Noelle's Holiday Rebound: A BWWM Christmas Romance (A Glacier Hollow Christmas Romance Book 1)
Page 14
“I wouldn’t mind receiving a kiss.”
The metal spoon I’d been singing into clattered to the floor with a loud bang. The strawberry cake mix that covered the spoon now splattered onto my legs, the cabinet doors, the bottom of the stove, the floor, and my toes.
My heart pounded in my chest, and my mouth went dry. I squeezed my palms closed, digging my nails into them, bit my bottom lip, and squeezed my eyes tight.
Opening them once more, I freaked when I realized my current status hadn’t changed.
“Holly, are you okay?”
“Gaige?” I barely gasped.
Within a couple of strides, he’d made it to where I stood by the stove. I backed up a couple of steps before my hip banged the oven.
“Oww, shit!” I exclaimed, rubbing the spot that I knew would be immensely sore later.
“Are you okay?” he asked again, advancing towards me.
I knew that he was talking about my hip this time, but I shook my head, “no.”
“Stop! What’re you doing here?” I asked, finally gathering my wits as I held my hand up to stop his advancement in my direction.
Gaige kept coming towards me in that damned royal blue towel that hung loosely around his hips.
Biting my bottom lip, I could see his junk swinging side to side up under there.
“Hey, watch where you’re swinging that thing!” I said, holding my hand up and grabbing another spoon and sticking it out towards him as if it were a weapon.
“Hey, slow up! It’s me, Gaige!”
“I know who in the hell you are. What I don’t know is what’re you doing here? And in that!” I said, flicking my spoon at his towel again and quickly averting my eyes.
Laughing, he said, “It’s not like you aren’t familiar with him.”
“That’s the problem...you and your ganja dick stay over there.”
“Ganja dick, Holly?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“Yes, I don’t trust that thing. What the hell are you doing here?” I repeated on the verge of hysteria.
“Umm...I live here.”
“You live here?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yes.”
“That’s impossible. You live in California! Playing grown men games.”
Scoffing, he shook his head. “It’s called hockey. It’s an adult sport that happens to pay very well.”
“Yeah, whatever. But it doesn’t explain why you’re here in Vermont. In Glacier Hollow. At this address. Three thousand miles away. Wearing a towel.”
Chuckling, he pulled his hand through his brown hair. “As I said before,...I live here.”
“What does that even mean, Gaige? You live here?” I asked in exasperation, throwing my hands in the air and dropping them at my side.
He moved just a bit and instantly shoved the spoon out in front of me again. Gaige threw his hands in the air backing up just a bit.
“I’ve relocated from L.A. back home. Here. Glacier Hollow.”
“For good?”
“Yes, for good, Holly.”
Groaning, I pulled a hand down my face.
“Is that a problem?”
“Well, I can’t tell you where to live.”
“Guess I’d better thank my lucky stars for that, huh?”
“But what the hell are you doing here in this house?”
“Sam told me that I could stay here until I found something,” he said, shrugging. “So, I’m here. But why are you here? I thought she said you bought the old Kensington house on Amsterdam and Walnut Streets.”
Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t help but wonder why Sam shared anything with Gaige. He needed to know nothing about my personal life.
“It’s under renovation, and Sam told me that I could stay here for the three weeks it’ll take to become habitable again,” I said.
The mood I’d been in upon my arrival was quickly changing. I had moved my things in three days ago and had been staying in this house perfectly fine with no problem.
Peace. Quiet. Cooking. Those were at the top of my list.
I’d just returned from a morning grocery shopping trip and began baking about an hour ago. I hadn’t heard Gaige enter the house. That was a concern.
“When did you arrive?” he said, shifting positions that seemed to bring him closer to me.
“Boy, if you don’t quit moving like that, I swear they’ll charge you with assault with a deadly weapon,” I hissed.
“Deadly, Holly?”
“Yes! That thing has cost more than enough lives.”
“What’re you talking about? I haven’t killed anyone? I don’t have a disease,” he said, confused.
I didn’t bother to tell him how many women I’d mentally killed off because of his dick. Instead, I refocused the conversation.
“When did you get here, Gaige?”
“Three hours ago. When I got here, no one was here. I took a nap and just woke up and showered,” he said shrugging.
“I was out shopping at the farmer’s market and the bakery,” I explained.
“That explains why the second guest room was locked when I arrived. I had to take the little room down here next to the door leading to the attic stairs,” he complained.
“Well, you’re going to have to figure out something else. Because you can’t stay here, Gaige.”
Frowning, he crossed his arms over his bare chest. “What do you mean I can’t stay here.”
“Obviously, there’s been some sort of mix-up. There’s no way that Sam would have told you that you could stay here, knowing that I was staying here. I refuse to believe that!” I exploded
“Look, let’s just straighten this out with a simple phone call, okay? I mean, we’re talking about a three-bedroom house here. There’s plenty of room for the two of us to move around here without getting in each other’s way. Besides, you’re upstairs, and I’m downstairs,” he said, moving towards the house phone.
