Holidate

by Monica Murphy

  I haven’t worked the cashier booth in ages and you know what? It’s kind of fun. Keeps the time moving pretty quickly and there’s never a dull moment.

  Plus, being in the cashier building means you’re in the direct center of the action. I can see everything as it plays out. Meaning, I get to watch Candice all day.

  She never, ever stops moving. Or talking. She’s telling everyone what to do, exactly the way she wants them to do it, yet they never get angry or argue. She’s a sweet talker. She can convince them that her idea is actually theirs, and they’re perfectly happy to execute it believing they got their way.

  It’s kind of hot, how commanding she can be.

  I’m just finishing up with a customer when I see Candice in the background with a red-and-white bullhorn clutched in her hand.

  What the hell?

  She clicks it on and then starts using it. It’s awful. The mic on the bullhorn squeaks with feedback, and the volume is turned up so loud, her voice is distorted. Customers are still milling about, and when she’s yelling in that thing, they wince.

  I’m wincing too. Because that bullhorn sucks.

  It sucks really bad.

  To the point that I exit the cashier shack even though there are people standing in line ready to check out. I don’t care. I can’t take it anymore. I march over to Candice and stand directly in front of her. She pauses in her yelling, her eyes wide as she stares at me, still holding the bullhorn to her mouth. Reaching out, I find the switch and turn it off.

  Problem solved.

  Candice lowers the bullhorn to her side, frowning at me at so hard, she’s getting those little wrinkles in between her eyebrows like she does. “Why’d you do that?”

  “To save my sanity and everyone else’s,” I tell her before I lean in and press a gentle kiss to her plump lips. “I can only take so much, Gaines.”

  She smiles, her eyes hazy. I have to admit the kiss was a nice touch. “Sorry. I thought it might help them to hear me better.”

  “More like the sound of your distorted voice makes me want to choke someone out. Leaving the bullhorn off will save a life, Candice,” I tell her, my voice dead serious, though I can actually feel myself smiling. “I’m sure you agree that’s a good idea.”

  She laughs. Points her finger skyward and I look up to find mistletoe hanging from the string of lights above. Before I can act, she kisses me again, her lips lingering. I’m about to reach out and grab her when she pulls away with a mischievous smile and then skips off.

  I watch her go, thinking about how we’ve ended every night this week tangled up together on the office couch, but we actually haven’t done the deed yet.

  But I want to. I really, really want to.

  Just not on the couch in my office. I need to take her back to my place one night. We can’t go to hers, since she still lives with her parents…

  “You like her.”

  I startle at the sound of my mother’s voice and slowly turn to face her. “How much of that did you see?” I ask warily.

  “Oh, I saw and heard everything, Charlie.” She crosses her arms, studying me. “What exactly is going on between you two?”

  I’m tempted to tell her absolutely nothing. That’s my first go-to when it comes to potential relationships. Deny, deny, deny.

  Too busy was my usual excuse. Not good enough is what I told my parents a couple of times, which satisfied them. I’ve been picky since I was a kid. First with food—I grew out of it—and then with women. I don’t want to let just anyone into my life. I put up walls when needed and with most people I meet, they’re always needed. I used to hide out in our tiny backyard when I was a kid, just wanting a moment to myself. A little peace and quiet, away from all the noise and chaos my family brings.

  I didn’t get much peace and quiet. Someone always found me in the backyard, whether it was one of my siblings, one of my parents, a friend that was over, whoever. You can’t escape growing up with my family, and not with the job we work—together. I am constantly surrounded by people. Unless I’m up in Oregon tending to the plots of land we have there, or I’m in my condo by myself. Both rare occurrences.

  But then Candice pushed her way into my life, and even though I tried my hardest to resist her, it was no use. After a while, I didn’t want to resist. I like having her around.

  That feeling grows stronger each and every day.

  “It’s exactly what you said,” I finally say to my mom with a shrug. As if it’s no big deal. Deep down, I know this is a big deal. “I like her, and I’m pretty sure she likes me too.”

