Chapter Twenty-Three
He was deflated.
Colin thought about leaving the Christmas card and ornament on Holly’s doorstep, but he was afraid the wind and weather would get to them first. Plus, there was a selfish part of him that wanted to witness her opening them.
He wanted to see her eyes light up. He wanted to see her amazing, wondrous smile. Nobody had a smile like hers. It warmed him from the inside out.
He would wait to give her the gifts because when he finally saw her, he wanted to walk up to her and pull her into his arms and…
His thoughts screeched to a stop as he pulled up in front of his house and saw Holly standing there. This was his chance. His chance to play out his fantasy, instead of just thinking about it.
He barely pulled off the road. There was no time for perfect parallel parking. He wasn’t even sure he’d turned off the engine as he hopped out of the pickup. His heart was pounding so hard it echoed in his ears, drowning out any other sounds.
He rushed up the steps, taking them two at a time. How could he not? Holly was standing at the top of them with that smile of hers that caused his heart to beat out of rhythm.
“Colin, I…”
He didn’t stop to think that this could be the biggest mistake of his life. He didn’t let himself think that he might end up losing any sort of relationship with Holly.
Instead, he wore his heart on his sleeve. Her mouth gaped when he took her into his arms. “Holly Berry, I love you.”
He dipped his head and claimed her lips with his own. At first, she didn’t move. He worried that perhaps he’d taken things too fast and scared her away. But then her lips moved beneath his.
He tightened his hold on her, drawing her closer. Her hands wrapped around the back of his neck as she kissed him back. His heart thump-thumped hard against his ribs. This moment with her lips on his was so much better than anything his mind could have dreamed up.
“Arf! Arf!”
Tater Tot picked that moment to grow bored. He jumped up between them. The moment was ruined, but it left the promise that there were more kisses to come.
Colin looked down at the pup. “You have terrible timing.”
Holly let out a laugh. It was a melodious sound. It was a sound he wanted to hear the rest of his life.
When he saw Holly was shivering, it prompted him to unlock the front door and get them inside. His three dogs barked their greeting. Tater Tot joined in the dog chorus.
“Enough!” When they didn’t listen, he said, “Quiet!”
His three went silent, leaving Tater Tot barking a solo. Holly shushed him. Tater wanted down, and he wouldn’t quiet until his feet touched the floor.
Colin turned his attention back to Holly. He was waiting for her to say something about his proclamation. And yet, she remained quiet. Did this mean that she didn’t feel the same way?
The thought made his heart still in his chest. But then he thought about her kissing him. She wouldn’t have done that unless she felt something for him. Maybe it was because he’d done the one thing he’d been trying to avoid—he’d rushed her.
So, where did things go from here? He wanted to ask her, but he didn’t dare. He’d pushed her enough for one day. The fact that she was still in his house had to be a good sign.
After they took off their coats and boots, he led her to a couch in the living room. He sat down next to her. “What brought you here?” When she jumped up and headed toward the door, he followed her. “Where are you going?”
She didn’t say anything as she opened the front door. In stocking feet, she stepped out onto the porch. A second later, she returned with a basket and a gift bag.
She smiled at him. “These are for you.”
“Hold that thought for a moment.” He slipped on his boots and rushed outside.
It was snowing out. Maybe he should have paused to put on his coat. Then again, nah. He just had to grab her gifts from his pickup. His stomach knotted. What if she didn’t like them? Maybe he should have gone with something more romantic like roses and chocolates. Wait. No. That was Valentines.
With the card in one hand and the ornament in the other, he bounded up the porch steps and inside the house. He pushed the door closed.
Holly stepped up to him and lifted up on her tiptoes. She brushed the snow from his hair and then his shoulders. Then she stared into his eyes, causing his heart to slam into his chest. For a moment, he thought she was going to kiss him. Instead, she pulled back.
He slipped off his boots. “Let’s go in the living room. I’ll start the fireplace.”
He’d had a gas fireplace installed, so all it took was the flip of a switch to ignite the gas. Flames danced over the ceramic logs. It wouldn’t take long until the room warmed up.
He joined Holly on one of the couches. “Now what were you saying?”
She held out a basket heaped with goodies. “Here you go.”
He smiled as he took it from her. “How did you know I was craving carrots?” He picked up one of the snack packs. “And salmon slivers?”
