Tinsel My Tree: A Sexy Bad Boy Holiday Novel (The Parker's 12 Days of Christmas Book 4)

by Zoe Reid

  I knocked on the door, hoping that Brooklynn went out while I was away. Maybe then I could decorate the tree before she returned—

  “Come in!” she called from inside.

  I squeezed my eyes closed. No such luck.

  Entering her room, I glanced at the tree she wanted me to decorate.

  “That’s it?” I asked in disbelief. The tree barely reached my chest.

  She laughed. “It’s not big, but I saw how you decorated the other tree. I want something just as elegant.”

  I glanced at her. She could have easily done it herself. What was she up to?

  She walked over to me and handed me a small box. “Will you tinsel my tree?” Her eyelashes fluttered, and I started to get a semi.

  The sexual innuendo was blatant. I should have waited for Mrs. Turner to have come back to the house. But it was too late for that.

  I couldn’t help but laugh at our situation.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked.

  “You don’t give up, do you?”

  “Nope,” she said with a grin.

  I took the box from her and opened it. Gold and silver tinsel stared up at me. “You’re so much different than any woman I’ve been with.”

  “How so?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.

  “Ignoring them usually works,” I said.

  She touched my arm and slowly dragged her hand down until our fingers intertwined. “We have something special, Sean. I’ve known it since we first met. It’s wrong, I know, but I don’t care.”

  I drew in a breath, wanting to kiss her so badly. It was enough of a desire to make my cock all the way hard.

  I stepped away and assessed the tree. “It’s not all about you. I have a lot on my plate right now, and I can’t lose my job.”

  “You won’t lose your job,” she said. “I promise. We’ll be careful.”

  I chuckled and turned away from her. This would have been easier to talk about when I wasn’t looking into her gorgeous eyes. “It’s about my Dad.”

  I walked around the tree, placing the tinsel as I tell her everything about him, starting from the beginning. In a way, it’s freeing to talk about everything. I share with her my feelings and how much my family means to me. I don’t expect her to understand, but it was nice having someone to talk to.

  “I’ve never shared this with anyone,” I said when I was finished. My body floated across the room toward her, the weight and burden finally lifted.

  “I guess they’ve never made it passed the brooding, ignoring stage?” she asked with a small smile.

  I nodded. “Don’t pity me.”

  “I don’t,” she said. “Not at all. I feel special that you’ve shared your life with me. And I feel better about your secret.”

  “How so?” I asked.

  She rolled her eyes. “I thought you were hiding a wife or children.”

  I chuckled. “No.” Daring to step over the line again, I cupped her cheek in my hand. The softness of her skin warmed my insides. “I only have eyes for you, Brooklynn.”

  She leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine. She ended it before it started then wrapped her arms around me.

  I embraced her, allowing myself a moment with someone who truly cared for me. I inhaled, taking in the scent of her, burning it into my memory.

  “I’m here for you,” she said. “If you ever want to talk.”

  “Thank you,” I said against her hair.

  Voices carried down the hallway, and I jumped away from her.

  Her hands captured mine. “Don’t ignore me anymore.”

  I kissed her cheek. “I won’t.”

  I lifted the empty box from the ground and left her room. A smile formed my lips as I walked down the hallway. For the first time in my life, I was happy. With a job in my pocket and Brooklynn by my side, I knew I’d be able to conquer anything.

  Chapter 16

  Brooklynn

  For the next few days, Sean and I were careful when we were alone. We stuck with kissing since me going to the guest house was out of the picture. I looked forward to our little secret rendezvous. They were too short, but necessary until Sean got the handyman job full time. Once Daddy saw how hard of a worker Sean was, then I was sure he would accept us as a couple.

  Though, the rational part of my brain thought that would be a Christmas miracle.

  Sean insisted we wait for a while since my parents were onto us. It was hard, but I knew it would be worth it. I got a little thrill from thinking about what Mom’s face would look like when we told her.

