Guy Next Door Romance Collection
HOLLEE
Chapter One
Crash!
That’s the front wall of my house collapsing. Followed by the creak and smash of the Christmas tree toppling over.
My very big, very cute, perfectly decorated tree.
Running downstairs from my office - I work from home as an illustrator - my living room is in ruins. Bricks everywhere, a slowly rising cloud of dust and daylight streaming in from a huge hole where a truck smashed through the wall.
The driver, a slightly shaken old man, gets out slowly. The front half of the truck is crumpled but the back, which is towing a giant inflatable reindeer, is undamaged.
It turns out he’s fine, but he’d apparently forgotten his glasses, got lost and then listened to the GPS a little too literally, taking a right turn - right into my house.
The truck-driving company, Speedy Santas, are great, contacting my insurance company and sorting out a new place for me to stay in record time.
Since it will take at least two months to repair the damage to my house, I accept a temporary place to stay about an hour’s drive from the city, in the famously festive little town of Snowflake Falls.
I’ve sized down a lot since my ex moved to Australia two years ago, so I move my prized possessions out without too much hassle.
Three days later, I’m standing in my new place surrounded by boxes. However I’ve forgotten the one essential - coffee and lots of it - that will help to get through the next few days without cracking up. I stare at the coffee cups.
“Hollee, what are you doing in there? I need caffeine, stat!”
That’s my little brother Noel. He’s like the polar opposite of me - tall, dark blond and muscly. And yes, our parents have a sense of humour and a love of everything Christmas-related, hence our names.
Noel is helping me move, although since he’s always worn out from his work as a dog trainer he has to have regular breaks. So right now he’s mostly texting his friends, demanding coffee and drooling over my jaw-droppingly hot new next door neighbour.
Oh yes. The guy next door.
One of the unexpected perks of having to suddenly up sticks and move is that my old neighbour, a dead ringer for Mr. Burns, has been replaced by a guy who’s like a burly alpha version of a dark Christmas angel.
When we were bringing the boxes up to the front door - well I was hoisting them in and Noel was texting in the front seat of my car - my hair blew into my eyes and I was momentarily blinded.
Not wanting to slip or drop the box I was carrying, I stood still trying to work out what to do when a shadow fell on me. I stared straight into a muscly chest clad in a dark blue denim shirt, while muscular forearms and big hands grabbed the box I was barely carrying before it fell.
He handed the box back to me as I peeked through my hair at him. My gaze traveled up past incredibly broad shoulders to a square jaw, sparkling deep blue eyes and dark hair neatly trimmed at the back and sides but almost falling into his eyes at the front.
My belly did a backflip as I said thanks. From what I glimpsed through my hair he let himself into the house next door.
Holy. Freakin’. Holidays. The man is fine. I get lost in a daydream about my next-door neighbour’s perfect arms and chest.
Right, now I’m getting distracted. Who am I kidding? I’m terminally single and he’s probably coupled up or married.
I shake my head. Time for a venti gingerbread latte with whipped cream.
“Be right back - getting coffee,” I shout to Noel as I grab my coat, hat and pull the door closed. One of the advantages of my new house was it was around the corner from a cute-as-pie coffee shop.
Huffing my breath to make clouds in front of me, I set out, glad of my warm boots on the snow even though the soles don’t have much grip. The cozy, multicolored lights decorating the outside of the coffee shop bring a glow to my heart.
Seems they love Christmas here in Snowflake Falls just as much as I do. It’s a family thing; my mom always makes it so special and we wheel out the same traditions every year.
Except this one. My parents won a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas cruise so it’s me and Noel fending for ourselves this year. I had literally just finished decorating for our pared-back sibling holiday at home when that damn truck bust through my wall.
The Peppermint is my new neighbourhood’s answer to a hipster coffee place. It’s also tiny, so there’s a queue out the door. I spot a tall, dark and extremely handsome man waiting in line.
Oh wow.
It’s the guy from next door. Not that I know his name. But I recognise his perfect ass. Those broad shoulders, floppy dark hair and the bulge in the front of his jeans. My cheeks heat up.
I keep my head down, embarrassed I’m wearing my silliest pom pom hat over wild fluffy hair and the ridiculous reindeer boots. Maybe I’ll stealthily slip behind him in the queue and admire his butt from a distance like a creeper.
I’m closer now, close enough to discreetly fall into line behind him...except I slip on a patch of ice - damn boots - and go sliding on my knees straight into him, ending up face first in his magnificent crotch.
Smooth moves, Hollee.