Page 32 of Mistletoe Mistake
“She need you?”
“No, it’s Brandon.” She hands me the phone to read his messages.
Having car trouble, so won’t be home until tomorrow.
We’re going to go straight to Mom & Dad’s for the party.
Stay at ours another night, you can keep Nick company.
“He probably wouldn’t be saying that if he knewhowI was going to keep you company.” She snickers.
A fleeting feeling of guilt hits me, but it’s quickly replaced with relief at not having to come clean for another day.
“So, we have an extra twenty-four hours, however will we spend them?”
“I can think of a few ways,” she breathes. “On your back, O’Connor, I owe you a thank you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
* * *
I stroll through the Curtis house, enjoying the atmosphere and keeping a lookout for Holly.
We both moved back to our apartments earlier this afternoon, after agreeing not to talk to Brandon until the day after Christmas. It’s going to be hard pretending that there’s nothing going on between us tonight, but we decided that this party wasn’t the right time.
I’d hate to break any of the Curtises’ valuables when Brandon kicks my ass.
Seeing a flash of long, wavy brown hair and a bare shoulder that I instantly recognize as belonging to Holly, I follow her through to the empty outdoor deck.
She startles when I grab her from behind and place a kiss just under her ear.
“Are you following me, creeper?”
“Always,” I murmur against her skin.Peppermint.
“Weirdo.” She slaps my hands away and then motions for me to follow her to the darkened corner. “Look.”
I shift my gaze around, looking all around us, but see nothing. “Look at what?”
“Up there.” She points to the ceiling where I notice a small bunch of mistletoe has been hung.
“So, it’s not so much that I’m a creeper, more that you lured me out here to have your way with me?”
An exaggerated gasp escapes her lips and she clutches her chest. “I would never.”
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Okay, I totally would, but this was a lucky coincidence. Besides, mistletoe started this whole thing, it seems appropriate we found some tonight.”
I slide a hand up her neck, into her hair, and skate a thumb over her lips. “Couldn’t agree more.”
Dipping my head, I take her mouth in a gentle kiss that I’m about to deepen when a noise at the back door has us breaking apart.
“Nick, you out here?”
Brandon’s voice shocks me out of whatever spell Holly has me under and I step out of the shadows, closely followed by Holly.
“What are you two doing?” His eyes are narrowed suspiciously. Luckily Holly is faster on her feet than I am.
“There was a spider, Nick was just killing it.”
