Chapter 8

HOLLY

"I can do this," Holly whispered fearfully at her reflection in the mirror. "I just know it. It's as simple as walking outside. There's no one out there that doesn't know me. It's my chance to change their view, to turn a few eyes my way…"

And she swallowed, staring at herself, petrified. There was such a drastic change between her normal self and this woman before her. The female in the mirror had soft curly blonde hair, large hazel eyes, and the yellow floral dress that fell to her calves seemed to accentuate every shape on her body while still be loose.

The lady at the makeup counter at Sephora had made it a personal mission to show Holly what each item did for her, how to apply it, and even gave suggestions on how to fashion her hair to accentuate her eyes.

"A normal small-town event. We do this every year, remember?" she breathed aloud, looking at herself while trying to swallow back an anxiety attack that was looming on the horizon. By putting herself out there like this, it opened her up to all sorts of gossip and criticism and put her directly on the radar of potentially at least five to ten people within the population, and she only wanted one to notice her or treat her differently.

Trembling, she picked up her wallet and keys, feeling oddly ‘free' in the dress and nervous that her skirt would fly up or someone would peek. Being in a dress sure wasn't like being in loose-fitting pants or overalls. No, she felt like a lady… and a charlatan.

"They're gonna laugh, or point, or…" Holly was muttering each word coming down each step from her apartment above the garage carefully in the delicate leather sandals. Couldn't exactly wear steel-toe boots with this pretty dress, now could she?

"Ohhhh Beary… you look like a fairy princess," Krista said from below, her eyes sparkling as her hands were clenched together over her heart – and just hearing those words of affirmation was enough to cause that fragile bubble around her to burst.

"Shuddup… you think? Oh my gosh, I feel like a fool and should just toss on my gear or skip this all together. This was stupid to go to this dressed up. It's nothing, and I know everyone there. They know me and most of them won't even recognize me like this. I look like Barbie's knock-off second cousin…"

"No, you don't," Krista laughed, grabbing her arm and pulling her forward. "We're going to go to this event, hold our heads high, and have a great time."

"This is insane."

"This is the best idea you've ever had, Beary," Krista hissed excitedly, hugging her arm and dragging her out the front door. "Let's do this, and if you want to leave thirty minutes into the event, then we will – but with dessert."

"Should I get a slop bucket?" Holly asked bluntly, hating the way her voice shook. "Because when I cry, I can seriously put away the food."

"Noooo," Krista chuckled, hugging her arm again as they walked down the block heading toward the square. It wasn't but a few minutes before one of her neighbors saw her, their eyes widening, giving her another panicked moment – however – her friend was fearless, urging her forward.

"How's my lipstick? Is it on my teeth? Do I have anything in my teeth? Oh gosh, I think I forgot to floss…"

"Relax – and you look stunning," Krista assured her, winking. "Just like you did thirty seconds ago."

"I think my eyeliner smeared."

"It's fine."

"My mascara? Did I get the little spots off my cheek where I goofed or can you still see it? Are you sure about my lipstick? It feels really goopy and thick, like it's been smeared everywhere like frosting or silicone sealant. Smells like it too. Is it supposed to have a weird smell to it? I swear I can smell petroleum. Oh no, what if that's me?" Holly finished in a frightened hiss and Krista grabbed her by both hands, facing her.

"Breathe in… and let it out."

"I really should…"

"Stop! Now, breathe in… and out…"

"Every time I breathe, I smell oil."

"Because it's probably oozing from your pores."

"WHAT?"

"Beary, I'm teasing. Lipstick has an oily base sometimes to keep your lips moist and plump – two words I seriously hate."

"Right? I mean, those two words just sound icky and…— oh no."

"What?"

"There are people… lots of people," Holly whispered nervously as Krista threw back her head laughing. "It's not funny! Stop! They are looking and pointing!"

"Oh my gosh, would you stop? You are killing me, Beary. Seriously, breathe. Straighten your shoulders and have a little confidence in yourself. Pretend you just set the timing on a Lamborghini…"

"It's done electronically…"

"Pretend something else then – but we aren't leaving for at least thirty minutes so whatever you have to imagine… get to it, because we are walking into that crowd of people. You hear me?"

Swallowing nervously, Holly smiled politely as she was enveloped in the crowd of neighbors, wondering if Cade would actually make an appearance. Trying to keep her panicked feelings buried, she kept taking even breaths, focusing on the little bits of conversation around her that seemed to be a mindless blur.

