“Yep,” they replied in unison, both popping the ‘p’.
I didn’t know their story, and it wasn’t my place to ask, but one thing was clear. Noelle had a mother who adored her and tried to make sure she never knew what it was like to miss out. And it wasn’t the bags full of stuff either. It was the singing, the laughing, and even the arguing that made them a family. I’d never had that. Mine had been ripped apart before I even got the chance, and now it was too late. I was too old. Too jaded. Too stuck in my ways to even think about dating again, let alone looking for Mrs. Right.
I pulled out on the street and took the long way. We crept past the ice-skating rink and Noelle squealed with delight. She begged and begged to go there but Holly dodged her requests.
“Maybe when the storm clears,” she suggested before reminding her daughter, who seemed to have the attention span of a goldfish that they had a tree to decorate.
“Fine.” Noelle huffed.
When we drove past the carnival, Holly’s eyes were glued to the window. She mightn’t be getting the Christmas she envisioned but seeing the way even the idea of the festival put a sparkle in her eye, had me praying the weather held long enough so I could take her.
I pulled up out the front of the shop and eyed the mound of snow blocking the stairs. We’d only been gone a few hours and already the snow had banked up.
“Why don’t you head on up and I’ll bring this in?” I suggested as we sat idling in the truck, staying in the warmth.
“I can carry things,” Holly protested, almost sounding put out.
“I’m sure you can. But those stairs are bound to be slippery and I’d rather you both make it up safely. Last thing we need is a broken bone on Christmas Eve,” I suggested, and Noelle giggled.
“Yeah, Mom,” she sassed, and I couldn’t hold back the grin.
I had the feeling Noelle and I could have a lot of fun and probably get into a lot of trouble together.
“Fine,” Holly grumbled, jumping out of the truck and coming around to help Noelle.
I waited until they were headed up the stairs before I collected the bags. I had no idea what they’d bought but they weighed a ton. With my fingers turning white under the strain, I balanced them before waddling toward the stairs and carefully making my way up.
On the landing, I stomped my boots, trying to shake off the wet snow before stepping inside. It was like walking into a freezer. It was so cold in there. I dropped the bags by the door and headed straight for the heater.
Noelle’s teeth were chattering, and Holly rubbed her hands up and down Noelle’s arms, trying to warm her up.
“Why don’t you jump in the shower?” I suggested, trying to be helpful.
“But I wanna decorate the tree!” Noelle protested.
“We’ll wait for you. Come on, let’s go have a shower and put on our PJs. Then we can put up the tree, and I’ll make hot chocolate,” Holly countered, trying to placate her attitude-filled daughter.
Noelle stomped toward the bedroom and Holly turned back to me. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied automatically.
“I mean it, Chris. Thank you. We’ve quite literally crashed into you and upended your life. And I might not know your story, but I know you don’t like Christmas …”
“I don’t hate it,” I lied, but Holly just shook her head. She didn’t believe a word I was saying. Not that I could blame her.
“I never said you hated it,” Holly corrected with a smile that would make men weak at the knees. How this woman didn’t have a ring on her finger I’d never understand. “But you’re not exactly all jolly and festive. And for a town like Evergreen Lake, where there’s a Christmas tree on every corner and lights strung from lamp posts, you’re decidedly Grinchy.”
I went to argue, but she lifted her hand and silenced me.
“But you’re letting my daughter put a tree up. You’re making this a Christmas she’ll remember, and I can’t thank you enough,” Holly finished before walking toward me and wrapping her arms around my shoulders, hugging me.
I was going to hell.
She thought I was sweet and sincere and kind, but with her pillowy tits pressed against me and the scent of her perfume, something spicy, my dick was thickening in my jeans as all the things I wanted to do to her rolled through my head.
I was an asshole.
Thankfully, she was only here for a few days and then she’d be gone. Back out of my life like a memory, one I’d never forget. I just had to remember that every time she smiled at me or spoke to me or God forbid, touched me, Holly was leaving. She wasn’t mine to keep. If I forgot that, even for a second, I’d open myself up to having my heart broken and I wasn’t interested in replaying that.