  Considering the enthusiastic way she falls into my arms every night when we’re finally alone, I’d say she definitely likes me.

  “She’s the sweetest girl. I adore her,” Mom says, maneuvering so she’s standing directly beside me. “You have my approval.”

  “Gee, thanks, Mom. I was worried about that,” I say sarcastically, making her laugh.

  “Shouldn’t you be in the cashier booth?” she asks, giving me the stink eye.

  I glance over my shoulder to see one of the other employees working with me in the booth taking care of the post I abandoned. “I’m covered.”

  “Lucky for you, you’re the boss,” she says.

  We watch Candice for a while in her element, both of us quiet. Will I ever grow tired of looking at Candice? With the way I’m feeling now, I can’t imagine not wanting to see what she might do next. She’s very expressive. She talks with her hands, she’s loud, but not in a bad way, and her every emotion flits across her face.

  It would be so easy to fall in love with her.

  I exhale deeply at the realization, and remind myself to slow the hell down. There’s no need to bring the L word into it yet.

  We’ve got plenty of time.

  “I feel bad, though,” Mom finally says, breaking the silence.

  “About what?” I turn and look at her.

  “I lied to her. That day when she fell and got the concussion? At that café in downtown Carmel? After she fell, she admitted to me she couldn’t remember our conversation right before it happened. And I…I told a little white lie.”

  I frown. “What exactly did you say?”

  “I told her that she agreed to take you around to all those events, Charlie, but she didn’t. She told me no. And I panicked like I sometimes do, and I made a complete fool of myself. To the point that she probably thought I was acting a little crazy, and maybe I was. But then again, she doesn’t remember.” She shakes her head, making a tsking noise.

  My mind is reeling. And my mother is rambling. “You lied to her? She didn’t want to do this?”

  “No, she didn’t. She flat out refused me. It was my fault, dear. It had nothing to do with you. I’d just come from my doctor’s appointment where they gave me the all clear about the breast cancer, and I was an emotional wreck.” Mom sighs. “When she said she couldn’t remember our conversation, I decided to swing it our way.”

  I turn to look at her, trying to keep my anger at bay. Not that I’m in a rage, but damn. Why did she have to go off and do that? To the woman I’m really starting to care about. “I can’t believe you lied to her.

  “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision that I totally regret.”

  I see the regret written all over her face. Still doesn’t excuse what she did.

  “And now you’ve got me feeling like a liar too,” I add, sending her a pointed look.

  “You didn’t say that to her, I did.” She points at her chest. “You had nothing to do with it.”

  “Yeah, until you just blabbed your secret to me and made it mine too.” I rest my hands on my hips, watching as Candice chats with her fellow decorating committee member Joyce. The older woman is currently clutching a clipboard as if her life depended on it. “I have to tell her the truth.”

  “Oh, Charlie.” Mom reaches out to rest her hand on my shoulder. “What if that’s a mistake?”

  “It’s a mistake I’m willing to make. We have to b
e truthful with each other.” No way can I keep this from Candice. I’d want to know the truth if it was me.

  If it was the other way around, I’d be pissed that I got tricked like that.

  “You’re braver than me.” Mom squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Charlie.”

  I say nothing, and eventually she walks away. I’ll get over my anger with my mother, but when I tell Candice what happened, will she get over it? Or will she be mad?

  I’m not looking forward to having this conversation. And I can’t do it now. She’s too busy, too consumed with tonight’s party. I can’t distract her with news like this.

  Will she realize I had nothing to do with my mother’s lie? Hopefully she’ll see I wasn’t trying to trick her. Everything that’s happened between us since we’ve met has been very—organic. Nothing forced, nothing fake about it. I like her, she likes me, and we’re going to give this a go.

  As simple as that.

  But my mother just made it a hell of a lot more complicated with her confession.

  Twenty-Four

  Candice

  “Oh my God, you look absolutely gorgeous.”

