Chapter 9
Holly
There were few feelings worse than thinking you knew someone and finding out you didn’t.
The events of the last few minutes led me to think that my Christmas morning, post-orgasm high was in for a crash.
Cole led me over to the chairs where we’d reconnected just two days before, and I fell heavily into the closest one. “What’s going on?”
He ran a hand over his face. God, even his hands were sexy. I hoped against hope that whatever he had to tell me wouldn’t change what was growing between us. I had never felt this sure of a man in my life. I didn’t want that to change.
“My truck has a blade on the front, so you assumed I plow snow for a living. I do plow snow, just not for a living.”
“Okay. What do you do for a living? Deal drugs? Sing musical theater? Breed panda bears? I assume it can’t be good if you didn’t tell me.”
The corner of his lip kicked up, but there was a level of sadness in his eyes that I hadn’t seen before.
“My family owns this hotel,” he said. “Actually, my family owns the company that owns this hotel and a bunch of others.”
I licked my lips, trying to wrap my head around why he was afraid to tell me this and failing. “Good for them, I guess. I don’t understand.”
“I’ve got a lot of money. Like, in the billions. I’m sorry I lied. I was afraid to tell you because—”
“Because you thought I would only want you for your money?” My voice came out in a whisper as pain lodged itself behind my heart.
“No, no, it’s just—”
I stopped him. “It’s been a long time since we’ve spent any time together, but you must know that money doesn’t matter to me.
” I picked at the cuticle around my thumb, willing it to distract me.
Things with him had happened so fast, I was still wrapping my head around yesterday.
I didn’t even know what to think of this.
He took my hand and pulled his chair closer.
“I do know that. I could be living on a yacht in the Caribbean right now, but I’m not.
I’m shoveling snow in a pair of old work boots.
This hotel isn’t me. I didn’t want you to get to know a me that wasn’t real.
I’m not what a billionaire is supposed to be.
I’m not fussy or fancy. I don’t own a super car or eat foie gras. ”
I’d never really thought of having money as a bad thing. Most people’s problems could be solved with a little more of it. Maybe too much of a good thing was a bad thing? I’d never had enough money to know.
“This is the real me,” he said gesturing to himself.
“Coveralls, grease-stained hands. I have the luxury of being able to help people, so I do. I’ve had one too many dates go sideways because she saw my last name and expected to be wined and dined.
Or expected that I had a penthouse apartment and a collection of Rolex watches.
I don’t have it in me to blow wads of cash on nothing.
All I need is my truck, my tools, a place to lay my head at night, and you. If you’ll have me.”
This was a lot to think about before I’d had my caffeine.
“Holly, there you are. Merry Christmas.”
I turned toward the sound of my sister’s voice as she came down the stairs and into the lobby. Time was up.
“Holly.”
I turned back to face Cole.
“I know I lied to you, and I hope you can forgive me. Go and have an amazing Christmas with your family. I’ll be in front of that Christmas tree in the lobby over there at eight o’clock tonight. If you’re willing to talk to me, meet me there. Please.”
I studied his face. This was the man who had swept me off my feet in just twelve short hours.
I needed time to process the snowstorm of feelings blowing around inside my head.
Did I really know him well enough to be seeing a future together already?
Did this whole money thing change anything?
I wasn’t sure. I nodded to him and squeezed his hand.
Noelle appeared behind me, and the front desk attendant appeared behind Cole. It was time to go our separate ways and make a decision that could affect the rest of our lives.
“Someone has some explaining to do.” My sister planted a hand on her hip.
I bit my lip. We went back to my room, and I spilled the whole story to Noelle over coffee. She was a newlywed and had stars in her eyes about everything to do with love. Still, I trusted her opinion.
“This all just seems too fast, don’t you think?” I said.
“You’ve known him since high school. Men don’t change that much between sixteen and forty. Trust me.”
I snorted. “Yeah, I guess. He does seem like the same great guy I used to know.”
“So what’s the issue then? He took you to do all your favorite things, filled you full of delicious sweets, and banged your brains out. The worst thing about him is that he has too much money? Not to be rude, Holly, but girl, this is why you’re single.”
I threw a pillow at her. “That’s not the point and you know it.”
She giggled and threw the pillow back. “Okay, I do get it. He lied. You think he lied because he doesn’t think enough of you to tell you the truth. I think he was afraid to lose you. Or afraid you wouldn’t accept the real him once you knew he had the money to be someone else.”
I rolled this over in my mind. “That is basically what he said too.”
“See? I’m right. He was afraid to tell you because it had gone badly before. You’re afraid to believe him because you think he is lying about why he lied. Frankly, you are both giving me a migraine.”
“The ever-suffering sister.”
“Damn straight.” She threw herself down on the bed. “I just want you to be happy. Christmas makes you happy, but you have never had a glow like you do today.”
I fiddled with the ends of my hair. I was usually a jump-first, ask-questions-later kind of girl. I had to really think this through. No matter what decision I made, I knew my heart would never be the same.