Holly's Happy Days

Melissa Glisan

Holly’s Happy Days

Melissa Glisan

WARNING This ebook contains sexually graphic scenes and adult situations and language. Store your ebooks carefully where they cannot be accessed by underage readers.

Holly’s Happy Days

2

Melissa Glisan

Holly’s Happy Days by Melissa Glisan

Holly’s Happy Days

3

Melissa Glisan

Holly’s Happy Days Copyright © 2007 Melissa Glisan All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the express written consent of the copyright holder. This ebook is a work of fiction. While references may be made to actual places or events, the names, characters, incidents, and locations within are from the author’s imagination and are not a resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), businesses, institutions, or events. Any similarity is coincidental. Melissa Glisan PO Box 218 Chalk Hill PA 15421-0218 www.melissaglisan.20m.com First published by Lulu.com, December 2007 This ebook is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction subject to fines and/or imprisonment. This ebook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this ebook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher and the author/Copyright holder. Editor: Maura Anderson Cover: J.M. Snyder and Melissa Glisan

Holly’s Happy Days

4

Melissa Glisan

Dedication: For everyone who needs a little Holiday spirit. With special thanks to Maura Anderson and J. M. Snyder, without their help this holiday would still be waiting to be celebrated.

Holly’s Happy Days

5

Melissa Glisan

Part One Merry Little Elf

Holly Giberti had a reputation – as pretty and prickly as her namesake. It was built one acerbic slap-down at a time over her decade-long career as cocktail server in Touchdown, the biggest college bar in Vermont. Now that she was getting older, she rarely had the need to cut frat boys down to size with her verbal skills but occasionally whispers, and an egotistical twit, surfaced. Pacing the room, she took orders and doled out drinks and change with a practiced smile. Since the holidays were around the corner, the owner pushed for his ‘girls’ to wear skimpy elf suits. Gritting her teeth, Holly donned the retarded red suit trimmed in marabou feathers, mutinously adding a spring of holly to her long brown ponytail. The garnish was a reminder to the boys – with this ‘girl’ they could look but not touch. She hated the idea of being eye-candy for a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears coeds but the tips improved, even if her feet ached to the point of tears from the heels accompanying the costume. Picking up her tray, she turned and lifted it above her head with practiced ease to clear the crush of the crowd, aiming for a table in the corner. The boys of Manchester House didn’t know it, but this was their last round of the night – bartender’s orders. When the ear-splitting cacophony of rock and roll holiday tunes paused, the dance floor cleared and she swiveled the tray to her front and nearly into the chest of a thin, youngish -looking guy blushing red despite the friendly dimpled smile and warm glint in his roving hazel eyes.

Holly’s Happy Days

6

Melissa Glisan

“Have you heard the world is flat?” His voice was a warm soprano but he ruined the effect it could have by rushing his words excitedly. He had such an air of innocence and joy that she replied without thinking. “It is?” The youth smiled broadly, showing off his parents’ excellent attention to orthodontics. Damn the kid, but his smile was infectious, Holly found herself smiling, really smiling, back. “Yeah, the better to lay you down and love you all night.” She blinked then felt anger rise like heat lightning in her veins. “Are you fucking kidding me? That is the lamest pick-up line I have ever heard. Piss off Junior.” Sailing past, she noticed how the music remained muted until her verbal parry was delivered. Frowning, she dropped the drinks at the table, taking note of the exuberant way the young men laughed, the drunkest falling off of his chair. He was the one responsible for getting their tap shut off but the guys didn’t seem to care about her bad news as they tossed handfuls of money onto her tray. If there was one thing Holly hated it was being used. The whole scene smacked of a set up. The once excited youth stood where she had left him, looking crushed and lost. I smell a rat, she fumed, or rather a table of them. On the way to the bar she tugged at the young man’s shirt, trying to get his attention but he stared resolutely at the floor, hands shoved in his pants pockets. Well, hell. She huffed air through her light brown bangs and dropped her tray and bank at the bar. “I’m taking my break Toby.” The bartender nodded, giving her a nasty look. “I’m going to apologize, okay?” Sheesh, she had a reputation but no one had ever taken offense before, just walked off with a laugh and a ‘war story’ for his friends. Toby pointed to his eye and her, promising to watch she kept her word. His sudden interest made her wonder if he didn’t know the boy somehow. “Hey kid,” she spoke loudly over the scream of Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Sarajevo, a song she normally loved. He looked up and her heart nearly broke, he actually had tears in his eyes. “I guess your friends set you up.” “I guess they’re really not my friends,” he admitted, his voice tight. He just seemed too damned young.

Holly’s Happy Days

7

Melissa Glisan

“I hate to bust your balls twice but…you seem awfully young. Can I see your ID?” With a rueful smile he fished his wallet out as another wave of hooting laughter rang out over the music. Looking down Holly read and bit her lower lip. “Yesterday was your birthday?” According to the state of Vermont, the too sweet Jeremy Archer had celebrated his twenty-first birthday just twenty-four hours ago. “I don’t get it,” she handed back his license eyeing him in confusion. “It’s Touchdown’s policy to give new patrons a free drink on their twenty-first birthday, why didn’t you come in last night?” “Last night was Thursday,” he said the words like they had meaning. Holly waited and he cleared his throat. “I, uh, had my last mid-term exam today and didn’t want to screw up.” He still had a hang-dog look that made her feel like she’d kicked a puppy. “What subject?” He squirmed. “Elizabethan poetry.” The answer was astounding. Holly rocked back and looked the young man over a second time. Sure, he was ten years her junior but Jeremy had the clean, all-American look that music execs scoured high schools looking for as the next lead-boy-band sensation. He was lean but muscled, a nice blend of boy and man that should have had half the females in the bar chasing after him. Instead, a cursory sweep showed that most of the crowd enjoyed his failure a little too much. Weren’t girls his age supposed to be into guys who could recite poetry? “What’s wrong with poetry?” Sighing, he slid his fingers through his dark hair, tousling the layered cut in a way that made her heart twist unexpectedly. “I’m an English major, focusing on romanticism.” Jeremy said it as if unveiling a deep, dark secret. “And that means?” Holly used a finger to guide his scarlet face so she could meet his gaze. “It means that the guys in my house,” he looked at the Manchester table, “and just about everyone else, rag on me for being gay. ‘If you flamed any harder we’d need a fire extinguisher.’” Suddenly things were starting to make sense. Holly made a decision. “I’m on break, would you like to dance with me?” He startled back as if she’d goosed his crotch and the back table erupted in another round of laughter.

Holly’s Happy Days

8

Melissa Glisan

“But…” He looked down and winced at the shoes she was wearing. “Your feet have to be killing you. I don’t need the ‘mercy’ dance. It’d be as bad as the ‘pity fuck’ I was offered last night.” The way he stumbled over the words gave evidence he didn’t use profanity often. At least he’d stopped blushing. “Who said it was mercy?” She tilted her head, letting the long thick wave of her ponytail hang straight over her shoulder to fall alongside the swell of her breasts. It was a move calculated to get him to look at her assets. He peeked and turned pink. Holly gently guided him to the middle of the dance floor where the glow from the tri-colored lights blended to a rosy hue. The dark served to hide her age a little and, for the first time in a long time, she hoped he wouldn’t see the laugh lines and run away. Aping an air of familiarity, she settled her forearms on his shoulders. With the heels he was only a head taller. Being short normally sucked, but they fit well, despite his being a lot taller. It was nice, she decided, the way his young body felt against her own as she swayed into his shocked form. He looked dazed, eyes wide and jaw hanging open, so she butted the underside of his chin with the top of her head. As if remembering where they were, he fumbled his hands to her waist. It reminded her of her first Catholic school dance. Grinning, she slid closer, laced her fingers through the dark silk of his hair and deliberately rolled her hips against his body, pushing them into a turn. The music blared. It was a fast beat but he barely shuffled his feet. “You never answered my question,” she reminded him with a smile. The smile was probably hotter than Hades considering the amount of warmth flooding her system over the male interest she felt bulging against her gyrating belly. Finally, all those damned aerobics classes paid off. “She told me,” he admitted. Holly fought a frown. She didn’t want him misunderstanding the reaction. Things must have changed drastically since she circulated. After finding out that guys only wanted her to use and abuse, she had given up on dating and taken up exercising. Being a mere high school grad in a huge college town only made her that much more unappealing for the long-term. Most guys figured she was too dumb when really she hadn’t had the money or the patience. Now she regretted it.

Holly’s Happy Days

9

Melissa Glisan

“I don’t understand. You’re a good-looking boy, I mean, young man, and you’re working to get a degree. What’s to pity?” “I’m not a boy.” Angrily he pulled her closer, making the breath hitch in her lungs. His thumbs made light circular sweeps on the inside of her hip bones that had her shimmying a little more aggressively. When his fingers clenched on her hips she nearly purred. A little aggression was her weakness. Just a little, not that macho, alpha-male crap, but velvet-coated steel made her wet every time. “No, but young enough I could have babysat for you,” she admitted unhappily. “C’mon,” he teased, “you can’t be more than twenty-three.” His eyes were warm and slid half-closed as his fingers lightly massaged her lower back. “You tell me why some bubble-headed twit was going to give you a ‘pity fuck’ and I’ll fess up to my age.” There, she thought smugly, that ought to shut him up. “Okay,” his expression turned sad. “I had a girlfriend from high school, total Fundamentalist Christian. It was a big date when she let me actually kiss her, you know, with tongue.” Color stained his cheeks, making the hollows under the delicate ridge of bone stand out. “I really didn’t mind waiting for marriage. Thinking back, the fact we weren’t tempted should have tipped me off that neither of us were really into each other. “The guys overheard and set me up with a Sigma, but I just couldn’t…you know.” He ducked his head. “It wasn’t right. She was more interested in doing me to get in good with one of my brothers, so I said no.” That almost stopped Holly cold. “You mean you’re still a virgin?” He tensed under her hands and she kneaded at the muscles of his neck and shoulder. “Yeah,” the admission seemed to take something out of him and he slumped a bit in her arms. Holly wasn’t about to complain, the less formal stance gave her more room to rub against his slim beauty. Jeremy, she was discovering, had a lot more body under his thin cotton T-shirt than the material alluded to. “The guys all found out when she showed up a week ago, pregnant and married to some guy she met at an anti-death penalty rally out West.” “Holy shit.” The words came out before she could bite down on her errant tongue and he smiled again, this time so close she could smell the peppermint gum he’d been

Holly’s Happy Days

10

Melissa Glisan

chewing before coming to the bar. It was oddly arousing, that fresh summer scent coupled with his innocence. Under her silly costume Holly felt her nipples pucker. An indrawn breath woke her to the fact they were now dancing so close he felt her body’s reaction. “So she never made you feel the way you feel now?” Her voice was husky as she spoke the words into the corner of his mouth. “Once, when I was fifteen.” She never understood the fetish some guys had about ‘bagging’ virgins until she held one in her arms. His body trembled slightly as he tried to match her swaying steps and she felt a rush of power and something else that made her body ache and weep for his touch. “Your turn.” Those words hit her like a bucket of cold water to the face. “I’ll be thirty-one in January.” Feeling stupid, she tried to pull away but he was having none of it. “I don’t care.” He nibbled lightly at her earlobe, murmuring the words as her heart stopped then slammed into overdrive. “My name is Jeremy, by the way.” She felt his lips moving against her exposed neck and knew he was smiling again. “I sort of figured that out, reading your license.” “What’s your name?” He parted his legs and she slid closer inside his embrace rubbing sinuously against him like a cat. Something about the way he smelled made her want to lick his skin from the nape of his neck to the inside of his ankles. Just the thought made another ripple of heat pool in her panties. “You really don’t know?” Her name was almost synonymous with Touchdown, she’d been there so long. “Nope.” His hands relaxed and slid slowly from the safety of her back to the roundness of her butt. She wriggled a bit to show she enjoyed the feeling, hoping he’d get bolder. “Holly Giberti.”

Holly’s Happy Days

11

Melissa Glisan

Part Two Holly’s Folly

Jeremy leaned back in shock. The dreaded Shrew of Brew was wrapped around him like an erotic daydream. “You’re the Holly?” It just didn’t make sense. All the guys talked about how Holly had ice in her veins. Walking in the door, he’d looked at the three women circling the room and figured the Shrew had to be the glaring blonde standing in one of the corners. The haughty face looked angry at the world and happy to ignore everyone, like her job was beneath her. “But the blonde…” He turned to look in the corner but was distracted by the merry laughter from the luscious woman in his arms. Her grey-blue eyes gleamed with a little more than mirth. “Susan thinks she looks seductive, I keep trying to tell her she just looks pissed.” Her earthy candor was almost as heady as the incredible perfume she was wearing; it was a layered fragrance of rose, spice and citrus. When the delicate aroma mixed with the scent that lingered on the skin at her throat, he felt his erection throb painfully in response. “Doesn’t she do anything?” Now he was desperate to find anything to think about other than the howling ache in his balls. Distraction, he needed a distraction. Holly arched her lower body against his throbbing cock and he nearly creamed in his jeans. How the hell was he going to make it back to the frat house without having an accident? “You’re looking at it.” The words were cool. He looked back down and saw her give Susan a fulminating look. “If a professor or one of the department heads comes in, she’ll wait on them. Beyond that, there are a handful of pre-med types she deigns to acknowledge.”

