as my cock began to strain against the front of my pants.
I knew this was a battle—one that I was going to lose in an effort to win the war. But if it meant one more moment like this, with her, then I’d gladly keep fighting.
I tipped my head down far-past the border of propriety.
She might proclaim to not like Christmas and she might proclaim to not like me, but the way her breath caught... the way her pupils dilated with desire, and the way her pulse drummed steadily on the soft slope of her neck, told me what she said and what she wanted were two very different things.
“Only at the beginning, Holly. Only at the beginning,” I promised her with a low, hoarse voice, letting the words weld this connection between us into something stronger.
And then, with a strength I’d regret much later, I pulled back and tipped my head with reverence. “I should let you get back to work. Looks like you’ve got a lot of bricks to lay.”
“Yes, I do,” she stammered and nodded. “And icing to make. Candy to order.” Her head continued to bob.
“I can’t wait to see you work your magic.”
Her eyes flared, and I turned and walked away in case they could shoot flaming arrows; I’d rather sacrifice my back than the rapidly beating organ in my chest.
Holly Jolly might be here to build a Christmas marvel, but I was determined to make her believe in Christmas magic.
And that might take a miracle, but if there was one man who could pull it off, it was Saint Nicholsen.
One week and the façade of the first level was complete.
One week and my attraction to my Christmas-loving boss was about as clear and laid out as the plans I’d drawn up for my masterpiece.
Not what you want, Holly. Not now.
I heard the warnings in my mind—my own version of Christmas carols stuck in my head. But instead of ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ it was ‘Here Comes Saint, My Boss’ each and every morning.
He always came bearing coffee—and for the whole building crew—so I couldn’t brush him off or ask him to stop if that were even possible. And every day, he came wearing the latest in Christmas couture, and with that glittering smile that promised things far more naughty than nice.
Meanwhile, I stuck to the holly pin that Noelle had gifted me, finding it impossible to not fall into an easy friendship with someone who was so thoughtful and kind, no matter how much she thoroughly obsessed over a holiday I hated.
“Holly!” Speaking of Noelle. “Are you ready?”
No.
Swallowing down the blunt protest that was eager to slip free, I replied, “I don’t think I can.” I glanced down at the crisscrossed drawings in my hands and back up to the front of the house. “I really don’t want to run behind on this for the opening, and I’m a little worried I’ve bit off more than I can chew.”
Noelle giggled at my inadvertent pun. Shaking my head, my lips curved in a wry smile and I continued, “It’s really a lot, and it needs to be perfect.”
“Oh, Holly. You know it’s going to fly by as soon as the foundation or whatnot is down,” she insisted. “Mr. Nicholsen will have the whole hotel help with the candy parts if you need it.” She slid her arm through mine and began to tug me in the direction of the Cirque Room. “With your decorating skills, you’ll be able to make an ornament in no time.”
Ornament creation. I’d heard about the hotel activity several times over the last few days. It was something offered for both staff and guests—to create an ornament to hang on the Christmas tree in the lobby once it was put up, and to bring everyone together for one festive effort.
My exhale was measured and slow, but it still led to the same outcome; I wasn’t going to get out of this no matter how many good, legitimate excuses I threw at it.
I wasn’t technically behind, but as someone who liked to run ahead of schedule—to get in, do my job, and get out—I was uncomfortably close to the on-time line.
The first floor of the gingerbread house was the most time consuming and most critical to lay since it had to support the weight of the second tier and roof that would sit on top of it. In addition, there was all the icing needed to glue it together and the candy