Page 58 of Charm (Billionaire Buck Boys #7)
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
Greer
It’s surreal to see Holden Sheppard standing in the foyer of my townhouse. He’s holding two flower bouquets. They’re both dotted with multi-colored roses. One is larger than the other, but that’s the only difference between the two.
“I hope you like roses,” he whispers before he leans closer to kiss me softly on the cheek.
His gaze scans the main living area off to the right and the staircase to the left. I know exactly who he’s looking for.
“Olive is upstairs making something for you.” I smile. “It’s a surprise.”
It’s a friendship bracelet to add to his collection. This one will spell out his first name. She asked what his favorite color was, and since I don’t have a clue, I told her to surprise him. She said the beads would look like a rainbow when she’s done.
“A surprise?” he questions with a perked brow. “Give me a hint.”
Shaking my head, I wave a finger in front of him. “Not a chance.”
He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I had to try.”
“You’ll see the surprise soon enough.” I motion toward the hallway that leads to the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink? I’ve got water, soda, wine, beer…”
“A glass of water would be great.” He shoves the larger bouquet toward me. “These are for you, Greer.”
I take them and inhale the soft scent of the roses. “They’re beautiful, Holden.”
His gaze rakes me from head to toe. “You’re beautiful.”
I know he’d tell me that regardless of what I’m wearing.
My look tonight is courtesy of my daughter.
She chose our outfits. Mine is a pink sundress with a scoop neckline.
Olive’s dress is frilly with pink polka dots.
She insisted that I help her fasten the gold chain with the four-leaf clover charm around her neck.
She kissed it before she tucked it inside the neckline of the dress.
She said she didn’t want it getting in the way of the polka dots.
She doesn’t fuss much about her clothing, but when I told her that a friend of mine was coming for dinner, she insisted on wearing something special.
“Follow me,” I say with a smile. “I want to put these in water.”
Holden’s response is a brisk nod.
The sound of his shoes on the hardwood taps out a steady beat as we cross the narrow hallway until we enter the expansive kitchen. This room is one of the reasons why I purchased this home. It’s a welcoming space with more than enough room for at least a dozen people to gather.
When I first looked at it with my real estate broker, I made a comment about picturing Olive and a group of her friends hanging out here together after school. A few do come by regularly for playdates, so it’s always fun to see them sit at the table, sipping lemonade and drawing pictures.
“Your home is wonderful,” Holden says from behind me.
I love this house. I’ve worked tirelessly to make it into a home that I feel comfortable and safe in. I want Olive to feel that, too. I hope she always does.
“Thanks.” I turn to face him. “Have a seat while I put these in water.”
He nods again, but this time follows it up with a heavy exhale. “Okay.”
“You’re nervous, Holden. Aren’t you?”
His right hand drags a slow path over the front of the light blue sweater he’s wearing. He’s paired it with dark gray pants. It’s a casual look but still put together enough to impress anyone. “You can tell?”
I lean forward to kiss him softly. “She’ll like you. I told her all about you.”
His eyes widen. “What did you say?”
“That you’re becoming a good friend to me,” I start with that before leading into the more mundane stuff. “That you also run a candy business, and you have a brother.”
“Good. I sound boring.”
I toss my head back in laughter. “You are anything but boring.”
“Greatest compliment ever.” He smiles.
Part of me wishes we were spending the night together, but that won’t be happening. I plan on saying goodnight to him on my stoop before sending him on his way.
I’ve never introduced a man I’ve been seeing to Olive before. It makes sense since I’ve only dated a couple of men since she was born. Neither of those relationships lasted beyond a few weeks.
Thundering steps interrupt the moment as Olive scoots down the back staircase.
I’ve memorized the sound of every creak of the floorboards and each rattle of the railing as she holds tight to it.
She’ll come into view in mere seconds.
I glance in the direction of the staircase just as her feet appear. I shift my gaze to Holden’s face as he stares intently at the staircase until Olive is at the bottom of it.
She marches over on bare feet and presents her right hand to Holden. “Hello, sir. My name is Olive Irwin. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Her small hand disappears as he closes his hand around it. He shakes it gently. It’s barely even a movement, but his gaze stays locked on her face. “Hi, Olive. Please call me Holden.”
She looks up at him. “I really like those glasses. Are they real?”
I laugh hard enough that I can’t step into the conversation to tell her that it’s an impolite question.
One of her teachers at school last year always matched her eyeglasses to her outfit.
On the last day of school, she accidentally dropped them on the floor.
One of the students stepped on them in his haste to help, and that’s when the secret was revealed.
She told him not to worry about the damage because they weren’t helping her see at all.
“They are.” Holden slides them off his face and hands them to her. “Take a look for yourself.”
Instead of holding them a few inches in front of her, she perches them on her nose, being careful to keep a finger pressed against the center of them. “Wow. Everything looks silly to me.”
Holden chuckles. “Everything looks perfect to me when I look through them.”
She snaps her head to the right to look at me. “Mommy, you look funny.”
I tap her shoulder. “I hope you mean I only look that way when you have those glasses on.”
She slides them off, handing them back to Holden as she does. Once he has them firmly in his grasp, she turns her attention back to me. “You’re beautiful, Mom. Isn’t she beautiful, Holden?”
With the eyeglasses back in place, he looks right at me. “She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
Olive’s gaze drifts from me to Holden. “I think so, too.”