Page 92 of Home for the Holidays

“I think you’re right.”

“Zac told me he didn’t tell me about you on purpose,” Iris said with a small laugh. “I think he knew something would happen.”

“Oh? Are you normally feral for older women?”

Iris lifted her head, shock on her face. “Absolutely not.”

“No?”

“I’m lying.” Iris laughed. “I’m a sucker for a MILF.”

Heidi couldn’t contain her laughter. “I’m a MILF, hmm?”

“Without a doubt, yes. The hottest one I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”

“You poor thing. We gotta get those eyes checked.”

“Oh, I can see.” Iris easily straddled Heidi’s hips. She had her hands on either side of Heidi’s head as she leaned down and asked, “Do you really not know how fucking gorgeous you are?” Heidi opened her mouth to protest, but Iris continued with, “You make my chest ache, Heidi. I look at you and…” She placed her hand over her heart. “And I have to remind myself to breathe. When I saw you that morning, in the café… Heidi, I thought how is this possible? How did I come here to this small town, as a fake girlfriend to a gay man, and possibly stumble upon the most stunning woman I’d ever seen before? I was speechless.”

“Oh, I remember. I was like, what is going on that this hot woman isn’t able to function right now?” Heidi chuckled at the memory. “I was taken by you, too, y’know.”

“Well, I was bowled over by you. By everything about you. Your hair, your eyes, your cute glasses, your ass in those fucking jeans,” Iris said followed by a low growl. “I could see perfectly then, and I can see perfectly now, my love. I can see the only woman I’ll ever fall in love with. And I’ve never been happier.”

Heidi allowed herself to take the compliment as Iris started to kiss her. She knew arguing wouldn’t get her anywhere. ButkissingIris? Well, that would get hereverywhere.

CHAPTERFORTY-TWO

Coffee that morning wasn’t nearly as lovely as it had been the past mornings she’d spent in the Nowak house. This was due in large part to the fact that Iris was worrying herself sick about having a conversation with her mom.

“So, Iris, honey, are you…”

Iris stared at Mary over the top of her coffee mug, the rest of her sentence lingering on her mother’s lips like the awkwardness lingering in the air between them. “Am Iwhat?”

“I just noticed that maybe, y’know, that…” she started, stumbling all over herself.

“Mom, spit it out, for fuck’s sake.”

“Whoa, language,” Skip mumbled. He went to sit at the table, but Mary shot him a glare. “O-on second thought, I’m going to take this coffee—”

“There’s a three-season room in the back,” Iris offered, expertly reading her mom’s stiffened spine and clenched jaw. “Might be cold, but you could start a fire.”

Skip’s blue eyes lit up. “Nice. I’ll see y’all next year.” He threw his hand in the air as he left, newspaper in hand, Maddie following behind him. She had been by his side since they arrived, which wasn’t shocking, considering Skip had always been something of a dog whisperer.

“Not a fan of you cursing at me.”

Iris turned her attention back to Mary. “Mom, I’m not cursingatyou. I’m cursing. I’m frustrated, and sometimes, a goodfuckcan help alleviate that frustration.”

Mary’s tiny gasp came out as a squeak. “Me?Frustrating?” She smiled, though, which made Iris feel a million times better. This version of her mom, this lighter, not as irritating version, wasn’t as bad as the Mary she grew up with. The beating around the bush could stop, though, and Mary granted Iris her wish with her next question: “Are you and Heidi in a relationship?”

Well, okay then.“That’s better,” Iris said softly. “Yes, we are.”

“Okay.”

“That’s all you’re going to say?”

Mary took a long, thoughtful sip of coffee. “She’s quite a bit older than you.”

“Are you saying that because that’s what you seriously want to say? Need I remind you that Skip is eleven years older than you?”

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