3. Holly
3
HOLLY
T he truck rumbled down the street, the asphalt starting to be covered in snow as it steadily fell. Stefan had cranked up the heat when he saw me shivering, and now I welcomed the warmth that filled the interior. I stole glances at him as he navigated the slick roads with practiced ease.
He had a confidence about him that felt natural, not forced or fake. This man didn’t need to impress anyone. He seemed as if he just didn’t care what anyone thought and lived life the way he saw fit.
I glanced at him again, catching myself doing it frequently—too much, if I were being honest—and when his lips tipped up in a smirk, I knew he was fully aware of it.
“Do I have something on my face, or are you just admiring the view?” His smirk turned into a full grin, and I felt my face heat. Thank God it was too dark for him to see.
But regardless, I was still regretting looking his way.
“Just making sure you know where you’re going,” I lied easily. “Wouldn’t want Santa getting lost in the snow.” There was a teasing note in my voice, and when he chuckled, I knew he was aware I was just joking around.
His laugh was low and warm, and I found the sound oddly soothing. “Don’t worry, darling. I’ll get you where you need to go safely. Wouldn’t put precious cargo at risk.” His words were soft and sounded genuine, like he was being serious about getting me home safe.
We sat in comfortable silence for a few more minutes, and there I was, checking him out again and this time not even caring that he knew.
His dark stubble and inked forearms gave off more “biker” than “holiday” vibes, and the way his broad shoulders stretched the red-and-white fabric of his costume… yeah, he was walking sex. For real.
“You know,” I said, making sure to keep that teasing edge to my voice. “You don’t exactly scream ‘jolly.’ You look more like a leader of a motorcycle gang.”
His laugh was sudden and loud, like I'd caught him off guard with my comment. I was smiling from ear to ear at how relaxed I felt around him.
“Is that right?” He glanced at me and arched a brow, feigning surprise, but I saw the humor written all over his face. “Used to fix bikes for an MC in my younger days, as a matter of fact.”
“That doesn’t surprise me at all,” I said genuinely and giggled.
There was something disarming about his personality. Like the way he didn’t appear to care what I thought but still won me over and made me feel some sort of way, which I was loving.
“You wouldn’t want to take a pit stop and grab some coffee, would you?”
“You read my mind, Santa,” I joked again, but the deep, almost inaudible growl of approval that came from him had me clenching my thighs together as heat settled between them.
Before I knew it, he was pulling into the parking lot of a small diner, its windows glowing with a warm light that spilled onto the snow-covered sidewalk.
“Have you ever been here?” I asked as he turned off the engine.
“A few times. You?”
I nodded and stared up at the neon sign that flashed Patsy’s . “Yeah, more times than I’ll admit to.” I laughed and looked at him to see him staring at me with this intense expression that turned me on. “I even used to work here on the weekends when I was in high school.” I still felt his stare, even though I made myself turn back to the little coffee shop.
I realized that Stefan’s presence did things to me that were not only confusing but made me feel a type of arousal I’d never experienced before.
“Let's head inside and get warm.”
After getting out of his truck, Stefan held the glass door open for me, the familiar chime going off, and I stepped inside. The interior smelled like cinnamon and coffee—like it did all those years ago, when I was a teenager.
It was a “seat yourself” place, so we picked a little two-seater booth in the corner. Stefan ordered a black coffee, and I ordered their signature hot cocoa with peppermint whipped cream.
Stefan leaned back in the booth, and I knew he was gearing up to start a conversation. “So, Holly Berry,” he began, and I rolled my eyes.
“Original,” I grumbled, trying to sound like I was irritated, but I wasn’t.
His damned smirk was back, the one that had my pulse beating in my clit. “You
Are so cute when you’re trying to act all badass.”
I burst out laughing, unable to stop the sudden sound.
“When I was a kid, everyone around me used to call me that during the holiday season.” I left out that it got on my nerves so damn bad back then, but hearing Stefan say it in his deep-ass voice was hot as hell. “Believe me, it’s not as charming as it sounds, when your elementary school classmates turn it into an insult.”
He shrugged, looking way too sexy. “Always live by my motto.” He eyed me with that smirk in place.
“And that is?”
“Fuck everyone.” He grinned, and I did the same thing.
“I like the way you think.” Before either of us could say anything else, the waitress brought us our order. I sipped my drink, the warm sweetness settling into my bones as his stare seemed to coat me in heat on the outside.
Stefan had this way of cutting through my defenses with a mix of teasing and genuine charm that had my walls lowering even more.
We stayed in the cafe for two more drinks before making our way back to his truck. We sat there for a moment while it heated, and then we started driving again in that cozy silence, which was only interrupted when I gave him the next direction to my house.
My heavy buzz had faded, but I was still pleasantly warm in all the right places, and the weight of the day had melted away. Stefan drove through the snow-covered streets, and I was fine not speaking and just enjoyed the ride.
When we finally pulled up to my place, I turned to thank him, only for him to cut me off.
“I’d like to see you again.”
I was so taken aback by his comment for a moment that all I could do was sit there and blink.
“ If that’s something you’d like too.” The emphasis made it sound like a question, but I could hear in his tone he’d already made his mind up about it.
He leaned back in his seat, that cocky smirk still in place.
I didn’t need to think about it. I really enjoyed spending time with Stefan and wanted to see where this could go with him. “Pretty sure I’d like that too.”
He tipped his head back and laughed, his hand covering his abdomen, his Adam’s apple catching my eye, since he’d taken his fake beard off back at the bar, as his chuckle came from deep within him. “You crack me up, girl.” He stared into my eyes, grinning from ear to ear and showing off his white teeth. “You’re too fucking cute.”
My heart gave a little patter when he said that last part, and I was thankful—once again—the interior of the truck was so dark that he probably couldn’t see when he made me blush. He knew where I lived, but we hadn’t officially exchanged information, so once that was all said and done, Stefan was out of the truck, then opening the passenger side door and helping me out.
The cold air bit at my skin, but I didn’t feel as miserable as I did earlier, because Stefan wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in close to his big, muscular body.
We said our goodbyes, which lacked a goodnight kiss, and I watched as he drove away, his truck disappearing into the snowy night.
I thought about Stefan and how my terrible evening was turned into something I could confidently say was one of the best nights of my life. And it was all thanks to a man dressed as Santa, who appeared at just the right time.
I shook my head but was smiling the whole time. Because the truth was… I'd wanted to tell St. Nick to come inside and fuck the holly jollies into me.