Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
STELLA
“So much for a fun New Year’s Eve, huh?” I dropped my gaze to my lap as Heath drove us across town toward his place.
When I’d been getting ready earlier tonight, taking care with my hair and makeup, I’d been off-the-charts giddy to end one year and kick off another with Heath by my side. Now all I wanted to do was wash the glittery eye shadow from my lids and strip out of these sequined pants.
This disco ball had deflated.
Our entire week of dates had been a disaster. Was that a sign that this relationship was a mistake? Were we doomed?
“Hey.” Heath reached across the console and brushed his thumb over my cheek. “Don’t give up on the night yet. We’ve still got an hour until midnight.”
I gave him a sad smile. “Maybe you should just take me home. Then we can start fresh tomorrow.”
“No. You can start fresh from my place.” He nodded to the backseat. “Besides, you already packed.”
Actually, he’d packed. My suitcase was on the floor behind us. I’d had everything stuffed in a backpack when he’d arrived to pick me up tonight. Like the other night, the bag had been stuffed until the seams had strained. Heath had taken one look at it, then marched to my closet to drag out a suitcase.
“Okay.” I checked my phone for the hundredth time since we’d climbed in the truck.
Still nothing from Guy.
When we’d returned to the alley, Wendy had been waiting. She’d opted to stay downtown, understanding why I hadn’t been in the mood for a party. She probably would have come home with me but Heath hadn’t given her the chance to offer. After my argument with Guy, he’d spared me only a moment to hug Wendy before putting me in his truck and cranking on the heat.
In the distance, a golden firework exploded in the sky. Its tendrils faded to nothing as my eyes filled with tears.
“It hurts that he doesn’t want me to be happy,” I whispered.
“I’m sorry, baby. This is my fault.”
“No, it’s his.” A tear fell. “How can he not want me to have you?”
“Don’t cry.” His hand came to my shoulder, sliding to my neck. “Or wait until we get home so I can hold you.”
I sniffled but the battle was lost. The tears came in a steady stream, and by the time we eased into his garage, I was sure that my glitter shadow and mascara were all over my face.
Heath shut off the truck and climbed out, rounding the hood to open my door.
As he scooped me out, I buried my face in the crook of his neck and let him carry me inside. “Guy sucks.”
He chuckled. “Tonight? Yes.”
“How’s your face?” I lifted up to look at the red spot on his jaw.
“It’ll be fine. Not the first time I’ve been punched.”
“Really? Who else has hit you?” And how did I not know about this?
“Tobias and Maddox when we were kids.” He shrugged. “Brothers fight.”
“Oh.” I dropped my head to his shoulder again. “Guy and I don’t really fight.”
“He’ll deal. When he sees that we’re serious, he’ll come around.”
“You’re right. But in the meantime, I’m going to give him the silent treatment. The jerk. I mean... you’re his best friend. How could he even say that stuff about you? Doesn’t that piss you off? That he would think you’re bad for me? Because it pisses me off.”
A surge of anger streaked through my veins. Anger was good. It dried up the tears, and as Heath set me on the end of his bed, I harrumphed and crossed my arms over my chest. “He doesn’t get to talk about you like that.”
“Defending my honor?” Heath slid off one of my shoes.
“Yes.”
“It’s sexy as hell.” His fingers skimmed my ankle before he moved to the other shoe, taking it off and tossing it aside. Then his hands trailed up my legs, moving for the waistband of my pants.
If anger had beaten out the sadness, lust was going to kick anger’s ass.
I lifted a hand to Heath’s hair, messing up the strands that he’d combed earlier. “Will you kiss me at midnight?”
“Stupid question, Stell.”
I fisted his hair, giving it a yank. “Are you teasing me?”
“Always.” He chuckled and shifted closer, walking on his knees before brushing his lips to mine. “All of your midnight kisses are mine. New Year’s Eve or not. You’re mine. ”
Mine . That was a word I’d listen to on repeat as long as it came from his deep voice.
I leaned in, wanting another kiss, but he backed away and a look of concern marred his handsome features. “What?”
