Chapter 4
Chapter Four
HOLLIS
Kindred huffs an annoyed breath as she pushes papers around on my desk. She’d come up to my house to have me sign off on a few things and grab the contract I’d read over.
“It’s there,” I tell her as something catches my eye on the television screen I have mounted in my home office. I’ve never been a big television person, but this one shows all the cameras on the property. I had them installed last year.
There isn't really crime in New Hope. It was more because I was bored and one of the locals, Samuel, started up his own security company. He’s young but driven. I invested a small amount of money to help him really get on his feet.
I have no intention of ever collecting on it.
I’ll let him pay me back if he pushes, which he likely will, but then I’ll step back.
I don’t need to own a percentage of his company.
I actually felt good that I could help him.
It’s different from the other projects I invest in in the corporate world. I’ve done it for a few others in town.
These things also help the town to grow and thrive.
A few more shops have been able to open up.
That's good business for everyone, creates jobs, and makes New Hope more of a lure during the holidays. Tourism is good for everyone, and it’s nice that it’s seasonal so the town can fall back into its own quiet ways during the off-season.
I watch a woman walk through the gates at the bottom of my driveway. I always leave them open. They were there when I’d bought the place. It was meant for the mayor, but it had worn down in time. I had one of the local construction companies come in and give the place a full refresh.
What the hell is this girl doing? A light dusting of snow has started to coat the stone drive. She’s going to slip and hurt herself, whoever she is.
“Did they get the sensors for the heated driveway fixed?” I ask Kindred, who is now over by one of the filing cabinets.
“They’re coming tomorrow,” Kindred says without glancing up.
I keep watching the screen, starting to grow restless for some reason. Whoever this girl is, she’s a tiny thing. I want to zoom in, but why when I can go see for myself? I leave Kindred to wrap up with whatever the hell she is searching for, making my way to the entryway.
When I pull the door open, she’s already almost to the porch that covers the front of the house. White Christmas lights are wrapped around the pillars and flicker on.
She pauses when she catches sight of me. Her eyes widen. They’re an icy blue encased in thick lashes. Her mouth parts open and then closes.
Neither of us says a word. I’m still struck speechless with how breathtakingly beautiful she is.
She might be small, but you can see the outline of her curves even through her jacket.
What is even more eye-catching is her hair.
It’s so blond that it’s almost white like the fresh falling snowflakes.
That paired with her creamy skin makes her eyes stand out even more.
“Oh, you must be the party planner,” I hear Kindred say from behind me. "Your mom works fast." Kindred laughs. Yes, she does. It makes me think she already had the girl on the way here before I ever agreed. "I'm Kindred." She steps past me, holding out her hand. "Hollis’s fiancée."
"Fiancée?" the girl asks tentatively. Her voice is soft and sweet, and may I say, innocent? She sounds like I imagine an angel would. The hell? Am I losing it?
"Oh right, we haven't told anyone about the engagement yet. Please don't tell Mary."
"I won't." Those blue eyes bounce between mine and then to Kindred. I have to fight the urge to not order her to focus them back on me.
"What is your name again? I don't think Mary told us. Just that she was sending a party planner from the city."
"I'm Gwen." She takes Kindred's hand. Gwen can’t be more than twenty-one at best. Her full cheeks and dusting of freckles make her appear younger. Okay, maybe I’m saying a silent prayer that she is twenty-one so that I don’t feel like a creep with my cock hardening the more of her that I take in.
"Come in, come in," Kindred encourages her. I stand there like a dumbass as they pass by me into the house. Gwen glances back toward me, quickly jerking her head back around when she sees that I'm still watching.
I close the door and quickly follow them like a lost kitten. My mother might have gotten one right. It hits me at this moment that Kindred told her she was my fiancée. Fuck me, that's not good. I find myself wishing I could go back in time to before I asked Kindred to agree to fake it.
“Is this the only bag you brought?” Kindred asks her. “Or did you leave them at a hotel? It was my understanding you’re staying here.” She motions for Gwen to take a seat on the overdone stuffy couch in the parlor. It’s a room that no one ever uses.
“This is all I brought. I wasn’t planning to be here long.”
“But you’re planning the party and will attend.” I speak for the first time before I can think about what I’m fully saying. Why is she trying to leave so quickly? Furthermore, why does that irritate me?
“I suppose we could play it by ear.” She finally turns those eyes back on me but only for a brief moment.
Her full cheeks start to tint a soft shade of pink.
If I thought my cock was hard before, now it’s painfully uncomfortable.
Never in my life have I had such a visceral reaction to another human being.
I didn’t think it was possible for me, but Gwen here has shot that all to shit in a matter of seconds.
“Whatever works for you.” Kindred gives her a bright smile.
“I ah—” Those eyes flick to me again, and her tongue comes out, wetting her bottom lip. “I suppose I could stay here.”
“Then, it’s settled,” I say before minds can be changed. There was no way in hell I was going to allow her to leave anyway. Her agreement to stay makes this a whole lot easier. Now I don’t have to buy out the bed-and-breakfast and make sure there is not a room available in a hundred mile radius.
“Hollis. Let her be. She can stay wherever she’s more comfortable.” Kindred nudges me with her elbow. I didn’t miss the way she was looking at me either. Like I’d lost my mind for pushing Gwen to stay here. “Don’t pay attention to him.” She gives her another smile.
There’s no way in hell I can allow this perfect creature to leave my presence. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.