  All week I thought about how to help Sean and his family. It wasn’t as if I could visit them and I knew Sean wouldn’t like that. So I thought of the next best thing.

  On Friday morning, I went to Daddy’s office where he was working from home. It was close to lunchtime, so I knew he was winding down with work.

  I explained the situation and that I wanted to help.

  “That’s a great idea,” he said, taking his checkbook out from his desk. “Sean is a great asset to our family, and if we can help in any way, I’d be proud to.”

  “Thanks, Daddy,” I said, taking the check from him. The amount was much more than the medical bills.

  “There’s always added and future costs,” Daddy explained. “This will be a lifelong thing for him.”

  I kissed him on the cheek. “Sean is going to be so happy.”

  Daddy tilted his head to the side. “You seem really invested in this.”

  Had I? I toned down my smile. “We would do the same thing for Mary, right?”

  “Of course,” he said, his eyes narrowing.

  “He confided in me, Daddy,” I said, trying to make him think we were only just friends. “Gavin is busy with work, and I don’t have much to do. It’s nice getting to know someone close to my age that isn’t my brother.”

  He chewed that over. “As long as you keep it friendly.”

  “Yes, of course,” I said. “Thanks again.”

  Waiting until I was outside of the office, I skipped all the way up to the second floor where I knew Sean was fixing a leak on Daddy’s bathroom sink.

  “Knock, knock,” I said from the doorway.

  Sean came out from under the sink and stood up, wiping his hands on a rag. “Hi.”

  “I have something for you,” I said.

  He glanced behind me at the door. “We can’t. Not here.”

  “Not that,” I said, winking at him. I handed him the check, and he took it.

  “What’s this?” he asked. “Am I getting fired?”

  “Not at all! Daddy wanted to cover the medical expenses for your dad.”

  He looked up at me. I expected a smile or a ‘thank you,’ but instead, he handed the check back to me. “I don’t want it.”

  “W-what do you mean? You need it.”

  His breathing was heavy and his shoulders lifted with each inhale. “I’m not a charity case.”

  I shook my head furiously. This wasn’t going how I planned. “It’s not charity. Think of it as an early Christmas gift.”

  “I can’t accept it,” he said. “It’s too much.”

  I held my hands up. “I’m not taking it back. You can give it back to Daddy.”

  He looked down at the check again. “This is. This is much more than we need.”

  I stepped closer to him, taking his hand in mine. “Take it. Please, for me?”

  Our eyes locked and my stomach swooped.

  A hint of a smile curled the corner of his lips, and he leaned closer to me. Kissing me.

  I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pulled him closer to me as his tongue darted into my mouth.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Daddy’s voice boomed from the doorway.

  I jumped out of Sean’s arms. The taste of him dried on my lips as I took in Daddy’s expression. His eyes were wide, and his hands were fists at his sides.

  Sean stepped in front of me. “Paul.”

  “It’s Mr. Turner to y
ou!” Daddy barked. “I knew something was going on. I should have trusted my gut after I spoke to you about this last week.” The tops of his ears were beet red, and his voice shook with anger.

  Did daddy talk to Sean about me? But Sean never mentioned it.

  “I warned you,” Daddy said. “Take that check. Call it severance pay. And get the hell off my property.”

  Sean started to leave, but I grabbed his arm. “No. Daddy, please let him stay. I started this. I really like him. He’s a good guy. You know that better than anyone. He’s not an asshole like the rest of the guys that Mom has tried to set me up with. He’s not using me.”

  “Don’t be so immature,” Daddy said. “He’s a grown man and knows better than to take advantage of someone like you.”

  My hand flew up to my chest. “I’m not immature. He cares for me.”

  “I’m sorry,” Sean said. “Brooklynn, I should go.”

  Sean’s eyes showed his devastation then he slipped out of the room.

  “That’s right—” Daddy started, blocking my path to go to Sean.

