The Holly Hearth Romantic Comedy Collection

by K B Cinder

  So far, social media didn’t contain a peep from Trey— not even a shady tweet — shocking me to hell and back. Honestly, hell might have frozen over if he let the back to back refusals slide.

  Oh, and my slap and Sage’s punch. Yikes.

  Regardless of what was waiting for me on the convention floor, I was ready. I hadn’t traveled across the country for nothing.

  Once properly fueled and squared away email-wise, I embarked on the epic journey to the convention center, dodging flower deliveries and lovey-dovey couples as I went along.

  Ah, Valentine’s Day.

  Yes, the biggest industry event of the season kicked off on the day the entire world celebrated love. It was a hell of a marketing gimmick, even if it left me wanting to stab my eyes out surrounded by couples who thought tongue-punching mouth holes in public was acceptable.

  It also meant that I willingly signed up for the four-day getaway with a so-in-love-you-could-vomit couple and my archenemy during the most love-crazed weekend of the year. Insane, I know.

  As expected, the convention center was teeming with assistants. I was one of the few hauling my own products to my table, the bellhop cart I tugged along transformed into my own personal sin wagon of sexy-time toys. I’d brought the best for the journey, along with Spike, a 12-inch prototype that was the biggest and baddest in my arsenal.

  Setup was a breeze, hours of prep work back home paying off wonderfully, allowing me to focus on staging rather than sorting through merchandise like those around me.

  VIP guests started trickling in as I finished setting out business cards, the pink lanyards around their necks signaling they’d shelled out nearly a grand for early access all weekend. They made a beeline for performers first; the on-screen talent was always the main draw at events.

  I didn’t mind, though, as they needed us suppliers for products, and we relied on them to pull in potential customers. It was a mutual game of you scratch mine, and I scratch yours — just with sex and the occasional nipple clamps involved.

  The first round of guests was well-behaved and respectful, and I was more than happy to pose for a few photographs —especially with Spike. I knew he’d be a showstopper, so he was prominently featured on my table. The more free press for him, the better.

  The second round was a bit rowdier, the scent of alcohol heavier with each group photo I joined. But it also brought sales with it, and before noon, I’d sold almost three-grand worth of merchandise and handed out countless business cards.

  “Look at that sexy booty!” a familiar voice called as I bent to restock Gem beads. The diamond-shaped dazzlers were my top-seller of the day.

  Juni swatted my jeans-clad ass as I straightened, no traces of last night’s rum punch rendezvous in sight when I turned to face her. A red flower was tucked behind her ear, the normally tamed brown tresses free to flow in waves.

  “Look at that hot teacher!” I pulled her in for a hug, meaning every word of it. She was hotter than any kindergarten teacher I’d ever seen in her skimpy sundress and wedges.

  Mine had enviable sideburns for a fifty-year-old woman. No wonder I was terrified of school from day one. I never had a chance.

  “How’s business?” Dash asked, still remarkably chill for someone on the heels of proposing. Like Juni, he was put together, dashing if you will, in his simple black tee and jeans. He’d been hitting the gym hard with Sage, and it was starting to show as his biceps picked up steam.

  “Great,” I replied, casting my eyes around the table for prospective customers before focusing on them again. “It’s been busy all morning.”

  It was surprising for a Friday, but then again, it was opening day, and we were in Vegas. The place would probably be hopping until the doors closed at eight. I hoped so, at least.

  Good sales both days would be more than appreciated. With the duo closing in on engagement, it was time to start hunting for a place of my own.

  “It looks it,” Dash noted, glancing nervously around the crowd.

  I didn’t blame his discomfort, honestly. Everywhere you looked, beautiful women were wearing next to nothing. It was hard not to stare sometimes, and if you weren’t used to it, it could be overwhelming.

  “The foot traffic is out of this world this year. Spike is a big hit, too.” I waved my baby around, the foot-long fun stick my pride and joy. He was the first toy I designed with customer input, perfectly crafting the phallic phenom. Hopefully, all the attention would lead to an amazing launch when St. Patty’s Day rolled around.

