Page 38 of A Christmas Auction

“Engaged,” I repeated, having trouble believing it myself. “Do you think Colin’s still interested in me after everything?” My voice was small and more insecure than I would have liked, but I needed a man’s opinion.

“Oh, he’s interested. The real question is, are you?”

“Does it really matter? The bidder gets to decide…”

His hold tightened around me. “That’s not exactly true. I’ve read the contracts forward and backward. Even if he bids on you and wins, you still have the ability to say no. You have the final say by signing the contract or not. Nothing goes through if you don’t sign on the dotted line at the end of the auction.”

“I need the money.”

“I know,” he sighed.

“I want to take care of my family. I want to be the one to make my dreams come true. And today, Colin just offered to hand it all to me on a silver platter.”

“And then you had a panic attack,” he oh so helpfully reminded me. “That says a lot without saying anything.”

“Yeah,” I admitted on a soft whisper.

“What if someone like me offered you the money?” His tone was searching, holding a hint of nervous energy.

“I can’t take your money. I won’t. Then it’s you paying my way instead of Colin. There’s no difference,” I harrumphed.

“Nottake, loan. You said before you would be doing this all yourself if the bank loaned you the money. What if I had my lawyers set up a contract for the loan? With say, 1% interest with an unlimited term on paying me back in the agreement. You can pay when you can pay.”

“Ugh,” I covered my eyes. “It’s the same thing. A man handing me my dreams.”

“I don’t want to watch you marry another man, Holly, but I will if that’s what you want.”

The room in the air became thick as molasses as so much was insinuated without admitting the truth of what was happening between us. We were entering uncharted territory, and I wasn’t sure how to best wade through the murky waters without losing everything.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“I don’t know. This. Lying in bed watching Christmas movies with you. Insanely good sex. Endless bickering. Messy bacon cheeseburgers and chocolate cake,” he waggled his brows. “But the truth is, I’m not the type of guy that can settle down. Not traditionally. My work is important to me. And it’s dangerous. Sometimes I’m gone a few days, a week, a month, or longer when I’m on a difficult job. That’s not fair to you or any woman. It never has been before.”

“Makes sense why you’re so standoffish.”

“Standoffish? I thought I was broody?” he teased.

“You’re that too.” I snickered. “It just so happens I like all of it.”

He shifted his head and kissed me lightly on the forehead. “I like you too.”

“What happens next?”

He shook his head as my eyes felt heavy, the food, the warmth, the Christmas music lulling me into a serene space that had me drifting.

“Whatever is meant to be, will be.” I felt another featherlight kiss, this time on my forehead as sleep stole me away.

Chapter 13

A Lump of Coal

BRUNO

An incessant buzzing noise roused me from the best sleep I’d had in years. I stretched out my hand to quiet my phone when a loud trill sounded across the room, coming from Holly’s purse.

“Shit,” I grumbled as Holly moaned in her sleep, repositioned her thigh that was curled over my leg, her arm hugging my chest. Her head was tucked against my shoulder, the silky strands of her hair shifting like satin ribbons teasing along my bare skin.

“Huh, what…what’s happening?” she croaked, her tone thick with sleep.

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