Beards and Holly (Magnolia Point)

Chapter Fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Holly

“ T he man was shirtless, Holly. You can’t tell me nothing is going on between you two,” my sister drones.

“I’m not denying something is going on, Daphne, just that he didn’t stay the night. That’s what you asked me.”

“So what’s going on? Are you okay? Did he do something? I’ll fucking throat punch him, I swear to?—”

“No, no, no, it’s all good. Things are great actually,” I say, quickly interrupting. “Jenson is great. We’ve had a lot of fun.”

“Then why the long face?” Daphne says in soft tone. My sister has been known to be too blunt and dismissive, so I’m loving this side of her.

“What face?” I say, shying away from the question. Honestly, I hadn’t realized I was showing my nerves.

“The upside down smile when that man left.”

I shrug and head for the kitchen and a cup of coffee. Daphne follows, and I know by the intent look on her face I’ll have to spill the beans.

I start the coffee, and she starts the stare down.

“Okay, fine. I like him, and we agreed to no strings, and he got all awesome and vulnerable and started showing me this side of him that just makes me melt. Fuck, I don’t know how to act around him now.”

“Wow. I…um…don’t think I’ve ever seen you a loss of words for a man. Usually, there are curse words, but never words of feelings. Does he know?”

“Hell, no. The Grinch cannot find out how totally hopelessly I’ve fallen for him. Which means you can’t tell Layton,” I say, pointing my finger at her.

“Fallen? Like in love?” she says, shocked.

I freeze. “No. Maybe. Fuck, I don’t know.”

My heart says yes, I’ve completely fallen for Jenson and that makes my anxiety rise.

“What have I gotten myself into?” I mutter into my hands when suddenly, the door swings open.

Quickly, I try to act casual by leaning against the counter and miss completely, tipping over. Luckily, I don’t fall to the ground, but when I look up, I find two burly bearded men in flannels watching me with unease.

“Coffee?” I ask as Layton and Jenson walk farther inside. Layton takes the seat next to my sister while Jenson stands in the doorway. That’s not a good sign.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got to run over to my grandma’s for breakfast. I was wondering if you might be free sometime this evening?” Jenson asks with a nervous expression.

Did Layton say something to him? Is he going to call this off? Fuck, my stomach hurts.

“Sure, she is. We’re meeting our parents for an early lunch before they head down to Florida to catch a cruise. She’ll be free around two, as a matter of fact,” Daphne chimes in, seemingly proud of herself. All the while, I stand there like an idiot, just nodding and unsure what to say or how to act. What will I do when he says he’s done?

“Great. See you around two, Holly,” Jenson says then ducks out my door, leaving me with more questions than answers.

Layton and Daphne give me the best Christmas present by not asking more questions as we finish our coffees, the conversation now directed at their upcoming move. The two lovebirds have been inseparable since they got back together. Now, they have plans to move to Starlight Bay together and live happily ever after. I appreciate the distraction, so I listen to Daphne go on about the move and the styles of wedding dresses she has planned to showcase in some fancy high-end magazine.

Soon, we’re heading over to Layton’s grandmother’s house for a big family Christmas brunch. I feel like the seventh wheel as everyone is coupled up talking about weddings and babies and planning for retirement. I’m happy for all of them, but I’m so confused about my feelings at the moment it’s impossible to add to any of the conversation.

Finally, after a couple of hours, I don’t have to force a nervous smile anymore. My parents hug us goodbye then duck into a taxi, headed for the airport. Layton and Daphne drop me back at home, and I sprint for the shower. I have no idea what Jenson has planned, but if by chance, he wants to get me naked, I need to shave.

Afterward, I throw on an emerald green dress, light makeup and my new gold star necklace from my parents, then I head downstairs to wait.

Not long after I sit on the couch, Gizmo barrels in and jumps on the couch next to me, lapping at my face and making me laugh. A knock at the door fills my belly with butterflies.

“Gizmo, what has your daddy planned?” I ask the panting pouch, who offers no reply.

“Blink twice if he’s calling it off, or bark if he secretly loves me?” I say as a joke, but he starts barking. I laugh it off and get to my feet. Nerves assault me as I get closer to the door, Jenson’s handsome silhouette waiting just on the other side.

Swinging open the door, I catch the scent of his woodsy cologne and noticed he’s changed into a nice button-up shirt. This one is cobalt blue and matches his eyes in a way that makes my knees feel weak. I’ve never had such a visceral reaction to a man, but this one really does it for me.

“Merry Christmas,” he says with an outstretched pot of holly.

“Aw, you shouldn’t have,” I say with a giggle. A fucking giggle. Who am I?

“There’s more. If you want to come take a ride with me.”

I nod, feeling a bit of relief. Surely, he wouldn’t give me a plant if he planned to call things off with us. It would have been easier to just tell me here at my door and run for cover. But he didn’t, and he wants to take me somewhere. I hope it’s not food. All I’ve done so far today is eat to avoid talking. Now, I actually want to talk. I need to know where his head is when it comes to the two of us.