Mistletoe Rescue (Mistletoe Kisses)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

A s Holly ate a slice of pizza, her mind kept going back to the kiss. Kisses, actually. Good grief, but she would never have dreamed of throwing herself at a man like that. There were plenty of guys who would have taken advantage of her vulnerability. Her heart swelled with gratitude that Zack wasn’t one of them. He was strong in the right ways. And brave.

Her gaze drifted to her phone, and she wondered again why Jason wanted to talk about them . In the past, any time he had brought up their family, she shut him down. He knew she had no wish to speak about that time. Just thinking about them made her eyes burn again. The people she had always thought would support her through anything had turned against her.

No. Holly rubbed against the lump in her throat. She didn’t want to cry anymore.

“Have you had enough?” Zack asked.

“Yeah. Eat the rest.” She liked how he had placed his foot by hers, barely touching, but enough that she knew he was there. It reminded her of his subtle encouragement and support at camp during those two summers. He was still that awesome person but even better now.

“I could, but it’s not good to eat this much later in the day.” He leaned back in his chair and nodded at her phone. “What will you do about your brother?”

“Can I just ignore him?”

“He’s the last member of your family you still have contact with. Do you usually dismiss him for hours?”

Holly appreciated that there were no accusations in Zack’s words. It really did just sound like a simple question. She sighed.

“No. I’m sure he’s worried he hasn’t heard from me yet.”

“Do you want to see what he has to say?”

“I don’t,” she said, meaning it. “But I’ll bet he’s stuck between us, which is totally unfair to him.”

Zack only arched his brows expectantly.

“Fine. I’ll text him.”

With cold hands, she woke her phone.

Holly

Is now an okay time to talk?

It rang almost immediately. As panic filled her, she stared at Zack. Maybe she wasn’t ready for this.

“I have your back,” he whispered, resting a hand on her knee.

Holly accepted the call and put it on speaker. “Jason?”

“Holls, it’s so good to hear your voice.”

With her emotions already so high, the sound of her beloved brother’s voice about did her in. Zack must have sensed it because he moved his hand to the table and laced their fingers.

“How are you?” she asked, though her voice came out raspy.

“Finally done with the semester. I’m headed to Florida with some friends for the Christmas break.”

“That sounds like fun.” Holly was glad she sounded more normal. “It will be nice for you to spend time in warmer weather. It’s been crazy here. The weather can’t make up its mind whether to be warmer than normal or unusually cold.”

“Well, I guess I should just get right to it.”

She pinched her eyes closed, shaking her head as her stomach tightened, and she worried she might lose her dinner. Then Zack’s grip tightened just a little, reminding her he was there.

“Why are they making you be the middleman?” she asked.

“Would you take a call from any of them?” He sounded surprised.

“To be honest, no. And if I found out you had given my number to them?—”

“You would have blocked me too,” Jason interrupted.

“Yes.”

“Which I would never do. I promise. But I discovered this afternoon that last week, while I was in the restroom, Ivy got into my phone and found your information.”

Holly stiffened, her body flushing with anger at her sister’s presumption. “I’m not surprised she would betray your trust too.”

“A lot has happened here lately.”

“I don’t care,” Holly broke in before he could say more. “They’ve shown their true colors, and I refuse to keep toxic people around me.”

“Even if they’re trying to change their ways?” Jason asked, his voice pleading.

“And what makes you think they’re doing that?”

“Some of this I think would be better if you heard it from them directly.”

“No. I closed that door a long time ago, and for my well-being, I need to keep it shut.” It pained her to say the words, but deep in her heart, Holly knew they were completely true. It terrified her to give them the power to hurt her again. Her self- esteem had taken an enormous hit the day her parents had stood in defense of her cheating sister.

“I don’t know that you have a choice. I’ll tell them, but I have to warn you. They’re pretty determined.”

“What do you mean?” Holly asked, shocked at what he might be suggesting. “Are you saying they could come here even after I made it clear I wouldn’t see them?”

“I’m saying exactly that. When they told me their plans, nothing I said made any difference. Look, I’m leaving in the morning for Florida, but I wanted to warn you that you could have some visitors. I can only hope common sense will prevail, since there’s a forecast for a severe storm. I’m really sorry and please know that I love you, Holls.”

“I love you too, Jason, and thank you. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.”

Her brother disconnected the call.

