Page 10 of Havoc for the Holidays

His green-grey eyes, more green today than I'd ever seen them, widened as a smile spread across his face. “Yes. Please?”

“Yes, please.” I couldn't help but mirror his smile as we turned back to our food and drinks. I should have been embarrassed by how exhilarating I found the whole situation, but it felt too good. I had a feeling his earnest, sincere personality and open vulnerability would be my inevitable downfall, but I simply didn't care. Frankly, it was impossible to worry about doom and gloom what-if situations surrounded by the most beautiful scenery I'd ever seen while in the company of one of the most fascinating men I'd ever met.

“I… think in the spirit of transparency, I need to say two things.” Ollie's hands shook as he set his cider and food to the side. He clasped them tight on his lap and expelled a shaky sigh. “Becs is my priority. I hope you understand that. I can't promise I won't have to cancel things or that I'll have a lot of time but… I'd really like to see if this thing has legs?”

“Of course. I wouldn't ever expect you to choose. I've never dated anyone with children before, but I know that you have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders.” Memories of the grant application flitted through my mind as I reached out and laid a hand on his knee. “What was the second thing?”

“Oh. Right.” His smile returned right alongside the flush in his cheeks. “I haven't dated in… a while. Um, not since Becs was born. I just wanted to warn you because I might be terrible at it.”

I laughed and squeezed his knee before reluctantly withdrawing my hand. It would do neither of us any good if I couldn't keep my hands to myself on the first date. Especially since I apparently had a really hard time keeping my hands to myself around him.

“You and I both, Ollie. Can we learn together?”

“Y-yes. Yes, I think I would like that a lot, Ezechiel.”

He won the battle with his shyness and met my gaze head on. The overwhelming urge to ravage him with a kiss hit hard, but I got the distinct feeling Oliver Branson was not the type tokiss on the first date. For once, I didn't mind at all. In fact, the anticipation of waiting made the idea even more appealing as we smiled at one another like a pair of gawky teenagers admitting to a crush.

“So, before I do something regrettably uncouth, how about we finish up and continue the tour?” I retrieved my apple pie with a grin. “Someone special told me these are really good.”

“You're flirting with me, aren't you?” He scrunched his nose and chuckled.

“I absolutely am. Is it working?” I reached out to brush an errant curl from his eyes.

“Too well.”

“Should I stop?”

“Oh, no. Please, no.” He captured my hand midair and turned his face, a moment's hesitation warming my skin with his breath before he pressed a kiss to the inside of my wrist. “I enjoy it too much.”

“Bold, Mr. Branson.” I delighted in the vivid red that rushed to his cheeks. He blushed so easily, my mind couldn't help but imagine a dozen different scenarios that would bring that sinful color to his face, nor could I stop myself from wondering just how far it spread over the skin I couldn't see.

“Jesus, even your eyes are flirty.” Ollie let loose a laugh so pure and vibrant, it echoed in my chest alongside my rapidly beating heart.

“All the better to seduce you with, my dear.”

He laughed again, this time at my shitty joke. God, I was in trouble. His laugh was the most beautiful music I'd ever heard and all I wanted to do was dance to the melodic notes of it, right here alongside the banks of this tiny brook running through this miraculous town. Hell, maybe the water was to blame, because I barely recognized myself as I slipped my hand into Ollie's and let our fingers twine together to ward off the chill. The seamlessway they fit together was just as dangerous as Oliver Branson himself. Evidently, I was in the mood to live life dangerously, because I didn't care one bit. Not when it felt this good. Yeah. I was in for a whole lot of trouble.

Chapter seven

Ollie

Life was always busy around the holidays, and this year was no exception. Thanksgiving came and went, which meant preparations for Christmas were in full swing around town. For as much joy as it brought me, a rising tide of worries followed right behind. Holidays meant loads of extra expenses and to say my financial situation was tight would be an understatement.

To make matters more stressful, my boss typically took the entire month of December off to make up for all the extrawork he did the other eleven months of the year. I couldn't begrudge him his vacation time, but even with a lot of planning in advance, things always got even tighter at the worst possible time. Richard was a kind and generous man, but my end of year bonus hardly made up for four weeks of missed work.

Thankfully, Lincoln had stepped up and offered to watch Becs the last weekend of November, which afforded me the time to work extra hours at the last minute. If only I could focus. It was nearly impossible to keep my mind from straying to a certain dark-haired gentleman with flirty brown eyes. We’d both been too busy to schedule a second date, but we made the best of it through regular texts and late night phone calls.

As if he could read my mind across the distance, my phone vibrated on the desk, somewhere amidst the piles of paperwork I had yet to file away. In my eagerness to find the device, I scattered folders and files, swearing softly under my breath as I scrambled to collect them from the floor while also checking to see what Ezechiel had sent. God, what a royal mess.

Ezechiel: How are you today, Oliver?

Despite my nerves and stress, my mouth curved into a smile. I loved the way my name sounded on his lips and I read the text with his sultry voice in my head.

Ollie: Great! How are you? How is the showcase coming along?

Ezechiel: So much to do, so little time. When do you get off tonight?

I glanced at the chaos strewn across my desk and then checked my watch. With a grim sigh, I tapped out my response.

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