Chapter Eight
Mike
Poppy’s right, I am a chump. A dumbass chump who gets duped into buying shitty Christmas trees then invites the hot California girl he’s been trying to resist to help decorate it.
I’m starting to think I have a twisted fetish for self-inflicted torture. I could blame the decision on wanting to make Poppy happy, but the truth is, I wanted Hollis to come as much as she did. I look forward to seeing her every time I pick up my sister. It’s become my favorite part of the day. An anticipation that never fades, even long after leaving…
Yeah, I’m definitely a chump, and being in these tight quarters with her isn’t helping.
Thankfully, it’s not long before I turn into our quiet cul-de-sac and pull into the driveway.
“We’re here,” Poppy declares, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Who’s ready to get their Christmas cheer on?”
Hollis eagerly raises her hand, her energy matching my sister’s. “Me!”
Their expectant gazes turn my way, awaiting some form of response.
Truthfully, I couldn’t care less about embracing the holiday cheer, but I know it means something to my sister. So, I muster up a noncommittal grunt for her sake.
“That’s the spirit!” She gives me a punch to the shoulder, then bounds her merry ass out of the vehicle.
Amused, Hollis follows suit, her soft laugh lingering in the truck like my favorite song. One I would gladly listen to on repeat if I could.
Turns out, I’m not just a chump, I’m also a pussy.
Annoyed with myself, I climb out of the truck, the brisk mountain air a much-needed reprieve.
“Welcome to our humble abode,” Poppy says to Hollis, spreading her arms wide. “Mi casa es su casa.”
I shake my head, having no idea where she gets this shit from.
Hollis plays right into her antics, giving a curtsy. “Why, thank you, your majesty.”
Poppy giggles in response then runs the pizza inside the house while Hollis and I meet at the back of my pickup to begin unloading.
As I drop the tailgate, I notice her gaze sweeping across the rugged landscape, tracing the snowcapped peaks of the Rocky Mountains that surround us from every direction.
“Gosh, it’s beautiful out here,” she murmurs, her voice carrying a hint of envy. “It’s so peaceful.”
Her admiration catches me off guard. It’s not something I expected, given the money she comes from.
“It’s an older neighborhood, but it’s perfect for Poppy,” I explain, deciding to share why I chose it. “You won’t find any new developments with yards this size, and that’s what I wanted for her. A place where she can play freely and safely ride her bike.”
“I can just imagine all the fun she has out here,” she says, a wistful smile taking over her face. “I would have loved to grow up in a neighborhood like this.”
A grunt escapes me before I can stop it. “Says the girl who grew up in a mansion.”
It comes out harsher than I intend for it to, but thankfully, she doesn’t seem too offended by it.
“Making judgments again, Cross?” she quips, raising a brow. “I thought we were past that.”
“Not judging,” I reply truthfully. “Just an observation.”
She seems content with that answer. “I might have grown up in a big house, but that can get quite lonely when you’re an only child and your parents worked all the time. I was fortunate in many ways, but I didn’t have this,” she adds, gesturing around us.
Intrigued by that response, I casually fold my arms over my chest and lean against my truck. “And what exactly is ‘this’?”
Her gaze holds mine, expression softening. “A peaceful neighborhood with other kids to play with,” she reveals, longing threading through every word. “Never mind the stunning scenery. I mean, your backyard is a freaking mountain. Do you know how cool that is? California is beautiful, but not like this, at least not where I’m from.”
I guess I can see her point. Growing up here, it can be easy to forget that not everyone is fortunate to have views like this. Something many of us take for granted.
“Well, don’t be too envious,” I tell her. “Not all of us who grew up here got to live in neighborhoods like this one.” I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth.
Sympathy flashes in her gaze, something I neither need nor want.
I decide to end the conversation here and get to work. Turning around, I grab the first of many boxes, the weight of my own past heavier than any cardboard package.
“Hey, Mountie Mike!”
I pivot at my sister’s call.
“Think fast.”
Before I can anticipate what’s about to happen, I’m struck by a snowball, the cold, wet powder exploding against my face.
I blink through the frosty flakes, unamused by the cheap shot. Poppy, on the other hand, falls into hysterics, finding herself fucking hilarious. She quickly scurries into the house, leaving me no chance to retaliate.
Why, that little shit.
A noise to my right draws my attention. Looking over, I find Hollis with her pink-gloved hands over her mouth, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
“Something funny?” I ask, my tone as flat as my expression.
She shakes her head, but the snort that escapes her exposes the lie.
It sets her fate in motion. Setting the box down, I take a step forward. “Wanna see something else that’s funny?”
Her hands drop from her face, fear adopting her expression as she backpedals. “Don’t even think about it, Cross.”
I continue to advance, my intent clear with every step.
“I mean it, Mike,” she warns sternly. “There will be serious repercussions.”
