Page 16 of Naughty & Nice
“Checking out Ms. Potter?” the syrupy sweet greeting from the front desk girl moments later confirms it for me—I am doing this.
“Yes I am. After we tour the hotel, I will be heading out of town. Mr. Billings has my contact information if he needs to reach out for anything. My work here is done,” I say it with a touch of pride as I take in that work.
It was a five-month renovation, and I had a lot of fun updating the place. I made sure to keep it bright and lively like the rest of the town is, but I added my own modern touches to it. It’s has touches of glamour and glitz and I think I made the right choices.
I hope I make the right choices in Harmony Hollow.
“You mentioned breakfast, sunshine. Food first and business after.”
Oliver waits at the door, looking like a model ready to pose for a holiday calendar. Crossing to meet him, I reach out a hand to fuss with his dark hair, damp from our shower. His hazel eyes darken as he ducks away from the touch. It’s a gesture I made a thousand times before. It’s not one he welcomes today.
In another life, I hassled him about his too-long hair but really, I loved it. Loved running my fingers through it, clutching it when he was between my legs, or tangling my fingers in it as he drove into me over and over. I would give anything to be able to run my fingers through it now and be rewarded with the content hum he used to give me.
“Breakfast. Yes, there is a little place right next door. Once we finish, we can tour the hotel, you can take your notes,” I brush past him, stung by his brush-off, “and then we can move on.”
Already this fresh start is falling apart. I never expected to invite him into my bed last night or to wake up with him still there. I certainly did not expect what happened in the shower. Or at Santa’s Workshop last night.
I thought I knew what to expect when I took the meeting. I knew it would be uncomfortable and even awkward between us. I also knew what sparked between us then would spark again. I didn’t know it would be so powerful and so confusing for us both. I also couldn’t know how he would react to any of it.
Last night and this morning, he was part of what happened between us. He kissed me, he touched me, he pushed the intimacy just as much as me. He has gone hot and cold since last night. I can’t expect him to forget what I did to us both when I walked away. But I can’t deny it hurts to know it is so easy for him to forget everything else we shared.
“Josie. Wait, Josie...” he calls after me as I step outside.
Today the streets are dotted with a few tourists and joy seekers. I smile at toddlers in cute matching snowsuits bubbling with laughter as they take in the sprawling village. Their family rushes past headed towards the center of town to explore Santa’s Workshop.
Pain makes it hard to breathe for a moment as I consider never having that. I had a chance at exactly that and I walked away from it. I’ve lived alone since and I will continue to if he can’t take a second chance on us. I can’t see myself having a family with anyone else but Oliver.
“Josie, please wait,” he sighs as he catches up to me, grabbing my hand to turn me, “oh, sunshine...I am sorry. Please, don’t,” he pleads as he sees the tears I swore to hide from him slipping down my cheek.
“No, I am sorry. I fucked up five years ago, I did this. I can’t tell you how I regret it or how hard it’s been for me to stay away from you. I was foolish to think a Christmas miracle could happen for us. I miss you so much and what we had. I thought I could convince you to give us a chance if you could see I never stopped loving you. Walking away was the biggest mistake of my life. I should’ve come to you in Harmony Hollow, gotten down on my knees if you needed me to, and begged for the second chance I want so badly. I guess...it has felt so magical here, I thought maybe it could help us capture what we lost.”
“Say that one more time...” he demands roughly.
“All of it? I said a lot....” I trail off when he smiles, shaking his head.
“Just the most important part, sunshine.”
“Oh. Theimportantpart. I still love you. I never stopped loving you, Oliver. I never will even if you can’t love me back...”
Oliver kisses me deeply, a claiming kiss that tastes like our very first. Pinning me to an alcove, he grunts something against my mouth, but I can’t make it out. It doesn’t matter when he’s kissing me this way. Nothing does.
