Page 31 of Oh My Secret Christmas Baby
She’s not only pretty but also very polished and put together in a way I’ll never be. When I’d gone with Max to a few events,I felt out of place, but now I wonder if it was him putting those thoughts into my head with the comments he’d make, correcting my etiquette.
I can’t stop the flash of jealousy I have. Hollis isn’t even doing anything wrong. The woman is talking quickly about the party while Hollis is focused on the book in front of him.
“You know your mom thought we’d be good together,” I hear her say as she steps closer to Hollis.
“Yeah,” Hollis responds, flipping the page.
“She said you’re seeing someone now, but you know how dating is. You date multiple people at a time.”
“Yeah,” he says to her again. The woman steps even closer, lifting her hand to touch his shoulder.
“So then we could?—”
“What are you doing?” Hollis's head snaps up as he takes a step back.
“What do you mean? You agreed.”
Hollis must catch sight of me out of the corner of his eyes. "Candy." A smile pulls at his lips. I stupidly raise my hand and wave with my fingers.
"You agreed with her that people date multiple people," I tell him.
"Come here." I shouldn't go because I'm annoyed and hormonal, but I do. Partly because for once I'm being petty. Hollis pulls me into him when I'm within his reach. "I'm sure people do date multiples. I think. The hell if I know." He shrugs.
"I need to make a few calls," the woman says.
"Wait. Jayne, this is my fiancée, Candy." The woman's lips purse. I'm not shocked. Did he really call me his fiancée?
"It's Polly, actually." I bite the inside of my cheek so that I don't laugh. She might be rude, but I won't be.
"Right," Hollis says. I only give her a half smile, and everything gets quiet and extra awkward.
"Thought you had calls to make," he reminds her.
"Right." Polly grabs her phone off the kitchen island and turns to leave.
"She was hitting on you, and you were agreeing with her," I say the second we are alone.
"I'm sorry." He gives me a sheepish expression. "I don't have a clue what she said. I agreed, thinking she was talking about party shit and wasn’t really paying attention. I was reading." Hollis picks up the book, and I see it's about babies. "I only caught up when she got close to me. I'll fire her."
"Don't do that." I sigh. "I mean, it did start with your mom wanting to set you two up," I remind him. “It's not all the girl’s fault.” It still makes me wonder what it was about Polly that made his mom think that they’d make a good couple. I barely met the woman, and I get a sense we’re nothing alike.
"I honestly forgot about that. My mom is constantly trying to match me up with someone. She's eager for grandbabies."
"Okay."
"Hey." His hand comes to my chin. "It's you I want, and I have never once even gone on a date with the women my mother tried to set me up with. Hell, I don't date, period."
“Really?” I play with the button on the front of his shirt.
“Yes, really. My father got sick around my last year of high school. I had to step up quickly. He held on for a few years. Between taking things over with his standing business deals, college, and then him passing, I was busy.” I can see the sadness around his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. My dad was a good man, and I got him for a lot more years than you got your parents.” He lifts my hand playing with his button and kisses it. “Then the accident happened.”
I lift on my tiptoes to press my mouth to his. The moment my lips part, Hollis deepens the kiss. Before I know it, I'm sitting on the kitchen island with him between my legs, my fingers tangled in his hair.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
