusal as Tyne pushed back her chair and stood. “Hey, she even matches the punch.”

Aaron couldn’t argue with the sentiment, but he clenched his fist at the leer accompanying his boss’s words. “Tyne is always in control. She stayed cool even with those producers breathing down our necks all week.”

“And your Christmas bonuses will reflect the superb job you did getting that package together in record time.” He slapped Aaron on the back. “Your work is appreciated.”

His scowl deepened as Steven walked away. Tyne also appreciated his work ethic and talent. Not to mention his sense of humor and ability to listen. For all the good that did him…

The object of his intense scrutiny spun on one high black heel. A sleek fall of dark hair swung around her shoulders as she scanned the room. When her gaze met his, relief filled her big blue eyes. She skirted groups of chatting coworkers to head straight to his side.

He raised one brow as he took a sip of his drink. “Problem?”

“Why do I suck so much at choosing men to date?”

“I don’t know.” His lip curled as he set down his glass. “Couldn’t be because you go for glitz over substance, could it?”

A sigh was her only response.

He opened his mouth then shut it. The tears she blinked away melted any urge to say I told you so. “What did that idiot Northrup do now?”

“He’s not an…oh, who am I kidding? Heath is definitely an idiot. A complete ass.” She gritted even white teeth. “He baled on going to Yosemite with me for Christmas. At the last stinking minute, no less.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, which drew his attention straight to her breasts pressing against the scoop neck of the red dress. With an effort, he dragged his gaze upward. “That’s such a bad thing?”

“It pretty much sucks.” She touched the punch stain on the tablecloth next to a platter of shrimp and frowned. “My sister—make that my little sister—is getting married in the little chapel in Yosemite Valley over the holiday. Can you imagine anything more romantic?”

“Uh, am I supposed to answer that?”

Tyne rolled her eyes. “Anyway, now I don’t even have a date for the wedding.”

“Did Northrup break the news before or after mauling you under the mistletoe?”

She grimaced. “After. Definitely after, or I probably would have bit him. Damn, I should have known something was up yesterday when he hedged about what time he wanted to leave tomorrow morning.”

Aaron slid an arm around her to guide her away from the buffet table as several members of the management team approached. “Did he at least give you a reason for backing out?”

“Apparently he’s decided to go home to San Diego for Christmas, something about an old friend being in town.” Her scowl grew. “I got the distinct feeling this old friend is female.”

“I hope you told him to drop dead.”

Her breasts rose on another deep breath. “Yep, I made it crystal clear we were over. Done. Kaput. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out finished.”

Aaron could hardly believe his good fortune. Tyne was never single. She was so freaking gorgeous, men would swarm the second news spread she’d ditched Northrup. If he ever planned to make a move, now was the time. Except he sucked at making moves. Still, he had to try.

“If you want a date for your sister’s wedding, I’ll go with you. Yosemite during the winter must be spectacular.”

“We’re staying at the Ahwahnee…or whatever it is they’re calling it now. The Grand something. At any rate, the hotel is breathtaking, all decorated for Christmas.” She stared up at him with wide eyes. “You’d do that for me?”

“Sure. I’ve got nothing special going on. I’m not flying back to New England, so if you want—”

She grabbed him and planted a great big kiss…right on his cheek.

Typical.

“You’re the best. What did I ever do to deserve a friend like you?”

He gave her a long, slow perusal. “Maybe we’ll find out this weekend.”

* * * *

Stop by tomorrow for Part Two of All The Right Moves! For information and buy links for my books, check out my WEBSITE. And for those of you curious about how my photo shoot went, the finished product is below. Not too bad, despite the wind off the lake blowing my hair all over the place. It took about 50 shots to get a decent one, and I don't plan to update it ever!