Chapter 14
14
HOLLY
A s I walk toward the corner office, a strange sense of calm washes over me. If somebody had told me two weeks ago that today I would be at my sexy older boyfriend’s Christmas party with a quarter of the town in attendance, I would have freaked out from an overload of nervousness.
But James knows exactly how to calm me down. He found a dress for me that looks great. He continually assures me that he wants to be with me no matter what. Heck – he’s going to donate part of his garage and garden to my crafting efforts.
There’s no doubt about it: he’s a keeper. A gorgeous, funny, slightly food-obsessed, mild-mannered (except in the bedroom), sexy-as-heck keeper.
So now, I’m going to have to be the least shy and quiet version of myself for the next hour and prove to James that I can be the girlfriend of the police officer in Old Hemlock Valley.
Wait. No.
James already believes in me. I need to prove it to myself .
We reach his office, and I quickly tidy up the things I left in there, stuffing my clothes into the gift bag and tucking my purse and boots under the desk.
“What’s all this about?” I ask.
“It’s my annual bonus and gift. It’s always given to me by a different Wolfe on behalf of the town. I guess this year, it’s Kellan.”
The door is half open, yet there’s still a quick tap before it swings open. “Hey, James.”
“Kellan, great to see you sir. Happy holidays.”
They shake hands, then James turns to me. “I’d like you to meet Holly Barnett.”
“Lovely to meet you, Holly.”
“Wonderful to meet you as well.” I shake his hand firmly. “James has mentioned that your family is extremely involved with the town. I’m personally very impressed to see how much you all buy from the bakery, now that I’m working there. I thank you for your devotion to our cinnamon rolls.”
He gives my hand a quick squeeze before releasing it, laughing heartily. “The devotion is only this extreme during the holidays when we’re dropping in on everyone for coffee. Things will be more balanced in the new year, I promise.”
Shaking my head, I wave him off. “I hope not. All that cinnamon is detoxing my system. I’m going to be healthy as a horse living up here.”
He laughs again, nodding to James. “Little fireball, this one. I like her.”
James grins. “That seems to be the general consensus, yes.”
“So – you’re a baker,” Kellan says. “Where are you from?”
“Not just a baker. I’ve been a server in Kingsville, a long-term caregiver in Charlotte, a bartender in Nashville, and I make candles and hand-painted crafts anywhere I can find an art table.”
“Candles!” Kellan snaps his fingers. “That’s what I should get Mom next year. I’m always scrambling to find gifts she’d like.”
“Well, just give me a shout once the busy-ness of the holidays dies down for you. I’d love to design a whole set of candles with her favorite flowers, fragrances, dried fruit. Maybe cinnamon and orange slices for the holidays.” I shoot James a sideways glance. “I bet I could even embed tiny sugar cookies or candy canes if I could trust that someone wouldn’t eat them all before I was finished.”
Kellan laughs again. “She’s already got you figured out.” He pulls an envelope from his inner jacket pocket. “Thanks for another great year, James. The entire town is grateful for all you do.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m grateful for the best job I’ve ever had.”
Kellan nods to both of us. “We can’t stay long. Family business. I have to drag my brothers away. Enjoy the party.” He turns to leave, then grins back at me. “Welcome to town, Holly. Have fun keeping this one on his toes.”
As soon as the door closes, my heart leaps into my throat and I leap into the arms of my man. “Baby, you’re so funny,” James murmurs in my ear as he holds me close, the full lengths of our bodies pressing together. “All the Wolfes are going to love you. Just like the entire town is going to love you.”
I can sense what he’s thinking. James loves me. I already know that I’m in love with him. It just doesn’t feel right to say it in his office.
Mmm… it only takes a few seconds and a slight wiggle of my hips to feel a tantalizing shift in his crisp dark pants. Part of me cannot wait to get back to his place for some alone time, now that I have this newfound confidence. But there’s a job to do first.
“Well, I haven’t met the entire town yet. We should probably do another round of the party. And you’ll want to hit that buffet.”
“Of course.”
His wall calendar makes me realize something. “Oh!” I step back. “I totally forgot: Christmas is only a few days away. If you have family things, or commitments with your friends, I’m happy staying home. I can plan new ideas and designs for spring candles?—”
He snorts. “Are you kidding? You’re coming with me, my sweet Christmas angel.”
I hold back a sigh of relief. Of course I’d rather be with him, if possible. “Where, exactly? What do you do for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?”
He laughs. “I’ve been invited to…let’s see…thirteen Christmas Eve parties, eight Christmas lunches, six afternoon drop-in buffets, and nine Christmas dinners. Oh, and Jace Wolfe’s birthday party.”
Does my face look as frozen as it feels? “That’s…a lot .”
