Page 30 of Dumped for a Christmas Tree Farmer

I grumble, mostly because he’s right. Holly should have been my first thought. And yet, I can still feel Indy’s tongue lapping between my fingers, the way she gripped my wrist so I couldn't pull away before she got every last drop. The surge of power that shot down to the base of my spine had my balls tightening. Even now, hours later, just the thought of it had my cock thickening in my pants.

“Because I knew you’d be referring to her.”

“Well, I guess you won’t mind that she’s here with another guy then.”

“Couldn’t care less.”

Lies.

“He’s holding her hand.”

Bastard.

“I. Don’t. Care.”

I grip the beer bottle until my knuckles turn white. She was coming on my fingers mere hours ago, and now she’s letting him get his filthy wood-chopping paws all over her.

“Looks like it, Mav. You’re the picture of calm and relaxed.”

“Why are you still here? I don’t require your services any longer.” I snap.

“I’m afraid you’ll need to stick around a little longer,” the waitress . . . the same woman who sold the building interrupts. A notepad and pen in her hands, she stands hip cocked, her golden hair pulled up into a messy bun. There’s something on her cheek, ketchup perhaps. I glance at Charlie, who looks like he’s swallowed his tongue.

“Snowed in? Whatever will you do, Charlie?" I sneer. “The room was only available for one night.”

More lies.

“You don’t have anywhere to stay?” Bella frowns.

He shakes his head. “Err, I guess not. Although I’m sure Mav and I could bunk together.”

“No can do, the spare room at Indy’s place isn’t big enough for both of us.”

“Surely you can bunk with Indy then?” he retorts.

“That seems unlikely when I’m here to win back Holly, Charles.” I tilt my head, staring daggers at the man who only came here to help me and is somehow using the opportunity to impress a woman he just met.

“Don’t full-name me, Maverick. Clearly, Holly is happy with her new man. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been blanking you for four days.”

He’s a damn good lawyer, I give him that.

“Then why would the man in question be all over Indy as we speak?” I ask.

“You haven’t even looked over there; you don’t know it’s him.”

“It is,” Bella and I both say. I smile triumphantly for a brief second before reality hits home. Indy is sitting in close proximity with James MacIn-Two-Women-Aren’t-Enough, and I’m not happy about it at all. Is she going to bring him home with her tonight? Am I going to have to listen to her screwing him through the thin walls of her cottage? God help me, I’ll sleep in the bakery rather than listen to that all night.

Charlie stops his goo-goo eyes for Bella for five seconds to smirk at me, the bastard.

Bella bends down to a crouch, tucking her hair behind her ear as she glances briefly at Indy’s table and then back to us. Her voice is low, so Charlie and I both have to bend to listen to her.

“You know, Indy is a bit of a treasure around here. She had a really hard time growing up. Her mom got sick when she was in high school, and she was her carer for years until she passed away. She was top of her class, got a full ride to Elwood University secured, but didn’t go because she didn’t want to lose any time with Sarah—that’s her mom’s name. And she’s done well with the business, built it, renovated it. She and Henry have done an amazing job. We’ve all benefited from the tourism her B&B brings. She even gave my cousin, Scott, the chef, a job when he needed one. But you know, when people have a hard time for a long time, they take what they’re given. And Indy takes the love she thinks she’s due. Because for a long time she felt like she didn’t get to have any at all. It was all used up on her mom. And Holly—” She gives me a pointed look. “No offense to your choice in partners, but she screwed her over and never spoke to her again after she graduated.”

“What happened?” Charlie asks.

I don’t need to know because Henry already told me when he relented and informed me that Holly had shoved Indy to the ground the other day.

Bella shrugs. “All we know is Holly stopped talking to Indy around the time her mom died. Didn’t even go to the funeral, and they’d been best friends for years. Can you imagine that? Losing your mom and your best friend within a year of each other? And now Holly’s back and taking even more from her.” She pauses for a moment, her lips flattening into an unimpressed line before continuing.