“About the thing in college. When Guy told me, it shocked the hell out of me. I wasn’t sure what to say. I should have brought it up this week, but... every time I think about it, I get mad. I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
“It’s okay.” I took his hand off my knee, lacing our fingers together. “It could have been a lot worse, and it’s behind me.”
“Should we talk about it?”
“I’ve talked about it. Guy thinks it’s a secret, but Mom knows. She encouraged me to go to therapy. It’s embarrassing that I put myself in that position. That I trusted someone who I shouldn’t have. Those emotions will probably always be there. I learned a hard lesson. But otherwise, it’s in the past.”
“If you ever want to talk, I’m here.”
“Thank you.” I leaned in for a kiss, but he denied me again.
He grinned as I frowned. “You’ll get what you’re after soon enough.”
“What are you waiting for?”
“I’m sorry I asked you to be a secret.” He cupped my face with his hands. “No more secrets.”
Something unlocked in my chest. The feeling of doubt that he really wanted me. I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that until the words were out of his mouth.
“You’re beautiful,” he said. “You’re smart. You’re hilarious, and your quirks are enchanting.”
“I don’t have quirks.”
“Disagree to agree.” He smiled. “I respect you, Stella. I can’t say that I’ve always treated women the right way. I’m not proud of it. I don’t know where this thing will go, but I’ll always respect you. ”
“I know you will.”
“No more secrets.”
I shook my head. “No more secrets.”
“I’ll talk to Dad on Monday. I’m guessing he won’t care but will ask that we don’t broadcast it in the office.”
“Fine by me.” I needed time at Holiday Homes to establish myself. I didn’t need my peers or clients thinking I was getting preferential treatment because I was dating Heath.
“Good.” This time when I leaned in, he met me in the middle for the kiss I wanted.
The kiss that erased the tension from the night. The kiss that assured me there’d be no more hiding. The kiss that promised it would be okay.
That one kiss led to another and another until we were connected in every way. Breathless, skin against skin, it was at midnight with Heath buried inside of me that I stopped crushing on Heath Holiday.
And fell in love with him instead.
“You know what I don’t know about you?” Heath asked as we stood in the kitchen the next morning.
“What?”
“How do you like your coffee? I should know. I’ve seen you get some at work. But I was too busy staring at your ass to remember if you added cream or sugar.”
“Cream and sugar.”
“Sweet.” He pulled me into his chest. “Like you. I should have guessed.”
The coffee pot brewed on the counter beside us.
We’d slept in this morning because he’d kept me up late. I’d woken in his arms and after he’d made love to me again, we’d hopped in the shower before dressing in sweats. Heath had asked me to spend the day here. Just the two of us.
As the start of a new year went, this one was the best I’d ever had.
“What should we have for break?—”
The doorbell rang, cutting him off.
He grumbled. “So much for our day alone.”
“What if we just ignored it?”
“Good plan.” We stood motionless, our gazes aimed in the direction of the door.
The doorbell rang again, not just once, but five times.
“There’s only one person who does that.” Guy . I looked up to Heath’s jaw. There was a faint bruise forming but the stubble disguised most of it. “We can ignore him.”
“Your call, baby.”
My nostrils flared. “I don’t want him to wreck our day. But I want to hear what he has to say.”
“All right.”
“We’ll give him five minutes. Either he apologizes in those minutes or we boot him into the snow.”
“I’ll do the booting.”
I laughed. “Piece of chocolate cake.”
Heath opened his mouth but instead of correcting me, he simply smiled. “I love chocolate cake.”
“Me too. Let’s make one later.”
“As long as you do the baking.”
“You got it.”
He let me go and took my hand, walking us to the door. He opened it, but stepped aside so I could take the lead.
Guy stood on the porch.
With Wendy.
“Hi.” I smiled at her, then glared at my brother. “What?”
“Can we come inside?” he asked. “It’s cold out here. ”
“Then you should have brought a coat.”
“Stella.”
I waved Wendy inside. “She can come in. You can’t.”
“Morning.” Wendy pulled her lips together to hide a smile as she crossed the threshold. “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year.” I glanced between her and Guy. She had a green smoothie in her hand. Guy had another. Unlike me, he’d drank half the cup. “How did you two wind up together?”
