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“I know, but I did. I’m trying, James, but some habits are hard to break. And I was hungry, so there is that too.” I start to reply, but she cuts me off. “And I took an early shift, so I have to be at the store at six. So I was getting up already.”
“Okay. You got a ride to the store?”
“Yeah, Claire is picking me up on her way in. She starts at six too.”
“Sounds good. Later.” I head out and hop in my truck.
I eat my breakfast on the drive to the ranch, my thoughts drifting back to Holly. Once parked, I send her a quick good morning text and hop out to start the day.
After a few hours running the pasture lines on the four-wheeler, I pull it into the barn and unload the supplies I brought with me. Once finished in the back, I head up to the front and find Jake, Damien, and Ben waiting for me.
They all wear different looks as they stare at me. “What?”
“Something’s different with you today,” Damien states as he walks closer, inspecting me.
“Does it have anything to do with you bailing on us last night?” Jake adds with a smirk.
Well shit, guess I need to let them know. Not sure if Holly wants me to or not, but if I want her the way I do, I need to make sure they stay true to their word of being okay with this. “Had dinner last night with Holly.”
Both Jake and Damien smile, but Ben watches me. The big brother act in full mode with him.
I take a step closer to him, man to man. Last night I got a taste of her and I won’t back away. I wait for him to say something, and then it happens. His lips curl up and he lets out a chuckle. “It’s about damn time.”
I’m caught off guard by his reaction. It wasn’t what I was expecting. Before I can question him, Henry calls out from behind me. “It’s about damn time for what?”
7
Holly
The past week has been a blur of nerves and excitement.
When I came out to the farm the Saturday after the festival, James knew I was nervous. We had shared multiple text messages that morning. James told me I had nothing to worry about, but I wasn’t so sure.
Unbeknownst to me, he had already talked to my brothers, and apparently my dad had walked in on the conversation. He knew that Jake and Damien would be okay. But he was worried about Ben and dad. But to his surprise, and actually my surprise, both Ben and dad were cool with James and I. However, they gave him the typical you hurt her; we hurt you speech.
When I pulled up to the house, James walked out of the barn straight to me, pulled me close, and gave me one of his kisses. There are hoots and hollers from all of my family members, and it was then that I noticed my brothers and dad had followed him and my mother was on the front porch. I could feel my face turning beet red, but I didn’t care. Everyone I loved was okay with the situation, and I wasn’t going to upset the apple cart.
Despite our small public display of affection, and that I wanted to be next to him all day, we went our separate ways and did what we had to do at the farm. We spent the evenings that he wasn’t at the station or doing late chores together. Simple evenings of making dinner, watching movies, and talking. Every evening ending in kisses and heavy petting.
I was ready for more, and it felt like James was too, but he never acted on it and since I had little experience, I was following his lead.
But tonight I was hoping for a different ending and I had a few tricks up my sleeve.
It was Christmas Eve, the night that mom held her annual get together with family and friends. It’s a night of gathering for amazing finger foods, fun games, and good times.
So, here I stand in the kitchen helping mom put together a couple more charcuterie boards before the guests arrive.
“You look happy, really happy,” mom says when she bumps me with her hip at the kitchen counter.
I look at her and I take a moment to think and I know the smile on my face answers her question, but I still give her the words. “I am. I’m really happy, Mom.”
“That’s good. It suits you and him.”
Before I can reply, Dani and Honey come in from outside through the kitchen door. Both of their arms are full of boxes from Honey’s Sweet Treats.
“Where do you want these, Mrs. Kay?” Dani asks as she walks toward us.
“I have some serving platters over there on the breakfast table. Let’s go ahead and put those on some of them and place them on the dining room table.”
