Chapter 11
We eat our desserts and watch the movie, commenting occasionally about bits that we especially like.
When I’m finished with the brownie, I set the bowl on the coffee table, and as I lean back, Nick puts his arm around my shoulder and snuggles me against him.
I fold my legs to my right, where Rudy slides closer and rests a hand on my knee.
After a while, when I change position to stretch my legs, Rudy draws me over to his side, tucking me against his chest. It’s lovely watching the movie cuddling with both of them, and by the end, I’m as grateful as the Grinch for the companionship I’m currently enjoying.
I hadn’t been admitting it to myself, but I was dreading the prospect of a lonely holiday season, and so far, I’m anything but.
At some point during the last few scenes, Rudy starts stroking my arm, and when the credits roll, he nuzzles his nose against my hair. “You smell good,” he says, pulling me closer.
“I do? I probably smell like a brownie.”
His laughter is a low rumble. “You do smell good enough to eat.”
He continues to caress me, and when he angles me toward him, giving me the idea that he’s preparing to go in for a kiss, I pull back. “I want to be open with you. I … went out with the Winter brothers this weekend.”
Rudy stiffens, but it’s such a slight movement that I might not have noticed if I wasn’t so close to him. “Okay,” he says after a beat, his voice even.
I glance over at Nick, to make sure he heard me, too, and he nods once, another small movement. Then he reaches a hand to cover my knee. “It’s not surprising that you’re in demand.”
“That’s nice of you to say. I just want you both to be aware of what’s going on, and I hope you’re okay with it. I don’t want to deceive anyone.”
“Of course, we’re still getting to know each other, but we already know enough about you to know you wouldn’t deceive us,” Rudy says. “You need to figure out who’s best for you, and we hope that’s us.”
On the surface, it already seems clear who’s best suited for me, but I suppose the whole point of dating is to dig deeper and really get to know people.
Nick rubs my knee, letting his hand move up a couple of inches further. “Can I kiss you, Holly?”
I nod and lean toward him as he comes in close. His lips press lightly to mine, once, twice, and then he caresses my cheek and settles in for a longer kiss.
It’s been quite cozy nestled between the two men on the couch, but now I’m filled with the kind of warmth that originates on the inside.
Nick’s touch is gentle but firm. He strokes my arm and urges me closer as he takes the kiss deeper, and suddenly, there’s a hunger deep in my belly that isn’t about food.
It’s a new experience to feel so warm and comfortable kissing someone, while also being so turned on by them. I don’t feel like I’m about to burst into flames like I do when the Winter brothers kiss me—it’s more like warm embers, burning steadily without being volatile or flashy.
While I’m kissing Nick, Rudy rubs my back, and eventually, he turns me his way and takes over from his brother, giving me a few tender kisses before pulling back to look into my eyes. His gorgeous green eyes are smiling, drawing me back to him.
I stroke my fingers over his thick beard and lean in for more.
Nick and Rudy are respectful, almost too much so, but maybe they just seem that way after my encounters with the Winter brothers. Not that the Winters have been disrespectful, but they’ve made no secret of what they want from me.
After a few blissful minutes, Rudy tucks me back under his arm. “Want to watch another movie?” He nods toward the TV, where Arthur Christmas automatically started after The Grinch ended, and is well underway. “I could start this over, or we could choose another.”
“I’d probably better go. I have work tomorrow, and I suppose you do, too?”
Nick nods once. “We do. Mondays are always busy, too.”
As the three of us get up, Trixie and Sammy do, too. They’d been napping on a dog bed nearby, but they look like they’re ready to go to bed for the night. I tell the dogs goodbye, and tell Nick and Rudy that I hope I get to meet Jameson next time I come over.
“No promises that he’ll come out, but we’ll have you over again very soon,” Nick says. As I walk toward the door, he stops in place. “Wait, I’ll be right back.”
When he returns less than a minute later, he hands me two big brownies, wrapped to go. Then I’m treated to two sets of goodbye kisses sweeter than the desserts I’m holding.
When I was with the Winter brothers, I felt bad about nearly forgetting about the Frosts, but now the situation is reversed. At the moment, my favorite set of brothers seems to be whoever I’m with at the time.