Page 16 of Five Days of Christmas Spice

“The holidays are always busy for the hotel industry.”

“Now, who isn’t answering the question,” Holly reaches out for the cucumber cup and drinks, tilting her head, exposing the hollow of her throat that I desperately want to trace with my tongue.

“My brothers and I attend a New Year’s Eve Party at our restaurant, Sinful Bites, and then we all try to take the next three days off and hang out.”

“Are you close with your brothers?”

“Yes. Except for Hunter, but he’s kind of the lone wolf of the family, always has been.” I shrug, not wanting to go into details. “What about you, any siblings?”

“No siblings,” Holly glances away. “My boyfriend of three years broke up with me. Right before I was supposed to get on the flight with him to Cozumel.”

A wave of fury simmers through me at the cruelty of this act. How could this guy dump this gorgeous woman right before Christmas?

“He’s an ass,” I say.

Holly laughs a high-pitched peal that floats around the room. “Thank you. I should have broken up with him long before now.”

“Why didn’t you?” I gently walk my fingers along her arm.

She takes a sip of her whiskey. “I thought what he offered me was enough.”

“And what was that?” I touch her again, feeling the slight tremble run through her, and all I want to do is reassure this woman that she’s worth more than the douche who broke up with her.

“Predictably and safely,” she paused, her eyes fluttering to meet mine. “Vanilla life.”

Lori approaches us, and I raise my hand, stalling her. “We need more time, please.”

“Of course, Mr. Brennon.” Lori leaves us.

Holly stares at me, frozen momentarily, then sips her whiskey.

“And that’s what you wanted?”

“What I thought I wanted.” Her shoulders rise, and I feel the tension rolling off her like an icy breeze.

“When I was in University, I thought I would be married by now.”

“Where did you go to school?” I can’t help but interrupt her, my curiosity too fierce to ignore.

A red flush smatters her cheeks. “U of T for my medieval studies degree. Waterloo for law.”

“You’re a lawyer?” I knew this woman was a professional from the moment I saw her.

“No. I have a law degree, but I chose another field.”

“Screen protector sales.” I can’t help but smile.

She returns my smile and shrugs. “Men are often intimidated by me. That’s why I broke up with my first serious boyfriend. He stopped me from writing the LSAT, saying he wanted to be a lawyer, not married to one. The break-up caused me to miss a year.”

I force myself to relax because I want Holly to keep talking, but that kind of trumped-up macho bullshit bothers me.

Before I gave it up, I was a successful corporate lawyer, and I know the type of Holly’s ex.

“He was also controlling and a Dominant. We attended kink events together, and I thought after he broke my heart I didn’t want that anymore. And I didn’t want to chance it–he messed up my head.” She brushes her hair behind her ears and sits up straighter.

“That sounds awful. You’re incredible for getting through that and going on to law school.” She glances up at me under a curtain of long lashes.

“A full year later, I wrote the LSAT and got accepted to Waterloo.”

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