“Permanently?” He looked concerned as he took a sip of his champagne.
“Oh, I still had fun.” I grinned. “Well, you’ve seen the neck massager.”
Nick nearly spit out his drink as I laughed wickedly.
“Kidding.” I pushed water in his direction, and he stood up to avoid a wave to the face. “I just stopped being so worried about relationships and enjoyed the fun of dating and meeting new people.”
“How long did that last?” he asked.
“Who said it’s over? Who knows? Maybe I’ll join Tinder.”
“It’s not as fun as it’s cracked up to be.”
“How so?”
He floated a little closer to me. “On the rare occasions you get to know someone, you find out they’re as jaded as you are.”
“So you’re jaded?” I asked, surprised to hear him admit it.
“Extremely so.”
It took everything I had not to float the rest of the way to him and wrap my legs around his waist, but he was my neighbor, who turned out to be a really good listener, and I suddenly didn’t want to spoil the combo.
“How come?”
“You know how you bounced back pretty easily?” he questioned. “First high school and then college?”
“It wasn’t particularly easy, but I wasn’t going to let a couple of buffoons ruin my fun forever.”
“Well, I didn’t bounce back quite so easily.”
“You were cheated on?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I thought I was going to marry her. We were best friends all through junior high. We started dating in high school, and it even lasted into college . . . until Brock.”
“Brock?” I laughed. “What kind of name is Brock? Was he a football player?”
“How’d you guess?” A spark flashed through Nick’s eyes. “Anyway, at the same time that happened, my parents, who had been married for twenty years, got a divorce, and voila. I decided that whole thing just wasn’t for me.”
“So you compartmentalize all relationships,” I said, more for my benefit than his. “That’s why you have friends, neighbors, and Tinder.”
“I suppose you could say that. Frank was a hard one to categorize though.” Nick’s smile was infectious and made me want so much more.
“So I’m clearly in the friend zone for no fault of my own but location. Had I set up a Tinder account and moved into a small apartment in Seattle, my luck might be different?” I teased.
“I would say you’ve got pretty good luck in not having that as an option.”
I scowled and took another sip of champagne. “But the problem is that I’m a woman who likes choices. Frank might have been okay with it, but I don’t like to be categorized or compartmentalized or . . .”
“Put in a box?” he asked, standing up.
“Exactly. Don’t you want to live a limitless life?” I asked, feeling rather impassioned about the subject. “You don’t seem like a rigid guy until you get to this topic. Then you turn into Mr. Freeze, and nice women, like myself, get put in the neighbor bucket with no way out.” I waved my hands at him. “Not that you haven’t been an amazing neighbor to have.”
He looked down at me while I stayed sitting in the hot tub, my mind looping with mostly nonsense thanks to the wine and champagne. I wanted to say more, but I kept my mouth shut because it wouldn’t matter anyway. Once we hit the age of thirty, we were all set in our ways, and we’d both hopped, skipped, and jumped past that number.
“Holly, I didn’t mean to put you in a bucket or make you feel like I did. You’re so much fun. Your energy is off the chains, and I can see myself hanging out with you because you’re just so fun . . . so different than who I usually meet.”
“Isn’t that kind of your fault? I mean, you set up your profile. You’re the only one who can slide right on that app and set your preferences.”
He ran his tongue across his lips, and I was certain he was about to kiss me. The energy between us nearly crackled, yet I was frozen with fear. Would I really be able to pull off a fun fling for the holidays?
His eyes darkened as he brought his hand through the water and reached out for me. He sank into the water as his hand rested on my shoulder.
My breath caught in the back of my throat as I moved off the bench and floated toward him. With disoriented reasoning, I looped my arm around his neck and brought myself in to him.
Nick let out a low growl as he rested his forehead against mine.
“I really like you, Holly. I don’t want our relationship to change.”
“It won’t,” I whispered as his hands ran along my back.
My heart was pounding a million miles a minute as his eyes stayed on mine. Feeling him this close to me made my entire body vibrate with excitement.
I closed my eyes, feeling his thumb trace my bottom lip, and a wave of shivers ran through me as his lips slowly replaced his thumb. My mouth parted slowly as I beckoned his tongue, inviting him for more.
He buried his fingers deep into my hair as he kissed me harder, and I let out a quiet moan.
Sprinkles turned to showers, and I knew a kiss was all I was going to get. He’d already been looking for a way out, and nature provided it.
Chapter Eight
“You did not,” Maddie said, shaking her head. “I don’t believe it for a second.”
“I totally did. He dared me to at some point get in his hot tub if he agreed to eat a pickle and peanut butter sandwich.”
Maddie’s lip curled in disgust before quickly grinning.
“Come to think of it, he never did eat the sandwich.” My brows shot up.
“I can’t believe that after everything you know about him, you’d let yourself kiss him.” She wiggled her brows. “That’s one step away from the deed.”
“First of all, it was only a kiss.”
“In your bra and underwear, in the middle of winter, soaking in a hot tub.” She hid a smile.