“They aren’t for you, silly.” She smiled and shook her head.
“They aren’t?” He feigned a pout.
“No. They are for the furbabies.”
“Well, thank you. They’re going to love all of those goodies.” He got up. He placed the basket up on a shelf, out of reach of the dogs, and then returned to his spot on the couch.
“Go ahead,” he said. “Open one of your gifts.”
Holly hesitated. “Maybe we should save them for Christmas morning.”
Colin shook his head. “We have other things to do on Christmas.”
“We do?” She sent him a confused look. “Such as?”
“You’re invited to my parents’ for Christmas day.”
“What? But I can’t. I don’t want to intrude.”
“You won’t intrude. They invited you.”
“But I… I don’t have a gift for them.”
Colin moved to the Christmas tree and knelt down. He picked up the basket Holly had put together for him to give to his mother. With it in his arms, he straightened. “You can give her this.”
She was quiet for a moment, most likely figuring out another excuse for not going. She could try, but he was going to keep countering every one of her worries. This Christmas, she wasn’t going to be alone.
“But what will you give your mother?”
“I picked up a little something while I was shopping today. Now, it’s settled. You’re going to spend Christmas with the Bishops.” He looked at the presents he’d gotten her. “Open the little one.”
She unwrapped it as though she were going to reuse the wrapping paper.
He sat back and let her do it her way. He was in absolutely no rush.
He wanted this evening to go on forever.
It didn’t get any better than this with the two of them together, surrounded by the furbabies, as the falling snow coated Kringle Falls in a fresh layer of fluffiness.
Holly held up the ornament. It dangled from her finger. “It kind of looks like Tater Tot. And you had it personalized. Aww… thank you. I will always cherish it because it’ll remind me of this very special Christmas.”
“Now, open the big one.”
She looked at the giant envelope leaning against the back of the couch. “Is that really a card?”
“Open it and find out.”
She opened the envelope and then pulled out the two feet by three feet card with a snowman on the front. The sight of it made her smile. “He’s adorable. But why is it so big?”
“You’ll see. Open it.”
And so she did. She gasped. There were notes and signatures over every inch of paper.
Her wide-eyed stare moved to him. “I can’t believe you did this. What did you do? Stand in the middle of the street and accost everyone to sign it?”
“Of course not. People heard about what happened with Roger and Billie Jean. They wanted you to know that you always have family and people who have your back.”
Holly kept reading the notes on the card. When she glanced at him, there were tears in her eyes. “Thank you. I’ll never feel alone again.”
“No, you won’t.” He moved closer and leaned toward her. “Because you will always have me.” Then he gave her a brief kiss.
When she leaned back, she said, “It’s your turn to open your presents.”
He picked up the decorative bag. He started to open the card, but Holly redirected him to the gifts.
He loved the journal and pens. He’d never thought about writing down some of his experiences with the animals and sometimes their owners.
He had some interesting stories to jot down. He’d definitely work on it.
And then it was time for the card. He wondered why she’d made him wait until the end to open it. He pulled out the card with the simple wreath on the front. He opened it and started to read:
Colin,
You were the boy-next-door who stole my heart with your warm laugh, your generous spirit, and the way you made me feel seen. I don’t know if you knew it, but I had the biggest crush on you.
I thought I’d gotten over it, and then you helped me with Tater Tot. You haven’t changed since you were a kid. You still have the biggest heart. And I’ve found myself falling for you all over again.
It was a long way to say that I love you. I loved you as a kid, and now I love you as a woman. And I hope you have a very special Christmas.
Love, Holly
His gaze rose to meet hers. “You do?”
She smiled and nodded. “I love you.”
He breathed his first full breath since his big confession to her. “That’s good. I was starting to worry that I’d made a mistake with my big show of sweeping you off your feet.”
Her smile broadened. “Not at all. It was very romantic.”
“Good. I have one more present for you.”
“Another?”
He got to his feet and held his hand out to her. She placed her hand in his, and he helped her to her feet. He led her over to the Christmas tree. He took a sprig of mistletoe from the tree and held it over their heads.
“You’re standing under the mistletoe.” He grinned at her.
“I guess this means I better kiss you.”
“Yes, it does. I might be taking out stock in the company that sells mistletoe. I’m going to need some year-round.”
“Oh hush and kiss me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He ducked his head and pressed his lips to hers.