Page 34 of Inherited Holiday

After he left without saying another word to me, I ended up making my way through my own home to see what he’d been up to. I couldn’t believe he tackled a list that was probably amile long in just a couple of hours. Including the shed that had to be built.

It was done.

Everything was fixed or built, and he even laid a couple of carved stone rocks that were too heavy for me to lift into my garden for me.

Thankfully, I could leave the puppy with Felix for a few hours while I rushed home to prepare for the annual Christmas parade that began the holiday festivities. I didn’t have time to contemplate anything else as I stepped out of the shower, wrapping the towel around my body as I walked toward the kitchen.

There in all his clean glory was Nicholas again, leaning against the wall with one leg over the other. Once again, he was devouring me with his eyes.

Bastard.

He looked sexy as sin, and that was exactly what he was…

My own personal hell.

“You need to go,” I ordered, my resolve breaking as I took in every sexy inch of him.

He grinned, a mischievous gaze quickly replacing the heated one as if he could read my thoughts. I swallowed the saliva that had suddenly pooled in my mouth. My skin felt flush all over, and he wasn’t even touching me. He pushed off the wall, and for a second, I thought he was coming toward me. Instead, he made his way into my kitchen, opened the fridge, and grabbed a cold beer.

Unbelievable.

He twisted the cap off and placed it on my counter, not even bothering to throw it away. After taking a few sips from the bottle, he made this low, exaggerated groan from deep within his chest. Normally, this scenario would have turned me on. He looked good in my kitchen.

The intensity that radiated off his demeanor had me weak in the knees, and I found it hard to breathe. He slowly licked hislips with his predatory stare as he eyed me up and down, and I knew what ran through his mind.

I should have moved.

I should have run.

But my feet were glued to the floor.

I couldn’t move them, even if I wanted to.

And the sad part was…

I didn’t want to.

I wanted to believe his reasoning on why he stopped keeping in touch with me. I swear I did, but I couldn’t yet because it didn’t take away the hurt I held on to for all these years.

Before I knew it, he stood in front of me. Pulling my hair away from my face, he grazed his knuckles against my cheek. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to lean into his embrace.

Into his comfort.

Into his touch.

Into his words.

“I’m here to take you to the Christmas parade.”

I hated hurting him.

I wasn’t that kind of person.

My eyes shot open. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“And then when it’s over and we’re walking back to our houses, I want you to bring over the rude cockapoo for a sleepover.”

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