  “He’s big alright,” Juni teased, shooting a cheeky wink before looking into the scores of bodies shuffling around. “Speaking of which, have you seen Sage?”

  “Nope.” I didn’t plan on it, either. Being around him always brought out the worst in me, stirring up memories that needed to stay buried. A fool would call it jealousy, maybe even heartache, but I knew it for what it was — disgust.

  “He’s probably motorboating up a storm around here,” Dash offered with a shrug. He had a point. As his best friend, he did know the pig better than anyone. That said, I had no idea why someone as sweet as him would be friends with someone like Sage.

  “He was super pissy over breakfast earlier. Did something happen last night between you two?”

  My eyes flicked to my best friend’s face, though she showed no signs of knowing a thing. You see, losing my v-card to her older brother wasn’t my proudest moment. In fact, I’d spent ten years kicking myself over it. Burying the truth, too, but mainly kicking myself.

  “He punched a guy in the face,” I explained as I set Spike down, not wanting to get into the specifics about that, either. If I let her know about Trey, she’d freak out. That’s what Juni did best. The last time she did, she carved a dong on her ex’s car that made Spike look like a micropenis. “Everything worked out in the end, though.”

  “Wait, what?” Juni sputtered, her green eyes popping wide. “He hit someone?”

  I fussed with stacking business cards, eager to change the subject. “Well, yeah. Are you really surprised Sage lost his cool? Come on, Juni.”

  It wasn’t that hard to believe. Sage was well-known as Honey Hills, New Jersey’s resident hothead. All those muscles must’ve started squeezing his frontal lobe.

  “Why did he hit someone?” This time it was Dash who dared to ask, his brows creased in concern. “He didn’t mention it to me. He always brags about bar fights.”

  “Just some creep. It’s not a big deal.”

  Except it was. It was a huge deal. He punched Trey Well-Hung right in the kisser. Over me.

  I tried not to dwell on that last tidbit as I smoothed my crop top, the strapped torture device riding uncomfortably high on my ribs. If I weren’t careful, Vegas would see a whole lot of underboob, not that anyone would bat an eyelash with all the nipple tassels and g-strings around.

  Some might want to crawl out of their skin in such a place, but I felt at home. Celebrating sex — and amazing sex at that — was liberating.

  “Why did he hit him, and how do you know?” Juni pushed.

  I straightened, rolling my shoulders to relieve the weight suddenly pressing down on them. “I was there. The guy got smart with him; that’s all. It was fine in the end. Security broke them up, and everyone left happy.”

  I heeded Sage’s advice and avoided drinks, dancing for a handful of songs before the three of us headed to our rooms. I hadn’t seen Sage since we parted ways, and that was fine. I didn’t need him as some stand-in security guard. Besides, I had Juni and Dash as a buffer on the way upstairs. Not that I thought Trey would bug me again, really.

  As I looked into the distance, I hoped that statement would remain true, my eyes landing on the skin-screen legend a few tables away with a gaggle of fans following his every move.

  “What a jackass! He’s lucky he didn’t get arrested!” Juni squawked, Dash’s hand grasping hers as she flushed red. “He doesn’t think of anyone else, I swear.”

  “Well, the guy was rud
e to me, too,” I said, my attention still partly on Trey, who was getting uncomfortably close to my orbit. If I could crawl under the table and hide, I would.

  “What did he say to you?” Dash asked with a raised brow.

  I wasn’t sure what he did and didn’t know, seeing that Sage and I had never really discussed the events of long ago. A night where he made my body sing.

  “Just being a pig. You know how some guys get when they have booze in them. It’s done and over with.”

  Dash’s hazel eyes said otherwise, but I let it slide in front of my bestie. They had a long day of adventures ahead of them, and I wouldn’t steal that thunder.

  That sprinkle of fun was just a taste of what was to come. The next day, she was in for the treat of her life.

  I was probably in for a panic attack myself, but I’d do anything for my best friend. Including conquering a paralyzing fear of heights. I hoped.

