Page 35 of The Mistletoe Bluff
Blasted Brit
But you secretly like it.
Even if you won’t admit it to yourself.
That odd fluttering sensation filled my stomach again and I swallowed it down, sending:
Me
I have today off.
Blasted Brit
Excellent. Pick you up in an hour.
“Are. You. Kidding. Me?”
It was just past eight, we’d spent two hours driving across Iowa to some unknown destination, and my travel mug ran out of coffee ninety minutes ago.
“Are you kidding me?” I repeated, glaring at Oliver as we sat in his Jeep. “Why would you bring me here?”
Oliver’s deep chuckle had goosebumps rising over my arms as he pulled a black knit cap over his head and slid his hands into a pair of gloves. “You needed some Christmas cheer.”
“So, you brought me to a Christmas tree farm?” I shrieked, my voice far too shrill for the confines of the car.“What? Has Christmas always been sunshine and daisies for you so you feel the need to shove it down my throat, too?”
Oliver took it in stride, not even wincing at my hysterics. “On the contrary, Christmas has never been easy in my family, but you need this. You could use a little Christmas magic.”
I crossed my arms, ignoring the bright flare of curiosity in the back of my mind. What had Oliver meant about his family Christmases?
“There’s no such thing. Take me back home, Oliver. I didn’t agree to this.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Maya. Put on your happy pants and get moving.”
“Unfortunately for you, the store was all out of happy pants last time I was there. They only had crabby panties.”
My head shook in a violent motion. “Besides, the joke is on you because my apartment building doesn’t allow real trees.” I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at him.
Oliver’s smile was blinding. “Who said it was for you? The tree is formyhome. You’re just helping me pick one out.” He climbed out of the car, leaving me gaping before scrambling after him. The scent of evergreen and pine was overwhelming.
“I tell you I don’t do Christmas and your first thought is to force me to go Christmas tree shopping?” I spit at him, after running to catch up.
“Precisely.”
I had to shove my hands into my coat pockets to keep from smacking him. “Are you kidding me?”
Oliver slowed and looked down at me. “Perhaps we should work on broadening your vocabulary next.”
A frustrated scream built in my throat, and I bit my lip to hold it back. My eyes burned, and I hated that I was reacting this way to something so simple. Why couldn’t he just accept that I didn’t celebrate Christmas and leave it at that? Why was he forcing me into this?
A gloved hand grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop before Oliver’s blue eyes were piercing into mine.
“Maya, this isn’t just about Christmas trees, is it?”
I couldn’t answer him even if I wanted to. My breaths were like jagged knives slicing up my throat as I struggled for each breath, clouding in the cold air.
Oliver’s mitten slid up and down my arm, and even though there were several layers between us, it sent waves of calm through my body.
“Maya,” he whispered, stepping closer before he pulled me against his chest and wrapped his arms around my waist. His chin pressed against the top of my head. For a moment, I stood there shocked, my arms hanging at my sides before I finally wound them around him.
