Page 10 of Oh My Secret Christmas Baby
But I know that won’t be the reality of it. At this point, I can only hope that I’m not destroying not only his life but Kindred’s too.
Chapter Six
HOLLIS
Iroll up the sleeves of my shirt and release a few of the buttons from the top. I’ve been in the kitchen for twenty minutes pacing back and forth when I should be cooking dinner for the two of us. My whole body feels like a live wire, and I’m trying to figure out how to sort this all out.
I should just come out and tell her. Here I was telling her I wanted her honesty when I’m not giving it to her. There were a few moments when I thought I saw flirty shyness light up her face, but then she’d quickly pull her eyes away from me.
Does that mean she’s interested? Normally, the women my mom throws at me try to cling, but Gwen is the opposite. When I showed her to her room, of course picking the one right next to mine, she kept space between us, even going to the other side of the bed so that it separated us. I hadn’t wanted to leave the room, but I also didn’t want to creep her out.
I can only hope that distance is because she thinks I’m engaged. Holy shit. I run my hand down my face. What if I tell her the truth and she gets mad? She was barely in the door, and we were lying to her. Would it even matter to her, though? My thoughts are all over the damn place.
My phone goes off with a call from Kindred. “You alone?” she asks when I answer.
“Yeah, I’m in the kitchen. I showed her to her room.”
“Did you pick the one next to yours?” There is a teasing tone to her question. I swear she can be like an annoying sister when not in work mode.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes, it matters!” She laughs. “It tells me so much if you picked that room.”
“Did you need something?”
“Ahh! So that’s a yes. Wow. Hollis is into a girl.”
“A girl that thinks I’m engaged.”
“Oh yeah, forgot about that. I thought I was doing you a solid.” I know she meant well, and I am the one really at fault.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she’s very pretty, and I can tell she’s sweet.” I nod in agreement, though Kindred can’t see me. “I can’t see her as a party planner, though. They have to be cutthroat at times and bossy. She doesn’t give me bossy vibes unless it’s over a kindergarten class she is teaching, and even then I bet it’s sugary sweet.”
"I think she's capable of being anything she wants," I say defensively.
"Ahh, you're in deep already. I love this so much." I can't help but smile. I am in deep. I can't explain it. Love at first sight is bullshit. That's not how the world works, but here I am crashing out hard.
"I'll talk to you later," I say when Gwen steps into the kitchen, ending the call with Kindred.
Gwen has removed her coat and hat, letting me see more of her. Her snowy-white blond hair is thicker and longer than I first thought, but I nailed the curves and flare of her hips. Even ifshe’s trying to hide them behind a baggy sweater. She’s a fucking vision, doesn’t matter what she’s wearing.
Her eyes curiously peek around, taking everything in. "You like it?" I ask.
"I do." Why did I want her to say that so badly? What is wrong with me? Suddenly, her approval is the only thing that matters to me.
“I love the room you gave me too. You did good with preserving the history while updating at the same time.”
“I can’t take a ton of credit. The crews that came in here and did the work should have it.” A smile lights up her face. I swear it makes my heart stop beating for a moment.
“A lot of people would have stolen the credit.”
“You don’t need to steal anyone's credit if you’ve got your own in life.”
“I like that.” She nods, running her hand along the edge of the kitchen island.
“Sit. I was going to start our dinner.”