  “No!” I cried out. Tears clung to my eyes, and I couldn’t help how they betrayed my strength. “If you kick him out of here, I’m leaving.”

  “What are you talking about?” Daddy asked. “I will not tolerate this behavior from my staff!”

  “But I wanted this,” I said. “Don’t make him pay for what I did.”

  “You’re naive, Brooklynn,” Daddy said. “It’s my fault, really. I gave you everything, and you think the world is so magical and easy to live through. Well, it’s not. There are people out there who will take advantage of someone like you.”

  Hearing my worst fears coming from his mouth made my heart sink. I knew it’s how people thought of me, but my own father?

  “I’m an adult,” I said, trying to keep my tears at bay.

  “Then start acting like one,” Daddy said.

  I sniffed, my decision made. “I will then.”

  I brushed passed him and bolted to my room. After slamming the door behind me, my gaze darted around my bedroom. Could I really do this? It was impulsive, but I couldn’t let him leave. Not like this. And I wouldn’t be able to look Daddy in the eyes again if he allowed Sean to leave.

  Inside my walk-in closet, I grabbed a small carry-on suitcase that I brought on any trips I went with my family. Those were going to end if I did this. Daddy would never forgive me for betraying him. But Sean was worth it. He was worth sacrificing everything.

  I shoved several items of clothing into the bag, mostly underwear and bras, a few pairs of jeans and some sweaters.

  My heart thrummed in my chest as I tried to think of everything I’d need. I grabbed a hairbrush and my toothbrush as well, along with some other hair care items. I could always buy something I needed, at least if Daddy didn’t cancel my credit cards after realizing what I’d done.

  I shook that thought from my head. It didn’t matter what he did. I was doing this for myself. I could make it by. With Sean by my side, I could do anything.

  Rushing out of my room, I rolled my suitcase down the hall and the stairs.

  No one confronted me on the way down to the foyer.

  Grabbing my coat, hat, and gloves at the front coat rack, I rushed outside. I hoped I wasn’t too late. I took one last look at my house and then turned toward my future.

  Outside, the bitter cold clung to my cheeks as I searched for Sean. If I had to, I’d run after his truck, but I really didn’t want to risk injury. It wouldn’t be a graceful exit from the life I’d always known.

  “Sean!” I called.

  He was next to the garage, hopping into his truck.

  He stepped out and locked eyes with me. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  “What? That’s crazy. Brooklynn, go back inside.”

  “I won’t,” I said. “Will you let me come with you?”

  He glanced at the house and then back at me. “Of course. But make sure that’s what you want.”

  “I do,” I said.

  He nodded, taking my bag and placing it in the bed of his truck. He helped me into the passenger side of the vehicle before closing the door, and I couldn’t help but smile. This was the first step into the rest of my life. Too bad Daddy didn’t care enough to see it.

  Chapter 17

  Sean

  My parent's house was the only place I could take Brooklynn. I wasn’t going to leave Mom by herself with Dad in the hospital and going to my apartment wasn’t an option. It was too small and entirely too disorganized. I hadn’t expected to bring anyone home with me in the near future. At the very least, Mom could distract herself from Dad with Brooklynn.

  Taking Brooklynn’s small hand in mine for most of the journey home, gave me a sense of grounding myself in the situation.

  Neither of us spoke much, the conversation with Paul hung in the air between us.

  Brooklynn was impulsive, but she knew what she was doing. This wasn’t her having a fit. At least I hoped so. Proving to her that I could support her would be top on my priority list. At least after getting another job to support Dad too.

  The check from Paul burned in my pocket. It was so much money, and it would help immensely. But I betrayed him. I didn’t feel right about cashing it, even if he wanted me to. I couldn’t believe I let him down by going against his wishes.

  Was it love between Brooklynn and me? Was that why I was acting so crazy and getting fired from work over a girl?