"Why, Beary, you sure look nice…"

"Did you see Lourdes in that get-up?"

"Are Doc Josephs and her husband here?"

"I think they went up to Wyoming to see her sister."

"You know that sweet girl really turned her life around…"

"Good thing, too."

"Beary, are you going to talk to Davy again?"

"He didn't even come today. I'm sure the man is putting another gray hair on his poor mama's head."

"Davy and I aren't dating," Holly volunteered, trying to squash that rumor immediately. "It was a favor for my friend… who has disappeared apparently?"

"Krista headed toward the snack tables and said she would be back in a few. You were distracted and looking around. Who are you looking for Beary, and I can tell you if I saw them…"

"No one," she hesitated – and looked up to see Cade looking at her in the distance. He said something to another firefighter from the station, Jude, and was making a beeline in her direction. "Probably wanting to check on the radiator," she muttered aloud in despair and then hesitated, realizing she'd said it… except the crowd had thinned near her.

Holly was standing alone – and Cade was walking toward her. She did the only logical and sane thing any intimidated person would do at a moment like this: she turned away and started to walk off in order to search for a place to hide for another twenty-one minutes.

"Excuse me… Miss?" and froze as she felt him touch her elbow. He was touching her elbow! Captain Cade ‘Hotness' Pruitt was making direct skin contact with her elbow. OMIGOSH, OMIGOSH, OHMYGOSH, thudded in her mind in sync with each heartbeat as she stood there.

"Hi," Cade began again. "I apologize. I'm new in town and getting to know everyone's names still and…"

Holly turned to look at him, silently praying, begging, and pleading that he didn't absolutely trash her fragile self-esteem at that moment because she wasn't sure she could come back from the edge. His eyes searched hers, looking so confused and curious, and the moment she saw a flicker of recognition in his face, his mouth dropped open.

"H-Holly?"

Cade's voice was hoarse with shock as they just stood there looking at each other. She realized in a split second that he was going to say something, ask about his truck, make a comment, or back away at any moment, and she allowed herself this instant to soak in his features up close.

This was probably the closest she had been to him since she shoved him away from her at the scene of the accident, and even then, it had been dimly lit outside. He was taller than her by almost a head and slim. She adored the scruff on his chin and it made her want to reach up, scratching it like she would a puppy's sweet chinny-chin-chin… and hesitated.

You do not compare your crush to a puppy. Was that normal? Actually, was any of this normal?

"I think I might have hit my head or been sucked into another timeline or one of those weird movie vortex thingies. Who's the president? What's my car's name? Am I in Texas still?"

"What?" he chuckled, looking at her, and she melted.

Oh heavens, the man had sexy crow's feet at the corner of his eyes and was watching her – smiling. She couldn't stop staring and then felt herself smile as she realized that Mr. Perfect, wasn't, and said as much.

"You're not perfect."

And his smile fell slightly.

"No, I'm not perfect and never claimed to be."

"Your teeth are off-center from your nose."

"I broke it in a car wreck when I was sixteen, but thanks for noticing."

"I like it," she said nervously, meeting his eyes again. "It's unique, and I'm not myself today, so just ignore me. Better yet, let's just forget all of this."

"Actually, this is kinda weirdly nice to see a real person out from under the greasy baseball cap and coveralls. I honestly didn't know you had blonde hair or hazel eyes," and hesitated, smiling once more. "It's kinda hard to notice when someone is glaring at you all the time."

Holly's mouth gaped slightly as she reared back in surprise, only to realize he was teasing her this time.

"How's Butter?" he asked simply. "Any more problems with your car?"

"N-No… at least none that are self-inflicted."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," she winced nervously before peering at him again. "You might not have killed Butter because she was quickly resuscitated."

"That's good to hear," he chuckled.

"But you did bruise her."

"You bruised my truck with those boots that are strangely absent," he said quietly, looking at her feet, and chuckled again. "I promise I'm not weird, but you have cute feet that you've been hiding."

"I hide a lot of things, apparently."

"I think you do," Cade replied, and they just stood there together, not saying a word. It was like he couldn't get enough of looking at her – and it was the same for her. She kept trying to take in as much of his beautiful features as she could, knowing that any second, Dr. Jekyll would make an appearance and chase off the handsome Mr. Hyde. "Is this weird for you?"

"Me?" Holly asked, completely confused. "Is what weird?"

"You know, standing here with me and us talking."

"Why would that be weird?"