He grabbed it and dialed a number.
“You’ll see. You’re wrong. I think you just took advantage and came down here of your own free will. It’s no secret that Sam is in Rhode Island for a one-week business trip and flying out from there to Cancun for a two-week early Christmas vacation with Chris.”
“I know that, but...hey, here she is,” he said, moving the phone away from his ear and placing it on speakerphone.
“Sam,” we both said at the same time.
Rolling my eyes, I stepped closer to the phone before I stopped when Gaige moved closer to me. That damn towel was still swinging the way that it was.
“Hey!” Sam’s cheery voice came back over the line.
“Sam, it’s me. I’m here with Holly, and she seems to think—”
“Ohhh! Hol! I’m so sorry, honey. I completely forgot.”
My eyes widened, and I lifted an eyebrow as I reached for the phone. Gaige shook his head and held onto the phone.
“You forgot what, Sam?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“That Gaige was moving back. I mean, I knew he was returning, but I forgot that it was so soon. And you know how Gaige is. He’s always saying something and doing something entirely different. Like, the times that he kept saying that he was coming home, and he didn’t. Or that he was going backpacking through Europe for that summer, but he spent it in Greece and Spain? Things like that.”
“Hey!” he called out, a frown marring his beautiful sandy, tawny complexion.
“I’m right here. Would you please quit speaking about me as if I weren’t?” he asked.
“Sorry,” Sam apologized in a sing-song voice. “But you know how flaky you can sometimes be. I truly forgot about it and wondered if you’d really come back home this time.”
“So, what are you saying, Sam?” I asked.
“I’m saying that it was an honest mix-up. But since the two of you are there...there’s plenty of room in the house for you to share the space. I won’t be back for almost three weeks. Maybe...maybe you two could resolve your differences?” she
suggested in a tiny voice.
“Not a chance in hell!” I said, stomping off and heading for the stairs.
“Holly!” Sam and Gaige called simultaneously.
OTHER BOOKS BY CASSIE VERANO
SIMPLY SEDUCTIVE SERIES:
Elevated Seduction
Privileged Seduction
Enchanted Seduction
SAVANNAH PASSION SERIES:
Greyson: A BWWM Romance
Anton: A BWWM Romance
Rhys: A BWWM Romance
THE SONS OF VICTOR BLACK SERIES:
Explicit: The Sons of Victor Black: A BWWM Romance
Allure: The Sons of Victor Black: An Interracial Romance
Smooth: The Sons of Victor Black: A BWWM Romance
LOVE DESIRED SERIES:
Desire: An Enemies to Lovers Steamy Romance Novel
Hidden: AWBM Office Romance
Harmony: An Opposites Attract Interracial Romance
Undeniable: A Friends to Lovers Romance
PRIVILEGE & PRESTIGE SERIES:
The Scandal: A BBBWWM Romance
JOIN MY MAILING LIST
STAY CONNECTED AND get updates on new releases, upcoming projects, giveaways, teasers, sales, and more when you join my mailing list:
CLICK HERE
If you haven’t read the short story, Elevated Seduction, in the Simply Seductive series, you can grab your free copy by signing up for the newsletter above.
Want more romance? Click the links below.
Synful Seduction
Greyson
ABOUT CASSIE
Cassie Verano pens romance for readers of all cultures and backgrounds. Her love of romance is borne from the beauty and joy she sees in the relationships around her. She enjoys creating fiction about women discovering true love and women who aren’t afraid to explore their sexuality.
As a professional administrator, she dreamt of the day she could toss her paperwork aside and craft stories that inspired love and romance in the hearts of women around the world. As a wife and mother, she enjoys playing quirky games and singing with her family.
This southern belle is a native Georgia Peach who enjoys reading, writing, and trying different cuisines from around the world. On rainy days she can be found cuddling under a blanket with a good mystery book in her hands or watching a romance movie on Hallmark or LMN.
Connect with Cassie at one of the links below. You’ll also receive news and updates about new releases, upcoming projects, giveaways, teasers, sales, and more when you join her mailing list:
Newsletter: Cassie Verano
Like: Facebook
Website: http://www.cassieverano.com/
Email: cassiepensromance@gmail.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To my readers,
The holidays are about family, peace, and giving, sure. But to me, they’re also about making dreams come true and the magic of romance. The fact that this book is in your hands and you’re reading the words that I’ve written is a part of the holiday magic. You’ve made my dream come true that I could get this story out of my head and into your hands.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Noelle and Easton’s story and look forward to Holly and Gaige’s story.
May you have a joyous and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, filled with all the beauty the season brings.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER LEAVING ME A REVIEW. YOU CAN DO SO HERE...