Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
CANDY
When Hollis slipped from the bed this morning, he kissed me before getting dressed for the day. I swore I was getting up, but my stomach wasn’t up for it. He told me to rest. I hadn’t wanted to, but sleep pulled me back under.
When I open my eyes again, I know hours must have passed, and there is orange juice, water, and ginger ale all on the nightstand next to me.
Along with four different types of crackers and the little chocolates I’d gotten from the bakery, except he must have gotten more because I know I ate them all last night.
I stretch before sitting up and popping one of the chocolates into my mouth and chasing it with water.
This is one of the many things that separates Hollis from Max.
If I woke up with morning sickness, Max would have gotten aggravated because I wasn't running to the table to have breakfast with him. Everything was centered around him.
I'm not sure if it was always that way or changed with time. I know either way I was hungry for friendship and connection, making me an easy mark to manipulate, and the more I contemplate the past and put space between Max and me, the more I can see how messed up things were.
Now I'm getting increasingly angry because he's a big fat liar, but it's difficult to be very mad since his lies led me here. Still, two things can be true at once.
I flip the blanket back, slipping from the bed.
I head back to my old room to get dressed for the day.
With every step, I can feel Hollis. My face flushes thinking about him between my legs.
I’m sure that’s why they have a slight ache to them, from having been open for so long. A small giggle bubbles from me.
My heart sinks when I can’t find my stuff. I hurry back to the master and into the closet where I see all my things, along with a million and one boxes lined up. Did this happen when I was sleeping?
I peek inside one box and see a pretty red sweater, but I quickly close it. Are these mine? Why else would he have women's clothes in here? Did they belong to another woman?
I’d think he would have moved them out when he moved mine in, but I don’t think it’s another woman. I can’t see Hollis hustling one girl in after another. They still could be Christmas presents, so I avoid them, grabbing a pair of black pants and a sweater.
When I'm all dressed, I head downstairs to see that more Christmas items have arrived. They are really going all out for this holiday party. I run my hand along a giant wood sled, painted beautifully.
Laughter catches my attention, and I follow it, thinking it’s Kindred, but it’s not.
I see a tall, pretty brunette in the kitchen talking to Hollis.
He’s looking down at something, and she’s going on about the party, and it clicks who she is.
This is the woman Hollis’s mom wanted to set him up with.
She’s not only pretty but also very polished and put together in a way I’ll never be. When I’d gone with Max to a few events, I felt out of place, but now I wonder if it was him putting those thoughts into my head with the comments he’d make, correcting my etiquette.
I can’t stop the flash of jealousy I have. Hollis isn’t even doing anything wrong. The woman is talking quickly about the party while Hollis is focused on the book in front of him.
“You know your mom thought we’d be good together,” I hear her say as she steps closer to Hollis.
“Yeah,” Hollis responds, flipping the page.
“She said you’re seeing someone now, but you know how dating is. You date multiple people at a time.”
“Yeah,” he says to her again. The woman steps even closer, lifting her hand to touch his shoulder.
“So then we could—”
“What are you doing?” Hollis's head snaps up as he takes a step back.
“What do you mean? You agreed.”
Hollis must catch sight of me out of the corner of his eyes. "Candy." A smile pulls at his lips. I stupidly raise my hand and wave with my fingers.
"You agreed with her that people date multiple people," I tell him.
"Come here." I shouldn't go because I'm annoyed and hormonal, but I do. Partly because for once I'm being petty. Hollis pulls me into him when I'm within his reach. "I'm sure people do date multiples. I think. The hell if I know." He shrugs.
"I need to make a few calls," the woman says.
"Wait. Jayne, this is my fiancée, Candy." The woman's lips purse. I'm not shocked. Did he really call me his fiancée?
"It's Polly, actually." I bite the inside of my cheek so that I don't laugh. She might be rude, but I won't be.
"Right," Hollis says. I only give her a half smile, and everything gets quiet and extra awkward.
"Thought you had calls to make," he reminds her.
"Right." Polly grabs her phone off the kitchen island and turns to leave.
"She was hitting on you, and you were agreeing with her," I say the second we are alone.
"I'm sorry." He gives me a sheepish expression.
"I don't have a clue what she said. I agreed, thinking she was talking about party shit and wasn’t really paying attention.
I was reading." Hollis picks up the book, and I see it's about babies.
"I only caught up when she got close to me. I'll fire her."
"Don't do that." I sigh. "I mean, it did start with your mom wanting to set you two up," I remind him. “It's not all the girl’s fault.” It still makes me wonder what it was about Polly that made his mom think that they’d make a good couple. I barely met the woman, and I get a sense we’re nothing alike.