Holly’s Happy Days

12

Melissa Glisan

“And she keeps her job how?” Holly’s heart-shaped face turned up to his with a wicked smile. “I think she goes down on the owner.” The words only made him focus on her perfect bow-shaped lips, wondering what it would feel like to have the glistening softness on that part of his body. A part of his body that ached in a way he doubted he would be able to find relief for in the shower, like he normally did. Ducking his head he muttered against her hair, “You’re killing me.” “Not yet, not by a long shot.” Small hands pulled his head down, her soft pink lips skimmed the surface of his, making his heart trip-hammer in his chest. “What do you mean?” She was like a drug, one he was developing a serious need for more. Oh yeah, he’d had urges, he was a guy, but never the all consuming fire in his veins Holly pulled through him. “My shift ends when Monica gets here.” Another impish grin crossed her face as she peeked through the thick fringe of her bangs. “Such are the benefits of being shift manager.” Jeremy watched as she looked around the room, then startled. “What’s wrong?” Slowly she disentangled from his arms and led him to a chair near the bar. He appreciated the way she walked slowly in front of him, hiding his erection. “Bad enough Susan saw us dancing, I don’t need the owner giving me grief.” “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to get in trouble over me.” He really did feel sorry but it didn’t do anything to lessen the heavy pain in his groin. “No worries, I doubt he’ll fire me. I’ve been here too long. If anything he’ll just yell at me and dock my pay. Your ex-friends more than made up for any loss there.” She stopped so suddenly he collided with the softness of her perfectly rounded backside. God the crease of her ass fitted his erection perfectly. With a maneuver that stunned his body into burning awe, she thrust her bottom against the taut front of his jeans and arched backward to look him in the face, upside down. “Now this is an interesting position, we’ll try it later.” “Later?” He felt shock and nervous fear slam through him. “I…I…” “Later,” she avowed and collected her tray to circle the room again.

Holly’s Happy Days

13

Melissa Glisan

Dazed, he watched her leave as the bartender neared. “Hey Jeremy, happy birthday! What can I get you?” “Just a soda, Uncle Toby.” “Aw, c’mon boy, you only turn twenty-one once.” “Yeah, but I’d rather celebrate it with Holly later, sober.” He turned to the genial middle-aged man who ignored calls for more rounds. “What can you tell me about Holly and how pissed will Uncle Mark be?” It was obvious the questions were ones the older man wanted to ignore as he began sidling away. “And is there any truth to the gossip about Susan?” After a sharp bark of laughter, Toby held up a hand to ask for a few minutes as he took orders. Jeremy didn’t mind, it gave him time to admire the petite, curvaceous form flitting around the room taking orders. She never used her notepad until she reached the bar. While Toby filled orders, she recorded the information for each table. Distractedly, she stood next to him then recited an impressive list of drinks. Unable to resist, he reached out and caressed her shoulder as Toby started placing the staggering array of beverages on her tray. He felt her tense and pull away before looking but when her vague blue eyes saw him, she relaxed and smiled. A real expression that made her sparkle under the blue-green wash of lights. “Monica should be here soon. Then, if you want, we can leave.” Her voice was an odd mix of hope and quiet reserve, like she expected to be rejected. “Works for me,” he smiled reassuringly and she glowed. “My place then,” she leaned forward and playfully rubbed noses with him. Eskimo-kisses, his mom called it. “The idea of doing anything other than slinging beer within hearing range of a frat house is stomach turning.” Laughing, he nodded his agreement. It was amazing the way she lifted the over-loaded tray and spun through the crowd as if it weighed next to nothing. “She bothering you, boy?” The gruff voice pulled him out of his reverie. Mark Tedesky was a former collegiate football star that had a single shining year as an alternate in the NFL before a series of concussions sidelined him permanently. He had taken the remainder of his meager salary and started Touchdown.

Holly’s Happy Days

14

Melissa Glisan

Jeremy grinned. His Uncle Mark wasn’t much older than Holly and it gave him a bit of leverage. Toby and Mark weren’t really his uncles, it was just a term of affection. Both men had orbited his rather unusual mother when he was in grade school. Toby moved in and a few years later so did Mark. Calling Diana a ‘free spirit’ was tame in comparison to the reality. Hitting puberty, he’d wondered if her uninhibited sexuality had been a result of his dad’s death but was quickly disabused of that notion. Toby had known Jerome and explained to the troubled teen that his father had been the only man Diana had been willing to settle down with. Maybe the reason I dated Abby so long was because I was afraid I’d end up like my mom, a sex junkie. His friends all thought him insane for putting up with the ‘no sex before marriage’ decree for six years. It wasn’t insanity, he decided looking at Holly flit from table to table. It was cowardice. “Uncle Mark, you like older women right?” He tried for as much bright-eyed innocence as possible. Nothing doing, the older man wasn’t a fool. “Your mother is special, Holly is a man-hating freak. Stay away from her.” “Does mom know about Susan?” The question caught Mark off guard; he went from sipping his rum and Coke to choking on it. “How the Hell did you find out about…never damn mind,” he growled. “No, she doesn’t.” “Then a deal, I’ll keep mum with mom and you tell me what makes Holly a freak.” Knowing his mother, she probably wouldn’t care…much. Heck, Diana would probably be into having the snooty blonde join them all one night. Mark sighed and scratched the shadow of beard on his chin. “Her story isn’t mine to tell. All I can say is that she hasn’t dated in more than eight years.” He dumped a halfshot of rum in Jeremy’s glass. “I know you’ve never…well, I just don’t want to see you throwing away your focus on Holly.” “My focus?” “Your dad was a college professor. It’s a good thing you’re taking after him. I just don’t want to see you end up like your mom.”

Holly’s Happy Days

15

Melissa Glisan

“What exactly is that supposed to mean?” Jeremy was giving serious consideration to walking to the payphone near the restrooms and calling his mom at work. He knew she’d approve of Holly, since she was always trying to set him up with the waitresses that worked for her. Diana started out like Holly and was now a full partner in a diner across town. “Don’t get me wrong, I love your mom, I just don’t want to see you piss away your future getting addicted to a low-wage piece of ass.” “Hey,” Holly’s soft cheerful voice chimed up from his shoulder. “Monica’s here. I just need to cash out my bank for the night and we can get going, okay?” Jeremy grinned and impulsively dropped a kiss on her nose, making her eyes cross. “I’ll be here.” *** In the quiet of Mark Tedesky’s office, Holly quickly added up her drink orders for the night and separated her bank into piles. There was the hundred dollars she’d started the evening with, the drink cost tally, credit card receipts, and her tips. She counted each pile three times and was entering the figures on the accounting sheets when her boss walked in. “Perfect timing,” she smiled. “I’ve got my bank and drop ready for the safe.” His face looked thunderous. Aw, man, did I screw up that bad? “Holly, do you like working here?” Her gut twisted, then fell to her ridiculous shoes. She had to grab the arms of her chair to keep from getting sick as her body fought hyperventilating. “Yes sir, I do.” She didn’t like the quaver in her voice but couldn’t control it. “Then you’ll leave without the boy.” Defiantly, she lifted her chin. “Jeremy is not a boy. You’ve got no right to tell me who I can or can’t date.” Dear God, where did the need to push this come from? Touchdown had been her safe haven for so long. Why was she risking everything on a kid she danced with once? The memory of his soft hazel eyes and warm, hungry lips played across her skin and she sat up straight, meeting Mark’s glare with one of her own. He settled behind the desk and folded his hands on the blotter, dropping his eyes to stare at the neatly arranged piles of cash and the side line of credit card receipts.

Holly’s Happy Days

16

Melissa Glisan

“Jeremy is…a customer and our rules are very specific, we don’t fraternize with customers.” Mark pushed her tip money towards her, eyeing the small plaque beside his desk. It listed three rules: Don’t argue with the Boss, No dating employees and No dating customers. “Huh,” Holly pretended to study the aged sign before looking back at her boss. “I guess that dating bit is what keeps Susan safe, isn’t it? Blow jobs in the bathroom don’t exactly entail dinner and a movie, let alone a commitment.” “You little bitch.” He surged to his feet. “Just figured that out?” Holly smiled sweetly as she stood, picked up her tips and turned to leave, gamely hiding the fact her hands clammy and shaking. “Leave with that boy and you’re fired.” She turned back, studied Mark’s red face and sneered. “Then it’s a good thing you’ve got my address. Be a dear and mail me my last paycheck.” She blew him a saucy kiss and sauntered out.

Holly’s Happy Days

17

Melissa Glisan

Part Three Arms of an Angel

“C’mon Jeremy, you’re in luck. I’ve got the weekend off.” She smiled, full of fake brightness, hoping he wouldn’t catch the sheen of tears in her eyes. Damn Toby for chatting with her date, he caught the look. “See you later, Jeremy. G’night Holly.” Jeremy waved and slipped towards the door to collect his coat. Hers was quickly in hand, having been stashed behind the bar with her purse. “Goodbye Toby.” The words came out with a quiet dignity Holly was proud of. “Oh no! He didn’t.” The look of shock and consternation on Toby’s face was a small comfort. “Oh yes, he did.” Leaning across the bar she patted his soft cheek and smiled, the sadness no longer choking her. “No worries, I’ll have another job in no time.” Turning, she caught sight of Jeremy putting on his coat while being razzed by his departing fraternity brothers. Looking back at the bartender, she smiled. “Jeremy is worth it.” “Figured that out from a single dance?” Her smile grew bigger at his skeptical look. “Yeah, I did.” Oddly enough, he smiled back. “Good for you, see you at Christmas.” Toby returned to serving drinks as Holly walked away, wondering just what he meant by that. “Did you drive?” She interrupted what sounded like the beginning of an argument between Jeremy and one of his frat brothers. “My car doesn’t run in snow.” The other guy laughed and Jeremy sighed. “All right, it doesn’t run at all, okay?”

Holly’s Happy Days

18

Melissa Glisan

Holly paused to think, the tormenting had gone on long enough. “That’s fine, in fact, it makes things easier. There’s only room for one car in my driveway anyway.” Suddenly, the laughter died. “Wait…what?” One of the guys tried to block the door but Holly expertly moved past, stiff-arming him, towing Jeremy by the elbow. “My cell is in my pocket, if you want to call and order pizza.” She bumped her hip to the left to indicate which pocket. “I don’t know about you, but I missed dinner.” “Oh, sure.” He fumbled the phone out and she hit the remote switches for her Jeep, unlocking the doors and starting the motor. Inside, she sat a minute and helped him pick a take out place, toppings and sides. “I’m glad we’re picking it up, since I have no clue where you live.” He sounded sort of nervous. “You scared of me?” That was something she hadn’t planned on. Poor kid probably thought he was starring in a bad B-grade horror flick. “Not of you, no, just nervous you know.” He gave her a lop-sided smile and she grinned back. “Understandable, but I’ll let you in on a secret. It’s been so long for me it may as well be a double first-time, so food first right?” Jeremy nodded wide-eyed and suggested a movie too. Holly had to laugh. Inside the video shop he kept trying to pick out ‘date’ movies and she kept leaning towards things that exploded with zombies. They compromised and went with a title that the salesgirl swore had both romance and destruction. At the pizza shop, Holly tucked the movie in her visor and ran inside to collect the order. Jeremy hadn’t been happy, but she waved off his complaint. Returning to the CJ-7 she nodded for him to open his door. “Here you hold it,” she plopped the order into his arms and ran around to her door. “Why not set it in the back?” He asked as she concentrated on turning around. “The same reason I didn’t get it delivered, I live on a bumpy one-lane road just outside of town.” She looked to gauge his reaction, but he was staring intently at the Sunrise Diner. “Rather eat there?” “Huh? Oh, no,” he blushed. “I was just looking for my mom’s car, she works there.”

