Pawliday Love

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

HOLLY

I watch Jax walk across the lobby and heft his bag up to ascend the flight of stairs that leads to the guest rooms. A clearing of a throat that has me snapping out of my Jax-induced haze and meeting the gaze of Maddy, my sister-in-law and boss.

“How’s it going?” she asks, a grin playing on her lips.

“G-good.” I stammer out. I clear my throat and try again. “Things are going great. All of the guests have checked in.”

She gestures toward the stairs. “Who was that?”

I feel my face heat up. “No one.”

“Holly . . .”

I let out a nervous laugh. “Jax. That was Jax.”

She whistles low, and I cringe, glancing around and hoping my brother isn’t anywhere in earshot. Thankfully, he’s not.

“You know I approve. He’s a nice guy plus he’s hot. Not as hot as Cody, but. . .”

I snort out a laugh. “No way. You know that’s his best friend. Cody would kill me. Plus I’m sure Jax isn’t interested.”

Maddy shakes her head. “Cody would not kill you. As far as I know Jax is single. You should go for it.”

I narrow my eyes. “I don’t think Cody would appreciate you trying to get me to flirt with his best friend. His best friend who is ten years older than I am. And probably doesn’t see me as anything more than the annoying little sister. Besides, he's only here for a few days.”

Maddy shrugs, like what I said is no big deal. “Age is just a number. It’s the holidays, there’s magic afoot. You never know what could happen.”

I giggle. “You’ve been watching too many Hallmark movies.”

“Guilty.” She smirks at me. “I came to tell you that I asked Alica to come in early so you’d have time to get ready before dinner.” She glances at her watch. “She should be here soon.”

“Thanks, Maddy.”

She nods and turns on her heel. “See you at dinner. And wear that sexy red sweater dress you bought when we went shopping last weekend.”

I roll my eyes at her, but she’s already gone.

“Hi, baby.” I greet my black Lab mix, Huckleberry, as I step inside my cottage.

I adopted him a few years ago from a local animal shelter, and he’s been my best friend ever since.

His answer is what it always is when I get home from work, to jump up and down with his tail wagging so hard his whole backside shakes. I chuckle, petting him until he calms down enough that he lets me make my way deeper into my small house.

It’s not much, and it’s temporary, but it’s enough for Huck and me. I grab his leash from the kitchen counter, and we head out for a short walk, which is followed by a few rounds of fetch, and by few , I mean somewhere around fifty.

“Time to go inside,” I say before turning and walking up the steps to my front door.

Huck bounds through the snow and up the steps behind me. He knows the routine and sits down in the hallway so I can dry him off with the towel I keep by the door. I refill his water bowl and feed him his dinner before heading into my bathroom to get ready.

“You look hot,” Maddy says by way of greeting as she hands me a glass of champagne at the entranceway of the dining room.

“Th-thanks.”

“Jax is over there.” She tips her chin in the direction of the far corner of the room.

“Will you stop,” I hiss with a shake of my head. I swear ever since she and my brother got married, she’s been trying her damndest to find me my own happily ever after. “Don’t let Cody hear you.”

“Hear what?” Speak of the devil . My big brother wraps his arms around Maddy and pulls her to his chest.

“Nothing,” I stammer, wishing to be anywhere but right here. I shoot a look at Maddy that I hope says drop it. “I’m going to go mingle.” Before either of them can answer, I walk away.

My feet apparently have a mind of their own, and somehow I end up in front of Jax, who is staring down at his phone.

I think about turning and walking away, going to the bar and getting something stronger to drink, but before I can, he looks up. I almost don’t notice the breath he blows out and the way his eyes darken when he sees me, but I definitely do notice that he checks me out.

“Hi, Holly.” He grins, his dimples peeking out. “You are gorgeous. That dress”—he whistles softly. The way he’s staring at me makes my nipples harden, and I’m thankful I’m wearing a padded bra so he can’t see them—“looks amazing on you.”

“Thank you.” I take a sip of champagne, needing something to do.

He clears his throat. “So how have you been all these years?”

“Good.”

He raises an eyebrow at me. “That doesn’t sound convincing.”

I huff out a laugh. “I’m good. I have a job. A place to live. My family is close by.”

“And is this what you always pictured yourself doing? Working at a resort?”

I lift a shoulder in a half shrug. “Yes and no. My dream is to open my own inn or bed and breakfast, I’m not really sure which yet, which is why I’m working here. Maddy’s showing me the ropes. Teaching me what she knows.”

He nods. “Makes sense. Anywhere in particular you want to open your place?”

“I haven’t really thought that far ahead. One thing at a time—learn what it takes to run one first. But what about you, are you still in Florida?”

“Yeah, Orlando. I work for the NHL team there, the Storm. Do you know them?” he says before taking a sip of his drink.

“No, I don’t, but that sounds really cool, Jax,” I say, putting a hand on his arm, and the second my skin touches his, I feel like my hand is on fire.

That’s not good. I move my hand away, wrapping both hands around my champagne glass and taking a sip.

He chuckles, and I’d be lying if I said the sound didn’t go straight to my core, but I ignore it and wait for him to expand. “I don’t play hockey or anything. I work in their marketing department.”

“Is that what you always pictured yourself doing?” I throw his question from earlier back at him.

“Yes and no. My dream was to be drafted into the NFL, but that didn’t happen after I blew out my ACL my freshman year of college. After that, I thought I’d be an agent, but that’s not exactly something you can just apply to do. I interned in the marketing department of the Mustangs, the Storm’s minor league team, during the summer after my Junior year of college. One thing led to another, and my boss from the Mustangs referred me to the Storm.”

“That’s really cool, Jax. I mean not you blowing out your ACL and not being able to play football but that you work for a professional hockey team.”

We spend the next few minutes chatting before we’re encouraged to take our seats so dinner can be served.

Somehow—I blame Maddy—Jax and I end up sitting next to each other. Not that I’m complaining, but I’m not sure if it’s a good thing.