Page 17 of Noel
The younger one elbows his buddy, nodding in her direction.My jaw tightens automatically.
I step closer.Just enough for them to see me.
Their smiles vanish.
That’s better.
“What do you think?”the store manager asks Holly, but I’m barely registering the conversation.
I’m too busy glaring at these fucking imbeciles who can’t stop staring at her.
And I wonder at how ludicrous it is that someone like Holly—all soft curves and warm smiles—doesn’t realize she’s a goddamn goddess.
“So these will go around the base of the tree in the main hall,” Holly’s saying, waving toward an arrangement bursting with white lilies and silver eucalyptus.“Oh, and don’t forget we need three twelve-foot floral arches.One for the main entrance and two for each side entrance.”
Sheila nods enthusiastically.“You’re a visionary, Holly.Big City Events and Drew’s House are both lucky to have you!”
Holly blushes, ducking her head.
“Oh, well, this is an important event to me and the company, of course.I’m just trying not to mess anything up.”
“Not possible,” I say before I can stop myself.
She glances up, eyes bright.
“What?”
I shrug, adjusting the cuff of my jacket.
“You don’t mess things up.”
The florist grins knowingly.Holly glares at me like she’s torn between laughing and throwing a poinsettia.
“You’re just saying that so I won’t fight you about being my chauffeur.”
“Maybe.”
“Wow, you get a chauffeur these days?Sounds like a great promotion,” the florist says with a wicked grin as she looks me up and down.
I clear my throat.
Holly just snorts softly, shaking her head, and moves toward the next display.
I follow—close enough to be a wall between her and anyone else, far enough that she won’t accuse me of hovering.
But I can’t help the way my gaze tracks her.The way she brushes a strand of hair behind her ear, talks with her hands, lights up when she explains her vision for the gala’s theme.
She doesn’t realize she commands a room better than most CEOs I’ve protected.
And God help me, I’m realizing I like watching her do it.
When we step back out onto the street twenty minutes later, she exhales into the cold air, cheeks pink from the warmth inside.
“That went well,” she says brightly.“See?No danger, no drama.”
“Except for the part where half the men in there forgot they were breathing,” I mutter.
She glances sideways, frowning.“Excuse me?”