Holly’s Happy Days

19

Melissa Glisan

Suddenly, Holly felt like an idiot. “No wonder you knew my feet were killing me, your mom waits tables too.” She had to sit on the urge to ask if he knew if the diner was hiring. Despite it being closer to home, it would tip him off that his fears had been all too real. Two lights past the small restaurant and the city glow dissipated into a small suburb, Holly picked a narrow lane to the right and the Jeep started a steady climb through brushy forest. When the tires began to spin she slowed and engaged the four-wheel-drive. “How did you ever manage to end up way out here?” “It was my grandpa’s hunting cabin. I grew up down in New Jersey. After I graduated high school I…I guess I was a handful, but grandpa was happy to have me.” She felt his eyes on her face and flushed. “That isn’t the whole story is it?” His voice was gentle. “No, it isn’t, but let me get out of this stupid suit first.” She grimaced, “It’s only fair, I guess. You told me your story, I owe you mine.” The Jeep slipped and hopped around an icy bend and the cedar A-frame came into sight. She had left the light over the door on so she could see to unlock it, but the yellow glow lit up the small dwelling, showing off the dainty front porch and cut-stone foundation. The steps were cleared of snow but it didn’t stop her from walking apprehensively behind Jeremy, hands extended, worried he’d fall. “Hey,” he teased, “I grew up around this stuff, relax. And I’m wearing real shoes.” He stared at her heels. Wrinkling her nose, she unlocked the door and held it to let him enter first. The first floor was all one big room but for a small room along the back wall. The door opened on a Spartan great room with nothing to separate it from the dining area except a change in flooring from hardwood to ceramic tile. Separating the dining area from the kitchen was an “L” shaped half-wall that doubled as a bar. “We’ll take everything upstairs.” Holly stepped into the kitchen and grabbed plates, glasses and napkins. “Why not eat down here?” “See a television?” She grinned. He turned and looked. The living room was pretty bare. Beyond the wood pillars that supported the second floor, there was an ugly old brown and gold plaid couch and a battered looking coffee table in front of the stone fireplace. Aside from those things, the

Holly’s Happy Days

20

Melissa Glisan

room was empty. Shaking his head, Jeremy looked at the dining area and saw that the table was really a picnic table. “Don’t spend much on furniture, do you?” Holly laughed. “That’s exactly what I told my grandpa when I moved here. And that was before I learned that the lumpy, miserable couch was going to be my bed.” “Where’s your grandpa now?” Jeremy asked as she heaped the dishes on top of the pizza boxes and led him over to narrow wooden stairs concealed behind the bathroom. “He got too old for hunting and decided deep-sea fishing was more his thing. At least that was the excuse he gave me when he sold me the house. The truth was he met a nice retired woman at a ski lodge and they hit it off. She lives in Miami. It was an odd courtship but in the end, I got all this.” She hurried up the stairs and spun around, arms out. The room was half the size of the entire first floor and would have overlooked the living area if it hadn’t been for a huge entertainment center flanked by towering bookshelves. “Even with the railing, I was nervous I’d sleepwalk or something and fall over.” Holly admitted. Along the back wall was a double-bed topped by huge windows facing the lights of the town below. To one side was a small table and two wicker chairs, the other presented a problem. “Living alone, I never realized I’d have this situation. I’ve never invited anyone home.” Holly admitted, staring at the alcove where her frosted glass shower stood, illuminated from the inside. “You want me to wait downstairs?” “Don’t be silly, I just need a quick bath. I’ll use the tub downstairs.” She opened drawers as he studied the view. “Be back in a flash.” *** That’s funny, she seems more nervous than me. Jeremy waited until Holly disappeared down the stairs before exploring her bedroom. It was huge. What baffled him were the shelves, they had to have cost a fortune but were mostly empty. She only had a row or two of dog-eared books, a stack of music CDs and some video tapes and DVDs.

Holly’s Happy Days

21

Melissa Glisan

There was a single picture hanging at eye level of a gruff looking older man with thinning white hair and Holly’s blue-grey eyes, obviously her grandfather. The bed was a captain’s bed and fit neatly beneath the bank of windows. It was an amazing view to ignore in favor of television. He shook his head. The coverlet was a thick, silky, down-filled creation that made you want to sink into it at first touch. It was the only really feminine thing about the room. Curious, he twitched back the cover and felt the soft flannel sheets. A line of plump pillows covered in the same silky material as the coverlet lay along the top with military precision. When the sound of running water rumbled through the old pipes, he walked over and explored the small, modern, shower area. The glass door opened with a quiet click revealing a tile enclosure with a simple shower head and a bench. Closing the door he wondered why she had it built upstairs instead of remodeling the main bathroom. On a nightstand he found the television remote and turned it on more for noise than entertainment as he set out the plates. A small paper bag held two soft drinks, vanilla cream soda and plain cola. Jeremy grinned wondering if she’d share. He had a sweet tooth. “All done!” she announced, walking barefoot across the wooden floor to the DVD player. He handed her the movie and she turned the volume down when the previews began to play. “I hate previews and it will give me a chance to tell you why I’m here.” He couldn’t get over how young she looked. Sure there was a small hint of laugh lines at the sides of her mouth and a furrow between her brows from concentrating but she looked no older than any of the students in his class. Holly ate with gusto, picking her slice up high and catching the cheese between her plush lips. Jeremy felt jealous as she moaned in pleasure. He also felt a return of the heat from earlier as his pants got tighter. Finishing her piece with impressive speed, she daintily dabbed her fingers on her napkin. “I don’t know how to say this without sounding terrible.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze as she tugged free another piece. “Sound terrible, it can’t be all that bad.” Though he wasn’t hungry, he slid a slice onto his plate and cracked open the plain cola. Surprisingly, she took it away and handed him the other.

Holly’s Happy Days

22

Melissa Glisan

“I saw the way you were eyeing it up, be my guest.” Her smile was strained, so he sipped the soda and focused on his own plate to give her a moment. “You know, you’re right, it probably isn’t as terrible as all that.” Soft laughter made him look up. Holly pulled the green and red band free and let her hair cascade over her shoulders. Hair down, she looked younger yet, sitting in the chair wearing nothing but an oversized sleep shirt, like a teenager at a slumber party. He smiled at her simple, relaxed beauty. “I wasn’t the best student. I wanted to do, not learn. At best I got passing grades but was in every organization and sport that would have me. Being the youngest, I got away with a lot of crap my older brothers and sisters never would have dreamed of. Until three months after graduation, I turned up pregnant. That was one thing my very Catholic family couldn’t tolerate.” Lost in memory she nibbled along the second piece. “My parents demanded I tell them who it was, but I thought I knew better. So, I snuck out and went to his house to tell him.” Holly put the pizza down and dabbed at her mouth. “He didn’t take the news very well, he had a full athletic scholarship to Notre Dame and there I was ruining things.” Jeremy watched as she stared through him into the past. “You don’t have to tell me.” “Yeah, I kinda do. You told me about your girl, it’s only fair.” “Fair or not, this is hurting you more than Abby’s betrayal ever hurt me.” It felt funny saying the words, because they were true. The only thing that had been hurt was his pride because she chose to do her dramatic revelation in the common room for the entire fraternity to hear. “You’re right, you two were really never meant to be together.” Her lips twisted. “Just like Patrick and I weren’t supposed to be together. We argued,” she continued, voice shaky. “We argued and he pushed me from his room, into the hall, forgetting his own strength and I went over the banister and fell. “I lost the baby but my parents were disgusted with me.” Holly flipped her hand in the air and settled her fingers on her cheek mocking what must have been her mother. “‘The shame of you, Holly Anne Giberti! How can we ever look the priest in the eye with

Holly’s Happy Days

23

Melissa Glisan

you under our roof?’” Trying to lighten the moment she mock gagged and rolled her eyes. “So, my mother’s father, Hollister Dean took me in.” “That’s why you’re really scared of falling, isn’t it?” Jeremy tried to keep his voice soft. “Pretty much.” “No.” he moved around the table to kneel in front of her knees. “I’m not talking about the banister, I’m talking about falling in love. You’re afraid of falling in love again, that’s why you built a man-hating reputation just like you built this wall in your bedroom.” *** Holly felt his arms sneak around her waist and surrendered to the desire she’d suffered from all night. She wanted to touch and be touched again. Not by anyone, but by this one man. Sliding from her chair, she felt her shirt ride up around her hips as her knees parted to hug his waist and she settled into his arms. “How’d you get so smart, studying poetry?” He felt so much more solid in her bedroom than he had on the dance floor, her heart slammed against her ribs. “Have you ever read poetry? It’s not about what is said. What isn’t said is what makes it powerful.” “So, I’m a poem,” Holly intended the words to be light and teasing, instead they same out raw and needy. “Mm…free-flowing, you are verse in action.” He whispered against her lips, kissing the corners. “But why me?” Holly shuddered at the feel of his lips on her cheek, her neck, the warm slide of his nose under her ear. “At first it was your smile,” she admitted as his fingers touched her sides, slipping delicately over her shirt. “You smiled and I really felt it, deep inside.” Jeremy’s lips found her collarbone and another type of pang went through her, making her shiver. Grasping his face in her hands, she smiled into his warm hazel eyes. “But that had to be the lamest pick-up line ever. Why’d you do it?” He turned his head and playfully nipped her thumb before answering.

Holly’s Happy Days

24

Melissa Glisan

“The guys told me you loved silly pick-up lines and said to try that one.” Laughing, she hugged him tight. It would be only too easy to fall for this man. Fear rose but she trammeled it down. So what? Even if he leaves me for a younger woman, I’ll take what he’ll give me. “It was the look on your face that cemented it. I really hurt you. I’ve never really hurt anyone. You only wanted me to laugh with you. No one has wanted that, ever.” Capturing his lips in a kiss, Holly bit his lower lip lightly, urging him to open. When he did, she whispered an apology before claiming his mouth.

Holly’s Happy Days

25

Melissa Glisan

Part Four Live, Laugh and Love

Jeremy tasted sweet and tangy, but the longer the kiss went on, the deeper Holly fell into the well of warmth his embrace offered. Her hand searched the table top for the stupid remote. The noise from the movie was an unwanted distraction. “What are you doing,” he asked, cupping his hands under her butt. She almost forgot what she was doing at the feel of the bulge in his jeans rubbing against her pantyclad mound. “Looking for the damned remote. The only thing I want to hear is you.” With a sound of triumph, she nabbed the device and plunged the room into silence. “Bed, now.” “Uh-uh, I don’t want to mess up your bedspread.” Growling, Holly staggered to her feet and grabbed his shirt in one hand, the comforter in the other and pulled both to where she wanted them. The sage material whipped over the footboard and onto the floor. Still holding Jeremy by the shirt, she turned and backed him against the mattress, then shoved. He gamely fell using his elbows to break his fall. “I, uh, don’t have anything.” His dark hair fell in a shag around his face. In a few years, when he grew comfortable with that lean sculpted body, he’d be a real heartbreaker. Mine her heart said. Mine her body echoed. Mine for now, her head cautioned. Hush she ordered the last. “Sweetheart, I work in a bar, we stock machines in the bathrooms nightly. Stay,” she ordered and walked over to her purse. With a flourish, Holly pulled a plain cardboard box from its depths. She popped it open and scattered multicolored foil packets all over the bed. “Think these will be enough?” The look in his eyes went from anticipatory to astonishment.

Holly’s Happy Days

26

Melissa Glisan

“This is like a lifetime supply,” he muttered. Picking one up, he read aloud, “Ribbed and tipped. Tipped with what?” Holly tugged it out of his fingers. “I think we’ll save that one for another night.” She straddled his hips and pulled his shirt over his head. “You’re planning on more than one night?” His eyes looked a little wild and a lot interested. “Well, I do have the whole weekend free.” She grinned and waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Unless you can think of a better way to spend it?” “Hmm…” he buried his nose at her throat and licked the sensitive hollow, making her gasp and squirm in his hands. “Maybe by Sunday we’ll be down to that one,” he teased, feathering kisses above the scoop-neck of her nightie. “It sounds intimidating.” Holly shifted and rubbed restlessly against the pronounced bulge in his jeans. “More like unnecessary.” Her hands slid over his shoulders and down his arms, brushing the satiny soft skin before plunging around the sleek contours of his back. When her fingers found the denim barrier at his hip, she traced around to the front and let her palms skim upwards, her fingers threading through the thatch of hair on his chest. Impishly, she dragged her nails over the flatted nubs of his nipples and enjoyed the sound of his breathing turning ragged. “You’re still wearing too many clothes,” she murmured the words against the side of his neck. Nuzzling the pulse-point there, her fingers outlined the muscles of his chest and stomach before they drifted lower to his button-fly. “What about you?” His voice was rough and hitched in his chest. Lifting her head, she grinned. “When you’re down to just two pieces, we’ll finish together.” He grabbed her hands. “How do you know how much I’m wearing?” She heard the sound of his shoes hitting the floor. Laughing, Holly leaned over his lean chest and flicked his nipples with the tip of her tongue, enjoying the way his body heaved and twisted beneath her. “Guess that means the shoes and socks are off, eh?” “Uh, huh,” seemed to be all he could manage.

