Holly versus Mr. Ivy by Amanda P. Jones
Chapter 26
Rhett
suffocating me. How had we gotten on the subject of me? Holly was the topic of conversation tonight.
Besides, how did I explain that I genuinely liked people, but keeping things light prevented others from asking too many questions? I liked it that way. Those who knew me didn’t judge me for my mental health struggles. Those who did not know me never needed to find out.
Should I tell Holly because I hoped to date her? Or stay quiet until our relationship—if Holly even wanted one—developed more?
I walked the line between the full truth and simply not telling her everything. Omission wasn’t lying, right? “I don’t hide behind my ‘happy-go-lucky personality.’” I finger quoted. “I just like people, and by focusing on the positives in life, I’m happier.” My therapist had suggested a gratitude journal, and when I wrote down the good things in my life, it was hard to be as depressed. That, combined with physical fitness, healthy diet, and medicine, helped me most of the time. There were always days that blindsided me, like when Jack had told me about his current struggles and when Uncle Anthony acted like I didn’t know how to do my job, but that was life. Heavy hits you had to figure out how to get back off the floor from taking.
“How do you stay positive?” Holly asked.
I busted out an ironic laugh. If she only knew. “It’s not easy, but what I manage takes a lot of work. Would you like a lesson?” I smirked.
She elbowed my arm again. “I don’t need one.”
My brows furrowed in a fake apology. “I’m sorry,” I said sarcastically. “Have you met yourself?”
“You’re being awfully mean to the person who invited you over to her house and cooked for you,” she accused.
“Does this mean I won’t get pie?” I acted hurt at the prospect. She’d said she wouldn’t let me have any in her text this morning, but since her hands were out of commission, she couldn’t stop me.
“I haven’t decided yet,” she said.
My back protested from being on the floor. Scooting out from under the tree, I offered Holly a hand.
She took one last look at the tree, flipped to her stomach, then army-crawled backward, ready to stand without my help. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her up until her back was flush against my stomach. Leaning down, I whispered in her ear, “I’m sorry for saying you need a lesson on positivity. That was rude and underserved. I just want everyone else to know you the way I do. But maybe keeping you to myself is a better idea.”
She shivered as my breath danced along her neck. Resting her head against my chest, she said, “I’ll forgive you.”
I smiled. “Thank you. Now, how about that pie?”
“Fine, but only because I can’t physically fight you off.” Holly held her hands out, palm-side up. “You’ll have to dish it up.”
I grinned, loving the idea of Holly trying to physically prevent me from doing anything. Reluctantly letting her go, I placed my hand on the small of her back. “You’ve got a deal.”
“You have a little something on your mouth.” I pointed to Holly’s upper lip where a stubborn dot of cream resided. Of course, as the one feeding her, I may have purposely angled the fork when giving her a bite of banana cream pie so this exact scenario played out.
She went to wipe the cream with her forearm, but I wrapped my fingers around her wrist, halting her.
Her wide gaze met mine. “I can do it,” Holly said, a bit breathless.
I smiled flirtatiously. “But where’s the fun in that?” The pad of my thumb slowly, tantalizing, swept across the perfectly arched bow of her upper lip. Heat like the sun raced up my arm, to my chest, my stomach, before settling in my toes.
Holly’s eyes stayed on mine as I brought my finger to my mouth, licking off the cream.
If only my lips had captured the cream from hers instead.
Holly cleared her throat, her attention diverting from my face and settling on the half-eaten slice of pie resting on her plate. “You never told me what flavor of pie is your favorite.”
Taking a sip of water, I swallowed. “Depends on the season. I like cherry in the summer and pecan in the fall.”
“I didn’t make either of those. I should have asked.”
I scoffed. “Holly, you had me bring drinks and asked me to help prepare vegetables for a meal that took you all day to make. There is absolutely no reason you needed to go out of your way to make my favorite pie. I enjoy banana cream and pumpkin too. I have zero complaints about the food I’ve eaten today, except that I’m sad it burned you.”
She studied the loosely wrapped white gauze covering her hands. “That was an unexpected part of the day.”
One that had added a major complication to work. Getting her mind off the pain, I asked, “What kind of activities do you usually do for Christmas?”
Her lips twitched as if she fought a smile. “Are you trying to get yourself invited over again?”
Yes, but that wasn’t why I’d asked. “Just curious what the Dewhursts do in December.”
She shrugged. “Lots of stuff. When I was little, we’d go sledding, make gingerbread houses, bake cookies, attend the Lampton festival, go caroling, do a service project, and drive around looking at lights.”
“So basically nothing,” I teased.
She grinned. “Yeah.”
I took a bite of pie. “We did a lot of those things as well. What was your favorite?”
