Free The Rock Star's Christmas Reunion: contemporary holiday romance (A Charisma series novel, The Connollys Book 1) by Heather Hiestand Page B

not?”
    “Probably because I didn’t use the “girlfriend” word when I suggested it.” Though she had called him irresistible, but with her, he didn’t want to be the guy that just made a girl crazy for action between the sheets anymore. He wanted to be liked. So he hadn’t pulled out all the old rock star moves, just been himself.
    “She’s not sixteen. She doesn’t expect that. You met again, what, a little over a week ago?”
    “It’s just that—” It’s what he was thinking, but he never said it. They’d moved from the kitchen to the sofa. He’d lit a fire and then attempted to stoke one in her. His new girl. A regular person to take his mind off Remy Rose, who was anything but.
    “What?”
    “We were interrupted. She received a phone call from a potential client.” He’d seen the siren light of sensuality fade in the excitement of a job opportunity.
    “Are you telling me you want her to be your girlfriend? Like for real?”
    He coughed. “She’s a nice girl. But the truth is, catering a sixteen-person holiday dinner is more exciting to her than I am. By the time she hung up the call, all she wanted to do was to go home and prep for her first-thing-in-the-morning meeting with the family.” Maybe he actually needed the rock star moves to score.
    “So you’re more into her than she is into you?”
    Unfortunately . “That’s my take on it.” He punched his pillow and settled back into it.
    Haldana’s words came out choppy, as if she hadn’t been sure of what she was going to say. “Are you going to stay?”
    He thought of Yakima, kissing her goodbye at the garage door and watching her leave. Leaving, staying, he no longer knew which was best. “Certainly for the holidays. But if my brothers don’t want me around, there’s not much point in staying longer than that.”
    “What about your cousins?” Haldana asked. “And what about Yakima? Give her time. It’s hard to start a new business. You have to be patient with her.”
    “And give her work so she can stay in business. I’m going to hand deliver the invitations to my big holiday party this Saturday. We’ll see what everyone’s mood is.”
    “Who are you inviting?”
    “Locals I still know. I thought I’d invite Yakima’s family. And the Ericksons are flying in from California. Maybe some friends from Los Angeles too.”
    “I haven’t seen the Ericksons for years. They’re my relatives, not yours, right?”
    “Yes, your mother and Beau Erickson were first cousins. His kids are in our age group.”
    “I’ve heard the buzz about their new television show. It’s cool to have so much talent in the family. The Battlefield branch is boring.”
    “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, these celebrity talents. I lost my career when I hurt my wrist, and Beau spent his treasure hunting fortune on his late wife’s cancer treatments. Obviously it wasn’t mega-millions. And I know his son Crowe spent years attempting to prove he had the goods.”
    “I guess. Have fun delivering invites. I’ve already talked to Yakima this morning and she said she’d work on your menu after her dinner party meeting. We might end up having two parties to cater the same night, one for her and one for me.”
    So Haldana had probably known what had happened last night all along, sneaky brat. “You sound excited. Did she say when she’d tell me about it?”
    “I think she’s planning to stop by your house tonight. So maybe you’ll get a second chance to ask her to be your girlfriend.” Haldana made kissing noises, chuckled, and disconnected the call.
    Bax rubbed sleep out of his eyes and leaned his head against the rustic wood headboard that had looked nice in the store, but wasn’t so comfortable behind any part of his anatomy. At least it didn’t encourage him to laze around in bed. Time to take a shower and put his humble-face on.
     
    ~
     
    An hour later, he watched a few lazy snowflakes drift across the back porch as he drank his