He leaned forward and left a kiss on the tip of my nose. “You’ll change your mind.”
I didn’t shake my head. I didn’t want to lose the connection.
A soft smile spread across his face. “I missed you.”
My voice grew hoarse. “I. . .missed you too.”
Silence thickened between us. Our unspoken conversation began. One that I was used to. The sentences that we could never say out loud.
And did you have any lovers this year? Are you still all mine, even though I don’t deserve it?
Leaning forward more, he inhaled me. Right as I thought he would kiss me, he didn’t. Instead, he pulled me to him and smoothed my body against his. We stayed like that for several seconds, and then he whispered, “What are your plans for tonight?”
“I’m giving Holly a surprise bachelorette party.”
“She’ll love that. Will there be a stripper?”
“It’s me planning the party. What do you think?”
“Then there will be several strippers.” He looked back and frowned. “If I find out a stripper is in your room tonight, then I’ll throw him out your villa’s beautiful glass windows.”
“That’s not nice.”
“Be safe and don’t get Holly too drunk.”
“Never. She thinks she’s Bruce Lee Holly when she’s super drunk.”
“This Christmas will be different.” He pulled me back to him and squeezed my body in those huge arms. When he finally moved away, he kissed me on my forehead again and left without saying goodbye.
Fuck.
I stared at the door and released the breath that I didn’t know I was holding. The ache continued to rise.
Don’t think about it. Just. . .don’t.
To get that moment out of my head, I spent the next hour making myself busy with unpacking.
The private villa was beautiful. It was definitely a spectacular alternative to the regular hotel. I gazed up at the glass ceiling, drinking in the pale blue sky. After that, I walked over to the curtains and opened them. The two glass walls showed me this massive expanse of the frozen sea. It was endless glittering ice—magical and tranquil to behold.
The villa was also atmospherically designed and decorated, with full comfort in mind. While the place appeared small on the outside, it was quite spacious on the inside. The largest window stood beside the king bed. Not only was there a bedroom, but a kitchenette, separate dressing room, private sauna, and bathroom adorned with gold fixtures.
This Christmas? Stipulations? I can’t think about all of that.
I opened the suitcase full of all the bachelorette items.
Holly is going to love this night. She’ll always remember it.
While Saint was an ogre of a man—gorgeous and big—his twin sister was a tiny woman. His father joked that Saint took up most of the womb, barely letting his sister get any room to grow. Holly was five feet with a slim frame. Her long blonde hair fell to her elbows. Her blue eyes sparkled just like Saint’s but were welcoming and warm, where his was intense and piercing. She used to complain that she’d wanted to be Barbie, but ended up being Skipper instead.
Now this week is all about you, Miss Skipper.
I group text all the other women in the wedding party.
Me: I’ve arrived. I’m in room 12.
Veronica: Yay! I’m checked in. I’ll be on the way. I’ve got the dildo crown.
Anna: I’ve been here since last night. I’m in villa 14. I’ll be there in five.
Emma: I’m experiencing jetlag, but I’ll be ready.
I shook my head. Emma would be a drama queen as usual, but I would deal with it for Holly. I typed in a reply to the group.
Me: The door will be open. Just come in. Once you all are here, I’ll have Holly show up.
My phone rang.
“That better not be you, Holly.” Grinning, I checked who was calling.
My father’s number glowed on the screen.
Bastard.
I dropped the phone on the bed and backed up. “Leave me alone. Goddamn it.”
I checked behind me as if he were about to enter the room. No one was there. I sighed and returned to my suitcase.
I won’t let Dad or dreams with Mom ruin this week.Chapter 5
Rocking Around the Christmas TreeHolly’s first cousins—Anna and Emma showed up. They were sisters and both redheads. When they were young, they were impossible to tell apart. Anytime they came to Holly’s house as kids, I would play with them in the back yard. They had a love for charades. So competitive that if Holly and I beat them at the game, they would whine and bitch until our parents stepped in. For some reason, Anna had my name down, yet Emma always messed it up.
Now in adulthood, it was easy to figure out who was who. Emma was short with thin legs, big breasts, and sad eyes. Meanwhile, her sister, Anna was the opposite—long legs, big hips, and always wearing a bright, excited expression. While Anna kept her red hair, Emma dyed hers black. Holly joked that Emma made it black to match her soul. And even crazier, Emma still couldn’t get my name right. I’d learned to live with it, glad that I didn’t see her much anyway.