“All of it.”
I chuckled. “That really narrows it down.” How would I plan future outings with her if I didn’t know what she preferred?
“It wasn’t really Christmas without each of those activities. It was the whirlwind of being busy and celebrating for a month straight that made it special. We haven’t done most of those things since Trevor and I grew up, though. What about you?”
Hands down, the town festival. It was held the weekend of Thanksgiving every year. The smells, sights, and sounds came together to make the quintessential Christmas experience. The one year I missed it in college had made the rest of December feel weird, like I was missing a piece of myself. Or like the time we went to the Bahamas for the holidays. It never felt like Christmas at the beach. Growing up with snow instead of sand made it weird to be on a tropical island during the holidays. “The Lampton Festival is my favorite. It kicks off the mood for the season, which is why I asked you to go with me.”
Her brows furrowed. “Wouldn’t you like to go with your parents?”
I scooped another bite of pie for Holly, holding it up to her mouth.
“They won’t be home from the cruise yet,” I explained. “Besides, now that I’m grown, my parents don’t go out of their way like they used to when it comes to Christmas activities. I’m lucky we get together on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.”
Holly swallowed and harrumphed. “That’s kind of sad. Adults can love Christmas just as much as kids.”
“I know, but it’s not the same as when you’re little. Some of the excitement wears off the older you get. Don’t get me wrong, I still love it and try to capture as much magic of the season as I can, but it’s different when there are credit card bills attached to the festivities. And you’re the one creating the fun, not Santa.”
Holly snorted. “You’re telling me Santa doesn’t have deep enough pockets for you?”
I pushed her shoulder. “Stop. You know what I mean.”
“I do. And you’re right. It is different as an adult.”
Waiting until Saturday proved too difficult when I had Holly all to myself at the moment. Please let her want the same thing I do. “Maybe this season could be the best one yet for another reason.” I twisted my fork between my fingers. “Like capturing the magic with you.”
Holly’s cheeks turned from cream to cotton-candy pink to tomato red. She boldly met my gaze. “You…you want to do that with me?” she stuttered.
I nodded, staring into her blue eyes, the same shade as the ocean in Greece.
Her brow furrowed, and she studied me. “Before I say anything one way or another, I need to know why. We haven’t been on the best of terms since the employee party. And you’ve never told me what exactly happened after I left the meeting with Anthony. Now all of a sudden, you’re flirting, touching me, and wanting to be together. I think I need some answers.”
I rubbed the side of my neck. I did owe her an explanation, although it was the last thing I wanted to talk about. But if we were going to be partners, I had to open up and tell her everything. “I was attracted to you from the moment I laid eyes on you. But I pushed it away because I’d vowed to stay single the rest of my life. As we spent time together, my feelings for you deepened. I think our almost-kiss and seeing you interact and laugh with the employees at the company party made me realize I really liked you and wanted to do something about it.
“Except Darby had contacted my uncle, and when he came to see us, his warning made me realize it wasn’t worth risking either of our jobs. So I threw up a barrier and tried my best to ignore you. Then Jack came to see me, and I realized a connection like ours doesn’t come around often. What I feel for you is different from what I’ve felt with any woman. I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to tell you that I wanted to date you. I know we’ll have obstacles in our way, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to see if we have a future together.”
Holly stared at the table, processing my words. “And what if I say yes?” she croaked. “That I want that too? Because I’m pretty sure I fell for you the night you stood up for Jessica.”
I grinned. Despite the fool I’d be for chasing after a woman who didn’t know my full history and the risk we were taking with our jobs, I’d be one lucky man. “Then I think we’d be in for the perfect December.”
Holly’s breath hitched. Her brows drew together and her upper teeth dug into her bottom lip. I longed to replace her teeth with mine. A longing I’d fought all day.
“How do we keep others from finding out?” Holly asked. “I can’t lose my job. My salary is the only thing keeping a roof over our heads.”
Reaching over, I set my hand on her knee. “We have a few ways to proceed forward. Option A is to spend time together as friends,”—I removed my hand from her leg—“and Option B is to wait until I start my own business, and forget about a December to remember.”
I smirked at my rhyme.
Holly rolled her eyes.
“Option C,” I continued, “is to set rules in place. Like no hand holding, kissing, or anything couple-like in public, but when we’re alone…” I trailed my finger along her jaw, loving how velvety her skin was under mine. Her eyelids fluttered under my caress. “We don’t hold back.”
“What about work?” she asked breathlessly.
I cocked my head to the side, studying her. “What about it?”
“How do we act normal around one another?”
I repeatedly raised my brows. “Worried you won’t be able to keep your eyes and hands off me?”