“Technically, it’s still fall.” I grinned. “Besides, it was harmless fun.”
“But he’s allergic to commitment.”
“How do you know I’m not? I’ve had my fair share of fun nights in Manhattan that had no strings attached.”
“With Leo from accounting?” My sister laughed.
“Hardee-har-har.” I rolled my eyes. “The occasions might have been few and far between, but they do exist and didn’t involve anyone from accounting, marketing, or sales. Anyway, it’s completely innocent fun, and besides, he’s already broken one of his own rules. I live on Fireweed.”
“Which makes the whole thing strange.” Maddie eyed me. “And like you’re trying to read something into this more than a fling.”
I looked out the window of the tea shop, and the sidewalks were flooded. I swore it hadn’t stopped raining since the hot tub last night.
“Truthfully, I don’t expect it to get very far, but I’m going to have fun with my hot neighbor for as long as it lasts. Or at least until someone else catches his attention with a more appropriate zip code.”
“Let’s say he had a date tonight with someone in Seattle.” She folded her arms. “How would you feel about that?”
My stomach tensed.
“Well, considering we only kissed, I can’t exactly expect him to only have eyes for me. That wouldn’t be very realistic.”
“You didn’t answer my question. How would you feel?” She peeled off a sticker and slapped it on a tin.
“A dart of jealously might splinter my soul momentarily.” I pressed my lips together and thought about it for a second longer. “But I’d get over it.”
“Sure you would.”
“Eventually. It might take forty-eight hours or so.” I laughed. “You know what the issue is?”
“What?”
“He’s just so damn sexy. I don’t want to miss an opportunity.” I sighed. “Even if it was only a one-time thing, I think I’d actually be content. I’d rather have him once than not at all.”
“Really?” My siste
r looked surprised.
“Yup.”
“Not sure I believe it.”
“I’m not sure I do either, but I’m willing to give it a go. Doesn’t matter because I’m getting way ahead of myself considering we shared an innocent kiss and nothing more.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
The UPS man walked up the sidewalk, carrying a box, and I’d never been so happy to see him. This conversation was going nowhere.
“While I’m slaving away at the shop, do you realize I have two really good-looking men tearing out paneling at my house?” I turned the music up, which happened to be Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5. I eyed my sister.
“I’m surprised you didn’t use a sick day.” She grinned.
“I didn’t know I had any.” I opened the door. “Hey, Danny.”
“Hi, Holly. Just one today. Smells like lavender.” He sniffed the box and I hid a chuckle.
“Sorry. That can really seep into clothing,” Maddie said, walking around the counter.
“No problem. I’d rather have that smell than most.” He set it on the counter and scanned it.
“Would you like your usual?” Maddie asked, grabbing a paper cup.
“Definitely need the caffeine today. Even though we live in the rainy state, everyone seems to forget how to drive during these storms.”
“And it’s only going to get worse with the holidays.” Maddie shook her head, pouring the boiling water over the tea bags.
Danny pretended to shiver. “Don’t remind me. I’m just glad I have this route.”
Maddie handed Danny the cup while I opened the box. We’d been waiting for this delivery from Hound Island from our favorite lavender farm. My sister met the owner at our farmer’s market over the summer, and she’d invited us both to her farm, but neither of us had made it over yet. Every time I brought it up, Maddie would turn red and come up with an excuse not to go.
“Thanks for the tea, Maddie,” Danny told her. “You two always have the oddest assortment of music.”
Dolly’s song changed to INXS and I nodded in agreement.
“What can I say? We’re eighties girls,” I warned. “You can’t expect too much from us.”
“Is that what it is?” He winked at my sister and walked his way out of the store.
“I think he has a crush on you,” I teased. “Well, he’s cute and he’s got good legs.”
“Why do you suppose he always wears shorts, even in the winter?” My sister asked, sliding onto a stool.
“Maybe it’s how he impresses the ladies.”
My sister laughed.
“So Mom and Dad are renting a car. They don’t want to bother us for a trip to and from the airport.”
“Which is code that they want their own transportation in case of an emergency, like there are bed bugs in your sheets or something.” I grinned. “It’s nice of them, whatever the reason.”
“They’ll be getting in on Tuesday.”
“Tuesday? I thought they were coming on Wednesday. That only gives me four days to make the house presentable.”
“I know.”
“When are they leaving?”
“That Sunday.”
My shoulders sank.
“That’s a long trip.”
“It’ll be fun,” she assured me, but it looked like she was trying to assure herself instead.
“I know. I just hope we don’t have to endure day after day discussing all the ins and outs about how we’re single. Do you think we could rent someone from Tinder to carve the turkey so it looks like one of us has a boyfriend?”
My sister laughed. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”
“I’ll check with Nick just in case.”
My sister flashed a knowing grin.
“What’s that about?” My brow arched.
“He’s already sneaking into casual conversation.”
“Only because it was casual.” I shook my head. “He’s a friend.”
My phone buzzed and I glanced at the message.
Anthony said they’re close to finishing the main areas. Do you want them to do the same in the bedroom?