  “Karine of Kinx, how are you, my dear?” The mayor of Nopeville strolled over as if nothing had happened, a slight bump at the center of his bottom lip the only reminder of Sage’s fist. His makeup team deserved credit, making the angry gash nearly nonexistent unless the light hit it just right.

  Like the day before, he wore a plunging v-neck, my beads displayed around his neck. I itched to snatch them away, but the free publicity from one of the hottest stars was worth more than pride at the moment. Maybe that’s why they were selling like hotcakes.

  I ignored him, hoping he’d take the hint, but of course, he didn’t. Sage wasn’t around, leaving me an open target for his fuckery. I should have let Sage deliver that second shot after all.

  “Where’s Slugger at?” he joked, running a hand along his jaw as he studied my display.

  His words caught both Juni and Dash’s attention, the couple’s eyes bouncing between us.

  “Grabbing me a drink,” I lied. “He’ll be back soon.”

  He flashed that perfect smile, and I knew he had me on something. “Funny, I thought I saw him drooling over Kendra Kum somewhere. I didn’t know you two had an open arrangement.”

  “Something like that,” I replied with a fake yawn. “But that’s none of your business.”

  He reached out, rolling a sample of Gem beads in his fingers, the same design as the ones around his neck. “I talked to the Akagi brothers this morning over golf as promised,” he informed, his eyes glued on the beads as he spun them between his fingers.

  My stomach clenched at the news, and for a brief moment, I swore I’d vomit all over his ugly metallic shirt. “And?”

  He only wanted to rile me up. All I had to do was keep reminding myself of that simple fact, and everything would be fine.

  “They’re interested in meeting the woman who captivates my mind, body, and spirit.” He lingered a little too long over the word body for my liking, but the statement still blew me away. I wholeheartedly expected him to say he told them I ate babies or something equally terrible.

  Dash shifted, obviously uncomfortable being inches away from a man that looked like a walking, talking department store mannequin. Juni seemed just as creeped out. I was glad I wasn’t the only one.

  “I’ll catch up with you two later?” I offered them an out, not only for their own comfort but for my sanity. I didn’t need Trey opening his big mouth more about the Sage incident in front of them.

  “I’ll text you,” Juni replied, nervously eyeing Trey as she went in for a hug. To my ear, she whispered, “Be safe.”

  I nodded, waving the two off as they drifted into the crowd. I didn’t want to chase them away, but I had to. Sticking around would only lead to embarrassment and questions that I didn’t have answers to.

  Now alone with the man eagerly battling Sage for the role of my least favorite person ever, my eyes met the glassy ones lodged inside the head of the Botoxed baboon in front of me. “What do you want?”

  His shoulders shook with a laugh, though the delight never reached his face. “First and foremost, you, but I’ll settle for dinner with you and the Akagi brothers tonight.”

  The urge to jump up and down and the instinct to run collided, my heart doing a nervous flop in my chest. Dinner with the Akagi brothers was a dream come true, but with Trey at my side, it descended into a nightmare.

  “Tonight?” I echoed, my mind devoid of all thoughts except for holy shit, the Akagi brothers. They were a pair of investors that could put Kinx on top.

  A smile stretched across his lips despite the hidden gash that had to hurt like hell. “Yes, as in nine o’clock tonight. I’ll meet you in the lobby?”

  I blinked, the reality of who I was dealing with flying back into the picture. “They’re meeting us here?”

  God, I hoped so.

  “No, we’re meeting them across town. They have a new restaurant they want to show off. You know how much those two love bragging.”

  Dread lodged in my throat.

  “My fiancé….” I trailed, unsure where to go with the thought. Sage wouldn’t help me. I couldn’t ask him to, either. That lie officially got me nowhere. Hell, maybe the bad karma from telling it was coming back in spades.

  Trey finished for me, “Is chatting up a porn star on Valentine’s Day, the one day where he’s supposed to dote on you like the queen that you are. Forget him.”

  “He and I have plans, so I’ll have to make it brief,” I relented, settling on yet another lie.

  As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t turn the opportunity down. I might never get another shot.