She frowned. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.” It would be very difficult for me to treat Holly as only a coworker from here on out. Even now, all I wanted was to kiss this woman. To feel more of her under my hands. To claim every inch of her delicate skin with my lips. To get to know every little thing about her.
She pushed my hand, still on her jaw, away. “No one at work can find out,” she said, panicked. “I’d rather we ignore each other completely than give anyone even a hint that we’re spending time together outside of work.”
“If we ignore one another, people will think something already happened.”
She cocked her head to the side. “True. So we have to keep our interactions status quo at the restaurant.”
Did I have enough restraint for that? “Yes, we need to figure out a way to treat one another as we always have at work. Can you do that?” Could I?
She slowly nodded. “I think so.”
“Does this mean we’re going with Option C?” Please pick C.
“If I say A?”
I sighed, hating that both options A and B made more sense. Blasted Jack. If he hadn’t talked to me about Meg, I’d still be keeping my distance from Holly. But even Uncle Anthony’s warnings meant nothing when it came to the woman sitting next to me. I needed her in my life. Needed to see if we had the potential for a deeper connection. I was determined to find a way for us to be together. Having a partner to rely on, knowing they wouldn’t walk away at the first sign of trouble. I wanted that so badly, it physically hurt to think Holly might say Option C wasn’t on the table when I wanted it now, even if it meant we could only meet in secret. “I’d do my best to keep my hands, mouth, and eyes in the appropriate lane.” Although that feat of patience may prove to be my undoing.
Her lips twitched. “What about B?”
I growled, not liking B at all. Why had I even given her that choice? November was already difficult as I tried to stay away from her. Waiting until I started my own company? Not likely.
She chuckled. “So plan B gets a hearty no from you?”
I nodded once.
She smiled shyly. “And C?”
Balloons, confetti, and sparkles burst within me. Yes, that one. Please choose that path. “You’d better have a stockpile of lip balm at the ready because every spare moment will be spent with my mouth on yours.”
Her brows rose at the same time as her lips.
I slid my fingers to her chin, guiding her to look at me. “What will it be, Holly?” My voice came out gruff.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
My heart clanged against my chest as I waited an eternity for an answer.
“The smart answer is B.”
I groaned. Stupid, responsible choice. “You’re right. It is.”
She snapped her eyes open, meeting mine. “But I choose C,” she whispered.
Relief washed over me as if I were standing under a waterfall. Sliding my hand from her chin to the back of her neck, I closed the distance between us, placing my lips on hers. The second my mouth made impact, heat raged throughout my body and my stomach swooped. Holly leaned toward me, her lips moving against mine, like she too had been anticipating this kiss ever since October when we had been in her office.
Holly’s lips tasted like sweet cream, happiness, and our future. Tilting my head to get a better angle, I parted my lips, coaxing Holly’s open. My fingers played with the hair at the base of her neck. My ministrations were slow and thorough, like I was a scientist about to discover the next breakthrough in making out. My examination went through a checklist, ensuring every item passed inspection.
I started with Holly.
Warm, delicate skin? Check.
Soft, full lips? Confirmed.
Silky, smooth hair? Substantiated.
Ability to make her breathless? Verified.
The checklist moved to myself.
Heart pounding in my chest? Profoundly.
Lower stomach tightening in the most pleasant way possible? Yes.
Thoughts scattered except for how to make this kissing session last the rest of our lives? Definitely.
Best feeling ever, highly recommended to one and all? Mmm-hmmm.
Holly turned the kiss from something tentative to full-blown, no holds barred, all-in passion. Hating the distance between us, I scooped my arms around Holly, hauling her onto my lap. Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me until our bodies were stuck together like velcro. There was no breaking apart. No Holly or me, just us.
I wanted to linger, to explore every millimeter of her mouth with mine, and then move on to her neck and jaw, to do this for the rest of the night, but Holly slowed down our kiss, and before I had time to pick up the pace again, she buried her head in my neck.
“I’m really upset at Darby right now.”
“What?” I scoffed. That was not what I had expected her first words to be after that epic kiss.
“She walked in and interrupted us,” Holly complained. “If I’d known then what I know now about the way you kiss, Rhett, we would have spent the last month in an entirely different way. Of course, we also wouldn’t have jobs. So there is that.”
Leaning back, I cupped her face between my hands. “I promise we will be discreet. Uncle Anthony, or anyone else we work with, will never find out about us until after I’m gone from his company, okay? I don’t want to give my uncle any reason to fire either one of us.”
“I trust you.”
Her words warmed my heart, like an oven preheating. Every moment we spent together jeopardized our jobs, but if no one found out, what was the harm in enjoying my favorite time of year with my new favorite person?