Page 41 of Only for the Season

Good reminder. Jeremy Holland is not the man for me. It doesn’t matter how much my toes curl from his kisses. Or how my breath catches when he flashes me those dimples or how sparks ignite whenever we touch. The man is out of my league.

He steps closer and gazes down at the baking sheet. “Your gingerbread men resemble pirates.”

“Wait until I add the eyepatch.” He chuckles. “And they’re not gingerbread men. They’re gingerbeard men.”

“Of…” His eyes narrow as he trails off. “I hate to say it, Parker, but I think you have a rodent problem.” He digs his phone out of his pocket. “Shall I call an exterminator?”

I slap the phone out of his hand. “Don’t you dare call an exterminator on Viking.”

“You named your rat?”

“Why does everyone think Viking’s a rat? Do they not teach biology in high school anymore?” I kneel down. “Viking, come here and meet Jeremy.”

Jeremy inches backward. “Um, I don’t need to meet your rat.”

“I told you. Viking isn’t a rat.” Viking also isn’t coming when he’s called. I grab a gingerbeard man from the tray and break off a piece. “Viking. I have a cookie for you.”

Viking loses his shyness in zero point five seconds. He scurries out from his hiding space underneath the prepping station and rushes to me.

“AGH!” Jeremy shouts as he sprints to the back door. He fiddles with the doorknob. In his panic, he seems to have forgotten how to open a door. “Don’t let it kill me.”

I lift Viking into my arms and cuddle him. “Did you hear the silly man? He thinks you’re a killer.”

I advance toward Jeremy and his eyes nearly bug out of his face as he plasters himself to the door. “You’re as bad as Eli. Does money turn you into a wimp?”

He growls. “I’m not a wimp.”

I raise an eyebrow. “And you’re not afraid of the cutest animal in the history of animals either.”

“I’m not afraid. But I need to…” The door opens and he stumbles outside.

“If this is you not afraid, I don’t want to watch what happens when you are afraid,” I holler after him.

I shut the door behind him and burst into laughter. I guess Jeremy is human after all. Good to know.

Maybe I need to stop punishing him for being a billionaire. He’s not the billionaire who caused my heartache after all.

Maybe we can be friends.

Maybe we can kiss again.

Maybe we can be friends who kiss.

Maybe I need to stop dreaming and finish my Christmas cookies.

Chapter 15

"This detour brought to you by caffeine withdrawal and a caroling menace." ~ Jeremy

Jeremy

Irub my eyes as the lines of code begin to blur. It’s getting dark outside. How long have I been at this?

It doesn’t matter. I can’t quit now. The investors Eli and I met with in New York City are counting on me finishing theSynqapp and getting it to market at the start of the new year. And it’s already December.

Doubt creeps in. Maybe I can’t finish on time. Maybe I’m not a good enough developer to make this app a success.

No. I shake my head. I can’t let doubt creep in. I can do this.