I cock a brow, more than amused by that threat. “Yeah? What are you going to do about it, Hollis?”
“Trust me. You don’t want to find ou—” Her words are abruptly cut off as I lunge forward, seizing her around the waist.
She erupts into screaming laughter, squirming in my grasp as she tries to break free. In a swift move, I lift her off her feet and carry her over to the large snowbank that’s nestled in the corner of my yard.
Horror crosses her face when she realizes my intention. “No, please!” she begs, her laughter mingling with desperation. “I’m sorry for laughing. Really, I am.”
I grunt at the lie.
Just as I’m about to toss her into the pile of snow, she shifts her position. “Oh no, you don’t!” Her arms and legs wrap around my body, clinging to me like a koala bear.
My groin stirs at the new angle, making me thankful she’s above the waist.
She peers back at me, her expression smug. “If you throw me in, I’m taking you with me.”
I find it funny she thinks this would stop me. “Guess it’s a good thing I don’t mind the cold.” It’s the only warning she gets before I launch us both into the snowbank.
Her scream trails into a gasp as I roll her beneath me, burying her in the icy powder. “Oh my god,” she shrieks. “It’s so cold.”
“It’s hilarious, isn’t it?” I mock, enjoying my revenge way too much.
Her eyes narrow, promising retribution. “You’re a dead man, Cross.”
A smirk furls my lips. “Brave words for someone who doesn’t have the upper hand.”
“Not for long, buddy boy.” She thrusts her hips upward, aiming to throw me off balance.
The sudden impact wipes the amusement off my face, every muscle in my body tightening in response.
Shit!
She readies herself to repeat the motion, her resolve unyielding. I quickly shift my weight to evade it, but I’m not fast enough, and she collides with my very hard cock.
A sharp gasp escapes her lips as she stills beneath me.
I reach for restraint, the energy of the moment shifting into something else entirely.
Feeling it’s no longer appropriate to have her pinned beneath me, I mutter an apology and start to pull away when her fingers clutch my jacket, keeping me in place.
My gaze locks with hers, and the need I find in her green eyes rivals my own, burning with an intensity that taunts every bit of my control. It nearly snaps all together when she tentatively lifts her hips, this time purposefully aligning herself with my raging hard-on.
Our groans collide in the frigid air before my growl overshadows them both.
“Careful, Hollis,” I rasp, the warning strained. “You’re playing with fire.”
More than fire—more like a bomb. One poised to detonate at a moment’s notice.
“I’m from California,” she throws back, her breathing labored. “I can handle the heat.”
I’d laugh at the clever response if I wasn’t on the brink of exploding.
An internal battle rages within, all the reasons I’ve kept my distance no longer seeming to matter. Not when she’s looking up at me the way she is, her face soft and sweet, eyes filled with longing, pink lips parted in invitation. Each breath she takes lures me closer, and I decide this is one battle I’m more than willing to lose.
My face lowers, inching closer to hers. Her eyes flutter closed, both of us bracing for the impact that will undoubtedly change my existence forever.
Until my sister’s voice shatters the moment like a bucket of ice water. “Um, excuse me!”
Hollis and I both look over to find her standing just outside the back door.
“Sorry to interrupt your little playdate, but we’ve got a pizza to eat and a tree to decorate. So, I’m going to need you guys to move this inside.”
I love my sister, I swear I do, but sometimes she is the sassiest little shit with the worst timing.
Hollis, however, finds her amusing. A soft laugh floats past her lips—lips I was just about to taste.
My mood darkens at the thought.
With the moment broken, I reluctantly disentangle myself from Hollis and find myself instantly missing her warmth. An unsettling reaction.
Pushing it aside, I extend my hand to her in offering.
She accepts the gesture with a warm smile. Snow tumbles off her in hefty clumps as I pull her upright.
“You good?” I ask, clearing my throat when I hear how gruff I sound.
Pull it together, asshole.
“Yeah, there’s just one thing…” A mischievous glint flashes in her eyes before she hurls a handful of snow into my face and takes off at breakneck speed.
My head drops back in utter disbelief.
I can’t believe I didn’t see that shit coming.
Hollis’ laughter follows her all the way over to my sister, where the two high-five in victory.
She turns back to me, her expression once again smug. “I warned you, Cross. I’m not someone you want to mess with.”
If she only knew how bad I want to mess with her, especially when she pulls shit like this, she would tuck tail and run.
I’m tempted to make her pay for this little stunt too but decide to let it go…for now.
Once inside, I change into a pair of sweats before gathering a towel and some dry clothes for Hollis. As she slips into the bathroom, I head to the kitchen, where I find my sister waiting, her gaze fixed on me with a knowing smile.
“What?” I ask, feigning ignorance.
“You like Hollis,” she declares boldly.
“I do not.”
