A Wild Wonderland: A Sexy Bad Boy Holiday Novel (The Parker's 12 Days of Christmas Book 8) Read online

  I shook my head and picked up my pace. It wasn’t fair! It was my favorite time of the year, and now I had to share it with a cadre of fraternity-bros who probably didn’t know their dick from their own assholes.

  Merry Christmas to me, I guessed.

  Chapter 3

  Brayden

  My eyes scanned the email the dean had sent me with all the important information about the drive, schedules, locations, the names and contact info of everyone I might need to talk to and their positions. It was actually a pretty thorough list. I would have been impressed if I still wasn’t so peeved.

  However, that didn’t stop me from having a brilliant realization as I stood in my office, trying to figure out how to fit the punishment into my already hectic schedule.

  I had fourteen guys in the house. All young, healthy, and used to taking orders from me. What better way to help the shaky image of Greek row than volunteering all of them for a charity drive? I was sure I could contact my friend on the school paper and some of the local blogs to get us some good press too.

  I clapped my hands and quickly looked for the lead organizer. It looked like that was a Hailey Martin. I wondered briefly if that was the hot girl Noah had mentioned, but I doubted it. Hailey Martin was not a hot woman’s name. No, if I had to place money on it, I would say she was probably a chunky bookworm wrapped in thrift clothes who preferred to cloak herself in poorly fitted, outdated clothes because she was too good for celebrating something as ordinary as her figure.

  I rolled my eyes at the thought and focused on my email.

  Greetings Miss Martin!

  I am contacting you about your upcoming drive. No doubt you have heard that four of us were asked to join your ranks. After relaying these plans to my house, our entire fraternity wanted to volunteer their time to help you and the children out! We are fourteen strong and happy to work to make a difference for the community this holiday season.

  I look forward to hearing from you soon,

  Brayden Keller,

  President,

  Alpha Kappa Psi

  I sent it off, and before I could forget, I quickly typed up another mass email for all of my guys.

  Ay, numbskulls, you’re all pitching in for the toy drive. You can thank Jake, Noah, and John personally if you’d like. Don’t be late and don’t bitch.

  Brayden Keller,

  President,

  Alpha Kappa Psi

  Once that was done, I sat back, feeling pleased with myself. All I needed to do was have Hailey get back to me, and I could celebrate my good idea properly. With booze and a potential booty call.

  I looked at my phone, thumbing through my contacts. There were at least three girls who I knew were still on campus and could give a guy a good time. Contrary to popular belief, women were as fine with one-night stands as men were, but most of them had been too shamed about their sexuality their entire lives to admit it. My type was the sexually-liberated women, the ones who knew what they liked and weren’t afraid to get it.

  I was surprised when I didn’t hear my email ding right away. I figured this Hailey chick would about wet her pants when she found out she was going to get over a dozen hot men to help her with her silly little drive. Maybe she was away, actually having a life?

  Nah. These administrative types were all the same. She was no doubt hunched over her work desk in oversized pajamas with a dozen or so empty tea and coffee cups around her.

  I waited as long as I could before I was finally both bored and hungry. I went down to the kitchen, where I saw Noah dutifully washing the lunch dishes, and made myself a double-decker roast beef sandwich before going about the various other tasks I had scheduled.

  It wasn’t until late in the evening that I finally got a response. I opened it, expecting gushing thanks and uncertain questions like if I was sure, but instead, it was a begrudging acceptance of our help and assurance that it wasn’t really needed if we were just doing this as a publicity stunt.

  At the very end, there was some info on where and when to meet, which matched up with what the dean had told me, but I was stuck on her tone. How was someone in charge of a charity so rude? Although her wording was all professional, she had definitely managed to get across the point that she wasn’t a fan of the frat helping her.

  God, it was worse than I thought. Was she some sort of man-hater, or something? What had I gotten myself into?

  I sent her a polite assurance that we would be there right on time. Then, I put my computer to sleep and decided to hit the hay. I was sure, whatever her issues were, I could settle it out with either my charm or some well-placed flirting. Even the hardest of women crumbled when placated with the right niceties.

  But as I headed to bed, I couldn’t help wondering if I had made a very bad decision. Only time would tell, I supposed.

  I looked down at the men of my fraternity from where I was standing at the top of the stairs. The night had passed smoothly enough, and I had awoken more determined than ever to make the drive advantageous to us.

  So naturally, I had rounded my charges up before I went to meet Miss Martin, so I could make sure we were all on the same page. The last thing I needed was one of them getting a bone-headed idea that would put us in hotter water than we were already in.

  “All right, listen up, you jackasses,” I said, voice carrying over the whole group. To be honest, I hated being authoritative and all father-figure like. I was much more of a schmoozer and preferred honey rather than vinegar for most of my tactics. But there wasn’t much that could be done. The situation required a firm hand, so that’s what I was going to do.

  “I want all of you to be on your absolute best behavior.” I continued. “The dean is watching us, and we need her to be happy with us, not more pissed off than she already is. So, if any of you get any bright ideas, shove them up your own asshole, you got that?”

  There was a round of nods, and I settled a little.

