HOLLEE
Chapter Three
“Thanks for the help with my box earlier.”
Oh crappy candy canes, I can’t believe I said that. He suddenly cracks a devastating sideways grin that leaves me dazzled.
“My pleasure. How’s the house?” he asks.
“It’s great, smaller than I’m used to but really cosy.
I’m not sure how I’m going to fit a tree through the front door though, it’s tiny!
” I pull my stupid pom pom beanie off my head and ruffle through my hair with my fingers.
Tannen is making unflinchingly direct eye contact and those dark blue eyes are making me nervous.
“Well, trees are a speciality of mine,” he pauses as the queue shuffles forward, guiding me in front of him. Even through my puffy jacket there’s an instant warm spark as his big hand guides the small of my back. “I have a few spares out in the backyard if you’d like to come and pick one.”
“Love to.” I’m not concentrating on what I’m doing and neither of us realize the queue has moved until there’s a tut-tut noise from an older man in a baseball cap behind us.
“Hey, let me grab your coffee,” I say. It’s the least I can do for sliding into his crotch.
He shakes his head. “No, I insist. You made my morning.”
Oh my goodness, is he flirting with me? He’s giving me that unsettlingly direct gaze again which gives me butterflies inside.
He takes my order, going inside by ducking under the doorframe and I’m left speechless.
Got to get it together.
Walking back to the house - I’m being careful to not slip and spill my coffee over him - I’m conscious of his huge frame and muscular thighs striding beside me.
“So how long are you here for?” He’s looking at me again, throwing me off my stride.
Must. Not. Slip.
“Couple of months I think - should be back in my own place by February as long as they get the wall back up in my old place. A truck crashed through my living room wall - that’s why I’m here. I work from home so it’s easy for me to carry on here.”
“What do you do?” he asks.
“I’m an illustrator - mainly for websites but I do cards and books too.”
He’s still looking at me, so I keep talking. “It’s going to be a strange Christmas for me - usually we have all the same family traditions but not this year.”
“How come?” He’s genuinely curious to find out why.
“My parents are on a cruise this year and I was going to do what my mom usually does at my house - until the crash. I had the same decorations, food, everything. I'll just have to replicate it in this new house I guess. There’s not a lot of time now but hopefully I’ll manage.
” I’m babbling but it’s surprisingly nice to talk to someone who’s listening so intently.
“My first step is to find a tree - it doesn’t seem like Christmas without one if you see what I mean?” I finish and shrug my shoulders.
“Well you moved in next to the right guy - I’m a tree specialist. We switch up the business during the holidays to cut down and deliver Christmas trees,” he says.
Too soon, we’re outside my house.
“Come over and check out the trees - I have them stacked in my backyard. How about in an hour?” His eyes are a wonderfully deep blue. My stomach flips. Wow.
“Perfect.” And he is.
When I open the front door my brother is already squealing with delight. He’s obviously been peeping at us through the window.
Noel is practically jumping up and down with excitement.
“You didn’t only get a latte did you, Hollee? You picked up that hot neighbour too, tell me everything...” Noel waits expectantly for an answer.
I love Noel but he has a tendency to get over excited. He'll be planning mine and Tannen’s engagement party, marriage and babies if I give him too much info. Not that I hadn’t imagined that for a moment myself, to be honest.
“Stay calm Noel, Tannen just bought me a coffee, he didn’t propose.” I widen my eyes at my excitable brother.
“Tannen? You’re on first name terms already? So… what did you offer him in return?” Noel raises an eyebrow. I throw a cushion at him while trying not to spill my coffee.
“Nothing. I did fall over and slide headfirst into his crotch though - maybe that helped,” I’m laughing and Noel joins in.
“I need to try that sometime,” he giggles. “In fact maybe I’ll go knock next door and see if he likes it!”
“Don’t you dare!” I say. “He’s really nice. He offered me a tree for in here too, I said I’d go over in an hour.”
“Oh wow, Hollee! He likes you. Maybe swap the boots and hat for something sexier?” Noel grins at me.
“What are you saying? These boots are hot.”
Noel raises one eyebrow. I give in. “Okay then RuPaul, come and advise me what to wear.”
“He’s not going to be able to resist once I’ve styled you. I’ve got 30 minutes before I have to pick up six dogs so let’s get motoring. And by the way I found the coffee packed with your bathroom stuff, you dork.” Noel runs upstairs, suddenly full of energy.
I may have already had coffee in the house, but that trip to Peppermint was definitely worth it for the conversation with Tannen. I just hope Noel doesn’t make me look like one of his poodles on show day.
I go upstairs, my head full of thoughts of Tannen. I’m not imagining it, there was more than a spark between us. It was closer to a whole big sled’s worth of exploding firecrackers.
If this is what a deviation to my normal Christmas routine involves, I am so down for it. In every way possible.