Holly’s Happy Days

27

Melissa Glisan

Sitting up, she straddled his hips, enjoying the feel of his thick arousal against her damp core. What I wouldn’t give for a camera, she thought, he’s gorgeous. There was a moment when she felt almost self-conscious. She wasn’t exactly a teenager anymore. Even with the exercising, she carried a few more pounds than she had a decade ago. Picking up his shirt to toss it off the bed, she gave in to temptation and held it to her nose. There it was – the scent that was uniquely Jeremy’s. “You smell so good. Want to know something?” She teased him, wriggling her hips. When he nodded, she grabbed the hem of her sleep shirt and slowly drew it off her thighs and to her navel. “At the bar, all I wanted to do was…” The shirt edged higher, letting the bottoms of her breasts peek out. “Was what?” His hands settled on her thighs, holding her in place. “To lick you from head to heels, see if you taste as good as you smell.” Under her, the air left him in a whoosh, but his hands were steady as they covered hers. “Allow me,” the words came out with a growling edge that sent a shiver down her spine. Before she had a chance to object, he guided her hands up and over her head, tangling them in the cloth of the shirt behind her back. “Hey!” She gyrated playfully, trying to look behind where his hands had captured hers. “How’d you do that?” With a gasp, she stopped. He’d sat up and the position had become incredibly intimate, chest to chest, noses touching. “Hockey. Wanna play with my stick?” He grinned, nipping her lower lip as she moaned more in enjoyment than at the bad pun. God but he was a quick learner. “Think I could ‘handle’ it?” She teased back. Jeremy tugged her hair and she arched, offering him her breasts. An indrawn breath told her that her fears had been groundless. His eyes met hers as the tip of his tongue flicked over her nipples, aping the fleeting caress she’d given him. His tongue was wet, warm and playful, darting from one mound to the other. Each lapping caress sent waves of need rippling through her body. When he stopped she cried out. But he slipped her hands free and leaned back with a smirk that made his dimples suck in. “You want to handle my stick?” “Oh yeah.” She licked her lips. Her palms itched for contact, but he slowly settled them at the top of his jeans, holding them from moving.

Holly’s Happy Days

28

Melissa Glisan

“Why the ‘puck’ not? Holly couldn’t help it, she started to laugh. In the past, sex had been serious and tedious or uncomfortable and fumbled. This night was truly special. There wasn’t anything she’d change, not even the tug at her heart that said she really could be falling in love. *** Jeremy was in hell and loving every minute of it. Holly’s laughter was beautiful but the feeling of her body shaking over his nearly unmanned him. Then there was the beauty of her breasts. Her skin felt like silk under his hands and the firm, puckered nipples were the same hypnotizing shade of pink as her lips. Her round cheeks had the same blushing hue as the tops of her breasts as she tugged his fly open and words deserted him. Closing his eyes, he hoped and prayed not to embarrass himself too badly. “Hey,” she smiled up at him from his knees, “I don’t bite. Unless you want me to.” The tension in his chest loosened and he laughed. “Ah, a boxer man.” Her hands plucked at the navy, tented material. “I do approve.” Like a cat, she prowled over him, hands and knees on either side of his body, until they were nose to nose. “Relax Jeremy.” Her hands cupped his face as she dropped slow, hot kisses on his mouth. His head swam at the soft feel of her lips, her tongue teasing his before catching it and sucking it lightly, capturing his attention in a whole new way. “I was a virgin once too, I can make this good for us both. Okay?” Mute with need, he nodded. Her eyes were the color of the storm-tossed Atlantic, “Good. But I do want you to watch, so you can learn what you like.” The thought of watching her lick and touch his body, coupled with the feel of the cotton of his boxers sliding down, was nearly his undoing and he gasped. “Unbelievable.” Her voice was a throaty purr as she moved off the bed, drawing his boxers off his feet. Looking at her standing at the side of the bed, he finally noticed the red satin panties she’d picked for the night and nearly strangled. Part of him wanted to laugh, another wanted to howl in appreciation. They were red and topped with the same ridiculous white feathers her bar outfit had sported. Holly turned and grabbed another remote, dimming the lights enough so

Holly’s Happy Days

29

Melissa Glisan

they could see but increasing the feeling of intimacy. Pacing along the bed, she lightly prodded him until he lay on the bed properly, his head on one of her pillows. Impatiently, he reached a hand out and stroked the material covering the delta of her thighs. Through the material he felt the soft down of hair, the warmth of her mound and, as his fingers slid between her legs, the wetness showing she wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her. For a moment she rubbed against his questing fingers, head back, making sounds deep in her throat that made him break out in a sweat. Then she stepped back, lifting his fingers to her mouth, Holly licked each, swirling her tongue against the pads of his fingertips. Her half-lidded blue eyes watched his face, holding him entranced as her lips traveled to his wrist, up his arm to the shoulder. The bed dipped lightly under her weight as she buried her nose in the space between his shoulder and neck. Her tongue lapped at the skin there and he lifted his hips, wanting, needing her touch there. As if she could read his mind she moved over him, pinning his hips to the bed as her slick panties rode down the length of his cock, the funny little feathers tickling in a way that had him bucking against her needing more. Jeremy wanted nothing more than to close his eyes and lose himself in the sensations exploding all over his body, but every time his eyes closed, she stopped and breathed across his super-sensitive skin, “Look at me.” Glimpses of tempest blue peered at him as her teeth and tongue traveled down his chest and over his belly. Muscles fluttered under her lips as his stomach wrenched and twisted. The anticipation built to a screaming point. Blood pounded though his veins so loudly he swore he heard it swishing in his ears. The moment she knelt between his legs, took the base of his shaft in one hand and looked at him like a meal worth savoring, everything went silent and paused. He felt her fingers tighten, his heartbeat thrumming under her hands through his cock, but nothing else registered except the look on her face as her lips dropped to his body. An inch above, she hesitated, her tongue swept out and lifted the thick, glistening pearl of moisture on the head of his cock into her mouth with a hum of utter delight. Slippery heat seared his brain as her lips parted, head dipped and mouth took him in, sliding over and down. So hot, so wet…her fingers gripped him, sliding up to meet her

Holly’s Happy Days

30

Melissa Glisan

lips, gathering wetness on the trip back down. She swallowed and her tongue worked the underside of his rod as his hands clenched in the sheets. Unconsciously, his hips lifted and thrust, forcing himself faster and harder between her slick, plush lips until he was lost in the heat of her eyes watching. His body erupted, heaving, spilling against the back of her throat. When she swallowed, he swore he saw stars dancing in her hair, brushing his hips and came again, groaning as his body jerked and spasmed out of control. Holly’s arm banded around his waist, holding tight until he was done, her mouth slipping up and down until he softened. When she straddled his stomach and framed his face with her hands, he swore he saw awe and love. But Holly cheated and closed her eyes as she kissed his mouth. Jeremy expected it to be kind of gross, tasting himself on her mouth, but it wasn’t. The experience was incredibly arousing and he felt his cock twitch and stir where it had fallen on his belly. Reaching up, he pulled the shining waves of her hair around him like a tent, loving the feel of the silky length as it brushed against his upper body. *** Lifting her head, Holly smiled down. “Need to refuel?” She resisted the urge to rub against his lower body, knowing he’d be super sensitive for a few seconds more. The confused look in his passion-darkened hazel eyes was worth it. “Food, do you need food before we play any more?” Slowly, he smiled. It was a hot, masculine look that caused her stomach to clench. “No, I don’t need food. I just need my prickly, perfect,” his fingers plucked at the front of her panties, “Holly naked.” Was he serious? She looked down his sweat dampened body and almost did a double-take. Damn, but Jeremy was already at half-mast. The feel of him in her hands had made her want to pull her panties off and just slide him inside, but she knew it would last longer for them both to take his ‘edge’ off. Then again, she couldn’t imagine how long she’d last feeling his long thin length thrusting between her legs the way he’d plowed between her lips. Dragging a handful of the condoms from the foot of the bed, she told him “pick” as she moved to stand and shimmy out of the impulse-buy panties. When the stupid

Holly’s Happy Days

31

Melissa Glisan

costumes had been delivered, the saleswoman had matching bras and panties, which made Holly quirk a brow in askance at her boss. She’d known Mark for ten years and knew next to nothing about the man. Given his purchase of lingerie-grade uniforms she started having serious doubts until he blushed beet-red and tried to stuff the ‘unmentionables’ back in the woman’s case as Toby laughed and the other servers tugged them free, prancing around the room. It had been well worth the stunned looks when she bought the set. “I think this one,” Jeremy announced holding up a green packet. “It says ‘twisted’.” She rolled her eyes and laughed, dropping her panties to the floor before rejoining him on the bed. “C’mere,” he crooked a finger. Curious, she cat-crawled up and over him, enjoying the way his eyes followed her swaying breasts. With surprising strength, his hands grabbed her hips and lifted her to sit on the plane of his taut stomach. “I need to see what I’m doing to put that on,” she admitted, feeling a blush stain her cheeks. “I think I can figure it out when the time comes,” he smiled. “I want to look and touch too.” She felt her mouth fall into a surprised ‘oh’ as his hands roved from her waist to her breasts. He didn’t grope but caressed with light sweeps of his fingertips, making goose bumps break out on her skin. Behind her, she felt his erection bob against the seam of her butt and she reached around to cup him. Up and down she lifted her hips, using the muscles of her inner thighs to rock her ass against his velvety length. His fingers rolled her nipples, pinching and tugging before they slid to knead the aching mounds. Unconsciously, she leaned forward, encouraging him to do it again. Instead, he held her torso and lifted his head, nuzzling the rounded planes of her breasts with his face. Tentatively, he lapped at one nipple, then the other and Holly felt her sheath tighten, sending another warm, wet wave to coat her slit. “If sex had ever felt this good, I’d never have given it up,” she moaned against the top of Jeremy’s head as he suckled her breast, rolling the taut tip between his teeth. “Mmm…” he changed focus to the other breast, “then I guess I’m doing this right?”

Holly’s Happy Days

32

Melissa Glisan

Holly shivered, she hadn’t meant to say the words out loud but it was the truth. “Oh yeah, you’re doing this very right.” Grinding her belly against his, she felt every tug at her breast ripple to her core. “Condom on,” she begged. “I want to taste you the way you tasted me.” The hot words slid between his lips as he explored the underside of her breasts, making her pant. “I never really liked it,” she admitted shyly, studying his lips as he looked up, wondering if Jeremy could make that feel different too. “If you’ll trust me, then tomorrow can we try something…different? I really want a taste of you.” The way he paused, dragging out the words, drove Holly wild. He had the perfect bedroom voice, husky and perfectly pitched to inspire erotic imaginings. “I trust you,” she smiled, surprised to discover that she really did. No matter what he wants to try, I’m game, she promised herself. No more regrets, no more guilt, just live, laugh and love as long as I can. “But for now, condom on.” He laughed, gripping her hips, holding her body tight to his. She felt the scrape of the foil packet lightly slide down her spine as his crisp chest hair tickled her nipples, making her moan and writhe against him. For a moment his hands were gone, then returned, cupping her buttocks and pulling her higher on his chest. Impulsively, she kissed his nose and brow as his fingers flexed, the middle digits sliding just inside her opening, stretching the skin deliciously. “Oh yes,” she groaned, grinding her hips back, trying to push his fingers deeper. “Oh no.” Voice husky, he shifted his hands. “If I can’t taste you, I at least want to see you. Sit up,” he urged. Feeling slightly self-conscious, Holly sat up and felt the slick, lubricated skin of the condom graze her slit, then settle into the crease of her ass. Even in the muted light she could see the desire flushing his cheeks and flashing in his half-lidded gaze. “Open,” he asked, gently using his hands to spread her knees. Holly felt herself falling back into the cradle of his bent knees. She should have felt more embarrassment, something other than desired and hotter than hell as his fingers spread her lower lips open, the tips sliding along her slit and in to slick her own fluids over the engorged flesh of her clit, making her gasp. Biting her lower lip, she gave in to the need to rub her body

Holly’s Happy Days

33

Melissa Glisan

against his delicate touch, increasing the friction, making her body dissolve into a slow burn. Using his knees she slowly raised above him, guiding the tip of him to her opening. “Ready?” When he nodded she parted her folds and felt his thickness stretch her opening. It had been so long, she’d forgotten how it felt, but never before had her body ached so sweetly. She wanted to go slow, savor the feeling but Jeremy had other ideas, thrusting up into her, had and fast. He touched a part of her that no other man had and she threw her head back as lightning licked her insides. Her inner muscles clenched as she leaned into his bent knees, holding his thighs, rotating and lifting her hips as if dancing to a song in her blood. When his fingers found her again, she arched, lifting harder and faster, needing to keep contact. “Look at me,” voice ragged, he begged. Holly didn’t realize her eyes had sagged shut as the feeling boiled up inside. Panting, mewling, she stared into his face, watched a sheen of sweat bead on his brow as his eyes went vague and he bucked beneath her sending her over the top, into her own explosive orgasm. Her hips jerked and rolled, riding the waves of pleasure of their own volition as he moaned and met her body at every pitch. Exhausted, she collapsed forward onto his chest, feeling the wonderfully strange fullness of him softening inside her body. “Can I keep you?” she whispered, licking the underside of his jaw. “I was just thinking the same thing.” She felt his smile nuzzle the side of her face as he moved under her, laying them side by side, her right leg hooked over his hip. Drowsy, eyes drifting closed as she gazed into the beauty of his face, savoring the feel of him inside and around her, hoping against hope the night would never end, she fell into sleep. *** Jeremy watched Holly’s eyes flutter once, twice, then a last time before closing in sleep. Gripping the condom, he slowly tried to extricate that part of his body from hers without waking her. She truly was a marvel, a gift, and she had given herself to him. So what if she was older, she was perfect and for the moment, she was his.