She snorts at the lie. “Yeah, right. I thought you two were going to start sucking face right in that snowbank.”
A scowl forms on my face as I point at her. “First of all, watch your mouth. You shouldn’t even know what that term means.”
She rolls her eyes, clearly disagreeing.
“And secondly,” I press on, “you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She doesn’t buy it for a second but lets it go with a shrug. “If you say so.”
“I do say so.” I give her a playful shove, making her laugh. “Now go grab us some drinks. I’ll get the plates.”
“On it.” She skips over to the refrigerator, pulling out a few different options.
“And next time you start a snowball fight, stick around to finish it,” I add, closing the cupboard. “That was a cheap shot.”
“Smart, not cheap,” she counters. “Besides, you’re the one who told me when facing a much bigger opponent, you have to pull out all the stops.”
I give her a pointed look. “That’s if you’re being kidnapped, Poppy. Not if you’re the one starting the fight.”
She waves away my logic. “Tomato, tomahto.”
I grunt at the response. She might be a pain in the ass, but she’s a clever pain in the ass.
The sound of the bathroom door opening ends the conversation. Hollis enters the kitchen moments later and the sight of her in my clothes brings me to a hard stop.
Fuck me.
A renewed heat surges through my veins as I take her in from head to toe. The RCMP-issued sweatpants and T-shirt swallow her slim figure, yet somehow, seem as if they were made just for her. The pink hue from the cold still kisses her cheeks, her slightly damp hair now tousled around her shoulders. I can’t help but imagine her looking exactly like this after a night in my bed.
“They’re just a little big,” she jokes, breaking the awkward silence. “Thanks again for letting me borrow them.”
I nod, deciding it’s safer because if I speak right now, I will no doubt sound like a fifteen-year-old boy who just found his first spank mag.
“Knew it,” Poppy snickers, punching me in the arm.
Hollis’ gaze flickers between us. “Knew what?”
I shoot my sister a stern look, warning her not to throw me under the bus.
Thankfully, she knows when to push and when not. “Nothing. Come on, let’s eat.” With a gentle tug, she guides Hollis into the living room, leaving our secret safe for now.
Instead of joining them, I head back outside to unload the truck so they can start decorating as soon as they finish. I also need the fresh air. I’m not someone who has a problem regulating their emotions, it’s what makes me good at my job, but for some reason, this woman changes that and it’s starting to fuck with my head.
It doesn’t take long to unload everything, so after setting up the tree, I head back out to dispose of the dead one. By the time I walk back inside Poppy and Hollis are in full decorating mode.
Christmas music blares from Hollis’ phone, the two dancing and singing to “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Poppy uses one of the long icicle decorations as a microphone, giving a full-out performance.
The sight of my sister laughing and dancing with Hollis has me realizing how important it is for her to have someone like this in her life. A female figure she can relate to, to help her through things I will never understand, no matter how hard I try.
“Take it away, Mountie Mike.” Poppy tosses me the icicle, forcing me to catch it mid-air.
“Yeah.” Hollis taunts with a smirk. “Let’s see what you got, ‘Mountie Mike’.”
My cock hardens at the taunt. If she starts using that name, I’m going to give her something to mount.
I toss the decoration aside, promoting a shared laugh between them.
There are plenty of things I will do for my sister, but belting out Christmas songs to Mariah Carey isn’t one of them.
Once they finish with their laughing fit, I offer Hollis a beer.
“I’d love one, thanks,” she accepts with a smile. “Go ahead and grab yourself some pizza too. We’ve got this for now.”
Taking the hint, I fetch our beers and settle onto the sofa with a slice of pizza, admiring the scene before me as they collaborate on reconstructing a tree they found on Pinterest.
My gaze lingers, particularly enjoying the view of Hollis bending down to retrieve items. Not even the baggy sweatpants can conceal the exquisite curve of her ass.
I get to enjoy it for only a second before I’m caught red-handed by my sister, her knowing smile taunting me.
Shit.
I quickly avert my eyes, realizing the damn kid is too observant for her own good.
Once they’re nearly done, Hollis grabs her phone to compare. “I think we need to move this section up more.”
Poppy nods her agreement. “I think you’re right.”
Hollis takes the shimmering ribbon and stretches up on her tiptoes, straining to reach her destination. She lets out a startled shriek as she loses balances, almost falling into the tree.
My sister reaches out to steady her. “Don’t worry. I got ya.”
Instead of watching them struggle like an asshole, I climb to my feet and close the distance behind Hollis, my body intimately pressing against hers as I reach for the ribbon in her hand.
Her subtle intake of breath can be heard through the room. It charges the air around us, igniting a fire that neither of us acknowledges.
“Here good?” I ask, dipping my mouth next to her ear.
She shivers in response before nodding.
After securing the ribbon in place, I linger for just a little longer, savoring her warmth before reluctantly stepping back.