  I turn to find Sarah standing in the doorway of my bedroom, her mouth hanging open as she stares at me. “Seriously Candice, that dress is amazing! Charlie is going to die when he sees you,” she says as she enters the room.

  I was able to sneak away and go home so I can shower and get ready for tonight. Pretty much everything was in place when I left the tree farm. Plenty of volunteers were there, ready to set everything out once the lot closed and cleared out. We put up what we could while the tree lot was still open, but there was plenty that needed to be done after hours.

  “You really think I look okay?” I turn away from the full-length mirror I was standing in front of to face Sarah, tugging on the hem of my skirt. “It’s kind of short.”

  “It’s not too short.” Sarah stops right in front of me, grabbing hold of my shoulders and turning around so my back is facing her. “You’re all covered up in the front and completely exposed in the back. So sexy!”

  “Too sexy?” I glance over my shoulder, catching a glimpse of the back of the dress in the mirror’s reflection. The scoop dips all the way to the small of my back. I can’t wear a bra in this dress, but it fits tight enough that my boobs are going nowhere. “I’m supposed to be a respectable lady of the arts council board.”

  “You are very respectable. All the photos that should appear will be of you standing there in your cute red sequined dress,” Sarah says in reassurance.

  It’s true. From the front, this dress is nothing scandalous. But it’s definitely designed to stand out. The fabric is completely covered with deep red sequins, with three quarter length sleeves and a bodice that comes all the way up to my neck. The skirt hits me about midthigh, and the dress hugs every curve I have.

  Truthfully, I didn’t realize I have that many curves.

  “You look beautiful too.” Sarah’s dress is a deep green satin with a skinny black belt around her waist and a flared skirt. “I love the color.”

  “We are the colors of Christmas.” Sarah angles us so we’re standing next to each other in front of the mirror. “We need to take lots of photos tonight!”

  “Let’s take a few now, before I have to go.” I’m driving over to the lot by myself since I want to get there early. Sarah and Jared are going together, along with our dad and Mitzi.

  Sarah pulls her phone out of her pocket, smiling. “I love it when a dress has pockets.”

  “I’m jealous,” I tell her.

  We pose for a few photos in my bedroom, then make our way down to the living room, where we pose in front of my parents’ giant—fake—flocked Christmas tree. The theme colors this year are gold and red, the perfect backdrop for our vibrant dresses.

  “I have to go,” I say after I check the time on my phone. “I need to get over there and make sure everything’s coming together.”

  “I’m sure it already is.” Sarah wraps me up in a tight hug. “It’s going to be fabulous, I just know it.”

  “I hope so,” I say as I withdraw from her. “I’m nervous.”

  “Don’t be nervous! It’ll be fine.”

  Easier said than done. My stomach twists and turns the entire drive over there, and I never did eat anything. I’m sort of glad about that, considering I could be feeling nervous and nauseous.

  I arrive at the tree lot to find it lit even more than usual, and so many people buzzing about, it looks like the party already started. I park my car and make my way toward the front of the lot, walking carefully in my black heels and making sure I don’t step in any holes.

  “There you are! Oh, don’t you look pretty?” Joyce greets me first, already dressed in formal black, her silvery blonde hair pulled back into a low bun. “I love that color on you.”

  I have my black coat on over the red dress. I sort of want to surprise Charlie with it, but the fact that my coat is unbuttoned and the flashy sequins make it super obvious, so…

  Yeah. Not able to really hide it.

  “Thank you. You look great too.” I smile at her and then look around, my eyes widening as I take it all in. “It’s so beautiful!”

  “Isn’t it?” Joyce is grinning and I realize she’s still clutching her beloved clipboard. “All it took was a bunch of lights everywhere. This place speaks for itself.”

  “It’s filled with Christmas spirit.” The music is playing over the speakers, jazzy piano holiday tunes, and Joyce is right—there are lights everywhere. Looks like some trees were brought closer to the entrance and they’re strung with tiny white lights too. Just like I envisioned when I met with Joyce and Isabel at Starbucks last month.

