Page 20 of A Holly Brown Christmas
“Holly…”
“Not another word about it!” she said lightly. “Now, it’s getting late and I should get going. I’ll order the tree tomorrow after I double-check all the old invoices. I’ll need you to sign off on it since it’s such an enormous expense, and I think we should be good until it comes in.”
“Oh. Okay.” Lucas knew it had only been two nights, but he enjoyed her company and already knew he was going to feel lonely tomorrow.
Inwardly, he groaned because he was a grown man who was used to spending the evenings alone after work. Why should tomorrow be any different?
Six
“I’ve got to hand it to you, Holly. It looks like you’re making it happen.”
Feeling proud of herself, she preened. “I know, right? But really, I think Lucas is kind of happy with the situation. He just didn’t know he wanted it.”
She and Crystal were having lunch together on Friday, and the entire week had felt like a whirlwind. This was the first time she’d taken a lunch break away from her desk all week.
“I still think you’re crazy,” Crystal said, but Holly didn’t take offense at it. “A small office party would have been just fine.”
“And I know that, but…it shouldn’t be. Isn’t it always fun when we’re all someplace else? Somewhere we can all get dressed up and relax and eat good food and laugh with everything beautifully decorated around us? Besides, holidays are about tradition. I’m merely making sure we stick to it.”
All her friend did was take a forkful of her salad and slowly chew it while holding Holly’s gaze.
“And I hated the thought of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks breaking up and ruining Christmas for their family.”
More chewing.
“Mrs. Brooks called Lucas while I was at the house the other night and she’s not even planning on coming home for Christmas! Can you believe that? And she’s doing it just to punish Mr. Brooks! It’s like she doesn’t even care about her kids or grandkids!”
And still more chewing.
“You’re going to have to say something, Crystal. You can’t keep chewing that one little piece of lettuce forever, you know.”
“Fine.” But she still paused another moment longer to take a sip of her sweet tea. “You’re getting too emotionally involved. I know you have this crush on Lucas and this is probably very exciting for you to have all this one-on-one time with him, but come January—hell, come the day after the party—it’s all going to go back to business as usual. Plus, you need to watch out with getting too involved in the private family stuff.”
“Why?”
“Because Mr. and Mrs. Brooks might not like knowing that one of their employees knows all their private business. I know I wouldn’t like it.”
“It’s not like I’m broadcasting it to everyone,” she countered.
“You told me,” Crystal argued lightly. “And I’m sure you told your mother because you tell her everything.”
“She’s not going to tell anyone.”
“That’s not the point, Holly! You’re getting too involved! You’re making it your business when it’s not. And for what? A few hours alone with Lucas Brooks? Pfft! If he hasn’t noticed the way you twirl your hair and smile and stare at him, then he’s freaking clueless and you can do better. You deserve better!”
“Oh, please! I’m not delusional, CeeCee. It’s not like I’m fantasizing about Lucas falling in love with me just because of the time we spend doing this party.”
Liar! Liar! Liar!
And by the look Crystal was giving her, she wasn’t buying it either.
“Okay, fine. I’m thinking it a little,” she murmured. “Is that so wrong? It’s possible, you know. He’s just never had the opportunity to get to know me and now…he is.”
Reaching across the table, Crystal gave Holly’s hand a little reassuring squeeze. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. That’s all. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know and you wear it on your sleeve. Lucas is a bit…stuffy.”
“Stuffy?”
Nodding, Crystal said, “Yup. Stuffy. He’s a workaholic who is the son of a workaholic and also works with that workaholic, and you know that’s got to put a lot of pressure on him. I’m just saying that maybe…maybe he’s not the right guy for you.”