“Do you think they’ll really come?” Zack asked.

“My sister was too cowardly to tell me she had feelings for my fiancé. I don’t know what’s happened back there, but the thought of seeing Brett again makes me ill.”

Zack let out a heavy breath. “I sure hope I don’t end up spending Christmas in jail.”

Holly laughed at his comment, but Zack meant it. He wasn’t sure if her ex showed his face in town that Zack wouldn’t punch it.

“Thank you for lightening the mood.” She brought their clasped hands to her cheek. “Your support means so much to me.”

“I will always be here for you.” Zack said the words simply and didn’t care about showing his powerful feelings.

She rewarded him with a pepperoni kiss. He could just eat her up. Fortunately, his phone pinged with a text. It was from McKenzie.

McKenzie

Have you asked her yet?

Zack pulled a face.

“What’s wrong?” Holly asked.

“The Donor Dinner is tomorrow night.”

“Yes, it is.” Her expression turned flirty. “And I know, for a fact, that you don’t have a date. I’ve been wondering why you haven’t asked anyone, especially since you’re a guest of honor.”

“I didn’t invite anyone else because I wanted to take you .” Zack brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. “But I didn’t want to take you as a plus one. I want to take you as my girlfriend.”

Something delicious and encouraging flashed across her face. “Is that what I am?”

“Well, I’ve wanted it for a long time, but I didn’t want to pressure you.”

The fire in her eyes dimmed a little but not completely. “I’ll admit I’ve been conflicted about getting involved.”

Zack wanted to say she hadn’t seemed conflicted when they were kissing, but he didn’t know how she might take it so he kept his mouth shut. If he had learned nothing else from having three older sisters, it was the importance of men biting their tongues when they were unsure.

“We can move as slow as you want.” He winced. “Assuming you would like to give us a try.”

Holly tilted her head. “It scares me a little, but I can’t think of anyone I want to take a risk with more than you.”

Her words sent an incredible rush of satisfaction through Zack, and he had to kiss her again, but he kept it short.

“I need to warn you it’s a dressy affair. Not formal like the Christmas ball will be but fancier than anything I saw in your wardrobe when we helped you to move in.” Zack glanced out the window. “And the weather is looking like it could get pretty ugly.”

“Kathy offered to lend me one of her dresses if I got asked.” Holly arched a brow. “Have you been talking to her about me?”

His face went hot, but he didn’t want honesty to ever be an issue between them. So, he shrugged and said simply, “The fearsome threesome. Ever since we got old enough to date, we’ve always had to give our approval. They approve of you.”

Holly rubbed her throat like she had earlier when she was getting emotional.

“I hope you realize how much you’ve come to mean to the people of this town.” Zack brought their clasped hands to his mouth, and he kissed her knuckles. “From the first moment I met you at camp, I knew you were special. I wish I’d realized then that we would lose touch with each other. I’d have made a greater effort to keep in contact.”

“Me too.”

“So, will you come with me?” Zack decided to play it safe. “As my tentative girlfriend?”

Holly blinked, a myriad of emotions flooding her face, a mixture of fear and bliss. “Yes.”

“Then I think you had better call Kathy about that dress.”

“I believe I should.” But she kissed him instead of picking up her phone.

As Holly went to bed after Zack returned to his own place, she couldn’t believe the emotional rollercoaster the day had been. And Zack was her Secret Santa. It made her so happy and added meaning to the thoughtfulness of his presents.

Once he’d left, she went into her bedroom and spread all the gifts on the dresser. Seeing the items in this new light, Holly should have known it was Zack. But she kind of liked the way things had played out.

It had been like everything finally reached a head, and she knew she was ready to take this step. To love someone.

Was she in love? Based on the fear that made her throat choke up, maybe not. It reminded her of when she’d gotten physical therapy for an impingement in her shoulder. While helping a patient, she had pulled her arm in an awkward position in Denver. Because of her busy schedule, it took a few months before she finally saw her doctor about it, and he referred her to physical therapy.

After she’d been through several sessions, when she would experience pain moving a certain way even though she had just moved that way without it hurting, he explained it was her fear. It made her expect it would hurt. So it did.

Was that what she was doing with these new feelings for Zack?

She hated the idea that the mistreatment by her family might cause her to hurt him. He was simply the finest man she had ever known, and he deserved the very best. But was she it?