The Broody Brit for Christmas (Holiday Springs #1) - M.J. Fields Page 0,27
actually have a lot in common.”
Again, that damn brow raise. “And what’s that?”
“Both of us have that one person, mine Faith, hers her friend Jenny, constantly trying to hook us up every chance they get. I decided I didn’t like the idea of her going out on dates with anyone else.”
“Oh?” He turns to face me completely. “I recognize that look, Raff.” He points to my face. “This feels like more than a…” He pauses, smiling. “Challenge. In fact, this feels like something serious.”
“You think it feels that way, ay? The last thing I’d ever trust are feelings. As you always say, feelings are not real, Becks.” I give him a smirk.
“Firstly, the line goes: Feelings are not real, Raff.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
He gives me a solemn nostalgic smile and says, “It’s the same way you looked when you and I first saw Hope at the pub in Chelsea after a football game. Remember that?”
“Do I.” I blink a few times, trying to picture the scene. The details are hazy now, but I can remember how I felt. Excited. Heart pumping. It was first love, in all its glory. I had no idea the kind of mother she would be or life partner for that matter. Wanting her was all I knew. Future details be damned. I look back at Nikki, guilt settling into my gut.
I then look back to the field just as Nate takes the ball again, moving so fast I have to plant my feet on the ground to not run out onto the field and chase him to the goal. He scores! I want to go wild. Instead, I clap loudly. Pride swells in my chest as I call down the field, “Good play, Nate. Good play.”
“Think you are going to win this challenge?”
“As the Americans say, hell yeah.”
He chuckles. “You know, Beckett, I don’t have to try to egg you on. Although wagers always make things more fun.”
“Nikki will be a little bit more difficult to win over than Hope was. Plus, I’ve got Nate now. Higher stakes. Anyway,” I shake my head, “I can’t put a wager on this girl.”
“Well, that about settles it then. Now that I know you’re falling hard, what’s her story?”
“She’s just returned home after living in Manhattan for years. Grew up here in Holiday Springs. Her family owns Winterfield’s Sweet Spot.”
“Manhattan’s a tough city. Must have spit a sweet thing like her out. Winterfield’s...is that where that girl Nellie works? Mouth like a hoover, that one. Did I ever tell you what she did to me with that peppermint...” He whistles and I shake my head.
Not wanting to hear more about Nellie, I continue answering his initial question. “Anyway, Nikki had a nasty breakup and now despises men with money.”
“Hates money?” He chuckles a bit louder now. “I thought a woman like that didn’t exist! My God. If you can get her, clearly, she’s a keeper.”
“Oh, I’ll get her. Question is, when?”
“I’ll never understand why a lass once scorned shies from a man who has the means and desire to properly take care of her.”
His tone causes me to look away from Nikki to him, confused. “Are you by chance speaking from experience?”
“Aye,” he sighs.
To say I’m shocked is an understatement. “I just saw you days ago, and you didn’t mention a word.”
“Thought it best to mention it to the woman herself, first.”
“Guessing things haven’t gone as planned?”
“Might have scared her a wee bit, but she’ll come around.” He winks.
“What did you do?” I ask accusingly, knowing damn well he’s not one to pussyfoot when going after what he wants.
He shrugs his shoulders. “Took advantage of her attraction for me. Don’t regret it one bit.”
When he looks across the field and I see his eyes on Faith, I shake my head. “Gonna have to stop you right there and remind you she’s Hope's sister.”
“I’m aware of who Faith is. We walked down the aisle together for your wedding. It’s not Faith. It’s the woman with her.” He smiles and nods toward Faith.
When I look across the field again, I notice a blonde climbing up the bleachers and sitting next to Faith.
I hum. “I think I’ve seen her around. At the bookstore, maybe.”
“She works at the Hawthorne Hotel in Aspen but lives here in Holiday Springs.”
“That’s quite a drive.”
“We won’t have to weather it for too long. She’ll be mine completely by Christmas.”
I look back at the woman and see she’s spotted him; her eyes widen, and out of my peripheral, I