Page 55 of The Mistletoe Bluff
With a sigh, I slid out of the Jeep. “Thanks again for dinner, Oliver.”
“Anytime.” His voice was hesitant. “I’ll pick you up in the morning?”
I froze. “In the morning?”
“The engagement shoot?”
Crap on a stick.
In the chaos of that mind-blowing kiss, I had completely forgotten about it. A shoot in the morning and then Friendsmas in the evening?
Double crap on a stick.
“Oh. Right. Yeah.”
A strange emotion flashed through Oliver’s eyes, and he gave a nod before I closed the door, pausing once I got inside to watch as he pulled away from the curb and onto the street. I didn’t know how long I stood there staring through the cold glass, but Oliver’s Jeep was long gone by the time I went up to my apartment.
I let out a long, shuddering breath.
Friendsmas with Oliver Lewis.
This’ll be so fun.
Oliver
Iwas confused.
One moment, Maya was into the kiss as much as I was, and the next she was pulling away, putting far too much space between us.Something had changed in a split second, and I had no idea what.
Kissing her was everything. It was wild, electric, and my new favorite past time. I wanted to spend forever doing it.
It was a dangerous thought—wanting to spend forever with Maya Beck.
Especially since she was still adamant that she hated me, and now she’d slammed on the brakes when I thought we were finally getting somewhere.
She tried to fight it, a valiant effort, but she feltsomethingfor me. She wouldn’t kiss me likethatif she didn’t. What I didn’t know was to what extent her feelings were, and if she’d be able to get over whatever was holding her back so that we could give this a proper go.
Because if there was one thing I was certain about, it was that I needed this fake relationship to be real.
I tossed and turned all night long, my mind racing over the last twenty-four hours. By the time light started peeking through the curtains it had felt like the longest night of my life, and I rubbed my eyes, trying to force the tiredness away.
I rolled out of bed, my feet slapping against the wood floor as I looked out the window. The sun was beginning to poke its head over the horizon, glistening off the fresh snow, but clouds were rolling in. Good, that would make the photoshoot a little easier, and give it that true winter feel.
I checked the watch on my nightstand. It was barely even seven in the morning. I had hours before the photoshoot.
Since I was technically on break from work, there was nothing pressing that I needed to get done, and yet it didn’t stop my heart from racing, my mind from spinning. With no other way to calm my mind, I threw on some shorts and headed downstairs to work out.
It wasn’t my favorite thing in the world, but it always helped center me; helped chase away the demons holding my heart and mind hostage, at least for a little while, so it was worth the time and effort. An hour of weightlifting and cardio later, my chest was a little looser, my mind a little more focused.
After showering, making breakfast, and getting everything packed for the photoshoot, I headed out to my Jeep. We were supposed to meet the couple thirty minutes outside of Meridel, which gave me enough time to grab some coffee, pick up Maya, and drive out there.
I shot a text to Maya, letting her know I was on my way.I couldn’t help smiling a little at the name I gave her.
Me
Good morning, princess. I hope you slept well. I’ll be on my way to pick you up soon. Would you like coffee from The Roasted Bean?
I was halfway to the coffee shop before a response appeared.