  “Good. I’m on my way to go greet the organizer. With any luck, I’ll be able to apply some of that Alpha Kappa Psi charm, and we’ll all be in cushy jobs for the next two weeks.”

  I gave them a firm nod to dismiss them and then headed through the crowd toward the front door. The quad was weirdly empty for a Friday morning. Normally, it was a bustling hub with people coming and going or just sitting and enjoying the beautiful gardens we kept on Greek row.

  I guessed the cold was pretty insidious. Winder was hitting Boston hard, turning beautiful gardens into dead squares of brown and white and giving the air an attitude that it didn’t need. It was the type of crisp bite that cut through coats and got under your layers bit by bit.

  I shuddered thinking about it and picked up my pace to the library. I reached it without wasting too much time, but as I entered the double doors, I recognized a flaw in my plans.

  I had absolutely no idea what Hailey looked like. How was I supposed to meet her? Look for the frumpiest, grumpiest young woman I could find and just assume?

  I sighed to myself and rubbed the bridge of my strong nose. I guessed I was going to have to improvise.

  Chapter 4

  Hailey

  I sat in one of the cushier chairs in the library, one with a view of the front doors but wide enough so I could cross my legs and place my laptop evenly on them. I figured if I was going to be stuck waiting for some douche-bro to show up, I might as well get some work done.

  Sure, he had insisted he would be on time, but what were the chances of that actually happening? No doubt he was like all the others and would show up half an hour to an hour later with a crooked smile and beer on his breath.

  Nevertheless, I did keep my eye on the door just in case. I was surprised when a tall, modelesque looking fellow came in, his black hair coiffed to perfection and his five o’clock shadow visible from where I sat. He was entirely too good looking for me not to have noticed him in the library during all my years at the college, so I surmised he must be the frat boy I was looking for.

  I
knew I should give him credit for being so professional in his emails, but I didn’t want to talk to him at all. Part of me whispered that I could slip out the back, and he would probably give up on the ridiculous idea of their participation.

  The man looked around, obviously searching for me. I had purposely not let him know what I looked like, although I would never admit that to Dean Kline. Was it underhanded? Yeah. But it was also the easiest way to confuse him and get him out of my hair.

  It would only be a few minutes before he would give up, I was sure. I watched intently and was surprised yet again as he crossed to the librarian, no doubt to ask if she had seen me or knew who I was.

  Sighing, I stood and walked over to him. Sure enough, he was in mid-question as I neared him.

  I tapped his arm, unable to reach his shoulder. The man turned, the light glinting off the strong curve of his jaw. Damn, he really was tall and even better looking up close. He easily dwarfed me, giving me a wary eye while looking me over.

  “Hi, I’m Hailey Martin,” I tried to say flatly without squeaking. It wasn’t that I was overly crushing on him, but I was always nervous when it came to letting someone new into my meticulously organized charity. “I believe you were looking for me?”

  “Brayden Keller,” he answered, charm suddenly oozing out of his pores the moment he knew who I was. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Same,” I answered politely before gesturing back to my abandoned stuff. “Shall we have a seat?”

  “How formal,” he teased, giving me a crooked smile that was exactly how I had imagined. “After you then.”

  I turned on my heel and marched back toward my chair. Curling into it, I steeled myself with my bossiest voice. “So, I thank you, of course, for your commitment to the drive,” I started slowly, cautiously. I didn’t want to be accused of discriminating against them due to personal bias, even if I was discriminating against them due to personal bias. “But I really don’t think a Greek house is the best ambassador for the charity work we’ve been working so hard to put together. Those in need have come to know us as a judgment-free organization that they can come to for whatever plagues them. Having rich, well-built reminders of everything they can’t have can be a very bitter pill.” He opened his mouth to object, so I kept barreling forward. “Obviously, I don’t have much of a choice in the issue, of course. Dean Kline has made up her mind and that is that. Although I prefer that workers come to me voluntarily, it seems that both of our hands are tied.”

  “Since that is the case, I ask that you and your men be on your best behavior. I will not have our hard work ruined. This is for the children.”

  “Of course,” he answered, charming smile still in place. He really did look like a prince from a fairy tale, and I could imagine all the wanton young women it got him. “Just one question.”

  “What’s that?” I asked, equally as polite.

  “What the hell did I ever do to you?”

  I was taken aback at that and affixed him with a wide-eyed gaze. “Nothing. This is the first we’ve met as far as I know.”

  “Confusing, then, why you seem like you absolutely hate me.”

  “I don’t,” I snapped, my expression turning sour. He was being contrary. Why was he being contrary? Was he so shocked that a woman wasn’t falling over him that he had to immediately jump on the defensive? How predictable.

  “I beg to differ.” His voice was low, masculine, and entirely pleasing to listen to. Not that I would ever admit it, of course. At least out loud. It was too bad that pleasant voice was being used to irritate the shit out of me.

  “I’m being thorough. Surely, as the president of your chapter, you have to deal with the banalities of diplomacy.” I pasted on my sweetest smile. “That is, if you have time between your keggers and pledge weeks.”

