Chapter 18 Holly
HOLLY
Dear Santa –
What exactly do you consider naughty . . . technically speaking?
—Holly’s Secret Thoughts
“What do you mean . . . exactly? I’m going to need details here, Holls.
Was it you’d look so pretty on your knees flirting or more like a smile and a look in his eye kind of flirting?
” Hadley looks away from the phone to apply her fake lashes as she gets ready for what’s always the longest day of Santa and Mrs. Claus duty of the week.
I love the holidays, but even I can admit Sundays suck this time of year at the vineyard.
“Seriously, Hades, it was a FaceTime. I was naked in the tub, and he was flirting. I’m going to need you to trust me on this,” I whisper-hiss, careful not to startle Sophie, who’s currently happily playing with the mirror on her exersaucer, while Madden rests his big, fat head next to the mirror, like it’s a struggle for him to hold it up. Lazy dog.
“Okay, fine. He was flirting. What’s the problem then? He’s a gorgeous single man, who’s obviously into you. He has a job, so that’s a plus. He has a kid you love. I mean, it’s still baggage, I guess. But she’s seriously cute . . .”
“Sophie isn’t baggage,” I bite back, annoyed at her even suggesting that. “He’s my boss.”
“For like another two months, Holls. This was never a permanent work situation. You’re going to get a job.”
“No one has called,” I softly argue, still frustrated with the lack of response.
“Seriously, sissy. You sent out résumés the week before Thanksgiving. What did you think was going to happen? The calls will come in January when everyone is out of the holiday mood and is done shopping online all day and actually working again. And when that happens and the season ends, Camden will no longer be your boss. But do you know what he could be?” She arches a brow as if baiting me.
I shake my head.
This ought to be good.
“He could be good in bed. Please, sweet baby Jesus, tell me that man is good in bed because he looks like he’s fucking phenomenal. He can be my father figure all day, every day, because I bet his dick’s bicker.”
I cackle because I can’t not. “Can we not quote Taylor, please?”
“I’ll be the devil she deals with any day.
And besides, you smiled. Stopped stressing.
It’s not like nannying for Sophie was ever going to be long-term.
I say go for it. Flirt with him. Fuck him.
Hell, marry the man, if you want. Or don’t.
But whatever you do, don’t let the fact that you’re working for him for all of two months stop you from something that could be good for you.
” She paints her lips a raspberry red and blots them.
“You deserve to be happy, Holly. Not all guys are lying, cheating bastards like Anson.”
“Thanks, Hadley.” I nibble my lip and look down at Sophie smiling at herself. “I know you’re right. It’s just hard.”
“Yeah well, hopefully he’s hard too.” She blows a kiss and winks. “Gotta go get felt up by Santa. Talk to you later.”
“Love you, Hades.”
“Love you, Holls.”
A knock at the front door startles Sophie and me. “Who could that be, sugar plum?”
Madden trots next to me, apparently my protector now too.
But when I look through the window, I’m not so sure I need protecting.
A woman and a young girl, whose picture hangs on the refrigerator, stand on the other side of the door, both decked out in Kings jerseys.
The woman knocks again, and Madden barks as I pull the door open.
“Hi,” the gorgeous woman, who looks like a more feminine version of Camden, smiles at me. “You must be Holly. I’m Emmie, and this is Rosie.” She squeezes the little girl’s shoulder.
Rosie holds up a bag. “We brought allergy-friendly gingerbread houses.”
“Hi,” I offer, a little caught off guard.
“Have you had any peanuts today?” Rosie asks, and I smile, knowing the answer and the reason for the question.
“Well, you know your uncle talks about you a whole lot, and he may have mentioned your allergies, and he may have also mentioned that he keeps this house completely Rosie-friendly, so he never runs a risk of cross contamination. So no, ma’am.
No peanuts.” That was one of the first things Camden and I talked about after my first weekend here.
Rosie’s allergies are severe, and the consequences can be deadly, so he doesn’t take any chances.
Another thing I like about him . . .
Rosie beams and walks past me into the family room. “Sophie,” she squeals as she runs over to the exersaucer and sits on the floor next to the drooling baby. Something Madden and she now have in common.
“So . . .” Emmie blushes. “I probably should have called, but we’ve been cooped up in the house for what feels like forever. And now we’re fever-free and germ-free and sanity-free . . . Sad, but true. And I thought it would be nice to introduce myself to you and maybe watch the game together?”
“Pregame is already on in the family room,” I tell her and smile. “Sophie and I were just getting ready to watch.”
Emmie looks me up and down. “Nice jersey.”
“Luke Chase is my brother,” I tell her defensively, but Emmie just laughs at my discomfort as we walk into the room.
“It always starts that way,” she murmurs.
I look at the flat screen above the fireplace and watch a zoomed-in moment of Luke and Camden talking during warm-ups, and the heat working its way up my face is absolutely not because of my brother. “Yes, it does, doesn’t it?”