Page 28 of Five Minute Man
“That’s why he left like his pants were on fire and hasn’t called since. He wasn’t supposed to kiss me. Things just got out of hand and he freaked. Caught up in the moment, that’s all. Happens all the time, right?”
Holly sat down at the kitchen table and stuffed a big spoonful into her mouth. “And me, thinking all that stupid shit! Me, of all people! I should know better than anyone that that ‘finding the right one’ crap doesn’t happen in the real world. If it did, people wouldn’t need to buy my books, now would they?”
Max looked up at her, licking away the last of the treat from his muzzle.
“I know, right?” she said around the spoon, hearing the words her faithful companion was incapable of vocalizing in her mind. “I’m pathetic. Falling for my own drivel.”
Holly scraped out the last of the chocolate marshmallow then put her bowl in the dishwasher, along with Max’s. “I blame myself. And Liz. All that shit about alpha males and five-minute men pushing the right buttons. What a crock of shit.” She added some detergent then slammed the door closed harder than necessary.
Adamhadpressed quite a few of her buttons. He was good-looking and well-built. Intelligent. And had his own successful business restoring old houses, for crying out loud. Family was obviously important to him since he let his nephew live with him while he went to college, and glowed with pride whenever he talked about him.
Oh, and he could get her lady parts singing with nothing more than that deep voice and a kiss.
Except for the thrum of sexual tension between them, he had been so easy to be around. Holly had felt comfortable enough with him to talk about her family and her career, both things she rarely spoke of with anyone besides Liz. She had even felt safe enough to invite him to her home.
She was an idiot. Why would Adam ever want someone like her when he had that blonde centerfold at his beck and call? Holly was pretty sure that, when Adam was withher, they weren’t eating pizza on the floor and streaming movies.
Of course she already knew the answer to that question, especially since she had heard the answer from Adam himself.It was business.Right. Because she had a centuries-old stone cottage that needed a shitload of restoration and, conveniently enough, that was what he did for a living.
Shehad been the one who had invited him over and solicited his professional opinion.
Holly let Max out one more time, then locked up the house and headed for the shower. Yeah, it was no wonder Adam was willing to put in a little extra effort to garner her business. He had probably been picturing his retirement fund the whole time she was giving him a tour.
There had been that kiss, though ... There had been nothing business-related aboutthat. Then again, just because it had tilted her axis didn’t mean it had done the same thing for him. The fact that he had bolted right afterward and hadn’t called since should have been a great big clue, and tonight’s encounter had put the last piece of the puzzle into place.
Holly pulled an old, oversized college jersey over her head, taking comfort in the familiar way the hem touched mid-thigh. Then she brushed her hair and her teeth, taking a good look at herself in the mirror. Tiny lines were starting to become visible around the corners of her eyes and mouth. Though she was far from looking old, she no longer had the dewy glow of youth she once had. There was nothing remarkable about her features. She had the same green eyes and brown hair as the rest of her family, though the dark cherry streaks were a personal indulgence, a symbolic middle-finger to those who decried her creativity and independence.
She was also a realist and had to face facts. Even on her best hair day, she couldn’t compete with the stunning blonde perfection of the Nordic-looking Zumba instructor.
Deciding to forego any attempt at writing—undoubtedly, whatever she came up with would reflect her crappy mood—she crawled into bed.
Max was there a moment later, more than happy to curl up next to her on the other side of her queen-sized bed. He settled down on the pillow with a big sigh and looked at her with his mismatched eyes.
Holly reached out and let her fingers rake through his thick, silky fur. It was no wonder dogs were brought to hospitals and retirement homes. Just the fact that he was there was a comfort. Between Max and Turkey Hill’s chocolate marshmallow swirl, Holly could handle just about anything.
Self-pity was not her thing. This was just another bump, another life lesson to remind her why she had chosen to leave her corporate-based career and move out into her own secluded bubble. She just wasn’t wired like everyone else, and sometimes, she forgot that.
One night. That was all she would allow for feeling sorry for herself. Tomorrow, she would wake up and get right back into the swing of things, a little smarter than she had been yesterday.