  It seemed like a crazy idea, but it was true. I would have never done that with any other girl I dated.

  And the fact that she came with me after getting fired showed a lot of her character. Which was why I had to make sure she didn’t leave her amazing life for no reason. I’d give her everything I could, my money, my heart, and my soul.

  Driving up the street toward my parent's house, my hands started to sweat. I took my hand back from her, the absence of her touch turning my body ice cold.

  Seeing my house through her eyes made me cringe. She thought her guest house was tiny, and it was bigger than my parent's house. She probably thought she made the biggest mistake in coming here.

  I gauged her reaction as I pulled into the driveway. She stared at the house with no expression on her face.

  “I have an apartment in town, but whenever my dad is in the hospital, I usually stay with Mom,” I said.

  She turned to me. “That’s perfectly fine. I’ll go wherever you go.”

  I leaned over and kissed her. This kiss was different. Almost life changing. She wanted to be here with me. I started to believe that we could get through this without too much damage.

  If I was going to start this life with her, I needed to get her dad out of the picture.

  I reached into my pocket and grabbed the check, handing it back to her. “I can’t accept this. It’s wrong.”

  She shook her head and pushed her hand into mine. “Take it. At least pay off the bills, so you aren’t drowning in debt. Then you won’t have to worry about anything anymore.”

  I chuckled. She was young. But I wasn’t going to insult her by saying so.

  “There’s a lot more to worry about other than money,” I said.

  “This is a place to start,” she said. “Daddy said it was severance pay. Won’t you accept it as that?” she asked. “He won’t cancel the check. I know him. He appreciates hard work. Giving you nothing for your hard work is not in his business brain.”

  I glanced at the check again. It was so much money. Too much. But it would get us by for a while.

  “Think about it,” she said, kissing me again.

  When we parted, I said, “I won’t be able to think much with you doing that all the time.”

  “At least we won’t have to hide anymore.”

  “No, we won’t,” I said. “Thank you for coming with me. Not a lot of people would have stuck up for me.”

  “Then you’re hanging out with the wrong people,” she s
aid with a smile.

  Little did she know I was married to my work and barely hung out with anyone. That was a conversation for another day.

  Inside the house, Mom was baking again. It was something she did when she was stressed. The scent of chocolate filled every inch of the place.

  “Wow,” Brooklynn said, looking around the room. “Does it always smell like this?”

  I smirked. Lately, it did.

  “Sean?” Mom called. “Is that you?”

  Brooklynn grabbed my hand and squeezed. My eyebrows furrowed as I took in her expression. Was she nervous? She had no reason to be.

  “Yes,” I said, dragging Brooklynn into the kitchen.

  Mom was placing chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven onto a cooling rack. “As much as I love your company, aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

  She glanced over at me and saw Brooklyn. Her jaw fell slightly and her gaze locked with mine.

  “Well, hello,” Mom said.

  “Mom, this is Brooklynn,” I said. “Brooklynn Turner.”

  She glanced at our hands and then turned, placing her hand on her hip. “It’s lovely to meet you Brooklynn. How about you explain what you’re both doing here over tea and cookies?”

  After Brooklynn and I explained everything to Mom, she took a moment to think about it. Mom was mostly an introvert, but she was rarely judgmental. And I never brought girls home. She knew this was serious.

  “Well, I’m sorry that you both had to deal with this,” Mom said. “I don’t usually talk badly about people when I haven’t met them, but I think your father acted quite harshly to the both of you. You are welcome in my house for as long as you need.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” I said. But I had no intention of overstaying my welcome. Once Dad was home, this place was going to get more crowded. I’d have to fix up my place for us as soon as possible.

  “As much as I appreciate that,” Brooklynn said to Mom. “I don’t want to talk about Daddy anymore. I want to learn more about Sean’s life.”

  “Our Sean is so closed off for some reason,” Mom said, reaching over and placing her hand on Brooklynn’s.