Page 86 of A Taste of Chardonnay

“Yes. So Julian is this old mean vampire who hates Christmas.”

“Why does this sound vaguely familiar?”

She kissed my cheek. “I don’t know. You’re not old.”

“Just mean and hate Christmas.”

She shrugged. “Can’t have it all. So anyway… He’s drawn to this woman, Holly.”

“Of course her name is Holly.”

“Are you going to let me explain or not?”

“Sorry. Continue.”

“She’s a baker.”

I held back my retort and let her go on.

“And a long, forgotten enemy of his resurfaces, threatening the town's Christmas festival and Holly!” Chardonnay never sounded excited, always structured and sticking to facts, but as she told me about this vampire Christmas book, excitement radiated in her tone.

She bit her lip. “Sound stupid?” she asked, looking adorably bashful.

“Is there hot sex in it?”

She nodded.

“Then let’s get started.” I powered up the Kindle. She cuddled into my chest, and I wrapped the blanket around us, then handed her a glass that she had claimed as hers and filled it with a two-finger pour of whiskey. The fire flickered, the lights glowed and my days of readingA Christmas Carolto avoid becoming Scrooge were behind me. I didn’t need a story to remind me, not when I had Chardonnay.

***

Ron, Beau, and I stood on the Grasso’s front porch. I held two bottles of whiskey, not wanting to come empty-handed but wondering if I should have brought something else. My own whiskey shows I couldn’t even be bothered to go to the store.

“Are you going to knock? I’m freezing my nuts off,” Ron said, and Beau laughed.

“I’ve seen your nuts. There isn’t much to freeze,” Beau said, breaking the tension.

Ron glared at him, then shoved his hands into the pockets of his winter coat. “Real funny. Now someone knock.”

“You want me to?” Beau said, glancing over at me. “The knock will be the hardest part. Promise.”

With his words, I knocked.

Beau shot a smirk at Ron. “See, patience, my friend. Good things come to those who wait.”

Ron bounced on his feet. “Frostbite isn’t one of them.”

Once upon a time, the easy nature of Beau and Ron’s relationship would have infuriated me. Made me jealous and question why I couldn’t have the same thing as them, but not anymore. I was just happy we found someone who could put up with Ron’s shit and was bringing him out of his shell little by little.

The man I had come to know over the past month wasn’t the man I once knew. He was witty and considerate. He laughed and smiled. Even cried at commercials, especially the ones with the Sarah McLachlan song.

My biggest fear had come true. I liked him. And if it wasn’t for Char, I wasn’t sure I ever would have gotten here.

The door opened, and Wyatt’s eyes widened. His mouth dropped into an O, and he pointed at me like I was an alien coming to take him to his home planet. He stuttered a few words before turning and staring at whoever might pass by.

“Merry Christmas, Wy.” I patted him on the shoulder and stepped into the one home I always felt welcomed in.

Wyatt made a few more noises behind me, but it was soon engulfed by all the noise coming from the kitchen. Laughing, loud conversation, each Grasso trying to talk over the other. Gio’s little voice was stronger than the rest. I stepped into the kitchen, and everything came to a screeching halt. The saying you could hear a pin drop had never rung more true.

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