  “I’m familiar enough with diplomacy to know when someone already has a grudge against me. Again, I’ve done nothing to you, and I’m sure my house hasn’t either. So, I would appreciate if you changed your attitude.”

  I sat there, fuming, my mouth opening and closing. Who was this man to tell me how I did or didn’t feel? I didn’t appreciate it or his overly-charismatic visage. “I will have to politely inform you that you are mistaken.”

  The man stood up suddenly, towering over me once again. “Maybe it would be best if we continue to communicate via email. I feel like we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot, and I would rather us communicate that way.” He gave me a curt nod and then walked away without another word.

  He reached the doors and slammed one open, striding off into the cold wind. It was then that I realized he had never even taken off his coat. Had he been planning to purposefully sabotage our meeting, or had my disdain really been so apparent?

  I stared after him, eyes wide as I tried to figure out exactly what happened. I thought I had been as sweet as pie and entirely practical. Surely, he had to know there was no way he was the best choice to help me, right? Obviously, this was being done firstly in response to the dean’s punishment but secondly to get his crew some brownie points they didn’t deserve. It was so transparent! Could he really blame me for calling him out?

  Apparently so, judging by the fact that he had already walked so far off, I could no longer see him through the glass of the doors.

  I shook my head and went about picking up my stuff. I had too much going on to worry about some Kappa brat anyway.

  Chapter 5

  Brayden

  I walked briskly across the quad, mouth pressed into a thin line and ready for a fight.

  Hailey and I had been messaging back and forth all weekend about finer details that needed to be glossed over and, needless to say, it wasn’t exactly the most pleasant conversation. Some of her greatest hits played through my mind, cycling through on repeat depending on my anger level.

  Re: Brayden Keller,

  I am unsure what happened in the library, but I apologize for any untowardness you might have felt. I was simply trying to be both professional and succinct. This drive means quite a bit to me, and I am very protective of it. I’m sure you understand.

  Hailey Martin,

  Charity Event Coordinator

  Re: Brayden Keller,

  Of course, I am grateful for your help. I am surprised you have time between the various activities in your house. I appreciate you taking a break between homework, practices, and the parties you throw every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I hope this endeavor doesn’t impinge on your schedule too much and won’t breed resentment among your men.

  Hailey Martin,

  Charity Event Coordinator

  Re: Brayden Keller,

  To be honest, I am just surprised at how emotional a reaction you’re having. It’s wonderful to see a man in power who is so concerned with subtext and inferred tone, but I assure you, I don’t have an ulterior motive.

  Ulterior motive means a sort of hidden agenda like I’m not being upfront with you.

  Hailey Martin,

  Charity Event Coordinator

  I knew what an ulterior motive was! I bristled with anger thinking about it, chomping at the bit. I deserved a prize, really. Never had I been so painstakingly polite and concise, explaining the issues I had with her tone while asking the relevant info I needed to make sure my men were ready for today.

  In all my years, I had never met someone who could so easily convey contempt via a faceless, digital interface, but it seemed Miss Martin had a gift.

  It was a shame, too, because she was actually as attractive as Noah had suggested. She was petite but definitely not lacking in any of her curves. She had bright, red hair and a generous smattering of freckles on her nose. The whole look was completed by her cat-like, green eyes. She had the distinct aesthetic of an uptight busybody, but for some reason, I dug it.

  Too bad her attitude was such a killer.

  My frown deepened as I recalled some of the cattier things she had said about both my frat and my studies. It made my anger burn that much
higher, and I almost didn’t notice Dean Kline walking quickly across campus just a bit away.

  I ran to her, not really thinking things out. I wasn’t sure what I was planning on saying when I got to her, but apparently, my mouth didn’t need to wait for my brain because I was speaking as soon as she was within range.

  “Dean Kline!”

  I could tell she recognized my voice, and she turned sharply to greet me. “Mr. Keller. Do you need something?” I tried to read if she was pleased or displeased to see me, but her face was a careful mask. Man, they really threw her into a grinder last year. I almost felt sorry for her.

  Almost.

  “Yeah,” I said, catching my breath against the cold air. “Why am I being punished so harshly when I have done everything possible to make this situation right?”

  She tilted her head to the side, giving me a professionally curious look. Ugh, she could be such a robot sometimes. I just wanted to shake her and tell her it was all right, no one really thought she was inept, but then that wouldn’t be true. She was a tiny woman trying to make her way in an old man’s world. There would always be someone accusing her of being less just for what was or wasn’t between her legs.

  “I don’t quite catch your meaning, Mr. Keller.” Now that she wasn’t a raging inferno, her tone was quite neutral and even pleasant. Reading people was normally my thing, and it irritated me to no end that I couldn’t quite tell what she was feeling or thinking.

  “Look, I understand that you have to make an example of us, but there is no need to pair us with a man-hating woman who thinks we’re all some sort of regressive Neanderthals. I’ve got my whole house involved, and we really want to do the best by this drive.” Her expression didn’t look guilty or even all too concerned. Great. I had been sure revealing the event coordinator was a raging prejudice individual would have at least concerned her, but apparently, I was wrong. Was she just another Hailey but in nicer clothing?