Just Home for the Holidays: A Christmas Romance (Flatiron Five Fitness Book 7) by Deborah Cooke

Author:Deborah Cooke [Cooke, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781989367865
Publisher: Deborah A. Cooke
Published: 2020-12-09T18:30:00+00:00

Five

Josh Harley was big, blond and convinced of his own charm. He was exactly the kind of guy who put Hunter’s teeth on edge, and that would have been the case no matter where they’d met. Josh exuded confidence as he worked the room, his perfect smile in place as he shook hands and slapped backs. He had a word for everyone and seemed to remember all their names. He was clearly as much in his element as Hunter wasn’t. All these rich people, dripping with jewels and insincerity, made Hunter keenly aware that he wasn’t one of them. It reminded him of when he was a teenager, when he had all the moves but none of the money. It reminded him of other kids—like Josh—reminding him of his place. He and Hollis had always been the outsiders. Hollis hadn’t cared but Hunter had always wanted to belong.

Funny to think about the farm again. It had been a manic day, trying to make everything right—pick up his suit, get the flowers, arrange for the carriage, groom the horse—with his four-hour shift right in the middle. He’d only managed a chocolate bar for dinner and was already regretting that.

Hunter heard Josh’s laughter boom at intervals, but tried to pretend he hadn’t noticed. That guy had obviously been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, never worked hard for anything, yet believed everything should go his way.

It was kind of sweet to be helping Chloe challenge that conviction, just on principle.

Chloe did all the introductions, guiding Hunter through the ranks of friends and family. He smiled and charmed and did his best to play his part. They reviewed the items for the silent auction, his hand on the back of her waist, her perfume flooding his senses and her story turning his thoughts in an inevitable direction.

Walnuts. He couldn’t stop thinking about walnuts.

Or the fact that he hadn’t bought any.

Hunter felt the laser glare of Josh’s attention the whole time. She must have felt it, too, because her lips were tight even when she smiled at him. She gradually began to look stressed and prim, and he only wanted to make her laugh.

How could this Josh not see how his presence affected Chloe? The last thing Hunter would ever want would be to see the woman he adored wilt in his presence. He left her with her mom for a moment and talked to the band as they set up, passing some cash to make his request happen. The music started and he led Chloe onto the dance floor for a waltz.

“I’ll have to dance with him,” she said, looking mutinous about it. “My mom made me promise.”

“But the first three dances are with me,” Hunter stipulated.

“Now, you’re making rules,” she said with some irritation. She was stiff in his arms, obviously annoyed. “Why can’t I choose?”

“Okay, choose to dance the first three with me and I’ll make it worth your while.”

She smiled. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

“Oh, both.”

“Should I be worried?”

“You should be ready.

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