CHAPTER 9
HOLLY
Felix was rather prepared for this damn Christmas tree shopping—he even pre-purchased ornaments in a color set that matches my living room. It’s thoughtful.
He’s thoughtful.
And it’s annoyingly not so annoying. I like it more than I care to admit.
As he wraps navy blue tinsel garland around the tree, adjusting each strand to sit just where he wants it, I ask, “Can you really turn people to stone?”
Over his shoulder, he shoots me a grin—one that makes my heart leap—before refocusing on the tree. “Yes, I can. When I was young, Imayhave turned my best friend to stone temporarily.”
I let out a little laugh, one that flows out much more easily than any before. The realization has the sound dying in mythroat, and Felix glances over, his face flickering from that sexy smile for a split second.
Felix just makes it—laughing, smiling, all of it—feel so easy. His heart is made of gold, and his smile always radiates warmth.
I feel at home with him, and it’s been a very long time since I’ve felt this way with someone. Especially so quickly.
I’ll be damned if any of this has to do with the holidays, though.
It doesn’t.
The holidays don’t bring any extra joy or…anything. It’s just a coincidence that we met at this time, and that we’re having our little fling.
But that’s all it will be, a fling.
That’s what we agreed to, and that’s all I want. I mean, it can’t possibly be something else.
Open my heart to a man eleven years younger than me? Recipe for disaster and heartbreak.
I’m over heartbreak at this point in my life.
So, I’ll suffer through torturous holiday festivities while I get fucked by the sexy, snake-haired man, and when it ends? I’ll move on.
At least, that’s the plan.
“Holly?”
My name brings me back to reality, and I blink a few times.
Felix stands by the tree, holding an ornament in each hand, laughing as he says, “I said get over here and help me decorate.”
The soft demand makes me feel my heartbeat between my thighs. I grudgingly walk over, taking one of the ornaments from him.
Do I want to decorate this stupid tree? Not at all.
Do I want to be near Felix? Unfortunately, absolutely I do.
“It’s been a very long time since I’ve done this,” I remark, carefully hanging the ornament from a good branch.
He pokes me in the side, making me twitch from the ticklish sensation that shoots through me. “So, youhavehad a Christmas tree before. How long ago did you have your last one?”
“Is this some way of calling me old?” I narrow my eyes at him, hoping the accusation scares him off of the question.
With the shake of his head, he passes me another ornament. “Dollface, those words were nowhere near what I said. I’m just trying to get to know you more.”
Okay, deflecting his attention might be harder than expected. I thought men didn’t care about what’s beneath the surface.
