Page 30 of A Christmas Changes Everything

“Not a real one. No.”

What?The Holly he remembered loved going out in search of the perfect tree. And not from some pop-up lot full of pre-cut pines shipped in from who knew where, but from locally owned tree farms or a dense forest-like field in the middle of nowhere full of Mother Nature’s organic offerings.

Those tree hunts with Holly were some of Chace’s best memories of their time together. Especially when the weather grew colder, and they’d spend more time experimenting with how to keep each other warm than looking at firs and evergreens.

He especially liked it when it snowed. That’s when the long, toe-curling kisses seemed to last forever. And when he could back her up against a towering oak with her denim-clad legs wrapped around his waist in a vise-like grip as he pressed his burgeoning erection against the apex of her thighs.

As if it were yesterday, he could hear her soft pants and murmurings of pleasure. Taste the sweetness of her lips and neck while they ground their bodies together and generated enough heat to warm themselves and, quite frankly, all of Hickory Ridge.

But the part he loved the most was the glorious explosion that followed, clothed or unclothed, no matter their location. All they ever needed to reach the pinnacle of ecstasy was each other.

“Stop.”

Holly’s voice snapped Chace back to the here and now, where his memories were the only stimulation necessary for his arousal to test the strength of the button fly on his Levi’s.

Yes, he was that turned on without even touching her.

Not that he was surprised, considering he’d been experiencing raging hard-ons for the past eight years by just remembering how good they were together.

But wait. Holly had told him to stop. Only he hadn’t said anything after she’d admitted to not wanting a live tree. Instead, he’d taken his little trip down memory lane.

Oh, shit. Had he said something during his reverie?

Or had she actually read his mind?

No, idiot. She probably drew her own conclusions seeing your Johnson swell before her eyes.

“Sorry,” he murmured. What else could he say? “Guess I’m not doing my part in making things less difficult.”

“Or awkward.”

“C’mon, Holly. We were together for ten years. You can’t honestly expect me to believe you aren’t similarly affected when you allow yourself to remember our time together.”

“No, but it isn’t nearly as apparent.”

Maybe her intent was to kill him. Because even though she hadn’t uttered the actual words, the implication of her statement was loud and clear—the memories of their past aroused her as much as they did him.

So, did that mean she thought of him? Of how good he made her feel? Perhaps she even called on those memories when pleasuring herself. Imagined it was him instead of her fingers or handheld device. Screamed his name when she brought herself to orgasm?

He fucking hoped so since she starred in every single one of his fantasies when taking matters into his own hands.

And more often than not, when he went in search of a little human connection with a woman who wanted the same things he did—mindless and faceless sex.

A terrible thought struck him. Had Holly sought the same? Or had she actually met someone? Gone on dates. Invited them into her bed? The idea of another man touching her was enough to give him a stroke.

Should have considered all that eight years ago.

Yeah, he should have thought about a lot of freaking things. Considered all his options and made different decisions. But he hadn’t. And it was far too late to play theshoulda, woulda, couldagame.

That in no way meant he had to accept things as they stood. Or that he couldn’t still have a future with Holly. All it really meant was that he needed to figure out a way to convince her they still belonged together despite what had occurred in their past.

For now, Chace steered the conversation back to the present matter. “Have you had a tree in the last eight years?”

“An artificial one.”

Oh, that hurt his heart. “Why?”

Holly shot him a look that saidWhy do you think?Her verbal response was more logical. “Easier. Cheaper. Don’t have to remember to water it. No needles all over the floor. And my most favorite, it’s pre-lit with multiple settings, so no stringing lights or deciding if I want colored or white, flashing or twinkly.”

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