Beards and Holly (Magnolia Point)

Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

Jenson

T his is my worst nightmare. It’s as if the Ghost of Christmas Past is here to haunt my ass for all my wrong doings. Except in my case, it’s a mall filled with screaming snot-nosed kids, word-vomiting all the junk they want for the holiday. I also don’t miss my now-fake girlfriend wearing a snug elf custom that bothers me in a way I hadn’t anticipated.

The last thing I need is the obvious attraction between us blowing up in my face. Holly’s a good girl, and I’ve already talked myself out of pursuing a one-night stand with her, but damn, if I wasn’t a bit disappointed when she declared no kissing. She said there’s no attraction, but I felt how her eyes bored into me last night in a way that was anything but innocent. I’ll respect her decision, though. The last thing I need is to tangle myself with someone I can’t untangle from. I barely know the girl, but the last thing I want is to hurt her feeling. The thought alone makes my stomach sour. Or maybe, it’s the sticky floor I walk on as I follow Holly into the makeshift North Pole.

“Okay, Grinch. Time to unstick the candy cane from your cocky ass and put on your—what would you say?—Holly Jolly pants,” she sasses, and God, if I don’t love it. My smile rivals the green monster she’s nicknamed me after.

It’s not that I hate Christmas. I just don’t celebrate it. You can’t blame a kid for avoiding the holiday that killed his parents.

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply and slowly take the red garments and make my way to the changing area. When I come out, my head spins. Kids scream, parents yell, and holiday music blares.

I’m starting to think I picked the wrong fake girlfriend. This deal sucks chestnuts.

The hours go by in a blur. I humor the kids and take hundreds of pictures with a dumbass smile on my face. Every so often, Holly flashes me a pitying smile I don’t hate, but everything else about this gig is horrific.

The owner of the mall comes by and talks with us, giving Holly praise for coming in clutch with a last-minute Santa. Then finally, when I’ve absolutely reached my people limit, I hear the sweetest words.

“And that’s a wrap. Ready to go home?” Holly asks.

“Fuck, yes,” I say and rush to the changing room for my clothes. After I meet her at the door, we walk out with a few other mall employees. The car ride home is mostly quiet, and I’m thankful because after that shitshow, I just want peace and quiet. Holly doesn’t seem to mind the silence, either, and when we get home and she parks, she simply thanks me and heads into her house.

Heading into mine, I’m mauled by my mammoth of a dog, who’s happy to see me, but made a mess of my couch cushions to let me know he’s mad about being left alone for so long.

“Good to see you, too, Gizmo,” I say sarcastically as he runs outside the moment I open the back door.

Assuming he’s headed out to the lawn, I take a moment to clean up and grab a much needed beer.

When I set out to find him, he’s not where I thought he’d be, but over at Holly’s again. The hour’s late, and after the night we’ve had, I feel a bit guilty making her deal with him. By the time I get to her porch, though, I can see them through the lit window. They’re cuddled together on the couch. He stars at her like a dog in love as she scratches him behind the ears.

The view could be on a fucking Hallmark card, and it does something to me. Taking another pull from the beer I’m still holding, I ring her doorbell, and it chimes with a Christmas melody. Jingle Bell Rock , I think it is.

Moments later, the door swings open, and I’m greeted by her bright smile. My dog stays on the couch, unmoving, and I just glare at him.

“Evening, neighbor. Looks like I was right about your dog liking me more.”

Again with the sass. I wonder what she’d do if I leaned in and kissed that smart mouth. I won’t, of course, but I can’t help thinking about it.

“Come on, traitor. Let’s go,” I tell Gizmo, who decides to hike up his leg and clean his manhood, making me grumble through clenched teeth. I love this mutt, but damn, does he pick the worst times not to listen to me.

“Doesn’t look like he’s ready to go. Want to come in? I’ve got another one of those, if you want it. It’s the least I can do after tonight.”

Feeling the weight of my almost empty beer, I relent, knowing I don’t have another at home. Plus, she’s right. Tonight was hell, and another cold beer sounds perfect.

“Thanks,” I say, stepping through the door. Gizmo stays comfortable on the couch as we make our way to the kitchen.

When she turns from the fridge holding a Michelob Ultra, I don’t hold back my groan. I was so looking forward to a real beer not that.

With the sass I’ve come to appreciate from her, she says, “Would you rather drink this or a bottle of hot sauce?”

Laughing, I shake my head. “Neither to be honest.”

“Then get your ungrateful butt off my stool, and hit the road, Jack.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll take the beer,” I say, relenting and taking it from her outstretched hand.

Holly takes my empty bottle and pitches it in the trash. I don’t mean to let my eyes wonder down her back side, but that’s exactly what they do. She’s changed out of her elf costume and into a tight pair of black pants and another oversized sweater. This one is black and features the green grump with a heart that’s two-sizes too small.

“Would you rather live without your beloved Christmas holiday or grow green hair all over your body.”

It’s her turn to laugh at the ridiculous game.

“I would embrace being the Grinch and deliver presents to those in need.”

“Wouldn’t you worry about never finding a husband? You’ll be a green monster?”

With a smirk on her face, she doesn’t miss a beat, and damn, if my pants don’t feel a little tighter with her answer.

“Who says I’m looking for a husband? Whether I’m green or not, I love my life the way it is. If I were seeing someone, then suddenly turned green and he couldn’t love me the way I was, I would no longer see that man. Just because you’re desperate for a date, it doesn’t mean I am, buddy.”

Then she fucking winks at me.

“Okay, my apologies. You strike me as the wifey type, that’s all.”

“I don’t even know what that is, and I’m sure my past dates would disagree with you, but the funniest part about all that is…” She pauses for a second and bites her lip at me, a lip I suddenly want to bite so fucking bad. I bet she tastes like peppermint or sugar cookies. “No, I shouldn’t tell you.”

“Well, now, you have to tell me,” I say, finishing the last of my beer. She’s been nursing one, too, and moves to the fridge to grab two more. I realize this game we’re playing makes talking to her easier, but then again, I was the one purposely making things harder because I thought she couldn’t handle a no-strings clause in our agreement. Now, I’m starting to think I was wrong, and oh what fun it might be to cross the merry little line with her. To have her under me, begging me to fuck her. I would lick that sweet pussy of hers for hours just to torture her the way she does me with that constant sassy mouth.

“Truth or dare?” I say, hoping another game might help her feel more comfortable telling me what’s on her mind.

Holly rolls her eyes, knowing exactly what I’m doing, but she’s smiling like she enjoys the challenge. “Truth.”

“Tell me the truth, Holly. What is it you don’t think you should tell me? I promise you should.”

Her laugh is menacing. “You make it sound sexy. I assure you it’s not. I have a Grinch costume.”

“So what you’re telling me is, the nickname you’ve been calling me all this time is someone you actually love.”

The thought goes straight to my cock, and I’m so hard the zipper of my jeans cuts into me. When I came over tonight, this is the last thing I expected, but I’m having fun.

She doesn’t answer me directly. Instead, she challenges me as she always does.

“Truth or dare, Jenson?”