"Oh, huh. Okay, now it's weird," he chuckled. "Weird, but I guess good."

"You've lost me."

"I'm kinda on a break, avoiding relationships and stuff – and well," he smiled sheepishly at her, looking actually embarrassed. "I heard a bunch of rumors from some of the guys that you had a crush on me. I was trying to be nice and not hurt your feelings. I mean, you look really pretty, but I'm just not ready, or at least gun-shy after three bad dates."

She didn't know whether to scream, yell, laugh in his face, or vomit on his shoes as he stood there basically knowing she was interested, trying to let her down because he wasn't looking for a relationship at all and had admitted to the fiasco that floated about town.

"Yeah, I guess that is sort of embarrassing for you, isn't it?" she smiled easily. "Don't worry. I won't rub your face in it— much. I mean, how awful would that be if the rumors were true and you were shutting me down before anything ever happened? As if you and I could ever be a thing? Ha!" she laughed a little too loudly. "Us?" she continued trying to cover her shame, wagging a finger between the two of them. "You and me? I think we would irritate each other to no end, and there's zero attraction."

"Zero attraction…" he paused, staring at her, and then plastered a big fake smile on his face. "Exactly. Nope. Na-da. We're just sorta friends, and this is just the start of a working relationship because you have my car, and I have my wallet."

"Exactly," she jumped, letting out a laugh. "That's me, after your wallet."

"You can't have it…"

"Boy, this is a weird conversation."

"Tell me about it," she muttered, looking away and feeling a little nauseous. "Oh, look. My friend, Krista, is waving me over, which means food. You know, girls and food. We're mood eaters."

"You are?"

"I am…"

"I'll remember that if we are ever out… talking… and you are in a mood."

"I'd have to be in a mood to be eating with you in public."

"Yeah, 'cause that would be weird if two friendly people ate in public together."

"People would whisper and call it a date – and we both know it's not."

"Gossip?"

"Oh yes, the gossip," Holly agreed dramatically – and then pointed. "I'm just gonna go over here."

"I'm going to head in this direction," Cade volunteered easily, tossing his thumb over his shoulder. "Maybe I'll be seeing you."

"I have your truck."

"I have my wallet."

"Then maybe we'll see each other again in a few days? Or we could talk – or maybe text?"

"I could text you to see how the truck is coming along…"

"You could."

"Or we could text or talk about the weather because it's supposed to be getting cooler now."

"Holidays are right around the corner, aren't they…?"

"They are. Halloween first."

"Yup – and then poof – all the pumpkins are gone, and out comes the leaves and mums… if you are into that weird girly decorating stuff."

"Then the Christmas trees, stockings, lights…"

"And mistletoe," he whispered, staring at her lips for a moment only to get this strange look on his face as he quickly met her eyes. "I've gotta go."

"Me too," she replied, her voice breathless. "See ya."

"Bye."

Both got this ‘I've got to get outta here!' look on their faces and turned away from the other, speed walking and then jogging in opposite directions despite the crowd. Holly did see Krista – and several delicacies she was going to be indulging in tonight when she was alone at her apartment, replaying the conversation in her mind in slow motion just like any mildly healthy masochist would do.

"I am such an idiot…" she whispered thickly, holding back the panic barely. "He's never going to give me the time of day."

Hours later and sick to her stomach on cheesecake, Holly had just laid down to go to bed when she heard a noise out back. Grabbing her rifle, she saw the floodlights come on and was about to yell out a warning – only to have words fail her.

She stared in disbelief as Cade left something on the hood of Butter – and ran before he got caught, disappearing quickly into the shadows. Stunned, she flew down the stairs, not caring that she was in her pajama shirt and shorts, things jiggling with the effort, and every lick of makeup gone from earlier in the day. She yanked open the back door, slid on the pair of worn-out crocs she kept to take out the trash and raced over to her car.

There was a tiny pumpkin, no bigger than a small orange, sitting there with a perfectly curled stem and a jack-o-lantern face had been drawn on it with a blue ink pen.

"Well, I'll be…" she breathed, unsure what to say or do.

Obviously, Cade wanted it to be a surprise or a secret, or he would have knocked. No, he was trying to be sweet without getting caught, making her replay the conversation in her head one more time – only this time, the tone was very different. The hottest man in Sweet Bloom had just left her a tiny gift because he wanted to make his friend happy.

And she was.

"Come with me, my little Pumpkin. You are going right beside my bed, and we have to think of a name for you."