"I honestly forgot about that. My mom is constantly trying to match me up with someone. She's eager for grandbabies."
"Okay."
"Hey." His hand comes to my chin. "It's you I want, and I have never once even gone on a date with the women my mother tried to set me up with. Hell, I don't date, period."
“Really?” I play with the button on the front of his shirt.
“Yes, really. My father got sick around my last year of high school. I had to step up quickly. He held on for a few years. Between taking things over with his standing business deals, college, and then him passing, I was busy.” I can see the sadness around his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. My dad was a good man, and I got him for a lot more years than you got your parents.” He lifts my hand playing with his button and kisses it. “Then the accident happened.”
I lift on my tiptoes to press my mouth to his. The moment my lips part, Hollis deepens the kiss. Before I know it, I'm sitting on the kitchen island with him between my legs, my fingers tangled in his hair.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
Hollis breaks the kiss. “Then don’t,” he tells her. I poke his stomach to tell him to be nice.
“Well, I thought you might want to know that there are two”—Polly holds up two fingers—“state police officers at your door.”
“Shit.” Hollis pulls his phone out from his pocket. “Stay put,” he orders me.
“Why?”
“Please.”
“Okay,” I agree, trusting him.
“Thank you.” He kisses the top of my head before leaving the kitchen. I’m left with Polly.
“I want to apologize. I misread this whole situation.” Polly walks to the other side of the kitchen island. “I thought he might be dating someone and it was new, or he was only telling his mom that.”
“I understand. I mean, he’s very handsome.” Hollis might hate his scars, but they do not take away from how attractive he is. If anything, it makes him all the more interesting.
“His mom, Mary, speaks so highly of him. I’m glad he found his match.” She gives me a warm smile. “And on that note, I want to offer to stay at the bed-and-breakfast and still help with the party, or I can leave you my notes and ideas along with a few contacts.”
“I think I’d like that,” I tell her. “If you wanted to stay, that is, but don’t feel like you have to either.”
“I think I’ll stick around. This town is rather cute.”
“It really is. You have to try the bakery, and there is—” I trail off when I see the two uniformed officers entering the kitchen with Hollis.
“I’m going to head back to the bed-and breakfast for the night. I’ll stop by tomorrow.” Polly says before quickly exiting the room.
“They think I’ve kidnapped you.” Hollis smirks.
“You know, I wouldn’t put it past him.” I laugh. The cops glance at each other. “It was totally a joke.” Tough crowd.
“Ma’am, your fiancé is in a panic—”
“I’m her fiancé,” Hollis cuts in, and there’s a bite to his words. “And the babies are mine too.” Both of the cops' brows rise.
“All right, that’s a civil matter. We’re here to make sure Gwendolyn is okay.”
“Candy,” Hollis corrects, folding his arms over his chest. He is getting worked up.
“Candy,” the officer keeps going, “and that you’re okay and here of your own free will.”
“I’m the one who came here,” I tell them as I slip off the counter.
“Careful.” Hollis comes over to stand next to me. The man is ridiculous, and I kind of love it.
“I’m here of my own free will, and I don’t have plans to go back to the city till after the holidays,” I let them know.
“When we’ll be picking up her belongings and coming back to New Hope.”
“Listen.” The other cop starts to speak.
“I got a bad feeling from Maxwell, but he is a Holmberg, and the Chief of Police wanted us to see if we could find Ms. Snow. I’m a cop and don’t give a shit about the politics of who has a big-shot last name.
But I did as I was asked and found Ms. Snow.
That part is done, but I’m going to give you a heads-up about this Maxwell.
He’s got all my red flags flying, especially when he told me she was pregnant, and we know better than most the risk to a woman’s safety goes up when pregnant, and he’s saying that baby is his. "
"They’re not," Hollis grits out.
"That's a civil matter." The cop holds his hands up, making it clear that's not his area. "But keep a close watch over her. I would tell you to get a restraining order, but you can't get one of those just because I get a bad vibe from him."
"I understand," I tell him. "Thank you."
Hollis takes a deep breath. "Yes, thank you. I already have lawyers on this."
"All right, I'll report that she's safe and sound and wishes to be left alone for now?"
"Yes, please."
He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out a card. “I’m going to leave this here.” Hollis reaches out, taking the card from him and then handing it to me. “Be safe and enjoy your holiday.”
“You too,” Hollis tells them both.
“Thank you,” I say again as they leave. I hand the card back to Hollis. “Do you think Max would really hurt me?” The flex of Hollis’s jaw answers the question.
“He’s already done fucked-up shit.” That is very true.
“You’re right. I don’t know him at all,” I admit.
“And you never will.”