Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
My eyes move to my phone, checking the time every few minutes, unable to wait to see her again. I wonder how many men ask her out. Probably every eligible man in the area with a damn pulse. Anger simmers, and I use it to fuel the next three chapters.
It’s well past dark when I look at the time. I have an hour until she’s done, so I get changed and head down to the bakery in the center of town. When I get there, the doors are locked. The sign is flipped to closed for the day. I pound on the door, drawing attention from the locals walking around.
Then I see her pop out of the kitchen with a mop in her hand. She shouldn’t be working so damn hard. Setting the mop down, she comes to the door and unlocks it.
“I didn’t think you’d come….” My mouth is on hers before she can finish whatever she was going to say. There is no need for words at the moment. I’ve missed those lips all damn day.
“Get it, girl.” The woman from this morning appears and my woman pulls back instantly, like she’s embarrassed to be caught kissing her future husband.
“How was work, beautiful?”
“It was nice,” she says with a dazed expression in her eyes.
Her buddy, with a rolling pin in hand, glares at me and says, “So, I’m just going to give you a quick warning. Hurt her, and there will be a host of people ready to run you out of town.”
“I’m not going to leave or hurt her. In fact, I need to apologize for being so rude. I’m James Snow,” I tell my woman directly, formally introducing myself.
“I’m Holiday Belle.” Fuck, could she be any more adorable?
“Good. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get back to where we left off.” I kiss her again in the picture window, wanting everyone to see me claim her for my own.
“What did you put in those cookies? I need the recipe,” her smartass friend says. I like her, but right now, I want to get Holiday alone and away from all these men in town.
“It’s time to go, Holiday.”
“I don’t even know you.”
“We’ll get to know each other. Besides, we both know you know me better than I know you.”
I pull her into my arms and kiss her wildly, needing again to lay claim to her in front of the large picture window. “Holiday, I’m losing my mind.” When I pull away, I don’t miss the handsome fucker who is watching us. He gives me a dirty look, and I smirk.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I don’t want to this to end, beautiful.”
“Does it have to?”
“I’m only renting the cottage for the month.”
“Then perhaps we should stop this before we go further, Mr. Snow. I should go.”
“Don’t go.”
“Look, I think I gave you the wrong impression. I’m not that kind of girl. You caught me off guard that day—and let’s just say I was more than impressed. But, that doesn't mean I’m just going to sleep with you, so if you’ll excuse me, I have to go home.” She pushes past me and to her car.
“Holiday, wait. Please.”
“What?”
“I’m not saying that. I really want to get to know you. Hell, I’ve just spent the entire day waiting on pins and needles, and I got carried away. Forgive me. After that asshole was flirting with you, I kind of spent the day imagining all these guys doing the same thing.” Her eyes lift toward the sky, and she bites down on her bottom lip. “So how many guys was it?”
“Well, it’s not like that.” Holiday bounces from one foot to the other. “Hey, why does it matter? I told them I had a boyfriend, and you’re not even my boyfriend, anyway.”
“You did?”
“Yes, so can you drop it?”
“I suppose. Can we start again? How about dinner?”
“I’d love that. I’m starving.”
“Good. I’m running on your cookies and a sandwich I made this afternoon.”
“Same. I couldn’t even eat after making a fool of myself.”
“You? I nearly showed you how excited I was to see you.”
“You didn’t seem excited to see me.”
“Anyone else, and they wouldn’t have gotten a word out.”
“Well, I take that as a compliment.”
“Will this place do?”
“Yes, it’s perfect.” We step inside, and I get funny looks of interest. The hostess smiles and gives Holiday a thumbs up. She seats us at the nicest diner booth they have. Honestly, these are my favorite places. They have the best people working for them.
“Wow, they love Christmas,” I say, looking at the décor that screams North Pole.
“So do I. You don’t?”
“I haven’t, really, since I was a kid.”
“I have a feeling there’s a whole story there.”
“The usual tragic back story. Parents died, I was alone in foster care, and it was shitty.” I worked hard to get myself out of that nightmare, living in a home and locking up my things when I wasn’t in school or working, but some things she didn’t need to know. The sweet girl didn’t need to share my pain. I only wanted to see her happy.