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Kali resides with her own Prince Charming/partner-in-crime/husband of more than a decade and the dreams that are too big to stay within her wild imagination.
Deck…the Balls
DL Gallie
Synopsis - Deck…the Balls
INGREDIENTS
One sassy woman—Reese Turner
One stubborn man—Jesse Thornton
A Christmas baking competition
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METHOD
1. Throw woman and man together
2. Combine with teasing and taunting
3. Simmer with sexual chemistry
4. Add alcohol to loosen the lips
5. Mix and see what happens
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It’s going to be a nutty Christmas
copyright @ 2020 by DL Gallie
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission except in the case of brief quotations included in critical articles and reviews.
For information, please contact the author.
This a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
1
Reese
“And the winner is… Jesse Thornton,” Mrs. Stefanie Arnold, the fair baking superintendent announces.
My mouth drops open, I was beaten by him, really? I’m not upset I lost, I’m pissed off I lost to him. He’s such a jackass. First he takes the job that was meant to be mine and now, he takes first place at the county fair. My brownies are so much better than his snicker-fucking-doodles; it’s not hard to bake a shitty cookie and roll it in cinnamon sugar.
“Ohhh shit, Reese is gonna be pissed.” Rusty Richards—my best friend Drew’s husband says—and yes, his name really is Russell “Rusty” Richards.
“They were delish,” Drew agrees, snuggling into his side like they always do. I’d vomit at their affection for one another but Drew and Rusty are perfect for each other in every way possible.
My gaze snaps to hers and I give her the evil eye, she shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly. “What? They were,” she protests, my eyes widen further at her honesty. “Not your brownies good but still—”
“—good. I get it,” I snap at her.
Some best friend she is, I think to myself as I watch everyone congregate around him, congratulating him on his win. The jackass probably cheated. Got his mom to bake them for him. But I know that’s not true, Mrs. Thornton is the best baker in three counties, her pecan pie is THE best pie ever and she’s sweet as pie. She wouldn’t help her son cheat. It seems he inherited her baking talents, pity he didn’t inherit her niceness.
Sitting back in my chair, I cross my arms and huff. My dislike for Jesse Thornton started back in school. He was your typical jock. Hot, popular, and everyone bowed down to him. He teased those beneath him, me included. All through senior year he referred to me as Short Stack—I hated that nickname—it even followed me to college. At least he didn’t, thankfully, but now he’s back and taunting me in different ways. Jackass.
My eyes are locked on him and I start to fume even more, not only is he an asshole but he’s a sexy as sin asshole. He’s always been hot but since returning, it seems he got sexier. Broad shoulders. Muscly arms. The most kissable lips I have ever seen. His face is covered in a light fuzz that he keeps groomed and occasionally lets grow into a sexy as hell beard. Chocolate brown hair I want to run my fingers through and the bluest of blue eyes you can lose yourself in. They remind me of the Caribbean Sea, and then there’s his voice. It’s deep and rough but at the same time it's soft and sweet, it vibrates through your body. Each cell and nerve ending coming alive at the sound. It's a shame his beautiful looks and killer baking skills are the total opposite of his shitty ‘I’m an asshole’ personality.
He catches me looking at him but I quickly glance away and picking up my drink—a Dark ‘N’ Stormy—I look around the fair and smile. These fairs are the best part of living here and the people are great too, well most of them. But my most favorite part, is the homemade ginger beer. The homemadeness—that’s totally a word—makes the rum seem ever rummier, therefore making my Dark ‘N’ Stormy that much more yummy. The only thing that would make it the ducks nuts would be if they used Bundy Rum. I love that shit. Ever since I went to Australia a few years back, it has become my go-to rum. Every time I travel, I buy a bottle or two when I come through duty-free.
“Better luck with the Christmas bake-off,” Jesse says as he saunters on by, not even stopping to chat or give me a chance to reply. “Jackass,” I growl under my breath and watch his jean-clad ass as he walks away, my anger rising at his flippant remark and his lack of respect. He will NOT win the Christmas bake-off, that prize is mine. I’m going to make what I’m best known for around here at Christmas, rum balls. I have made and won the Christmas bake-off with my rum balls for the last three years. And this year will be no different. I’ll make the most kick-ass balls I have ever made and blow the judges’ minds. I will deck my balls like never before. The presentation alone will cause me to win and kick his sexy ass. Jesse is going down, I will not lose to that man again.
Game on, Jesse Thornton, game on.
2
Jesse
When they called my name as the winner, I was shocked. I was sure Reese and her brownies would win, ‘cause those things are the ducks nuts when it comes to brownies. They are chewy, chocolatey, and ohh-so good.
Looking over I see she’s got her arms crossed, pushing up her tits. From the scowl on her face, and the quickly diverted eye contact, I get the feeling she’s super pissed and no doubt my win is the cause of that. Ever since I returned, she’s been cold and frosty toward me. Not like the carefree girl from school who I used to tease. I can only imagine this will add to her hate and animosity, can’t wait for school next week—not!
Before I left our relationship was civil, sure I teased her, but it was all in jest. Ever since my return three months ago, when I accepted the principal position, she’s been icy and bitchy. Clearly, Drew has rubbed off on her. She was always the outspoken and crazy one, the fact they are best friends always confused me ‘cause they’re so different.
Passing her on my way to the bar, I offer my condolences on her loss. “Better luck with the Christmas bake-off, Short Stack.” I don’t stop because the look she gives me indicates she’s in no mood to chat, and I’m pretty sure she just growled at me too. The sound heading straight to my dick and I wonder what she sounds like when she comes. I head over to the beer tent and order a beer. While I wait, I lean back against the wooden bar and watch those on the makeshift dance floor. My eyes gravitate toward Reese, currently dancing with Drew. The two of them are laughing and cackling, just like always. She looks happy and carefree, I wish she’d be like that around me. Her eyes bright, her cheeks flushed. She’s absolutely gorgeous right now. Even though she’s blonde-haired and blue-eyed, she’s no bimbo. She’s one of the smartest people I know. She also happens to be the sexiest woman I have ever laid eyes upon. She was hot in high school but now that she’s pushing thirty, she’s a fucking knockout.