Page 70 of Holly and Nick Hate Christmas
“Honestly, I kind of feel like if anyone is getting thrown off today, it’ll be Surfer Boy up there.” She nodded toward Axel.
Nick chuckled, grateful for the distraction. “I don’t know. He’s doing great so far.”
“Just wait.” Holly grinned. “His horse is gonna get tired of being called alittle dogieat some point.”
Speaking of Axel. Nick lowered his voice, daring to lean sideways a little closer to Holly, to avoid being overheard by her family, of course. It was definitely not to smell her hair better. “What do you think he meant with that ‘duh’ earlier?”
Holly shrugged a little. “We must have been putting on a good show this morning.”
Nick straightened in the saddle. There was no way. Nick had been frozen, thinking about riding—there was nothing flirty or insta-love about that.
But if Holly wasn’t going to push the topic, he wouldn’t either. This was her show.
Holly’s face lit. “Ryan seemed surprised. The way he sprayed coffee—perfection.”
Perfectionwasn’t the word Nick would have used. More likeoutragedandterrifying.He ducked as they rode under a low-lying branch. “He hasn’t talked to me yet, but I’m sure that conversation is coming.”
In fact, getting on Peanut Butter today might have been less scary than facing Ryan. “He shot me that ‘I’m going to kill you’ look before Lydia whisked him away to get ready for the trail ride.” Nick winced. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“I know my brother, trust me. This will work.” Holly craned her neck to see up the trail. “Remember, he deserves this.”
“Do you think I do too?” Nick asked.
Holly shot him a look. “You’ve served your time. Unless you want me to start singing ‘Jingle—’ ”
“I definitely don’t.”
“You two sure are taking your time back there.” Up ahead, Olivia pulled her horse in a tight circle to face them. She grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. “There’s no mistletoe in these trees.”
“She’s right.” Chloe maneuvered her horse to the side of the path beside her sister. “Axel and I already checked.”
Thankfully, Peanut Butter’s snort covered Nick’s.
“Hush, you guys. We’re just enjoying the scenery.” Holly batted her eyes at Nick, likehewas the scenery, which made Olivia and Chloe shoot each other knowing looks before they urged their horses back up the trail.
“Hey.” Nick kept his voice low, even though Holly’s sisters had already moved on. “On that note, we haven’t exactly talked about, you know,mistletoe.”
“We need to talk about mistletoe?” Holly adjusted her reins and frowned.
Nick shifted, the saddle creaking under his weight. This was awkward. “I mean, how far we’re planning to take Operation: Jack & Sally.” Because the last thing he needed was to be forced to kiss Holly under some fake greenery.
She blinked over at him, all innocent emerald eyes and freckles, and he revised his oath. Okay, maybe not thelastthing.
But definitely not the first. After all, until things became official between him and the Sinclairs—assuming they did—he still had to go back home and work with Ryan. He needed the guy to take this prank with his sister for what it was and not hold a grudge.
“You put your arm around me in the kitchen this morning.” Holly shook her hair out of her face. “At least, I think it was your arm. It could have been a tree branch. Or a PVC pipe.”
Nick scoffed. “I was worried about Ryan.” Still was.
“I know. But we’ve got to sell this or it won’t work.” Holly held up one finger, as if she were about to tick off a list. “You can put your arm around me—but make sure it’s natural looking.”
“Got it.” The granted permission shouldn’t have set off a sparkler in his chest. No, that was probably heartburn. Anxiety over conquering your fears caused heartburn, right?
He cleared his throat. “And hand-holding is okay?”
“Let’s see.” Holly leaned sideways and extended her hand, an expectant expression on her face.
Nick hesitated, then let go of the saddle horn long enough to graze her palm with his. Her fingers threaded through his naturally, like she didn’t even have to think about it.
