Driven by Passion by Renee Dahlia

Author:Renee Dahlia
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mm romance, friends to lovers
Publisher: Renee Dahlia
Published: 2023-01-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

“You’ve worked us all too hard.” Victor hugged Ma then stepped back and showed her his hands. They’d spent the morning harvesting boughs of holly from trees planted near the inn for lightning protection—a local myth that was weirdly backed up by science—something about the shape of the leaves, according to Nicole, with the long spines on each leaf working as a miniature lightning conductor. Once they’d gathered enough holly, they’d all brought them inside to the main dining room where Gordon had set up long tables for guests to make their own wreaths. Victor had helped guests by bringing them boughs of holly when they needed them, and at some point, he’d gifted his gloves to one of the guests, so now his hands were covered in tiny scratches from the sharp plant.

“You were the one who decided not to wear gloves.” Ma admonished him.

“I didn’t take my gloves off to prove how tough I was.” Victor wanted to roll his eyes like a petulant teenager. Sometimes Ma’s teasing frustrated him because he wasn’t very good at easy retorts. He always took things too seriously at first.

“I know, honey. I saw how you gave your gloves to the nice old man staying with his wife in room twelve.” Then she said things like that which managed to balance it out and make him feel like he was overreacting for being annoyed at the teasing.

Victor shrugged. “It is a spirit of Christmas.”

“And it’s the family philosophy for running the inn. For generations we have cared for weary travellers who have found their way to Dochgarroch and we’ve cared for them. It’s instinctual.”

“Are you saying I gave our guest a pair of gloves because it’s bred into me?” Victor wanted to call bullshit on that one. He was kind to people because his parents had instilled kindness as a core tenant. “Next you’ll say that I had no choice but to help a guest because it’s in my DNA.”

Ma laughed. “Of course.”

“I think that’s ridiculous. I helped the guest because that’s what we were always taught about running the inn. The guest’s needs come first.”

“And now your hands need tending to. It’s hard to look after other people if you aren’t looking after yourself too.”

“Yes.” Victor couldn’t tamp down this damned irritation inside him. He wasn’t even sure if it was Ma that he was annoyed at. The whole holiday was a distraction from the work he needed to do, and where the hell was Lucien?

“What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is it Lucien?”

Victor breathed in through his nostrils. “I guess?”

“You know that I don’t offer advice for no reason; only when you need to hear it. It’s always offered with love.”

“What is your advice?”

Ma rubbed his shoulder. “Relax. He’s your friend, first and foremost. Whatever happens next, you both have a foundation of caring for each other through your friendship.”

“But what if this destroys the friendship?”

Ma frowned. “Why would it?”

“What if it doesn’t work out? Won’t it be awkward afterwards? I don’t want to lose his friendship.

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