She murmurs a soft thank you, the words barely audible, yet they echo through every cell of my body.
Jesus, I’m fucking losing it.
“Hey, where’s our star?” Poppy asks, searching through the totes for the tree topper I bought her from Canadian Tire last year.
“In the basement, under the stairs,” I tell her, offering to go retrieve it.
“No. It’s okay, I got it. You guys start on the garland. I’ll be back in a jiffy.” She dashes out of the room like her ass is on fire.
Hollis turns to me, amused. “I had no idea there was someone out there who loves Christmas as much as I do.”
I grunt at the understatement. “No one loves Christmas as much as my sister, trust me on that.”
Bending down, I grab one of the three garlands. Hollis grabs the other end of it and guides us over to the fireplace.
“Tell me something, Cross.”
I don’t know what it is about her using my last name all the time, but I like it. Really fucking like it.
“How does your sister believe in the magic of this holiday so much when you…don’t?” she asks, amusement lacing her tone as she carefully arranges the greenery on the mantle.
Instead of giving her some bullshit answer, I opt for the truth. “Because I never got to experience the magic of it growing up.”
Her gaze meets mine at the confession. “Never?”
I shake my head.
Sadness dims her expression. “I’m sorry.”
I shrug off the apology. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault I had a shitty childhood, but it’s why I’m determined to make sure Poppy’s is better. I’ll sled all fucking day with her, watch every shitty Christmas movie, and listen to the cheeriest fucking music if it means she never stops believing, because she deserves all the magic I never had.”
That response brings a smile to her face—the kind of smile that has the power to change the world. “She’s lucky to have you.”
She’s wrong. I’m the lucky one, but I keep that to myself, deciding I’ve been vulnerable enough for one night.
“Thanks for letting me come tonight,” she adds softly, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I’ve had a great time with you guys. It beats sitting home alone.” She attempts to laugh off that last part, but the truth lingers in her voice, unmistakable and raw.
It provokes me to make the move that I do. “What are you doing this weekend?”
Her gaze lifts back to mine, surprise mingling with hope. “Nothing. Why?”
“Because Friday is Passion Falls’ annual Christmas event. I take Poppy to it every year, and I know she would want you to come.”
Using my sister as an excuse isn’t a total dick move since she would, in fact, want Hollis to come. I’m just extending the invite before she does.
Hollis, however, refuses to let me off the hook so easily. “Only Poppy?” she questions, arching a brow.
I decide to give her the truth, knowing she deserves at least that much. “I want you to come too.”
The smile that touches her lips is worth the blow to my pride. “I’d love to go with you and Poppy,” she finally says, “but only if you answer one question for me first.”
The sudden gleam dancing in her eyes has me bracing myself for the unexpected. “What’s that?” I ask, worrying she somehow managed to smuggle in a fucking snowball without me seeing.
“Are you the one who’s been clearing the snow off my car every morning?”
Busted.
I remain silent, unwilling to admit that truth. Despite what I just said.
Not that it matters. She sees right through me.
Her smile turns knowing as she steps closer, bringing all that beauty of hers dangerously close. It wraps around my senses like a velvet caress, its warmth setting fire to every inch of my skin. Her scent, a heady mix of vanilla and something uniquely her own, invades my lungs, igniting something dark and primal within me. “You know what I think, Cross?”
No, but I’m fucking dying to find out.
“I think this grumpy act of yours is just that—an act. I think deep down, you’re one of the good ones.”
I want to prove her wrong, to kiss the ever-living shit out of her and show her just how bad I can be. Just as I consider doing exactly that, my sister comes bursting back into the room, breathless and triumphant.
“Found it!” she announces, holding up the frosted glass star, breaking what could have been another great fucking moment.
It’s a damn good thing I love her so much.
Hollis turns away from me, giving her full attention to Poppy now. “Wow. That is beautiful,” she says, her voice filled with admiration.
“Thanks. Mike bought it for me.” My sister beams at me as if I’d hung the moon instead of buying a twenty-five-dollar tree topper.
When Hollis flashes me a matching smile, I know it’s the best twenty-five bucks I’ve ever spent.
Poppy turns, presenting her back to me. “Give me a lift, will ya?”
Bending down, I hoist her onto my shoulders and walk up to the tree. I feel her shift around as she places the star at the top.
“How does it look, Hollis?” she asks, looking behind her. “Is it straight?”
Hollis steps back, squinting to judge the angle. “Looks good to me.”
Poppy taps my shoulder. “Let me down. I want to see.”
Carefully, I lower her to the ground. The three of us all step back and admire their handiwork.
“It’s amazing,” Poppy whispers, sounding in complete awe.
“It is,” Hollis agrees with a smile. “We did good.”
They did, and for the first time, this place feels like more than just a house—it feels like a home.