Christmas Charade: A Small Town MM Fake Dating Holiday Romance by Bree Hollis

Author:Bree Hollis [Hollis, Bree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-10-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

GARRETT

The morning after Hayden left for Denver, I stood behind the counter at The Perch wiping down the espresso machine for the third time in ten minutes. My hands needed something to do—hands that still remembered the texture of his skin, the way he'd gasped my name when I'd touched him just right.

He'd rushed back to save his team's jobs and a twelve-million-dollar contract. I understood. Of course I understood. When your entire team's Christmas bonuses are on the line, you don't hesitate. You go.

But understanding didn't make the complete silence any easier to bear.

"You're doing that thing again," Finn said, settling into his usual spot with his black coffee. Seven o'clock sharp, reliable as sunrise. "The thing where you look like someone kicked your dog."

"I don't have a dog." I moved to the pastry case, rearranging the scones that were already perfectly arranged. Anything to keep busy and stop myself from checking my phone every thirty seconds.

"Exactly my point." Finn studied me over his mug. "How's the marketing genius handling his crisis?"

Small-town gossip worked faster than fiber optic internet in Juniper Bluff. Of course, everyone knew Hayden had rushed back to Denver for work.

"No idea," I said, checking my phone automatically. Just the single text from yesterday morning: Made it safely. Crisis worse than expected. Will call tonight. Love you.

He hadn't called last night. And since then? Nothing. Complete, devastating silence.

I knew he was drowning in emergency meetings and presentations. I knew this crisis could destroy his career and his team's livelihoods. But the rational part of my brain was being steadily overruled by the part that had spent thirteen years convinced Hayden Bartlett was out of my league.

"Stop staring at that thing," Micah said, sliding onto the stool next to Finn. "Watched pots and all that."

"I'm not staring." But I was. I'd been checking my phone obsessively since yesterday evening, waiting for the promised call that never came. I'd even tried calling him once around midnight. It went straight to voicemail, his professional greeting feeling like a wall between us. Since then, I'd been hoping for any explanation, any sign that I still existed in his world. A quick text explaining the delay. A voicemail saying he was swamped but thinking of me. Anything.

Instead, nothing. Like the past three weeks had never happened.

Jason appeared with his laptop bag, looking like he hadn't slept. "Any word from Denver?"

"None." The admission felt like swallowing glass. "One text yesterday morning when he arrived then nothing since he broke his promise to call. Over thirty-six hours of silence."

"He's probably just swamped," Jason offered, but uncertainty flickered in his eyes. "You know how these corporate crisis things work. Twenty-hour days, no time for anything else."

Mrs. Delgado bustled in for her morning latte, face lighting up when she spotted me. "Where's that handsome boyfriend of yours? My Eleanor's been asking when she'll see you two at the community center again."

"Denver. Work emergency." The words felt automated now, a script I'd been reciting for days.

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