Chapter 12

CHAPTER

TWELVE

Holly

Sometimes I wish I liked artificial trees, especially when the temperature’s beyond frigid. The girls are wearing their new hats and gloves that Tiny Sparkles brought them, holding onto Rebel’s large capable hands as I follow behind carrying the saw he’ll use to cut down the tree. We’ve narrowed it down to three trees and are checking them out again to make a final decision after I put the kibosh on getting three this year. Heck, one of them is too big as it is, and I hope Rebel picked up on my hints regarding that fact!

“Oh, don’t you look domesticated,” a female voice sneers.

Rebel stops in his tracks, his body stiffening, and I nearly run into his back. I have no clue who this woman is, but her tone toward him is ticking me off.

“Paula, what are you doing here?” he asks, his tone one I’ve never heard him use before.

“Little girls, huh? I see Karma has hit you,” she retorts, not answering him.

“I’ll repeat myself, something I’m not fond of doing as you well know. What are you doing here?”

“Getting a Christmas tree, of course,” she says as if he’s dense. She catches a glimpse of me and the derision on her face has me bristling. “She’s certainly not your type, is she, Rebel?” she asks, all but purring.

“She’s none of your business,” he growls out as I take the girls’ hands in mine to get them away from the catty woman in front of us.

She’s nothing like me; long, blonde hair that’s artfully curled and tucked underneath a fuzzy hat, slim but curvy body in a winter white coat and obviously expensive jeans, along with a pair of light tan boots. She’s everything I’ll never be and for a minute, my insecurities raise their head until I remember that he’s with me and he loves me. She may have been his past, but the girls and I are his future and that’s something that has me standing taller.

“Why is she being mean to Mr. Rebel?” Mina asks, her voice carrying.

As if my baby girl lit a match, the woman’s face contorts and you can see as well as feel the vile, evilness radiating from her. This woman is a little too close in resemblance to my ex's mother. They’re both rude and only care about themselves and what they can get out of people.

Mina did nothing but ask a simple, innocent question. This woman’s reaction is bizarre, and nothing like what you’d expect to leak out from an adult. It makes me wonder if she’s mentally unstable, which would explain how she thought she’d get away with taking Rebel’s life savings without him realizing what game she was playing.

“You little brat,” Paula shrieks, raising her hand as if to hit my daughter.

Oh, hell no! No one is going to strike my daughter. I move to go around Rebel, only to have him grab me around my waist to stop me. So, I use my words instead.

“First of all, you better think again if you think you’re going to hit my daughter. I’ll show you what it means to cross an angry mama bear should that ever happen. Second, I know who you are and what you planned to do, so I’m glad I’m not what you think Rebel’s type is because if you’re any indication, I’d prefer to be who I am than be as ugly hearted as you are. You need to leave, Paula ,” I sneer, “because your pettiness is showing and it’s not a good look.”

I can feel Rebel’s chest vibrate as it moves against my back and know he’s laughing, which is understandable based on the look Paula has etched on her face right now. “Go on, now, Paula. You have nothing to say that I wanna hear,” he tells her. “Come on, girls, we have a tree to find.”

He leans down and scoops each girl into his arms, leans down and kisses me and whispers, “You know how hot that was, Holly?” His approval has my body growing warm. If that had been Devin, I’d have paid for stepping over the line when we got home.

I can’t help snickering as he turns and as a group we walk away from Paula, leaving her there fuming.

“Hopefully, you’ll show me at your earliest convenience,” I reply. “Now, which tree, ladies?”

“Grammy, you outdid yourself once again,” I say as I set my fork down, patting my belly.

“Couldn’t have done any of it without my sous chefs,” she replies, looking at Mina and Ruby with love and admiration in her eyes.

“We helped cook, Mr. Rebel,” Mina says, smiling at Rebel.

“You did?” he asks.

“Uh huh. We tore the bread for the stuffing, and Grammy let us scrub the potatoes in the sink for the mashed potatoes. Mama chopped the onions and celery, and we all helped with the pies!” Ruby adds.

“Well, I’m an official pie taste tester,” he says, his voice serious as he looks at the two of them. “Do you think I’m going to like them?”

“Yes!” they both exclaim, causing me and Pappy to burst out laughing.

“Grammy, can we clear the table so we can have pie?” Mina asks.

“Give us a few minutes, girls,” Pappy replies. “We need to let our food settle for a few minutes, then we’ll all help get it cleared before we enjoy dessert, okay?”

They nod, ask to be excused until then and then run to the small table so they can color while we visit. “How’s the room coming?” Grammy asks once she makes sure they’re not listening.

“Well, one of Rebel’s brothers is working on the thing that I couldn’t find,” I reply in code. “But other than that, I think it’s going to look good.”

“I have the prospects coming over to paint,” Rebel advises. “They’ll come early one morning after she takes them to daycare, so it’ll hopefully be dry, and the fumes gone before they come home.”

“I’ve got one of those huge industrial fans out in the barn,” Pappy advises. “If you put that by the door and open the window, it should do the trick.”

“That might work,” Rebel muses.

“I’m so excited,” I add. “I think they’re going to love it.”

“Me too,” Grammy says. “We still going out for a little bit tomorrow to try and get some of the deals? I want to make new quilts for their dolls.”

“Pappy, are you watching the girls for us?” I ask.

“Figured they could just spend the night tonight and give you two some alone time,” he says, winking at Rebel.

I get up and throw my arms around his neck. “You’re my favorite Pappy ever!” I exclaim.

He chuckles while hugging me back. “And you’re my favorite Holly,” he teases. “Now, who’s gonna help us clear this table so we can eat some pie?”

“We are!” Mina and Ruby yell, rushing back to the table.

It doesn’t take long to get everything cleared so that we can sit and enjoy our dessert. The girls are ecstatic when they find out they’re spending the night while Grammy and I decide what time we’re going to head out with Rebel acting as our driver. Secretly, I think he just wants to spend time with me.

Not that I’ll ever complain about that !

“It gets better every time,” I breathlessly gasp out as we both struggle to catch our breath after an exuberant lovemaking session. I think what I enjoy most is nothing is off limits; if I want to try something, Rebel is more than willing.

“Yeah, it does,” he murmurs, his voice already sounding sleepy. He pulls the covers over the two of us, kisses me and says, “I love you, Holly.”

“I love you too, Rebel.”