Holly’s Happy Days

34

Melissa Glisan

Part Five Skirting the Tree

Sometime during the night Jeremy had gotten up, discarded the condom and covered them with the comforter she’d tossed on the floor. Holly blinked as the soft light of dawn sifted through the windows over the bed, noting that he had also been thoughtful enough to clean up the remnants of their forgotten dinner. She almost felt guilty, almost being the important word. With a sigh, she snuggled back into the warmth of his body spooning up against her back. His arms pulled her tight to his chest and hips and she smiled again, feeling his body’s reaction to her softness, even in sleep. Her eyes were drifting closed when a horrified thought struck her, morning breath. It had been an incredible novelty, falling asleep in his arms, waking a few times to see the sweep of his sooty lashes on his cheek as he cuddled her to his heart. She never slept well, waking at the sound of wind howling by or the house creaking as it settled, and some nights she dreamt of falling and woke in a sweat. Last night had truly been special, she’d only woken twice and both times finding herself in the security of his embrace. Stretching, Holly felt muscles pull in unfamiliar places and smiled to herself. With a wiggle, she slid forward and out of the bed, turning to watch Jeremy as his hand slid along the sheets where her body had been. His face made a little frown as he eased over to lie on his stomach in the space she’d vacated. Last night he had looked so very young. Sleeping in her bed, he looked older, more mature. As if the carefree nature was something he put on when he was awake. The thought had her pursing her lips in thought. Why so serious and why did he feel he had to hide it? Shaking her head, she felt the matted mass of her hair tickling her back and eyed the shower. Morning breath or not, she wondered if he’d be adventurous enough to join

Holly’s Happy Days

35

Melissa Glisan

her in the shower. Thinking positive thoughts, she grabbed one of the condoms from the floor, this one in a dark blue wrapper, and started running the water for a shower. Stepping under the spray, Holly quickly washed and rinsed her hair. Given its length, she usually cream-rinsed and combed it out under the spray. She was in the middle of trying to sort out a nasty snarl when Jeremy opened the door, blinking sleepily at her. “Want some company?” he asked a little shyly. She smiled and scooted back, sitting on the bench. “Get rinsed while I deal with this,” she smiled ruefully at the rat’s nest in her hair. He grinned and took the world’s fastest shower. Holly knew because, entranced, she watched his shoulders flex as he worked shampoo and conditioner into his hair. Instead of turning to rinse like she, did he leaned forward and let the spray roll over his sleek back and butt making her thirsty enough to want to drink the rivulets of water running down his slim, muscular thighs. Hadn’t he said last night that he played hockey? She could see the strength in his build, despite the lanky grace, as he lathered soap all over his lean, muscled body. He turned around and caught her watching. He looked startled, taken aback, and then very content as a slow, hot grin twisted the corners of his mouth up. Those damned dimples, she thought as her heart skipped a beat. “You haven’t gotten anywhere with that, here, let me.” He pulled her to her feet and picked the knot free with her comb. Moving out of the spray, he urged her forward so she could rinse, but all Holly could think about was the long, hard length of his erection bobbing under the rushing water. The memory of how she flirted with him last night in the bar, rubbing her rump against the bulge in his jeans as she arched to peer in his face surfaced. Feeling daring rise with the spurt of desire, she grabbed the condom from the soap dish and turned to face him. “Wanna play rub-a-dub-dub?” He blinked and grinned. “But we’re not in a tub.” Laughing, she tore open the foil and slid it in place. “Remember last night?”

Holly’s Happy Days

36

Melissa Glisan

“I’ll never forget it,” he solemnly vowed, hand over heart and she grinned then turned. He was a little too tall without the shoes…She had it! Kneeling on the bench, she spread her knees, held the small towel bar and thrust her hips at Jeremy as she bent backwards and peeked at him, upside down. His mouth covered hers as his hands joined hers on the bar. She felt his knees bend as he thrust upwards, sliding into her as if she were made for him. At this angle every thrust sparked fire through her veins, making the walls of her sheath clamp down on his thrusting rod until the muscles fisted, milking him. Trickles of water slid over her aching breasts, down her arched belly and slid between her labia and over her clit, reminding her of his gentle caresses the night before. The memory made her body throb. His head dropped to her shoulder as he nibbled at her neck, making goose flesh rise. Over the drone of the shower, she heard his breathy sounds of pleasure and felt her own spike harder and faster. “Jeremy,” she pleaded and his hands cupped her breasts, fingers roughly pinching her nipples, sending her over the edge. Her body felt like it was out of control, bucking into his hard embrace as she chanted, “yes, yes, yes.” He bit down on the skin of her shoulder, holding her tightly, submissively, as he thrust, moaning his own release. Sliding apart, they gasped as the hot water turned cold. “Oh shit,” she fumbled for the handles. “I forgot the small hot water tank.” Turning back, she found him smiling at her in unabashed joy. “I could get used to waking up like this.” “Me too,” she admitted, opening the door and grabbing a towel. Two were there, she usually put one on her head like a turban and dried with the other but today she offered him the biggest towel and made do. “I know you’ve got the weekend off, but I was supposed to move back home from the frat house today.” His voice sounded funny and Holly gave him a curious look. “I meant to ask last night, why do you live on the campus if your family lives in town?” He didn’t meet her look as he dressed and her question was met with silence. She felt suddenly, horribly awkward. “It wasn’t for the wild party lifestyle, if you were honest with me last night.” She couldn’t keep the hurt note out of her voice as she slipped into a pair of bikini briefs and a bra.

Holly’s Happy Days

37

Melissa Glisan

“No.” He grabbed her, making her turn and face him. “I didn’t lie about anything, I’m just trying to figure out how to explain my home, my family and the retarded reason I moved out.” She leveled him a tilted head stared and shook her head before reaching for a pale blue cashmere sweater and a pair of low-riding jeans. “Couldn’t be any stranger than being booted out for having the audacity to get pregnant and miscarry.” Jeremy turned and started making the bed and Holly felt guilty for teasing him, maybe things had been that bad. She walked up behind him and hugged him. “If it’s that bad, you don’t have to tell me.” Sighing, he sank onto the half-made bed. “No, it’s not that. It’s just that I don’t know if I should tell you everything. My mom, Diana, she’s awesome. I love her to death. My dad died when I was a kid, I barely remember him.” He paused, patting the comforter. Holly sat next to him, capturing his hand. “Then what’s the problem?” “My mom has two lovers and they both live at home with her.” Holly felt almost faint and was grateful to be sitting down. “Say that again.” He grinned sheepishly, “My mom has two live-in lovers.” “I thought I heard you right. Woof.” Holly shook her head to clear it. That was not at all what she had expected. Then she had a weird thought. “Are the guys bisexual?” Maybe that had given him some sexual hang-ups, leading to being a twenty-one year-old virgin? The look on his face was classic ‘stunned into awful silence.’ “God, I never thought to ask about that. They both seem pretty straight. Totally a conversation I do not ever want to have with my mom.” “Why?” “Because she’d answer it. Too much information.” He shivered and Holly fell back, giggling like a loon. “C’mon, you couldn’t tell me you’d enjoy a frank conversation with your parents about sex.” She pictured the look on her mother’s face when she arrived in the ER to collect her black-sheep daughter and broke into laughter again. “Oh my God.” She wiped tears

Holly’s Happy Days

38

Melissa Glisan

from her eyes. “I never thought I’d be able to laugh about the worst day of my life, but you did it. Thank you.” Hiccups settled in from the giggles and she started laughing again. “If you could have seen the look on my mother’s face when she found out I was pregnant…it was like ‘Don’t be absurd, I haven’t told you where babies come from yet.’ And then, in the hospital, she had this wrinkled up look like someone waved poop under her nose.” Hiccupping, Holly made for the steps to get a drink of water. “Just leave the bed, we’ll get it messed up later,” she called over her shoulder. He walked downstairs as she was alternating between drinking water and holding her breath to try to stop the stupid things. “Here,” he smiled, “my mom always rubbed my diaphragm right here.” His fingers found the spot lurching and rubbed. Within a few minutes the hiccups were gone. “Oh, now that is a useful thing to remember.” “I finished making the bed.” Holly gave him an odd look. “Does that mean you don’t want to come back?” “No, not at all. Just habit. Your room was so neat when we walked in last night it didn’t feel right leaving it a mess.” He was avoiding looking at her again, this time staring into the living room. “Since your car doesn’t run, I take it you need a ride to the frat house before your mom comes to get you.” “I’d love for you to meet my mom, but she may not be the one who comes to pick me up.” “Ah, so you’re worried I may ask one of her gentlemen an awkward question,” she teased. “There is that,” he smiled distractedly. “Why don’t you decorate for Christmas?” Holly stepped into her snow boots and shrugged on her coat. “Without grandpa here, it never felt necessary. I’d go window shopping at the mall and watch the little kids in the toy stores and that was enough.” He gave her a funny look. “You don’t go home for Christmas.” This time Holly avoided his gaze. “I told you, this is my home.”

Holly’s Happy Days

39

Melissa Glisan

The ride off the summit was quiet, Holly felt oddly adrift. Jeremy had never asked for her phone number, so she never volunteered it. She didn’t want to look like an utter love-struck fool. He also didn’t tell her his number or where he lived off campus, so she didn’t ask. Don’t ask, don’t tell – the story of my life. Depression settled on her shoulders despite her attempts to hold tight to the way she felt in his arms hours ago. She tried to tell her heart the few hours had been worth the sadness, but it wasn’t listening either. Pulling up in front of Manchester’s three-story brick house was an adventure. Cars and SUVs were everywhere. Stolen shopping carts and commercial-grade laundry buggies slogged through the snow-encrusted streets carrying clothes and furniture out in a mass exodus. “Why are some of the guys taking everything with them?” It was a mind-boggling mess. “A few are transferring out, some are graduating early and that one,” he pointed at the grey-faced drunk of the night before. “Devon lost his scholarship and was on academic probation. He got busted for hazing freshmen and was kicked out of the house. It’s only a matter of time before he gets thrown out of the university.” “What a shame.” She shook her head. “At least I knew I’d make a lousy college student and didn’t end up in debt for it.” Keeping her voice light she asked, “Want me to wait or just let you out here?” “I want you to park and come in with me. My ride won’t be here until after lunchtime, we’ve got a few hours. I want to show you my car, it was my dad’s.” His grin suddenly made him look very young. Wordlessly, Holly found a place to park and trailed behind Jeremy as he made his way through the throng and into the teeming madhouse. There were people everywhere, huffing and sweating while toting bags and lamps. Others laughed and kicked back with drinks in front of a fireplace. In a huge hall that must have been the common area, an older man stopped her from following Jeremy up the wide stairs to his room. “Sorry Miss, no female friends allowed in the rooms.” She stopped, stunned. Maybe I do look younger than I thought, she mused as Jeremy blushed and stammered that he would change and be back down. But the house warden didn’t seem content to let things stand there. “Jeremy didn’t come home last night.”

Holly’s Happy Days

40

Melissa Glisan

“No, he didn’t.” Automatically she snapped back into her prickly work demeanor. “He should have called.” The man’s tone was prissy and disapproving. “Jeremy is a legal adult, I don’t see why he should have to answer to you anyway. It’s not like you’re his mother.” She gave him her best quelling glare and turned to stare at a wall of boring photos of past classes from the house when an iron grip took hold of her upper arm. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” The man’s voice was anything but sorry. “Take your hand off of me now or I will have you arrested for assault.” He blinked at her, stunned. Her cell phone was open with her thumb on the auto-dial for the police. “You are hurting me.” “Brian!” Jeremy hurtled down the stairs. “What the hell is going on? Holly, are you okay?” “Holly?” Brian stood back, looking confused. “The Shrew of Brew?” He shook his head, “I’m sorry Jer, I forgot you went out to tie one on for your birthday. Guess you crashed at home and Toby had her give you a ride here, huh?” Holly stopped rubbing her arm to look at Jeremy in shock. He’d turned three different shades of red as the disgraced Devon sauntered up with a sneer. “Oh no, Brian.” He drew out the vowels like a little kid with a big secret. “Our boy went home with Holly last night. Bet she gave him a ride all right.” Feeling like a huge fool, Holly looked at Jeremy and, to her horror, felt tears fall down her cheeks. “See you later kid.” She turned on her heel and fled. Knocking on the door woke her from a deep sleep on the couch. She’d been clutching one of her bed pillows to the hollow spot in her middle and nearly tripped over it. Only a few people knew where she lived. Maybe Mark decided to bring her last paycheck in person. What she didn’t expect when she opened the door was Jeremy, literally with his hat in his hands. “Please don’t shut the door on me,” he begged when she made to close it.

