Chapter 27 Holly
HOLLY
I made Santa come twice last night . . . I always wanted to say that.
—Holly’s Secret Thoughts
Briggs
Where the hell is everyone?
Rainey
Working.
Ryleigh
Shopping.
Hadley
Could you do that for me too? Please?
Holly
Umm . . . Christmas is tomorrow. How have you not shopped?
Hadley
I thought the least the fucking elves could do was handle my shopping list for me, but apparently, that’s too much to ask, even for Mrs. Claus.
Rainey
The elves are police officers looking to make extra money as security at night, Hades.
Hadley
Just saying . . . it was worth a try.
Holly
I’m wrapping Christmas presents.
Briggs
Where? The house is empty.
Holly
At Camden’s.
Briggs
Do we like this guy?
Holly
Yes.
Briggs
I wasn’t asking you.
Hadley
He punched Handsy Santa. He’s my hero.
Briggs
Who the fuck is Handsy Santa and when did the Kings QB punch him?
Hadley
The better question is why did he punch him.
Briggs
Holly’s boyfriend punched a guy you’re calling Handsy Santa. I can make an educated guess as to why. Pretty sure I’m going to like him based off that alone.
Rainey
Yes, we like him.
Holly
A lot, so be nice.
Briggs
So when are we meeting him?
Ryleigh
Those of us not going to college in North Carolina have already met him.
Briggs
What-the-fuck-ever.
Holly
He’s coming to the vineyard with me tonight.
Briggs
Nothing like trial by fire.
Holly
It’s just Christmas Eve.
Briggs
Has he met you?
Rainey
She’s been living with him for a month.
Hadley
And banging him for just as long.
Holly
It hasn’t been that long.
Briggs
I’m sorry I asked.
“Happy birthday, vixen.” Camden walks up behind me and brushes his lips over my ear as his arms wrap around my waist. “What has you smiling so big?”
“Thank you,” I tell him as I fix the red-velvet bow on the last present I had to wrap and look up over my shoulder at the sexy man behind me. “Why wouldn’t I be smiling? It’s Christmas Eve.”
When he arches a brow, I smile bigger. “Fine. My little brother’s home, and he’s an idiot.”
“That’s more like it.”
He’s not wrong. “You sure you’re okay doing Christmas Eve with my family tonight? I don’t want to mess anything up for you.”
“Holly, you’re the reason Sophie will ever be able to look back at pictures of her first Christmas and see anything fun. Nothing was going to stop us from spending tonight with you.”
His words warm something deep in my tinsel-loving soul. “I’m excited to take her to her first Kings game tomorrow to watch her daddy play. The special headphones we needed for her came in yesterday.”
“You sure you want to go?” His rough voice is hesitant, and I hate that.
“I can’t think of a better way to spend Christmas afternoon than Sophie and me finally getting to watch you play the game you love.” Even two months ago, that wouldn’t have been true, but now it’s the only reality I care about.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you once the season’s over,” he teases.
“I promise you,”—I turn in his arms and circle mine around his neck—“I will help you find the most amazing person to take care of Sophie. But I kind of hope she’s not especially cute. My vote is for an old nanny.”
“I did that once.” He smiles. “Three months later, I was hiring you.”
“Hmm . . . what about a guy? How about you hire a male nanny?” I lift up on my toes and ghost my lips over his. “I wouldn’t want to claw his eyes out for getting to spend so much time with you both.”
“Hire whoever you want, vixen. You need to be just as happy with him as I am because even when you get a job, I’m not letting you go.
Stay with me, Holly. Move in with me. I know I’m an asshole, but I’m your asshole.
” Those mossy-green eyes I love beg me to understand what he’s asking in his own way, and he’s worried I won’t.
“Are you sure?” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth.
“Baby, don’t you see? You’re it. You’re everything I never knew I wanted and never thought I deserved to have.
You’re good and kind and beautiful. You soothe all the rough edges and make me look forward to coming home in a way I never have.
I’m nowhere near good enough for you, but if you’ll let me, I’ll love you every day of your life. You. Just you.”
“Camden . . .” My breath catches in my throat as my lip trembles. “You love me?”
“More than I ever knew possible.” His big palm gently cups my cheek. “Say yes.”
“Yes.”
Hadley
What are you wearing tonight?
Holly
Black tights and a red sweater.
Hadley
Is it sexy?
Holly
No.
Hadley
Wear something sexy.
Holly
Why? It’s Christmas Eve.
Hadley
Because I just bought a great dress and don’t want to look stupid. Come on, Holls. Do it for me as a birthday present.
Holly
It’s my birthday, not yours. And you were supposed to be buying presents for other people, not clothes for yourself.
Hadley
Tomato. To-mah-to.
Holly
Fine. I’ll wear something nicer, but I don’t have anything super sexy with me.
Hadley
Just no dumb Christmas saying shirts tonight, Holls.
Holly
I like my shirts.
Hadley
We know, but wear something else. Gotta go. See you soon.