Free The 6'1" Grinch by Tiffany White

niceness was part of her professional image. He was more likely to buy a house from her if he liked her.
    He needed to get a grip on reality.
    Ah, but he wished she’d be as nice to him as she had been in his dream, he thought as the door swung open.
    A S SHE INSERTED the key into the lock of her front door, Hollie shifted the bag on her hip, careful not to break the eggs. Her Christmas watch had told her she’d only been gone a half hour. The snowy day had kept most people at home with last-minute baking and wrapping and decorating. She’d checked out her eggs and a bottle of wine she’d gotten on impulse without having to wait in line.
    When she entered the greatroom, Noel was sitting up on the sofa, stretching.
    She grimaced, then hurried to the kitchen to set her small bag of groceries on the counter.
    A large plastic sack of Tupperware sat there.
    â€œWhere did this come from?” she asked Noel, who’d joined her in the kitchen.
    â€œSarah dropped it off. She said Elena was playing at a friend’s house, so she was out running errands while she had the opportunity.”
    Hollie looked at Noel’s face. “She didn’t say anything?” she asked.
    â€œOh, yeah—something about calling her. She needs you to take Elena to see Santa Claus at the mall because she got a big last-minute order.”
    â€œThat’s all she said?” Hollie asked, her head inside the refrigerator as she stowed the eggs and wine.
    â€œYeah, she mentioned you wanted to borrow the Tupperware and said to call her about Elena, that’s all.”
    Noel looked so sexy and sweet with sleep that Hollie couldn’t resist going over to him and kissing him on the tip of his nose.
    â€œWhat?” Noel said, pleased yet taken aback.
    Hollie shrugged. “It’s Christmas. You looked so…” Hollie’s voice trailed off. What had come over her? Kissing him on the nose? And her explanation would be worse. What was she going to say? That she’d done it because he looked sexy… and sweet?
    â€œDo you always act on your impulses?” Noel asked with a teasing glint in his eyes.
    â€œDo you never have them?” Hollie pouted, her teeth pulling at her full bottom lip, drawing Noel’s attention.
    He thought about the dream Sarah had interrupted with her Tupperware delivery. He’d been worried she would notice his arousal.
    â€œI guess this wouldn’t be a good time to ask you a favor, huh?” Hollie ventured.
    â€œI’m not taking Elena to see Santa Claus, if that’s what you have in mind.”
    â€œNo, I haven’t forgotten you’re a grinch. What I need is for you to give me some help with the lights on my Christmas tree. There’s a short somewhere and they keep going out. I thought perhaps you might be able to figure out what’s wrong. I don’t know which strand is shorting, and I hate to go out and buy all new lights.”
    â€œSure, I could check them out,” he agreed. “It seems we’re not going to be busy seeing any houses this afternoon. This looks to be a half-foot-deep snowfall. I suppose you want me to shovel your driveway while I’m at it, too.”
    â€œYou’d do that?” she asked on a hopeful note. It wasn’t as though she was suggesting he help build a snowman, not yet anyway.
    â€œWhy not? I might as well. That way I’ll know whether this house requires a snow shovel. When it stops snowing I’ll do the drive. Right now, let’s have a look at the lights on your tree.” He headed for the tree in the corner of the room.
    â€œWait a minute. What did you mean by you’ll know whether this house requires a snow shovel?”
    â€œDidn’t I mention it? I’ve found the house I want to buy. This one. “
    The news was as much a surprise to him as to Hollie. He hadn’t known he wanted her house until he’d said it.
    But once he’d said it,