  Trey’s smile widened, and fear struck clear to my toes — fear of what bad karma would come from that last little, white lie.

  7

  Prepping for dinner was torture.

  I would rather go to the doctor with a mystery sore or accidentally sext my mother.

  But not my father, who called while I was in the midst of squeezing into the least sexy dress I’d brought — a sequined mini that embraced my inner mermaid with its scaled emerald design.

  A burlap sap was a more attractive option, but I didn’t pack one. Unfortunately, everything I brought was either short, low-cut, or cropped, dammit.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day, favorita,” Papa greeted, his voice bouncing off the bathroom marble from the speaker. Sometimes, I swore he missed his calling as a sports announcer.

  “I take it, Lita and Raya are over?” I laughed, fluffing my curls in the mirror. He always used the nickname when my dear little sisters were in earshot, just to tease. “A little late, no?” It was nearly midnight in Jersey.

  “We’re slowly breaking apart as a family over Monopoly and coxinha,” he explained with a laugh, the mere mentioning of Mama’s homemade croquettes making my mouth water. “Lita is sitting pretty with a hotel on Boardwalk, while Raya is raising hell with an entire side loaded with real estate.”

  “Let me guess: RyRy tricked Mama into trading with a deal she couldn’t refuse?” I asked as I misted myself in perfume.

  As the youngest, Soraya was also the sneakiest and had our parents wrapped around her finger. Talita, on the other hand, took after me and was a straight savage. She didn’t play games; she took what she wanted. The combination made Monopoly a bloodsport in the Nunes household.

  “The little witch got me with the brown squares again!” Mama called in the distance, signaling Papa had me on speakerphone.

  “You should know she’s a little snake by now!’ I shot back, turning to critique my reflection. The dress was shorter than I would have liked, but it would have to do. I wanted to look nice but not too nice.

  “Am not!” Raya defended, her voice muffled by everyone’s laughter.

  “How was the first day, honey?” Papa asked through chuckles.

  “Amazing,” I replied, truly meaning it.

  I landed a record-breaking seven-grand in sales, completely selling out of Gem beads. I started directing patrons to my online store for them by three o’clock, and Spike remained a steady draw all day long.

  “That’s awesome! Well
, I know you’re busy, honey. I just wanted to check in. You got done at eight, right?”

  “Yep.” I would have covered the same hours the following day except for a date with a helicopter. Usually, I’d never close up shop early, but it wasn’t every day that your best friend got engaged.

  “Give me a call tomorrow, okay? I ran over some numbers with the accountant, and Mama and I might be able to help with that new project of yours.”

  I smiled, my eyes threatening my mascara with tears. It was a huge milestone of acceptance, but I could never take their money. My parents worked themselves to the bone to raise us. It was my turn to take care of them.

  At the same time, giggles pooled in my belly, knowing Papa was willing to invest in a foot-long dildo without a second thought. All he knew was that I was working on a new item. He’d never asked what kind.

  “I’ll call you late tomorrow,” I promised, hurrying to grab my keycard and purse off the nightstand. I normally would have chosen a clutch, but I packed Spike just in case the Akagi brothers asked to see him. “I have a busy day planned.”

  That was one way to put it, but I promised Dash I’d tell no one, including my parents.

  “Be careful,” Papa warned, sliding into protective mode as he always did at the end of a call. “I don’t want to read about you in the paper, Rini.”

  I texted Juni the name of the restaurant I’d be at on the elevator ride down, always one to keep her in the loop. I could never be too safe, especially with Trey involved.

  I found him leaning against a column in a maroon suit, his hair gleaning with pomade. For once, he wasn’t rocking my Gem beads around his neck, replacing them with a thick, gold chain.

  “You made it!” He lit up as soon as he saw me, clapping his hands as if my arrival alone were worthy of applause.

  In a way, it was. I almost chickened out three times on the way down before telling myself to suck it up. It was a once-in-a-lifetime shot, and I’d worked too hard to turn it down.

  “I did.” I cast my eyes around the lobby, the room bursting with people coming and going. Plenty of witnesses if he tried something, at least.