“After you guys left last night, our party moved to another bar,” she said. “I found this idiot there, drunk. And because I’m a better person than he is, I let him sleep it off on my couch.”
“Ah.” I nodded.
“Stella.” Guy’s teeth were chattering. “Please.”
“No. You’re a jerkface, butthole loser.”
As kids, that had been the ultimate insult. I had no idea why it had popped into my head, but it did and well... it fit.
Heath’s chest shook with silent laughter.
Wendy snorted.
“I know,” Guy muttered.
“You hurt my feelings. Asshole.” So there . A grown woman’s insult.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Good.” Victory . “Now you may come inside. But mostly because I’m cold too, and you’re letting all of the heat out.”
Guy stepped inside and kicked the snow from his boots. He’d been pretty focused on me, but he risked a glance at Heath. “How’s the jaw?”
Heath shrugged. “Stella kissed it better.”
Wendy, who’d been sipping her smoothie, choked on her drink, coughing and sputtering. “Oh, God, I love this. I’m so glad neither of you are taking it easy on him.”
“I regret getting in your car last night,” Guy told her .
“Keep groveling, Marten,” Wendy ordered. “Get back on your figurative knees so we can leave these two alone to enjoy their day.”
He sighed but didn’t argue. Then he squared his shoulders and faced Heath. “I love my sister.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want her to get hurt.”
“I’m not going to hurt her.” There was such conviction in Heath’s voice.
Guy heard it. So did Wendy.
She leaned against my arm and swooned.
“Good.” Guy nodded, then faced me. “Heath’s my best friend.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want him to get hurt either.”
I nodded, my heart swelling. For such a pain in my ass, he really had a soft heart.
“I’m sorry about what I said last night.” Guy stepped closer, holding his arms out. “Forgive me?”
“Yes.” I stepped into his hug. But one sniff and I shoved him away. “You stink like the bar.”
“Wendy wouldn’t let me shower.” His stomach growled. “And all she’d give me for breakfast was this disgusting green goo.”
“It’s healthy,” she and I said in unison.
Heath stepped up and clapped Guy on the shoulder. “We were about to make breakfast. Want to stick around?”
Guy nodded. “As long as Stella’s cooking and not you.”
“I’m cooking,” I said.
“Mind if I hop in the shower?” Guy asked, sniffing his own armpit and grimacing.
“Go for it.” Heath jerked his head down the hallway toward the guest bathroom. “I’ll grab you some clothes. ”
As Guy disappeared, Wendy sighed. “My work here is done.”
“Thank you for taking him home.” I hugged her. “And bringing him here.”
“You’re welcome.”
“What are you doing today?”
“Nothing much. Why?”
“Want to stick around?”
She looked between the two of us. “You don’t mind?”
“Stay,” Heath told her.
I smiled and skipped to the kitchen to make us all breakfast. After our plates were clear and the dishwasher was running, we moved to the living room.
“Should we watch something?” Heath asked.
“I wish the last season of State of Ruin was out on Madcast,” I told Heath as we snuggled on the couch.
“Maddox gave me early access.”
I gasped and sat up straight. “And you’re just telling me this now?”
“We’ve had a busy week. There was no time for TV.”
“True.” I settled into his arms as he pulled up the wildly popular show and hit play. “It feels longer than a week.”
He held me tighter. “Because it was always supposed to be you and me, Stell.”
“Would you two shut the fuck up?” Guy barked from the recliner. “I want to watch.”
Heath responded by swiping up a toss pillow and throwing it at my brother’s face.
“I need to go home,” Guy said, swatting the pillow away, but he made no move to leave.
“I never did get into this show.” Wendy was curled into the end of a loveseat, her eyes closed as she burrowed beneath a throw blanket. “I’m taking a nap. ”
“Shh,” Guy hissed.
Heath laughed and stretched out behind me, curling an arm around me as I fit my back to his chest as the opening credits played. “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year.”
He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Do you believe it yet?”
I met his bright eyes. I saw the promise in his gaze. We’d only been together for a week. But this was the week that everything had changed.
Heath Holiday was mine.
“I believe it.”