Page 1 of Booked for the Holidays
LAST CHRISTMAS
JUNIPER
“I got it!”I yell, careening down the stairs to rush for the front door.
I’m expecting my friend Cassie, but when I yank open the door, it’s not her.
Standing on our front porch is Liam Hargrove, my brother’s best friend and business partner at Jensen Innovations, the tech company they founded while they were still in college. Their cutting-edge AR/VR platform has completely transformed corporate training and made them both wildly successful (and disgustingly wealthy) in the process.
He’s facing sideways, like he rang the doorbell, then turned to take in his surroundings.
It's been years since I’ve seen him in person, so I take advantage of the moment to ogle him. He’s wearing a black mid-length wool coat with a camel-colored turtleneck underneath, dark fitted jeans, and lace-up boots. His dark hair is wild from the blustery day and he’s sporting a five o’clock shadow.
The fitted denim is snug against his thighs and the way he’s gripping the neck on the wine bottle in his hand sends a thrill down my spine.
While I’m standing in the doorway, mouth agape, he turns in my direction.
“June Bug.” He addresses me with an achingly handsome smile, his dark eyes alight with recognition.
At the sound of my childhood nickname, I hold in a groan. My parents can still get away with it, but I’ve retrained everyone in my life, including Jasper, my older brother, to stop calling me that. And there’s nothing that can crush your spirit like the man of your dreams, the one you’ve been pining over for years, calling you by your silly childhood nickname.
He steps over the threshold and envelopes me in a hug.
The moment his strong arms wrap around me and the scent of him fills my nose, I sigh. It’s woodsy and masculine, yet crisp, like the winter air around us. My body tingling in response to him is all the confirmation I need that my crush on Liam is still very much intact.
As I delight in his embrace, I let my mind wander to the past.
When Jasper and Liam were attending college together, Liam spent a few breaks and holidays with us due to the travel time and cost of returning to his parents’ home in London. It was Liam’s British accent that initially had me swooning. He’s gorgeous and charismatic, with just enough edginess—unshaven jaw and tattoos on his arms—that screams bad boy, yet he always looks put together without even trying. Just like he does now.
It’s a simple coincidence that I’m the one to answer the door for him, yet my brain is taking the opportunity to invent an entire scenario where Liam is arriving at my house as my boyfriend.
“You’re here,” I say, breathless, opening the door to his beaming smile.
“Come here, gorgeous.”
Then, he wraps me up in his arms and sweeps me off my feet before pressing his lips to mine.
In reality, Liam pulls back, and I do my best to collect my swooning thoughts.
“Hey, Liam,” I finally manage to squeak out. “I didn’t know you were kissing—I mean, coming.”
I force a smile and will myself not to blush. Please god, don’t let him be able to read my thoughts.
“It was last minute.” His crooked smile is the perfect mix of confidence and allure.
I motion for him to come into the foyer and take his coat. Turning away from him, I hang his coat on the rack in the corner, but before I part with it, I hold the collar up to my nose, letting the scent of him burrow itself there.
It’s pathetic. It’s sad. It’s all I’ve got.
When I turn back from hanging his coat, he extends the bottle out to me.
“Happy holidays.”
I read the yellow label on the bottle: Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Brut Rose. I’m not a champagne connoisseur, but I recognize the label and know it must be expensive.
And there goes my imagination again, pretending Liam picked out the champagne just for me.
“This is so sweet. Thank you.” I beam as I cradle it in my arms like a love letter.
