Page 28 of Holiday at Home
“You were there?” I quickly replay my reaction and blush at the memory of me pressing the card to my heart and wriggling with happiness.
Simon’s grin suggests he’s remembering the same thing. “Oh, I was there.”
“So, my fear of a stalker hiding in the darkness wasn’t that far off.”
“If you wanna call watching you from behind your neighbor’s treestalking…” He grins. “Do you want to come in? It’s just me today. Much quieter than last night. Promise.”
Yes!screams my heart.I don’t want to spend another night alone.
“No, I should probably go.”
Because you broke my heart once but now you’re doing all these nice things,adds my mind.
“I was out late the last two nights. I need to get to bed early. You know, baker’s hours.”
And I don’t know what to make of how easy it feels around you.
“Besides, I don’t want to encroach on your evening. I know you have stuff to do before you leave for Colorado.”
And I don’t trust you not to hurt me again.
Simon waves his hands like none of that matters. “Encroach. Please.”
I pause because the thought of spending more time with him is intoxicating, but then he continues. “But… I definitely don’t want to get in the way of your beauty rest.”
I snort. “Beauty rest? Yeah, right.”
Simon puts a finger to my chin and lifts my gaze to his. “Don’t do that, Violet,” he says. “You’re a beautiful woman. Always have been, always will be.”
My cheeks go red like I’m seventeen again, totally enamored and unsure of what to say…
Except I’m not seventeen and I know exactly what to say.
So I smile politely and step out of reach, indicating the bag in his hands. “If you end up accidentally eating all of those, you know where to find more. Goodbye, Simon.” I smile then turn to leave, waving over my shoulder.
As soon as my feet hit the walk, Simon calls, “Hey! Have you decorated yet?”
I shake my head. “I’ll probably do it closer to Christmas.”
“Unacceptable. I can’t let you live like that.”
“You can’tletme?”
“Nope. This whole dark house, dark clothes thing? It’s just not you. Get some rest tonight because tomorrow, after the bakery closes, I’m coming over, and we’ll decorate together.”
12
Simon
Mom
Can someone please wake up Nana Holiday? Our group ski lessons are about to begin.
Dad
Just be careful. You know how she gets.
Grandma Houlihan