Holly’s Happy Days

41

Melissa Glisan

“Why not?” Her voice sounded crappy. Like some idiot teenager, she had cried the whole way home then sobbed some more until she passed out on the lumpy old couch. “Brian called my mom. She showed up with Uncle Toby and Uncle Mark – ” “Uncle who?” She staggered back in shock. “Uncle Mark.” He said, looking puzzled. Shaking her muzzy, aching head, Holly waved him inside. “Mark Tedesky and Toby Clark are your uncles?” “No, they’re the guys that my mom, you know, lives with.” Holly was glad she had been preparing to sit down because that announcement took the knees out from under her. “You’re telling me that Mark Tedesky lives in a sexual three-way lifestyle with your Mom and Toby, but he had the balls to fire me for taking you home last night?” Jeremy collapsed on the couch next to her. “He what?!” The second word was more of a shout that made Holly wince. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “I thought you knew.” “How would I know? I may have worked at Touchdown for ten years but all I had was a cell phone number to reach Mark in case of emergency. Toby was great to chat with, but we never exchanged addresses and he never talked about anyone in his life. “Neither of them did. It was all very impersonal. At least on their end,” she muttered as she remembered telling them about her grandpa and his new wife. The three of them shared a laugh about the way the older man had skipped down to Florida for a week here or there, citing arthritis, before proposing. She’d even opened up to Mark about why she kept the guys at arm’s length in the bar after he threatened to fire her for being so caustic to the customers. “I am so sorry,” Jeremy flushed. “I thought you knew who I was. I figured at least Uncle Toby would tell you. I can’t believe Uncle Mark fired you, that ass!” He stood up. “Where’s your phone?” Holly waved at the bar between the living room and kitchen, then stared in shock as he punched in a number. “Mom – wait, don’t hang up…No, Holly didn’t refuse to let me in…I’m trying to apologize…Wait Ma, please? Did you know that Uncle Mark fired her for being with me last night?” Jeremy held the phone from his ear with a wince. Across the room Holly

Holly’s Happy Days

42

Melissa Glisan

could hear the enraged female voice. “And another thing, he’s got something going on with that blonde waitress of his, Susan Something-Or-Other.” “Trumball,” Holly offered from the couch. He repeated the name into the phone and another round of loud female swearing could be heard. “I didn’t lie to her Mom, I thought she knew…No, you’re right, it’s no excuse…I’m sorry…I know, I’ll apologize to her. I love you Mom, bye.” Jeremy closed the connection, sounding heart-sick. “I really am sorry. I thought you knew about Toby and Mark living together at least. They talk about you all the time.” He still stood there, clutching his hat like a little old man. “Yes, I seem to remember ‘the Shrew of Brew’ being tossed out.” He had the good grace to flush and shuffle uncomfortably. “Thinking about things being tossed out, Mom sort of told me to leave and not come back until I made things right with you.” Holly’s jaw fell open. “But…but…it’s Christmas,” she offered lamely. “Yeah, Mom thought I was an extra-large ass for treating you like shit when you were alone for the holidays.” An evil thought perked up her spirits for a moment. “Do you think she’ll throw Mark out too?” Jeremy tugged at the collar of his coat and flushed red clear to his dark brown hairline. “If his clothes being chucked out of the bedroom window are any clue, I’d say yes. He’ll be back to his old apartment over the bar.” Feeling suddenly better, Holly grinned. “She told you she was doing that?” “Yeah, about the same time the swearing started.” Holly wanted to dance for joy, until she remembered she was still unemployed. And she was still the Shrew of Brew. “Holly, please, I didn’t lie to you.” He sat on the couch next to her and held her hand. “You said you trusted me last night, let me make this up to you.” His hazel eyes looked sad and serious. “Turn off the sad-eyes kid, there’s nothing to forgive.”

Holly’s Happy Days

43

Melissa Glisan

“I’m not a damned kid!” He threw his hat across the room and she stared at him in shock. “Six hours ago you stood in the frat house and told the head of my house that I was a man, but to my face you call me a kid! If this is because of the shrew thing, I sure as hell didn’t give you that name, you did that to yourself.” “You’re right, I’m sorry.” Her insides still felt jagged and broken, and it bothered her to feel that way after only spending a handful of hours with Jeremy. “But there is nothing for you to apologize for. I expected too much from last night,” she smiled and her face felt as tired as she felt. “When you didn’t seem to want me to meet your family or ask for my number or give me yours I sort of felt like I was getting a polite brush off.” Jeremy tugged at the collar of his coat again, looking overheated. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d notice I programmed my number into your cell phone last night.” “You did?” He just gave her that lop-sided grin that made her heart tumble. “I never thought to look.” “Most women use the ‘make a call for me’ ploy to get a guy to do that, I thought you…” He stalled and stared. “You weren’t kidding last night when you said it had been a very long time since you’ve dated, were you?” “No,” she said in a huff. “I feel like I’m in confession. It’s been a little over eight years since my last date.” She itched to look at her cell phone and see his number, just to reassure her hurt feelings. “I also figured you’d see my address and know where and with whom I lived.” Holly flushed. “Mostly, I looked at your name and age. But I still wouldn’t know who lived with you since my paychecks all list the bar address and Mark uses a Post Office box.” Staring into space Jeremy muttered, “Wonder why he does that?” as Holly stared at him. “Why are you still wearing your coat? It’s hot in here.” “I got thrown out.” She waited a moment, then chuckled. “I know, but you’re here and I distinctly remember inviting you for at least the weekend. After that your mom should have cooled down and you can go home.” “Clearly you’ve never met my mother,” he deadpanned.

Holly’s Happy Days

44

Melissa Glisan

“No, but I think I’d like to.” Outside in the driveway was a battered-looking pickup sitting crookedly next to her Jeep. “What happened to it?” Holly tried to ignore the pine tree tied up in back, staring in shock at the lopsided Chevy. “Honestly, I have no idea. It was the only thing I could afford from the junkyard that ran.” “You intentionally bought this?” Holly didn’t mean to hurt his feelings, but it was really in frightful shape. “Then you drove it here? You could have been killed! What happened to your car that doesn’t run?” “It doesn’t have a motor.” “Okay.” She opened the passenger door and grabbed his suitcase from the seat and nearly staggered over backwards. “What did you pack, bricks?” “Books and stuff,” he mumbled as he dragged the tree out of the bed. “Where’s the tailgate?” “It, uh, didn’t have one.” Holly started to snicker, then turned to close the truck door. When it required her to lift the door first, the snicker evolved into a giggle. As the truck listed to the other side minus the tree, she ended up sitting on his suitcase in her driveway laughing so hard it hurt. *** Jeremy stood on the porch covered in sap and pine needles, itching all over, and watched Holly laugh. It was truly a beautiful sight. “What are you looking at?” She managed, hiccupping. “A very beautiful woman sitting on my suitcase. Care to share the joke?” She pointed at his truck and scowled. Wait a second, it looked funny. “Wasn’t it leaning the other direction before?” He distinctly remembered having a hard time getting his suitcase in because it was so high in the air. Unable to breathe for the giggles, Holly nodded and wiped her eyes. “C’mon Snow Princess, you’ll just get the hiccups again.” “Mmm…” she purred. “Then you can rub my tummy.” She waggled her brows at him and grinned. How anyone could ever call this warm, vibrant woman a shrew

Holly’s Happy Days

45

Melissa Glisan

staggered him. She hiccupped and he grinned at her sour expression. He waved her off his suitcase and carried his bag into the house before rubbing her tummy. Despite her best attempts, he refused to rub higher or lower. “The tree needs a stand and a bucket of water first, then we can play.” Those words sent her into a flurry of motion. From a cabinet under the counter she produced a large plastic bucket and an old metal tree stand. When he asked about decorations, she shrugged. “Grandpa was big on stringing popcorn and cranberries because he could throw that out for the birds. He also thought the lights would burn the house down.” Jeremy stared but from her abashed expression, she was serious. “Well,” he hedged, “I guess we do have some time before Christmas.” “We’ve got twelve days.” She bounced on the balls of her feet. “How about we buy a different item for the tree every day?” It made her so happy, he automatically agreed. “But, aren’t you worried about finding a job first? I could ask Mom if there’s an opening at the restaurant.” She just waved him down. “Nah, I worked the food end of things before. Crabby people with crashing blood sugar and worse, like the ones that send everything back then don’t leave a tip like it’s the waitress’ fault the cook screwed up their food. Bars are better. Working nights, I can sleep in, go shopping and see daylight and the tips are much better, even if I do have to put up with stupid crap.” “Huh.” Jeremy took off his coat and tried to brush the pine needles out of his hair. “Mom loves waiting tables in the restaurant. I never heard – wait, what kind of crap?” He didn’t know where the sharp edge in his voice came from but he couldn’t believe his Uncle Mark let guys abuse his staff. “You know, a pat on the butt here, pinch there, stray fingers, ugly innuendo and some really bad come-on lines. But I have to admit, in the last two or three years it hasn’t happened nearly so often.” He watched as she hung his coat in a small hidden closet off of the doorway. She looked pixie-cute with all that hair flowing down her back. “They touch you!” He was sickened. “Didn’t Mark do anything?”

Holly’s Happy Days

46

Melissa Glisan

Holly made a pained face, looking at the pine tar on his hands and tugged him into the kitchen. “If they didn’t take no for an answer or didn’t stop, sure he’d deal with it, but beyond that it was up to us to set the guys straight.” She squirted some nasty smelling cleanser on his hands and ran the tap. “Some of the women got mad and quit, others liked the ‘slap and tickle’ routine and didn’t mind slipping off with a guy here or there.” “Prostituting themselves?” His eyes got big and she laughed, but he could tell her heart wasn’t in it. “It happens. But your Uncle caught onto that quickly enough, probably one of them went down on him and asked for payment.” She still sounded sour, but he couldn’t blame her, not after being fired. “He did have grounds for firing me.” Holly admitted, in a small voice. “How is that?” “Dating customers is strictly forbidden. It’s been policy the last eight years, ever since the ‘working girls’ got the boot.” He looked at her curiously. “Is that why you stopped dating?” “No,” she laughed. “Well, maybe, in a way, yes. You see there was this one guy who asked me out. I hadn’t realized he was used to getting ‘full service’ at the bar.” “He got a little too free with his hands in the parking lot.” Her head moved so her hair covered her face as she used a scrub pad on his hands. “So, I kicked him in the balls and called the cops. I didn’t endear myself to your Uncle, they were good friends and he was the weekend bartender before Toby.” “I see.” He really did. A lot of the comments about Holly being a frigid shrew started to make sense. She didn’t put out, she didn’t put up with crap and she didn’t deserve the man-hating reputation his Uncle made sure was spread around. All she wanted to do was her job, not get molested.

Holly’s Happy Days

47

Melissa Glisan

Part Six Twelve Days to Christmas

Day Twelve “I really appreciate you letting me stay until Mom cools down.” Holly watched him bustle around her room, putting books and things on the shelves, clothes in drawers she vacated for him and hanging a few things in the dinky closet behind the shower. “She always wanted me to focus on getting an education, so I never had more than a part-time job.” “Can’t say I blame her,” She pushed the conversation gently along. A part of her loved listening to him talk about his father, a former Professor of History, and his uncles and Diana, his mother. The other part hoped the older woman would stay mad for a few decades. Jeremy fit into her world as if he belonged and Holly knew when he left, she’d be heartbroken. If she was weepy after a night, what would she be like at the end of two weeks? Guess we’ll see. She watched as he put a picture of him, sitting between his Mom and Dad, on the shelf. Stepping closer, she saw he must have been all of three. All big eyes, dark hair and a huge joyous smile. “That’s the smile.” “What’s the smile?” He looked confused and she blushed. Holly hadn’t meant to drift off on her own cloud of thought. She pointed at him as a happy toddler. “That smile is the one that made me stand and stare, wanting a guy, really wanting him, for the first time ever.” He peered at the picture. “That is one tall order lady.” “Bad bar pun, no biscuit.” It hadn’t taken long to get the swing of his weird sense of humor. He loved puns and rhymes and silly plays on words. Half the time she felt he was born carefree, then she remembered how tiredly adult he looked in his sleep, like the laughter was a way of begging for love and affection. “But I like your biscuits.” He moved behind her, cupping her breasts.