  “It really is,” Joyce agrees. “And everyone’s so nice here. Did you know a lot of the farm employees stayed on and helped us finish setting up? Everyone’s so helpful here.”

  I love hearing that. It means Charlie is a good boss who’s running a thoughtful crew. “That’s wonderful.”

  “We’ll need to write them all a thank-you card for helping us,” Joyce says. “I’m sure we could find some beautiful cards at Noteworthy.”

  “My friend Caroline works there.” She handles all of the wedding invitations and save the date cards at the stationery store in Carmel.

  “Maybe she can get us a discount.” Joyce winks. “You should walk around and check everything out. I need to go find my husband—he called and told me he just pulled into the lot.”

  I watch her go then start making my way around. There’s a food station set up right in front of the store, and I know the catering company is keeping their supplies inside the hall off the store. We figured that’s where the most room would be.

  There are two bars set up, one where you first walk in, and one near the cashier shack. In the actual rows where the live trees are, I spot more than a few strung with multicolored lights. Up above, wreaths are hung from the strings of white lights, and there’s a cutout of Rudolph with a glowing red bulb as his nose. The face is cut out, along with Santa’s standing right next to him, and I’m hoping our guests in attendance tonight will take photos of themselves and post them on their social media.

  Hey, we have to spread the word about the local arts council in any way we can.

  I’m readjusting the festive sign that Joyce made to welcome all of our guests when I hear a low whistle coming from behind me.

  Slowly, I turn to find Charlie standing there, his appreciative gaze drinking me in. And I return the favor because oh my, does he look handsome.

  He’s wearing a black suit—the jacket and everything that comes with it. A crisp white shirt underneath along with a dark red tie that manages to match with my dress (I might’ve had a hand in that). He’s smiling at me, his gorgeous face clean-shaven and his hair…

  “You got a haircut!” I rush toward him, reaching up so I can brush my fingers through the front of it. “It’s so short.”

  I’m pouting. His hair is my favorite
feature beyond those gorgeous green eyes. Though really if I’m being truthful, I can also say that I love how patient he is with me. He’s respectful. Funny. He’s a good boss—he knows how to run his business and manage his people so they actually end up liking him.

  When I first met him, I didn’t think he was any of those things. I believed him rude and abrasive and so resistant to change. Now I realize he just likes his routine. He’s one of those guys.

  And I wouldn’t change him for the world.

  “Not really. I kept it long on top. Just for you.” His arms sneak beneath my coat to go around my waist, his hands making contact with my exposed back. “What the fuck are you wearing?”

  His word choice may seem like he’s angry, but he’s so not. I think I shocked him.

  His fingers lightly caress my exposed skin and I shiver in his arms, patting his chest. “Watch your language, Charles. We’re at a charity event.”

  “No, seriously. Whatcha got on under that coat, Gaines?” He raises his brows, his expression pure curiosity.

  My lips twitch and I can’t help but smile. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

  “Yeah, as a matter of fact I would love to know.” He raises his brows, his lips curved in the faintest smile. “So why don’t you show me?”

  Turning, I present my back to him. “Help me take off my coat and you’ll see.”

  He carefully pulls my coat off of me, another one of those low whistles escaping him when my dress is revealed in its full glory. “Damn, woman, I think you’re trying to kill me.”

  Laughing, I turn to face him once more, shaking my head. “It’s not that big of a deal. I’m pretty much covered.”

  “Right. But then again, you’re not.” He slips his free arm around me, his palm pressed against my skin, fingers splaying across my back. “I like this.”

  “You do?” I tip my head back to receive his kiss. “I’m glad.”

  “The dress fits you like a glove.” His hand moves, running down my side, along the dip of my waist and the flare of my hips.

  “Is it bad?” I frown, glancing down at myself. “Is it too much?”