Stumbling Into the Holidays (Stumbling Through Life #3) - Molly O'Hare Page 0,3

so that makes it your fault.”

“Sure, whatever, it can be my fault you stumble around like a newborn giraffe attempting to walk for the first time.” He leaned in trying to kiss her but Holly darted away from his advance.

“Hey!”

Ben’s brows arched. “Am I wrong?”

“No, but you don’t need to compare me to a baby giraffe. I’ve got more grace than that.”

Ben nodded. “Okay, sure, you do.” After taking another step in her direction, he had Holly in his arms. “Love you, baby.”

Even though she protested, instantly Holly melted into his embrace before kissing the top of Helen’s head. “Love you both, even though you’re a jerk. You too, Peanut. I’ll remember this when you’re older.”

A small chuckle escaped Ben before he pulled Holly in tighter. He knew without a doubt he loved this woman more than anything in the world. As he stood there with her and Peanut in his arms, and knowing Jimmy and their fur babies were playing somewhere in the house, life couldn’t get any better.

Ben sighed closing his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them, that’s when he saw it. As he looked over Holly’s shoulder, he spotted the scorch marks on the wall, causing a ridiculously wide smile to appear on his face.

The holidays were sure as hell gonna be fun this year.

“You know, Grace, I was thinking maybe for Christmas dinner you could work your magic and make the other wall match? It sure would be a show for everyone invited. I know John’s already placing bets on what you’ll set on fire.”

Holly jerked back cocking her brow at him. “What?”

When Ben jerked his head toward the burn marks, a deep growl escaped Holly as she narrowed her eyes at him. “You and John can kiss my ass.” She plucked Helen from his arms and stormed out of the room leaving a laughing Ben behind.

Yep, the holidays were going to be a blast.

Chapter Two

“Oh boy, who twisted your panties in a bunch?” Mildred asked, casually strolling into the library early Saturday afternoon.

Holly’s face snapped up before glaring at the old woman in disbelief. Why is she here? Isn’t today her day off? Holly’s eyes went to the ceiling. Can I not catch a break, Universe?

“Whoo-wee must’ve been bad. Your eye’s already twitching. Who was it? No, no, wait let me guess. This could be fun.” The glee on Mildred’s face made Holly want to throw something at her head.

Mildred plopped her hip onto the desk tapping her chin with her finger. “My first instinct is to go with Ben, but with man meat like he’s got, you couldn’t stay mad at him long enough to still be mad here. Besides if it was him, he’d probably pound your lady bits so hard you’d forget why you were mad in the first place.” Mildred winked as she pulled out the pad of paper she kept with her.

“Really?” Holly’s brows arched at the old coot.

“Shh, I’m thinking. Now, I don’t believe it’d be Jimmy. That boy is sweeter than apple pie. Then there’s my little munchkin of course, but what could she do to make you look like that?” Mildred waved her finger up and down at Holly’s scrunched face. “Nothing. That little girl is only an angel.” Mildred scribbled on her paper. “That leaves Waffles, Ripley, Twitch, and your dad. You know what, I’m going with Waffles. He probably stole a pair of your ripped panties that Ben so devilishly tore from your body the night before. I bet Waffles, the sly dog that he is, dropped them in the middle of the living room and everyone saw them. So now you’re embarrassed.” Mildred looked at her watch. “Hot damn, I’m good. I got to the bottom of this in less than five minutes. I should get an award.”

Holly stared at her in awe. “Where do you come up with this stuff?”

“Don’t be jealous I’m a mastermind. When the detective Mildred hat goes on nothing can stump me.”

“Well, you’re gonna need to go back to the true-crime section and read up, ‘cause you’re wrong.” Holly crossed her arms over her chest as she sat back in her seat. “For your information, it was all of them.”

Mildred’s eyes shot open as her hand went over her chest. “No! Say it ain’t so? Even my little munchkin?”

“Yes. Even your little munchkin.” Holly rolled her eyes.

Mildred sat on the desk for a few moments as she thought it over before shaking her head. “Nope. My