Holly's Christmas Dom-Brieanna-final edit by Raven McAllan Page B

midnight," Holly reminded him. "And
if we're being precise, I've had ten years. Now I still have half an hour."
She pointed at the church clock.
    The nip on her neck made her jump. "Sassy. Twenty-seven
minutes and counting. But remember, so did I. Wait ten years. So?"
    Damn him, I'm so not
ready. However,
deep down, she knew she was more than ready, just scared to admit it.
    "So you can wait. I'll meet you in the Cock and
Bull then."
    Mac spun her around to face him. His eyes narrowed,
and the flecks of gold in the dark brown irises were hidden from view. "You
wouldn't be thinking of reneging, would you?" His voice was enough to make
her want to sink to her knees. Talk about dominant and commanding. It was all
that and more. It was just as well they were in the village square and there
was ice and snow on the ground. Her at his feet? Now that would give the locals something to talk about. "I'll be
mighty pissed if you are." He put his arm around her, and his hand
caressed her ass through the heavy coat she was wearing. Even through all the
layers, the heat of his touch seared her skin.
    Scary and, damn it,
exciting. Sod him. If he moves that finger any harder, it'll be in my asshole. It was a thought that
made her breath hitch.
    "Whatever you decide, I want to hear it from
you," Mac said. "To look into your eyes and see if it's the truth or
you're running scared. "
    "I don't break promises, Mac. If you think I do,
let's call it all off now." Holly knew her tone reflected her hurt, and
she didn't care. Even if she still didn't know what her answer would be, she
had no intention of chickening out of their meeting.
    Liar. You do know. You've
always known.
    "Oh no. You're not getting out of it that easily,"
Mac warned her. "If you want to be a coward, you'll tell me face-to-face.
We've waited this long. It's going to be full-on reasons. Okay, I'm off to grab
us a table. See you soon." He turned on his heel and left her standing in
the now almost deserted square. She guessed a lot of people had gone home, it
was too damned cold to linger, and those who weren't now in front of their own
fires were in the queue to fill the pub.
    Holly watched his progress. He was popular like her
brother and one of the local “boys done good” brigade. A lot of people stopped
him to talk as he made his way up the queue. Of course he'd have a table
booked. Mac thought of everything.
    Was that good or bad?
      She noticed
that even though he passed a few words with each of them, his steps hardly
slowed. Deep in thought and still not sure exactly what she was about to
say—and it would no doubt be life changing whatever her answer was—Holly
wrapped her arms around herself and began to walk slowly in the same direction.
    "Hey, Holly!" Noel shouted from a group
chatting outside the pub. Nearly all of them held cigarettes in their hands.
Since smoking was banned in public places, most pubs and office blocks had a
group of people puffing away outside. Holly hated it and told him that as often
as she could.
    "Kissing an ashtray, Noel," she said as she
passed her brother. "Who wants that?"
    One of the other guys laughed. "Hey, Holls. Tell
him I'd love to please. He so doesn't believe me."
    Holly rolled her eyes. Poor Jason, he'd fancied Noel
from afar for years. If only Noel would fancy him back, life would be a lot
simpler for both of them. Although, no, strike that. She'd then be the only
single triplet—Carol being long married and happy in wedded bliss—and everyone's
attention would turn to her.
    That made her shudder in not a nice manner. Holly was
very much a private person, and the thought of being in the limelight was
anathema to her. I will be if I go along
with Mac.
    Nevertheless, Noel’s mates were all good guys, and she
loved her brother. If she were honest, she wished Noel would give Jason a
chance. Noel had told her in one drunken confess-fest he fancied Jason, but was
very much a believer in the adage “not in my back yard.” As Noel