Holly’s Happy Days

48

Melissa Glisan

“Oh, now you want to rub me?” She arched playfully into his hands. “I like you Jeremy, I liked you before you made jokes. You don’t always need to make me laugh.” “Trying too hard, huh?” His hands fell to her waist as if his whole body was dejected. Holly took his arms and wrapped them around herself. “Just being honest, you had me before hello.” He laughed in her hair and she studied the picture of his parents. He looked so much like his mother it was scary, but for the smile, that simple spark of pure happiness came from his dad. “You look like your dad.” “Funny,” he put his chin on her shoulder as if examining the picture from her perspective. “Everyone says I’m just like my mom.” “You’ve got her hair and eyes and maybe the shape to your cheeks, but you’ve got your dad’s sparkle and his smarts. A good blend between the two,” she nodded. “Thank you,” there was a husky timber that said her words meant more than he’d anticipated. “Now…” The warm note in his voice was one she was coming to quickly recognize, as was her treacherous body as it throbbed in response. “I’d like to give you something, but you have to trust me.” With the gentle streak he had, how could she not? “Of course I trust you.” “Good, get naked.” “What?” She turned and stared at him, open-mouthed. “Gotcha, I want to set up ambiance, go have a small soak in the tub. By the way I like that tub, it gives me ideas.” Laughing, Holly grabbed her robe and disappeared down the steps. Holly resisted the urge to hurry her bath, waiting instead for him to knock on the door and call “Ready when you are.” She had been nervously waiting in her robe, perched on the toilet and drying her hair with a terry towel when he knocked. She tiptoed up the stairs slowly, not because she was nervous but because the cabin was in utter darkness. Ahead, at the top of the stairs, she made out the glow of a light, so she headed for it. Beeswax candles stood on the tables, casting a light saffron glow over the room. A smile almost slipped out when she saw the coverlet neatly folded on the floor. One day

Holly’s Happy Days

49

Melissa Glisan

soon she was going to have to break him of that. The dratted thing was washable. Stepping to the foot of the bed, she saw him standing naked and considering the shower. “You could have joined me in the tub.” What was it about him that made her feel so adventurous and playful? With an unsure smile he stepped forward and pulled at the ties of her robe. The black satin material pooled at her feet. But her attention was on his sleek skin, glowing in the candlelight. Boldly she reached out her hands, petting the silky skin of his erection, cupping the weight of his balls as he took an unsteady breath. “That’s all for you, you know that?” “Yes, Jeremy, I do know that.” He was so serious, so uncertain. She stepped closer, wondering what could be wrong. “Have you ever watched an adult movie?” The question seemed so out of place Holly almost asked him to repeat himself. “Well, no.” Most of the women she’d talked to hated them, saying the films were nasty and degrading. But she couldn’t reconcile that description with something he’d ask her to watch or do. “Is that what you have planned for tonight?” He walked over to the foot of the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. “Come here.” When she made to sit next to him, he sat her on his lap, keeping her knees open. “I just want you to watch part of a film with me. I want to show you what I want to do for you, with you. Are you up for that?” “With you…” She gasped as his hands made lazy paths between her knee and crease, urging her legs wider apart. “I’ll try anything once.” He clicked a button and the television came on to a scene with a voluptuous blonde and a handsome man. Holly blinked in shock. The guy looked like a model and so did the woman. Nothing like what she’d been led to believe. The sound was muted but the dialogue sounded stupid, maybe some of the criticism was well earned. Music came on in the background, a muted jazzy piece and the couple stripped their clothes away, eyes watching one another. Holly was entranced, she felt like a peeper on actual romance, it wasn’t like sex scenes in movies, it was like spying through someone’s bedroom window… “Whoa, that penis belongs on something that whinnies.” Behind her she felt Jeremy’s body shake with laughter. “That isn’t what I wanted you to watch.”

Holly’s Happy Days

50

Melissa Glisan

“Kind of hard to miss, it had its own close…up.” Her throat went dry. The man had picked the woman up in his arms and carried her gently to a huge bed, laying her in the center, spreading her legs wide. Holly watched as he kissed her breasts, her hip bones then either side of the woman’s neatly waxed mound. Using his fingers, he gently parted her like she was a delicate flower, following the caress with his tongue. Unbidden the image of Jeremy doing the same thing rose in her mind and Holly leaned back, imagining how it would feel. It looked, and sounded if the woman’s cries were to be believed, as if it felt really good. She ached to feel the same thing, but didn’t want to be so crass as to say what the woman was saying. “You,” she cleared her throat, “you can do that?” “I’d like you to let me try.” For a second she thought about saying no, that it seemed a yucky kind of thing to ask a guy to do, then she remembered how many times she heard women complain about going down on their dates, especially swallowing. Jeremy had tasted so good it was more of a pleasure than a chore. Could guys really feel the same way? Feeling shy, she just nodded her head. In a second he put his arm under her legs and lifted her into the air. Before she could tell him to put her down, he laid her gently in the center of the bed. Butterflies took flight in her stomach, nerves blending with arousal and the room seemed to spin, then his lips touched hers and the world narrowed to the feel of him kissing her. Light teasing kisses where his tongue trailed along her lip then dipped into her mouth before moving to the sensitive skin beneath her ear, the hollow of her throat. Fingers cupped and kneaded her breasts as his mouth worked its way slowly down her body. “Sure you haven’t done this before?” The words came out slowly, like she had a mouthful of honey, despite the way the blood thundered in her veins. “Positive, but I dreamed of doing this to you last night.” The air in her lungs caught and wheezed out as he licked the underside of her breasts. Her own ragged breathing made her quake as his lips skimmed the span of flesh between her hipbones. Under the skin, she felt the muscles jump and twitch in anticipation. The one other time a guy attempted this, she had been so freaked out she practically passed out. Now she was in danger of passing out if he didn’t touch her. Her body throbbed for him.

Holly’s Happy Days

51

Melissa Glisan

His hands parted her legs wide, bending her knees, opening her sex to his view. Reverently, he put his hands under her hips and lifted, tilting her. Looking up, Jeremy smiled. “Beautiful,” he said, kissing the inside of one thigh and then the other. Her sex throbbed and she knew moisture limned her opening, wanting, but what she wasn’t sure. She almost jumped when two of his fingers slid inside, then spread her apart for the wet heat of his tongue. The feeling was like nothing she’d ever experienced. She watched as he licked from her opening up to her mound and back down, her hands bunched the sheets in her hands. A feeling built deep inside her womb, hot and wild, but she didn’t know what to do to make it happen and a whimper slid out. He looked up as his mouth settled on her clit and white light exploded behind her eyes, making her arch off the bed and beg. “Jeremy, oh Jeremy, in me please.” Instead of stopping, he kept licking, sucking, then sliding first one finger then a second inside her sheath. It wasn’t enough, wasn’t what she wanted, but her body disagreed. She cried out, her legs clamping to his shoulders, lost to the feelings his mouth dragged through her body. She was still shaking, aftershocks from the orgasm clenching, when he crawled up her body to kiss her on the mouth, letting her taste her own arousal as she had done with him the night before. Holly felt wild. She wrapped her legs around his hips but he held back, smoothing a condom in place, before pushing into her. The feel of him siding in and out in time to the aftershocks of her orgasm sent her over again. She cried out, gripping his shoulders in her hands as he thrust a final time, calling her name in her ear. He collapsed onto his elbows and knees, and rolled to the side, disposing of the condom before pulling her back against his chest. “Did I do that okay?” Holly gave a very unladylike snort, “If you had done that any better I’d be a puddle.” Snuggling her head on his shoulder, she smothered a yawn. “I thought women were supposed to have all this energy after having sex.” His leg slid over hers, cuddling her close. “And I thought guys hated cuddling and talking after.” She replied in a sleepy voice. Drifting to sleep she heard him chuckle. “Guess we’re just a special team.” ***

Holly’s Happy Days

52

Melissa Glisan

Day Eleven “Oh my God! Holly, come quick.” “What’s wrong, Jeremy?” She ran out of the kitchen to the front door, fear making her heart pound painfully. “Someone actually stole that piece of crap truck I bought.” Holly stopped short and nearly collapsed laughing. Relief hit her so hard she had to bend over. “No one stole the Blue Bomber, Jer. The guy who plows my road has a garage. I asked him to tow it in and look it over.” She ruffled his hair and pulled his half-naked body away from the open front door. “I just found you. I’m not losing you to some jalopy, or to pneumonia. “Eat breakfast so we can go buy tree stuff.” Day Ten “Hey, you let me sleep in.” Holly scowled until she saw Jeremy standing in the kitchen in his underwear, making coffee and pancakes. “Had something I wanted to do and didn’t want to wake you.” His grin was as bright as the morning sun on snow. “What was that?” “Secret. You’ll have to torture it out of me tonight.” He grinned and mimed twirling mustache ends. “If you can, my pretty.” Coming around the corner, she pulled his face down for a kiss. “That was the Wicked Witch, not Snidely Whiplash. Yesterday was the tree skirt, what’s on the agenda for today?” “Hmm,” he waved the spatula like a magic wand. “How about twinkle lights?” Day Nine “I can’t believe you called my mother.” Holly tried to be mad but couldn’t. It had taken every devious, twisted and perverted thing she’d gleaned from years of collecting

Holly’s Happy Days

53

Melissa Glisan

weird sexual trivia to get Jeremy to admit to what he’d been doing. Finally at three in the morning a combination of light bondage and ice cubes had done it. “I can’t believe the woman hung up on me.” He sounded hurt. “Don’t feel bad, she hung up on me too, when I called home the first time.” “What did she do the second time?” She slipped her silk scarves off of his wrists and ankles, kissing and licking the delicate skin until he growled and pinned her to the mattress.” “Mmm…make good on that promise poking me and I’ll tell you…” Day Eight Holly kissed the top of Jeremy’s sleeping head. “My mom never took any of my calls. She hung up every time. Dad at least listened to what I had to say but he never said anything but goodbye. “Don’t let them hurt you, Jer. They’ve hurt me enough.” She slid down in the bed and spooned against his back. As her breathing evened out in sleep, his eyes opened. Day Seven “Hey! My truck’s back!” Jeremy ran in from clearing snow from the porch. “Excellent! Then you can drive us for our new tree things today. What do we need now?” She kissed his cold lips, then grinned as he insisted on rubbing noses. “Ornaments,” he said solemnly. “And Chinese take out.” “What’s wrong with my cooking?” Holly squawked, hands on her hips. “Nothing. I’m a college guy, I’m in takeout withdrawal. Anyway, that crappy movie we rented is overdue, the video store called. “Damn. Okay, let’s go.” Day Six

Holly’s Happy Days

54

Melissa Glisan

“You, sir, should be outlawed from playing with chopsticks.” Holly kissed his neck as he read the morning paper. Jeremy choked on his coffee. “Fine words from a woman who has a vibrating rubber ducky tub toy.” She blushed to the roots of her hair. “I didn’t know it did that, it was a gift.” Honestly, she hadn’t. He had been the one to find the battery compartment. The resulting sexual chaos and flooded bathroom was all his fault. “Likely story, You’ve utterly debauched me and claim innocence.” “Please,” she rolled her eyes good naturedly, then stared at the tree. “Thinking of batteries, how do you feel about one of those plastic battery powered trains for the tree?” Day Five “You’re right, this couch has got to go.” Jeremy grunted. “I think it gave me rug burn on the butt.” Holly laughed and fell off the couch, narrowly missing the coffee table. “Guess the tree gets a reprieve so we can shop for a couch.” “Nah, we can grab some tinsel before we have this thing burnt in effigy.” “It’s not that bad.” “No, it’s worse.” “You were the one who wanted to make love under the twinkle lights.” She teased. “Don’t remind me,” he grinned, rubbing his backside. “Unless you want to take the bottom.” Day Four “Holly, you don’t have to get my mom or my uncles anything.” Jeremy tugged at the ad she was reading. “Seriously, save your money, you’ve spent a lot this week.” “I had it sitting in the bank to spend, Jeremy. Anyway, I want to get you something special.”

Holly’s Happy Days

55

Melissa Glisan

“You fixed my truck.” Exasperation tinged his voice. “That was for me, so I wouldn’t have heart failure and get grey hair at the thought of you killing yourself for pizza.” His face lit up. “Pizza sounds great.” Day Three “Whatcha lookin’ at sexy?” Jeremy came up behind Holly in the dining room, giving her a hug. “That damned table belongs out back.” She glared at the picnic table. “What brought that on?” “You and your deranged fetish for pizza. I have splinters in my backside.” He rubbed the sides of her hips. “If I pull them out, can I kiss the boo-boo and make it better?” “Think we have time for that and the furniture store?” Day Two “You look beautiful in anything. You don’t have to buy a special dress to spend Christmas with my mom.” Jeremy stared at the mess all over the bedroom floor. Holly’s clothes were tossed all over the place. “Looks like a bomb went off in here.” “I just want the day to be super special.” She kicked at an offending pile of jeans. “Will you be there?” Rolling her eyes she grumbled, “Yes.” “Then it will be special.” Day One “I think we need village people.” Jeremy announced staring at the tree. “We need bad, campy music from the 1970s?”

