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It’s been a long time since I’ve had a reaction to a woman like this. I could’ve stood in that hallway all damn night watching her. She’s beautiful in an imperfect kind of way. Her long brown hair is falling out of her ponytail, and there are a good amount of pine needles stuck in there too, but it just makes her more adorable. Not to mention how the tip of her nose is just a little bit red from the cold. I can’t remember the last time I found someone’s flaws so cute.
We get the tree into the apartment without any issues. “Do you have the tree stand?” I ask.
“The what?”
“The stand … that the tree goes in.”
“You mean, it doesn’t just … stand on its own?”
I can’t tell if she’s kidding, and I fight back laughter because the look in her eyes says she’s not and she’s halfway to tears.
“Not a big deal,” I say quickly. “It can sit in the corner while we go get a stand.” I don’t know what possessed me to say it. I don’t know this girl and she doesn’t know me, but I’ll do anything to not have her cry.
“Right now?”
I look down at my watch and then back at her. Fuck the family party I’m supposed to be at. I didn’t want to go anyway, and I’d much rather help someone who is clearly having a bad day. My sister will understand, and if not, she can kiss my ass.
I smile at Harlow. “Yeah, we’ll go to the store, and then I’ll help you set it all up.”
Her eyes brim with unshed tears and now I wonder if I fucked up by offering to help. “You’d do that? You don’t … I mean, you’re all dressed up. Don’t you have somewhere to go?”
I lift my shoulder, not really thinking much of it. “I think helping a neighbor is the Christmas spirit thing to do, don’t you? Besides, if you don’t get it in the stand with water, who the hell is going to help you get it out of here when it’s dead?”
The sound of her laughter goes straight to my cock. It’s soft but lacks all restraint, and I find that I want to hear it again.
“I probably would just toss it out the window,” she tells me.
“And that is why we’re getting a stand now.”
“Can you give me a few?”
I nod. “I’ll wait here.”
Harlow rushes out of the room and I look around at the apartment. Knowing she just moved in a week ago, I’m shocked at how organized it is. There aren’t any boxes, unlike in my place, where my buddy and I have lived in for two years and still haven’t finished unpacking. Everything in here is neat and clean. There are a few photos on the table where she tossed her keys, and I wander over to them.
I pick up a framed picture of an older couple, assuming it’s her parents. Harlow looks exactly like the woman in the photo, only younger. A guy I’m guessing is her brother is in a cap and gown next to her.
Ugh. Northwestern.
“Hey, where did you go to college?” I yell out.
It’s best to get the important things out of the way.
“Me? Oh, I went to U of I!”
Okay, so it’s just her brother that is the enemy.
Setting that frame down, I move to the next photo, where Harlow stands next to another woman in an office. The other woman’s arms are wrapped around Harlow’s middle and the smile is so wide, it could break the glass. Who the hell has photos in their house with their boss? They must really get along.
“Hey. Sorry,” she says quickly as she comes up behind me. “Find anything interesting?”
I laugh because it’s clear I was doing what any normal person would when left alone in a stranger’s house. “Nope. Seems you’re normal.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
“Is that your boss?”
Harlow nods quickly. “That’s Willow. She’s my boss-slash-friend. She owns the company I work for, but I’m going to come on as a partner soon. Well, if I’m able to match this client who is totally a pain in my ass.”