“What’s up?” my sister asked.
“I guess they’re already done with most of the main living section. Sophie asked if I wanted them to continue into the bedroom.”
“I’d say so.” My sister nodded.
“Are people always this nice around here?”
“For the most part. There are a few cranks here and there, but they tend to keep to themselves.”
“Have you ever been to Nick’s house?” I asked.
“More casual conversation?” My sister shook her head. “Not inside. I dropped off Sophie once, but I just pulled in the driveway. It looked really cool from what I could see.”
“Yeah. It’s pretty sweet.” I walked over to the laptop and continued entering our inventory.
“So have you given any more thought to becoming a partner?” my sister asked.
“I wasn’t sure you were serious.” Maddie had mentioned the idea when I was still packing in New York, but I didn’t know if she was serious because she hadn’t brought it up since.
“Definitely serious. Right now, we’re only open five days a week, but if you came onboard as a partner, I wouldn’t have to pay you a salary and we could be open seven days a week.”
I chuckled.
“Kidding. We’d split the profits fifty-fifty. By my figures, by being open two more days a week, we’d be doing ourselves a huge favor.”
My sister’s blue eyes were filled with excitement, and I certainly didn’t want to disappoint her. I knew her shop was doing well, and I was grateful to be working here while I got my head on straight, but this was her dream. Now that I had a little bit of time, I kind of liked the idea of figuring out what my dream might be.
“You don’t have to figure it out right away.” My sister waved her hands at me.
“It’s a really generous offer. I’m just still in that zone of not knowing what I really want to do with the rest of my life.”
“Just know the offer is always there.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. The idea is really appealing, but I want us to both think about the pros and cons.”
“The finance major is at it again.” My sister shuddered.
“With a minor in ancient history,” I reminded her.
“Right, because those two always go together.”
“In a perfect world, they do.”
A huge group wandered into the shop, and I made my way behind the counter. A few of the women broke from the group and began sniffing teas while the others wandered over to order some fresh brewed. The guys lingered near the door until they realized they could order drinks. I counted the number of guys and number of girls and realized some of the women were single or polygamous. It was nice to see a mix like that. In New York, it always felt like the marrieds went out and the singles went out.
Maddie took their orders and I made their teas. My sister and I made a good team. There was no doubt about it.
The women who were sniffing the teas brought the tins they chose over and set them on the counter, ordering two ounces of each. Two were brunettes and one was a blonde. The blonde had an edgier look, with choppy bangs and a bob.
“Are you in town for the upcoming holiday?” My sister asked the group.
“We are. We rented a cute little house on the shore for eight of us,” one of the brunettes said.
“That’s cool,” I responded as I scooped the loose tea for their orders.
“It doesn’t matter what time of year it is here. It’s always so cozy,” my sister added.
“Yeah. Andrea used to date someone who lived here, and she’s been hooked ever since.”
My gaze darted to the brunette, and I followed hers to the blonde who was smiling.
“You never know. Maybe I’ll run into him,” Andrea said, grinning wickedly, and my stomach tensed.
“Is that why you made us come her
e and not Leavenworth for the holiday?” Her friend jabbed her. I looked down at the piles of tea and hurriedly finished up their orders. “Ever since you two broke up, you’ve never stopped comparing everyone you slept with to him.”
The odds were slim to none that she dated Nick. Nick didn’t date, first of all. He only hooked up, and this sounded like a relationship. I placed the stickers on each of the baggies as my sister rang them all up. I kept pushing down the weird feeling that wanted to sprout up.
It didn’t matter anyway.
“Well, you keep your eyes out for your Nicky-poo, and I’ll be on the prowl for the rock star when we’re buying our turkey.” The brunette nearly cackled, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
“The rock star is married.” I looked up at Andrea’s friend and stared at her.
Sophie was such a sweetheart, and it killed me hearing these women talk like this. Did she have to put up with this crap all the time? Anthony only had eyes for Sophie. I could tell by the way he looked at her, touched her, joked with her. It was the kind of love I hoped I’d someday get, but until then, I was going to do my best to stomp on these groupies.
“That wouldn’t stop me.” The brunette giggled and glanced at Andrea, who nodded in agreement.
“Me neither.” Andrea took her bag of tea from my sister, who suddenly didn’t want to let go of the sack.
“Well, from what I heard, he’s in California until after Christmas,” I informed them. My sister turned around and held in a snicker.
“Isn’t that our luck?” the brunette huffed.
“Well, that’s why I always set my sights lower. I doubt Nick is anywhere but his house. All he ever did was work.” She smiled almost giddily, and I pushed down the very bit of jealousy I told my sister I’d be able to handle.
“Have fun on Fireweed,” I said, handing Andrea her bag.
“Oh, I intend to.” She winked and walked out the door with the rest of the group.
“Ugh.” I sank onto the stool. “Poor Sophie.”
“I was going to say the same about you.” My sister squeezed my shoulder. “You okay?”
Tempting Love on Holly Lane (Island County Book 5) Page 7
