Page 36 of Carry Me Through Christmas

This time I couldn’t withhold my laughter. As soon as the door shut behind her, the dirty bird, my laugh burst out of me and I was surprised to hear Cole’s chuckle joining mine. He had such a nice laugh, warm and chesty.

I bolted out of bed, pulling the oversized shirt I was wearing down to my mid-thigh, needing to get dressed, get out of this room, and get my mind reset to the professional relationship with Cole. I bent down to pick up the offending underwear and grab my dress, tights, and bra that I had left laying on a chair last night.

“I’ll, uh, just go change in the bathroom.”

I looked back at Cole as I said this and noticed his eyes were on my legs, before jerking them up to meet mine.

“Sounds good. Louise let me know that the plows were working double time overnight and we should be all set to make the rest of the trip home. So maybe we’ll just take these sandwiches and coffee to go and get home? I want to go check on my mom ASAP.”

Seems like I wasn’t the only one who needed to leave this room and the memories we had created in it. I turned and went into the bathroom, smiling at myself in the mirror, realizing Cole had shared something private about himself this morning, without any wine and even in the light of day. I knew that going back to our professional relationship was the right call for both of us, but was glad to know we wouldn’t be leaving behind everything we found at The Old Coach Inn.

Chapter 20

December 8

Cole

It had been a week since the blizzard and it appeared Blaire and I were successful in our goal of transitioning back to our professional, if not friendlier, relationship with each other.

Well, I should be honest. Blaire seemed to do a good job of relating to me in public and I felt like I was putting up a pretty convincing front. I would also absolutely be lying if I didn’t admit to a few shower sessions where I conjured up the way it felt to have Blaire sit on my face, recalling just how sweet she had tasted. But that was in the shower, and showers ran on water, and snow was a form of water, so it was basically a snowstorm loophole. Never quite as satisfied as I had been in that king-sized bed, as soon as I stepped out of that shower, it was back to being Cole Thomas, CFO, whose job it was to oversee the financial status of the Holly Ridge Christmas Festival and stay emotionally distant from any brunette festival planners I may encounter.

The thing was though, the festival was honestly mostly planned. We knew what the expenses were going to be at this point. Of course, there would be some last-minute things Blaire would need my approval for, but that could happen over the phone or by email. So why was I here in Holly Ridge, freezing my ass off, watching a tree get decorated in the town square?

“Cole! You’re here!”

I felt my heart skip a beat to hear Blaire calling my name, even just in greeting—so much for emotionally distant—and I turned around to see her walking toward the town square from Jitters, two coffee cups in hand.

“The assistant CFO is handling all the year-end work, since I’ve been so tied up with the festival, so I found myself in the office with nothing to do and thought I would pop over and see how things were going.”

What I didn’t say out loud was how I was essentially setting up our assistant CFO to take over my job in just a few weeks, but I could tell by the knowing look in Blaire’s eyes, she hadn’t missed that unspoken truth. She looked like she wanted to ask me more, but our newly re-established professional parameters were stopping her.

“Well, we’re happy to have you over here. I’m sure we’ll find something for you to do. Peppermint Chocolate Mocha? Susie makes her own syrup, so they’re delicious and just like Christmas in a cup.”

Blaire held out her left hand to me, offering me a cup of coffee.

“You didn’t buy that second one for someone else?”

“Susie doesn’t let me pay for my own coffee at this point, so I always grab a second one of whatever I’m getting so she’ll run my card and I can tip high. I figure in this cold, someone will be willing to take something warm.”

If anyone ever asked, I would say I took it because it was so fucking cold outside, but internally, I just wanted a piece of anything that was important to Blaire, even if it was just her favorite coffee.

“Sure, I’ll try it. I’m not one for sugary drinks, but you are right, it is damn cold out here.”

I took the coffee, our gloved fingers brushing. I probably imagined the heat that traveled through the two layers of cloth, but when the mocha was in my hand, it didn’t seem to give off as much heat as it did for that brief second when Blaire and I were both holding it together.

Blaire was looking at me expectantly, so I raised my eyebrows at her, causing her to smile, and then raised the disposable cup to my lips for a sip. Flavor and warmth exploded on my tongue, and I could sort of see what Blaire meant by ‘Christmas in a cup.’ Lowering the drink, I licked some of the foam from my lips, noticing that Blaire’s eyes were following my tongue’s path. Maybe that professional I wasn’t quite so easy for Blaire after all.

“I don’t know that I would order it regularly for myself, but you’re right. That is pretty good.”

Blaire’s eyes left my mouth and moved up to meet my gaze, seeming warmed by my approval of her favorite Christmas drink. She was about to respond when we were interrupted by an older gentleman.

“Ms. Greene, there’s an issue with the lamppost decorations that we need you to take a look at. And also, the guys with the ice rink are here to start setting up.”

Blaire switched on her festival planner mode instantly, nodding at the man.

“Thanks so much, Todd. I’ll go meet the Ice, Ice Baby Rinks crew and be sure they have everything they need to get started, and then head over to the lamppost crew and check in with them.”

“Why don’t I go meet with the ice rink guys, it sounds like that lamppost decoration problem could be pretty urgent, depending on what’s going on.” Suddenly helping with the ice rink and keeping Blaire away from anyone who may have come with the rinks to install them seemed like a perfect use of my time.

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