Page 38 of Holiday Hopefuls
Ian scoffs on the other end of the line. “Whatever. Promise you’ll text if you feel uncomfortable, though? I can always come pick you up if you need me to.”
Three brief knocks sound on my front door.
Oliver.
He’s here. He’s really here.
We’re really doing this.
Rolling my lips together, I take a deep breath.Huh. I really thought this moment would make me want to crawl under my secondhand sofa and pretend to not be home. Instead, anannoyingly suspicious sense of calm washes through my system at the thought of what we’re about to do.
Of the thought of having him by my side through this.
“Callie?” Ian’s disembodied voice is the slap back to reality I definitely needed. “Did you hear me?”
“Yeah-yeah,” I stutter. “Sorry. He’s here.”
“Go be the coolest girlfriend ever.” I can hear his grin through the phone as he hangs up, leaving me all alone with my latest questionable decision.
Flicking off the bathroom light, I make quick work of grabbing my white peacoat and purse from the kitchen counter. I take one last deep breath and then I’m heading to the front door.
Three more soft raps echo on the door right as I turn the knob, each one more insistent than the last.
But when I fling the door open, there stands Oliver Rhodes, mouth parted and cheeks flushed from the cold. In his dark slacks and beige button down shirt, those intensely deep blue eyes stand out, begging to be noticed.
Eyes that flit down my outfit, lingering just a little too long. “You look … ”
“Like the best girlfriend ever?” I smirk, putting on my coat.
He blinks. Shoving his hands into his coat’s pockets, the man nods. “Exactly.”
A grin breaks out across my face. “You’re wearing your glasses again.”
Reaching to push them farther up the bridge of his nose, the pinks of Oliver’s cheeks deepen. “Oh, I just thought they’d make me look even more convincing. You know, for your family.”
Nodding, I pull the door closed behind me. “Right, makes sense.” A quick turn of my key and I’m once again stuck facing the stupidly handsome doctor. “Especially since we’ve only got one shot at this. Better make it count.”
Oliver’s lips tip down, his thick brow too furrowed to be casual. “Right,” he repeats. Seeming to remember himself, he points to the mini SUV parked by my car. “This is?—”
“Is that Nacho?” I squeal. Without waiting for a response, I take off toward the sweetest furry face pressed into the windshield.
Oliver laughs behind me, snow crunching as he works to catch up. “I told her all about you,” he says as I round the passenger door. “She’s been looking forward to the day you two finally meet.”
Shooting a skeptical look his way, I wave at the best girl. The stupidly wide grin hurts my entire face, but I honestly don’t care. All thoughts have been rewired on how to get this golden girl into my arms as fast as possible.
I feel him before I see him. Oliver’s warmth envelopes me, radiating through the crisp November air as he reaches around me to open the door.
Right as my fingers touch the handle.
“Oh, um.” Blood rushes to my cheeks as any words currently hanging out in my mind make a speedy exit, with no plans to return. Unsupervised eyes flit to his, which are already watching me.
Oliver gives a low, throaty chuckle. “I think our hands can touch, Callie,” a strong brow lifts, “since you’re my girlfriend and all.”
Clearing my throat, I nod and painfully press my lips together. “That’s true.” Desperate for any other words to come out of my mouth, I turn back to our furry onlooker. “Will she sit on my lap?”
“Will she? If given the chance, absolutely. But she should probably ride in the back seat. You know, for safety purposes.”
“Killjoy.”