He shrugs. His sharp suit jacket makes his shoulders look even wider than when he’s wearing his uniform. “Everyone knows I adore food, and until last week I was a long-time bachelor. I keep a list and alternate every few years so that I end up visiting people every two or three years.”
“That’s wild.”
“What’s really wild is that this year I’ll get to show off my gorgeous girlfriend.” He stares at a spot on the wall behind me for a moment. “Maybe we’ll prioritize hitting up the shindigs that will have women your age there. Make some friends right off the bat? Sound good?”
Nodding, I don’t trust myself to speak. My throat is closing up. It’s touching that he’d think of that.
James and I go back out for the rest of the party. Although I’m really trying to pay attention and remember everyone’s name, I’m honestly just counting the minutes until he takes me home.
On the drive, his left hand grips the wheel, while his right massages my knee, my thigh, the back of my neck…
“Aren’t you supposed to keep both hands on the wheel when you’re driving on snow?” I tease.
“If you only knew how tempted I am to take you right now, here in the truck.” He shoots me a wicked grin. “Or outside.”
“Too cold. Maybe in the summer.”
We pull into his driveway and he rushes around to help me out, holding me close. “Woot! You just said again that you’re going to be here until the summer.”
He kisses me hard, letting me feel his hunger. Just as I begin to get breathless, the wind picks up, and we rush inside. We’ve barely shrugged off our coats before he grabs me, clasping my hands and looking deep into my eyes.
“Holly, I love you. I know it’s bizarre that everything is happening so fast between us, and I don’t want to scare you off by saying that, but it’s true, so I have to tell you.”
I’ve never seen James look nervous. And of me? That’s ridiculous. He must know how I feel about him. But then again, I guess it’s different hearing things said out loud.
My hands gently cup the sides of his face, stroking his beard. “I love you too.” His eyes light up. “I think just because it’s fast doesn’t mean it isn’t right.”
“I love that you are wise beyond your years.”
“I love that you’re still playful and silly at your age.”
“Hey now! That makes me sound old.” He scowls, then jumps up, lifting me with an arm around my waist and marching us to the bedroom. “With the amount of raw lust you conjure up in me, I’m going to be young forever. That’s an anti-aging tonic, right?”
It’s impossible to stop laughing as we tumble onto the bed, slowly and teasingly undressing each other. He unzips my dress. I undo his holly tie, draping it over the headboard. Our hands start to move more quickly, getting in each other’s way.
Once we’re completely undressed, he turns on the dim bedside lamp and we slip under the covers.
It’s hard to believe that I’m somewhat comfortable with this huge, muscular, naked older man. James is beyond gorgeous. He’s striking. His bone structure. His incredible warm, deep brown eyes. In a sea of people where everyone kind of blends together, he is noticeable – even without his uniform.
“So beautiful,” he murmurs. Thick, warm fingers skim around my collarbone, my throat, and his lips drop to softly suck on my nipples.
I moan loudly, letting him know how incredible it feels. My hand slips down to grip his hard shaft, stroking gently just as his hand slips between my legs.
After the first time we slept together, I wondered if James was huge, or if it was just that I was inexperienced. A quick internet search on statistics and measurements indicated that James is…much larger than average. Must be all the healthy mountain air.
The big, warm hand gently stroking my pussy is making me so wet that my hips are already squirming. Moving my hand slowly up and down his length, my head falls against his chest. I’m practically grinding against his hand, overwhelmed by his heat, his scent, the way his sweetness tempers the waves of spicy lust that roll off him as he stares at me.
I gasp when he flips me onto my back, then again when he shifts down, sliding his tongue straight through my quivering pussy.
“Delicious,” he growls, the vibrations against my clit making my entire body pulse. My hands grip his hair, pulling him closer. “Come on my mouth,” he commands, slipping a thick finger inside me, latching his lips onto my swollen button.
I love that he gets straight down to business and is even a bit bossy in the bedroom. If he already knows how to ignite every cell in my body after just a few days, what is he going to be able to do to me in a month? A year? His clean-cut, small town police officer persona drops whenever we’re naked, revealing the lusty mountain man side that I’m also already in love with.
The broken growl between my thighs makes me moan, and I pull his hair a little as I rock my hips, grinding against his tongue while staring into his expressive brown eyes.
I’ve never been this open with anyone. Mind, body, soul.
His eyes light up, realizing how close I am to the edge, and he adds a second finger. It’s so intense having his lips in such an intimate place. It’s also intense to realize that he already knows me and reads my body language perfectly, bringing me to the precipice, then easing back, teasing me over and over.
Just when he generates so much heat in my lower belly that I know I’m about to explode, I give his hair another tug. The lashing of his tongue against my flesh grows stronger, his fingers moving faster, filling and stretching me, and my head tips back with a shaky, weak scream.
If this is the beginning of our life together, I’ll have to start eating as much as James does to keep up my energy.