Chapter 2
Cole
What were the odds of running into Holly here, on December twenty-third of all days?
I hadn’t seen her since high school, but that didn’t mean I had forgotten her.
She had left her mark on me in more ways than one.
I was eager to find out what kind of woman she was now, and if we still clicked the way we used to.
It isn’t ideal when the first time a girl touches your junk it ends with a bite mark.
But even at the awkward age of sixteen, I knew she was special.
She didn’t take herself too seriously; she was willing to laugh at herself. I figured she didn’t want the whole school laughing at her, so I’d kept our little misadventure to myself. Orgasm or no orgasm, she was fun to be around. Easy to talk to. Adventurous and outgoing.
But easygoing or not, whatever romance had been blossoming between us ended there.
I was a little once-bitten, twice-shy on sex for a while after that, and she didn’t seem to expect our budding romance to keep on blooming.
I’ve kicked myself for that decision a lot since then.
But hell, maybe what wasn’t meant to be then had a chance now.
As soon as I’d seen her, I knew, if she wasn’t married or in a relationship, I was going to shoot my shot and hope it landed better than it did twenty years ago.
I still had some work to do today. Once I was done, I could take tomorrow off.
I mean, I was part owner of this and many other hotels; if I couldn’t take a day off once in a while, then what was the point?
I wanted to spend tomorrow getting to know the one that got away.
We made plans to meet the next morning, then I went back out to my pickup and climbed inside.
I noticed a little oil had leaked into the snow, and made a mental note to check over the gaskets and seals on this thing once I had some spare time.
I might be a billionaire, but I wasn’t a Ferrari and limousine kind of guy.
I didn’t earn the money. My dad made a few good investments, followed by a few more, and the next thing I knew, my sister and I were part owners of a huge chain of luxury hotels.
My dad ran the company, and my sister was his right hand.
Me? I was waiting for one of them to buy me out.
I wasn’t built for opulence or formality.
I was an engine grease, takeout pizza, jeans and work boots kind of guy.
I didn’t have to work, so I spent my days lending a hand where I could.
Whether it was neighbors or charities, if they needed a handyman or a laborer, I was their man.
In the winter, I had a snow blade on the front of my rusty old truck, and I went where I was needed—the library, the seniors’ center, even houses where I knew the owner could use a helping hand.
I showed up with my truck, and I got the job done.
I wasn’t cut out for lifestyles of the rich and famous.
The money could disappear tomorrow and my life would change very little.
I’d have to get paid for my work rather than do it for free, but I’d drive the same truck.
I’d eat the same meals, and I’d still buy my jeans at the same place I got groceries, toilet paper, and motor oil.
I arrived at the hotel the next morning with two cups of coffee in hand.
I hadn’t thought to ask her what she liked before I left.
When the barista told me they had a sugar bomb drink that tasted like a candy cane, I figured that was a safe bet.
I got that for Holly along with my usual medium black.
I was just thinking how I should have gotten her number so I could tell her I was there when she appeared at the top of the stairs.
The hotel had one of those curving stairways perfect for making a grand entrance, and she most definitely did. Her hair was a deep auburn shade that stood out against the crimson of the coat draped over her arm. She had a cream toque with a big pompom on top, and she smiled when she saw me.
“Good morning,” she said.
I knew I had a goofy ass smile on my face, but I couldn’t have dropped it if I’d wanted to. She was gorgeous, and so much like I remembered her being. I couldn’t wait to spend the day getting to know her again.
“It snowed a lot last night,” she continued. “Are we still able to get to the village?”
“I’ve got that covered. It’s cold, though; you should bundle up.”
She gestured to her coat. “This is embarrassing. I managed to get my hat on, but I can’t get my coat on with my broken arm. Would you mind?”
I’d rather be helping her out of her clothes, but it was a little early in the day to be suggesting that.
I put the coffees on a table and took her coat from her and held it out.
She shoved one hand into the sleeve then turned around so I could zip her in.
We were standing close enough that I could smell her perfume.
It wasn’t some cloying flower smell, just a subtle sweetness that made me think of a candle burning low after an evening of mind-blowing sex.
I zipped it up all the way to her chin, and she rewarded me with a genuine smile.
Her eyes darted to my lips, then she glanced away.
I would never claim to be a mind reader, especially with women, but I didn’t think this attraction was one sided. Thank fuck for that.
“Here, I didn’t know what you’d like, so I got you something called a candy cane latte.”
Her eyes lit up and she took the cup. “How did you know that’s my favorite drink?”
“Lucky guess, or maybe I still know you pretty damn well.”
An adorable blush crept into her cheeks, and she fell into step beside me. It was snowing lightly as we stepped out into the parking lot.
“Are you sure this isn’t too much snow?” she asked.
“Well, what do you think?” I gestured toward my truck, and she laughed.
“You have a plow blade? That is too perfect.” She took off into the snow at a run, despite having one arm broken and the other juggling her cup.
Her excitement was infectious. Her ass was mesmerizing, so despite being a thirty-six-year-old man with investments and insurance and all that grown-up shit, I ran after her.