Page 16 of Knot what I want for Christmas
She sucks on the lime, taking it from my grip.
I shake my head at the two women in front of me. “I can’t believe you brought her to the Dirty Boot on her first night in Silver Creek, Annie Jackson.”
“And where else should I have taken her, Tucker Parker?”
“Anywhere but here,” I say, as Hollie scans the busy bar.
“Actually, I think I like it here,” she says. “It has a certain atmosphere.”
“That’s the tequila speaking,” I tell her. But I motion my head toward the band. “Music’s not bad, though.”
“Yeah,” she says. “I kind of like it.”
“Kinda?” I ask.
“I’m more into pop, not really a country girl.”
I shake my head. “Don’t be saying that in a place like this, Hollie Bright – not if you want to walk out alive.”
She laughs, although I’m pretty serious about that one.
“So, you’ve come to stay with us for a week, have you?”
“I’ve come to stay withAnnie,” she corrects.
“For ten days,” Annie interjects.
“Ten days.” Those words have never sounded so sweet – nearly as sweet as the Omega’s scent itself.
“Well,” I tell her, “you’re very welcome here in Silver Creek.”
“Thank you,” she says.
I nod, catch Travis’s attention, and a moment later I have an ice-cold beer in my hand. I take a swig. She’s watching the band and the dancers, Annie now, as usual, engrossed in Travis MacCarthy.
I step closer to my packmate’s sister’s best friend. And honestly, what’s Nash worried about? The degrees of separation couldn’t be any further.
“I’m sorry about your mom,” I say.
Her eyes flick my way, and for a moment I see a deep sadness hovering in her pretty eyes. Then her gaze flicks away, down tothe floor. My gaze follows instinctively, and I see she’s wearing a pair of cowboy boots. I’m not sure they’ve ever looked so good on a girl before.
“Thanks,” she says. “It was... it was a while ago now.”
“Still hurts though, doesn’t it?” I say. “When you lose your mom.”
She bites on her bottom lip and nods.
“It’s good you came, Hollie,” I say. “No one should be alone at Christmas, especially after that.”
She nods again.
“You lost your mom too?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I say. “Back when I was just a kid. Still miss her every day, though, especially at Christmas time.”
“It’s strange,” she says. “I kind of want to forget about it. And I kind of... don’t.”
“Yeah,” I say. “I understand.”
