Beards and Holly (Magnolia Point)

Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Holly

T he next day, I still feel his kiss on my lips, and those vulnerable words echoes through my mind. It’s Christmas Eve, so Mall Santa is over and I don’t have an excuse to see Jenson, but every part of me wants to. I want to ask why he not-fake kissed me, why he shared his tragic past with me of all people.

The memory stays with me while I sip my coffee. It’s nearing noon, but I didn’t get much sleep last night. Jenson has me all tangled up in my thoughts, and I have to admit I’m falling for the guy.

The grumpy neighbor I can easily forget, but the man who opened up to me last night has me melting at his feet. Usually, I’m not a woman who so easily gets caught up on the man, who clearly set no-string boundaries, but here I am, pining for a man I can’t have. Can I? Is there something real growing between us or is it all in my head? It wouldn’t be the first time I gave my heart away to someone who didn’t really want it. The ghosts of exes past rear their ugly heads, ruining my mood. Thoughts of Jenson’s lips are more fun to think about.

Suddenly, a beast barrels through my doggie dog, startling me from my thoughts.

I grab my chest in fright as Gizmo jumps onto my lap.

“Oh my gosh, you scared me. Who’s a good boy coming to see me? Does your daddy know you’re here?”

A knock at my front door answers my question.

Butterflies spring to life, and nerves wreck me. Suddenly, I don’t know how to act. Last night, we spent another hour chatting with Rita, and after he drove me and my car home, we shyly said goodnight and went to our respective houses. A lot had happened, and I think we both needed to process it.

Opening the door, I’m greeting by a sexy smirk from Jenson, who’s dressed in his usually dirty blue jeans and a torn flannel covered in sawdust. He must have been working in his garage this morning.

“Howdy, neighbor,” he practically growls. Sex appeal drips from this bearded man, and I’m embarrassingly turned on.

“Hey, you,” I say with a flirt in my tone.

“Did I see my dog run over here?”

At the question, Gizmo barks from the kitchen, making me laugh. Jenson rolls his eyes, but his smile doesn’t fade.

His confession last night gets me thinking about his hatred for Christmas, and I get an idea.

“Do you have plans today?” I ask, the spontaneous plan forming in my head.

“Nope. What do you have in mind, Jolly Holly?” This time, the way he says the nickname doesn’t make me angry at all. It makes me steps lighter as I walk over to grab my purse.

“Something I think you’ll appreciate. We’re going to the only place that’s probably open on Christmas Eve.”

My parents aren’t coming into town until tomorrow for dinner at my sister and her boyfriend Layton’s house, where I’m sure Daphne has already prepared a feast. That leaves today wide open, and instead of lying around, I’m going to show my fake boyfriend a good time.

We take Gizmo back to Jenson’s, and he goes to lie down on his bed. Then we hop into Jenson’s truck, where I give him directions to an unmarked building. Rummaging around in my purse, I find the key and let us inside.

“What is this place? Have you lured me here to kill me and chop me up to discard my body?” Jenson says, taking in all the old radios and TVs discarded around us.

I laugh at his discomfort but quickly explain as I turn on more lights in the old warehouse.

“To most people, this place looks like a junkyard, but in fact, it’s so much more. Someday, I hope to own my own photography studio. For now, I rent this space and make do.”

“No more Santa and his little elf?” he asks.

“Nope. I’m saving up, so I can move on to bigger and better things.”

I pick up a baseball bat and hand it to him. Then I find two pairs of goggles hanging on the wall. I nod for him to follow me over to where I had my last family photo shoot. Everything is still decorated for Christmas. A big tree with tinsel and adorned with broken ornaments sits waiting, and I grind with evil intention.

Putting on the glasses, I pick up large hammer and rest it on my shoulder.

“Have at it, Grinch.”

He looks at me funny.

“Is this a rage room?”

I just nod. It’s a small step toward my goal. Someday, it’ll be more, but today, it’s Jenson’s rage room.

Smiling with what looks like admiration, he puts on the safety goggles and steps up to the poorly decorated tree. I take a second to turn on the tree lights, and then he swings. The bat smashes into the tree sending broken bulbs flying. He continues to lash out on the Christmas scene, swinging the bat into the cardboard fireplace. Stockings fall. He smashes an old TV that was already broken and shatters a couple mugs sitting on a coffee table.

As I watch him let out all the aggression, I can’t help but feel pride. After he told me he was an angry teen and made mistakes he felt guilty over, I suspected he might still be holding onto some of that pain.

Soon, he stops to catch his breath, and his shoulders visibly loosen. His stance is almost lazy. He’s relaxed and a little sweaty as he takes in the damage he’s metaphorically done to the holiday.

Without a word, I find my stashed bottle of bourbon and join him on the only thing still in one piece. An old green couch.

Popping off the lid, I take a seat and then a drink of the amber liquor. It burns hot in my belly, but it’s a good burn. The taste lingers as I hand it over. Jenson accepts and takes a small swig. The two of us sit in silence for a moment before he speaks.

“Damn, that felt good. How’d you know?”

I shrug. “Just had a feeling you might need that.”

“I didn’t even know I did. Is it possible you know me better than I know myself?”

I shake my head laughing “No way. Don’t worry.”

He smiles, looking at me funny.

“What?” I ask, and without a word, he leans forward and presses a warm kiss to my lips. Again, this one is unhurried and filled with feelings that make me question how fake this relationship is. Dare I ask?

When he leans away, he touches my cheek gently. And as if he can read my mind he says, “I meant what I said about that kiss not being fake. There’s nothing fake about the way I feel about you, Holly.”

And just like that, I’m a horny mess over a man who never wanted to settle down. I never thought of myself as special, but I’ve always wanted to be someone worthy.

Here, in this moment, I feel those things and so much more with a man I truly believe deserves all my love and trust. I just hope I’m brave enough.