Holly’s Happy Days

56

Melissa Glisan

“No, Miss Smart Ass. We need those little ceramic houses and stuff. There’s no one to ride your train.” Holly walked over to his side and nodded. “Good point, the train needs passengers. Get your coat.”

Holly’s Happy Days

57

Melissa Glisan

Part Seven Happy Holiday

“Jeremy.” She watched a perfect hazel eye roll open. “C’mon, wake up!” “Wha time izzit?” He sounded so sexy and looked so invitingly rumpled Holly almost gave in and joined him back in bed. “Seven.” “Inna mor’ing?” “Yup.” She bounced excitedly next to him. “Please, Jeremy, I made you coffee and sweet rolls.” Two hazel eyes blinked up at her. “Did you say coffee and sweet rolls?” She nodded happily. “But it’s seven in the morning.” “It’s Christmas morning. Please?” she wheedled. When he flipped back the covers, she moved to the side only to get grabbed and pulled, squealing, into the bed. “This is the only present I need.” The bed was warm but Jeremy was warmer as he snuggled her close. Something was missing. He came fully awake, feeling the silkclad body pressed up against him. His hand slid up her hip then a little higher. “No panties?” “Nope.” She grinned, rubbing the slippery material against his morning hard-on. “You did say I was all you wanted for Christmas. So, here I am.” He rolled her over and lifted the nightie, then stopped. “Shit, we’re out of rubbers.” “Nope, got one left.” Holly held up the red foil packet. “Hey, it’s the one with the tip. I wondered what happened to this one. Still can’t believe we used that whole box already.” “I can’t believe you considered it a one-year supply.”

Holly’s Happy Days

58

Melissa Glisan

“Hah.” She felt his beard stubble tickle the side of her neck as he nuzzled her shoulder. “That was before I knew how truly wanton you were, wench.” “Me?” The word came out a throaty purr as his lips found the spot on her shoulder that made her go weak and wet. “Does the tip still intimidate you?” “Nope, it’s kind of a let down really.” He smoothed it in place, his fingers dipping into her warm cream. “Oh yeah, this is the way to wake up.” He slid in, hard and fast, then cupped her face. “Every morning with you is like Christmas.” Overwhelmed, Holly gazed into his eyes as they came together, the love between them increasing with the feeling as his face flushed and his eyes went soft. She knew hers did the same, she could see it in the way he watched her. “I love you Jeremy.” “I love you too, Holly.” He kissed her nose and she felt her eyes cross trying to watch him. “Now, did you say sweet rolls and coffee?” Laughing, she pushed him off and rolled out of bed to get dressed. They had to be at his mom’s before ten. *** “Jeremy!” The stylishly-dressed woman at the door welcomed him with a big hug. Holly felt a little better about making Jeremy take her shopping for a new dress. Based on his appreciation for the form-fitting navy velvet, she’d spent more than she had wanted, but hoped it would be worth it in the long run. “And you must be Holly. Come in, come in! Please, don’t stand out in the cold.” Diana looked over her head and went silent. “Good God, what is that thing in my driveway?” Holly turned and looked in confusion. There was nothing except for, “Jeremy’s truck.” The look on his mother’s face was priceless. “You didn’t know he bought that, did you Mrs. Archer?” “No, I most certainly did not. It looks like a death trap.” Jeremy rolled his eyes and stalked into the living room to greet Mark and Toby. “I thought so too, so I had a mechanic go over it.” Holly kept her voice pitched low. “Was it bad?”

Holly’s Happy Days

59

Melissa Glisan

Ticking off her fingers, she recited the grocery list of things it had needed. “Brakes, tires, shocks, springs, power steering pump…” “Stop,” Diana held up her hand, “I’m guessing you put more money into it than he did buying it.” Holly gulped and nodded, looking into hazel eyes that were painfully like Jeremy’s. “I couldn’t let him drive that thing, he’d have gotten killed.” Instead of looking worried, his mom smiled and looked a little teary. “He’s just like his father, a hopeless romantic. Only thank God that Jeremy likes poetry and stories from all time periods and not just King Arthur. He’s been gone seventeen years and I still can’t force myself to watch a Camelot movie.” She confided linking her arm into Holly’s. Holly had the distinct impression the older woman’s avoidance had more to do with still missing her deceased husband than being sick of the subject. “I’m sorry to ask, but how did Jerome die?” “Jeremy didn’t tell you? But I thought he took you to that stupid frat house to show you the car?” Holly was confused at what that had to do with Jerome Archer’s death. “He did, but the fussy pantywaist head of his house threw me out while Jeremy was changing.” She purposefully skipped over the shrew scene. It was in the past and in the past it would stay. “Jerry bought this convertible sports coupe, totally not a good family car but he had this fascination with zipping down the road with the hood down, catching the air. Even in winter, which is what killed him. He decided to buy Jeremy this silly life-sized stuffed pony for his fourth birthday, so he put the top down and was driving too fast. He hit a spot of black ice and…” Diana’s voice faded. “Why didn’t you get rid of the car?” Holly followed Diana into the kitchen as she grabbed a tissue to blot her eyes. “The damage was surprisingly light and it was all I had left to remember him by. That damned car and Jeremy.” She sniffled and regained her composure. “I tried to sell it a few times, but Jeremy would go nuts. Then he turned sixteen and sold the motor. I still can’t figure out why he had it dragged to his college.”

Holly’s Happy Days

60

Melissa Glisan

“I did it to remind myself to think of the people I love first,” Jeremy said from the doorway, making Holly jump and flush with guilt. She opened her mouth and he planted a kiss on it. “I was going to tell you, but then you had to piss off Brian and get thrown out.” He smiled and pulled her into a hug. “Come on out to the living room, my uncles have something for you.” “It doesn’t go bang, does it?” She mumbled into his chest, making him laugh. “I don’t know, it’s a surprise.” Dimples sucked in, he fought a smile as he dragged her into a room inundated with white and beige overstuffed furniture. The vaulted ceiling made the room feel airy despite being crammed with stuff. “Wow, no wonder you were freaked out by my lack of furniture,” Holly’s eyes widened as she looked at couches, chairs, tables, lamps, statuary, vases with flowers and sideboards with rows of crystal figures. “I’d be afraid to walk through here in the dark.” “Now you know the real reason I never snuck out and got laid as a teenager,” he stage whispered, making everyone laugh and Holly blush. “I can’t believe he let that horrid Gretchen talk him into living on campus instead of here at home. How could a fraternity house be ‘healthier’ than here?” Diana’s voice was tart as she made her way to the empty spot on the couch between Mark and Toby. “Her name was Gretchen?” Holly looked at Jeremy as he slumped into a chair with a contented sigh. “C’mere.” He crooked his finger and pulled her into his lap. “Much better. Yes, her name was Gretchen, and yes, she was naïve enough to think that living in a frat house was morally superior to living here.” Leaning back, Holly looked at his handsome face in shock. “If she was that dumb and that against sex, what did you do with her for six years?” When the room erupted into laughter, Holly clapped her hands to her mouth in mortification. “To be honest, she talked a lot, I just didn’t pay much attention.” Jeremy looked sheepish. Toby laughed, “You paid attention. Don’t let him fool you Holly; the sanctimonious little twit had huge boobs.” Holly peered at her less than impressive cleavage and gave Jeremy a funny look. “If you’re a breast man, then what have I got?”

Holly’s Happy Days

61

Melissa Glisan

“Ah,” he sighed dramatically, “You see, I’ve grown up. I’m now into short, mouthy women who can tie mean knots.” Again Holly felt her face burn with embarrassment. “Holly, I owe you an apology and a paycheck.” Mark stood and handed her an envelope that felt suspiciously heavy. She tucked it into her purse not wanting to look greedy and nosy. “No, you don’t. I left with a customer and that is, I mean was, against the rules.” “True, but you also told me that Susan was hooking in the bathroom and I didn’t believe you.” “How did you…?” She felt her face flush again. “You mean how did he finally figure it out?” Diana leaned forward. “I can answer that, I went to the bar and propositioned her. She led me to the bathroom and trotted out her price list.” Mark coughed and sat back down. “Diana dragged her into my office by her ponytail.” “You should have seen it,” Toby chortled, “it was all anyone could talk about for days.” “Little bitch sucked your brain right through your zipper.” Diana seethed, still obviously unhappy with the man on her left. “That is my job.” Holly choked and Jeremy patted her back. Mark stared at the ceiling like he was counting the swirls in the drywall. “Still, I owe you an apology for telling Toby you were a frigid prude and wouldn’t understand about our…living arrangements, so we all kept you in the dark. Then I fired you just for catching Jeremy’s fancy, nothing more. I’d like to offer you your job back.” Holly narrowed her eyes as if thinking very hard and the seconds ticked by. “I’ll accept on two conditions.” As eager as Mark was, Holly suspected he was out in the cold, sexually speaking, until she returned to the payroll. “One, no more high heels. I don’t care how retarded the outfits are so long as I don’t end up at the podiatrist.” “Deal, what’s the second?” He was looking pretty happy. “I’m off until after the first. I’d like to spend New Year’s Eve with Jeremy.”

Holly’s Happy Days

62

Melissa Glisan

“How about…” “It’s not negotiable.” Holly had plans for Jeremy involving something interesting she had read about champagne, not waiting tables. “All right, you’ve got a deal.” Mark didn’t look ecstatic, but he looked happier than he did when she had walked into the room. “This is from me and Diana,” Toby pressed a slim package into Holly’s hands. “Given how much you blush, you may want to wait until you get home to open it.” She shook it lightly and frowned. “Sounds like a movie.” “Jeremy said you liked the last one we picked out so, I thought you might enjoy this one.” “You told Toby…your mom…about my…our…Oh my God.” Holly didn’t think she could ever look any of them in the eye again. “I was going to wait until we got home for this, but I guess now would be the best time.” Holly stood up and retrieved her purse from the kitchen, taking out a jewelry box. She didn’t miss the way the trio on the couch paled. Kneeling by Jeremy’s chair, she handed him the box. Sitting up, he slid off the ribbon and opened the lid. “I don’t understand,” he said lifting out a gold ring with two sets of keys. “This set is for the house, the other is for my Jeep. Just in case the Blue Bomber dies. I’m asking you to live with me, not just for two weeks, but for as long as you love me.” Holly held her breath as he looked at the keys and settled them back in the box. When he cupped her face in his hands, she was thankful to be kneeling, her legs went so weak. “Then you are going to be stuck with me for a very long time, Holly Giberti, because I’ve never wanted to be anywhere the way I want to be with you. I love you.” He kissed her softly making her shake. “I love you too, Jer. Merry Christmas.” “Oh, this is so exciting!” Diana clapped her hands. “Did I hear Jeremy say something about you needing more furniture?” Laughing, they rubbed noses and kissed again.

Holly’s Happy Days

63

Melissa Glisan

The End

Holly’s Happy Days

64

Melissa Glisan

If you are still in the mood for holiday reading: Babes in Toyland

Six sizzling stories to heat your nights by authors: Jefferson Dane, Rayne Forrest, Lizzie T. Leaf, Diane Charles Linford, J.M. Snyder and Brenda Williamson. From sultry to blistering these stories run the gamut of sexuality including a sizzling male/male romance and an incredible fantasy ménage. Available at www.aspenmountainpress.com

Holly’s Happy Days

65

Melissa Glisan

Babes in Toyland II

Eight authors, eight wonderful winter holiday stories, with tales from: Maura Anderson, Jeanne Barrack, Raine Delight, Melissa Glisan, Wayne Greenough, Michelle Hasker, Dawn Montgomery and Skylar Sinclair. These winter holiday stories range from sweet and mysterious to hot paranormals and even a contemporary ménage!

Available at www.aspenmountainpress.com

Holly’s Happy Days

66

Melissa Glisan

The Ballet

It’s New Year’s Eve and Ryan Moran is feeling each and every battle scar as he watches a room of partygoers. A soldier on leave, he agrees to chaperone his younger brother but his heart isn’t in it, until he sees a quiet beauty. Across the room, Rose Fineman sits and hopes to find a reason to go on after an accident that stripped away her family and her dreams of being a ballerina. Between gyrating bodies and cruel rejections, she sees a man she once longed for looking her way. One night, one dance, and one promise given. Will it be enough to hold two wounded hearts together when Ryan is recalled to war? Available at www.redrosepublishing.com

Holly’s Happy Days

67