It's Not Christmas Without You (The Holloway Series) by HelenKay Dimon Read Free Book Online Page B

time. “Hardly.”
    “More action than I’m getting.”
    Austin wasn’t touching that. He had more important things to worry about than his brother’s temporarily derailed sex life. “She’s afraid she’s going to end up like her mother, resenting her life because she didn’t go out and see the world.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “Unfortunately.”
    “So, she’s picking the world over you. Interesting.” Spence covered his laugh with a fake cough.
    “Happy you’re amused.”
    “It’s all a bit New Age for my taste. City folks tend to make easy things difficult. I’m convinced they like the stress.”
    Austin agreed. Tiptoeing around Carrie’s moods took a lot of energy. He found the whole game they were playing a nuisance, but a supportive boyfriend kept that kind of thing to himself if he ever wanted sex again. And he did.
    “She just needs to experience some of what’s out here then she can come home,” he said.
    “Do you know how condescending that sounds?”
    “I’m telling the truth.”
    Spence shook his head. “I see an idiotic plan in your future.”
    “She’s seeing the world now. It’s just a matter of her realizing D.C. is not that much different from home and giving in.”
    Austin replayed the comment in his head right after he said it. Even he had to admit the words sounded stupid all strung together like that. He’d all but been chest-pounding. Not his finest moment to be sure.
    “Have you looked around?” Spence pointed around the lot, twice stopped on a blonde hovering near the office steps.
    “What?”
    “The woman.” Spence adjusted his aim. “Not that one. I mean Carrie.”
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “It’s not just about the traffic and the tall buildings. This place is different. I’m betting that museum she works in is a step up from the crappy tourist gallery she worked at in Harper’s Ferry.”
    All good points. Since he didn’t have a good response, Austin decided to ignore them.
    Spence shook his head. “You’re still clueless.”
    “I agree.” Carrie snuck up on them and shouldered her way between them.
    Austin almost launched into a half apology, half explanation until he saw the smile on her face. Whatever she overheard hadn’t ticked her off. Got lucky for once. “You don’t even know what Spence is talking about.”
    She handed her coffee cup to Spence after he stared at it without blinking for what felt like a half hour. Folding her hands in front of her, she smiled. “I heard the word clueless and assumed he meant you.”
    Austin made a face and pretended to be offended, even though they all had enough experience with each other to know it would take a hell of a lot more than that. “That’s harsh.”
    Spence took a sip then closed his eyes in a look of appreciation seldom reserved for caffeine. “I think she’s reading you about right.”
    As far as Austin was concerned there was one person too many in this discussion. He pointed at the one who needed to leave. “Spence, go away.”
    “Subtle.”
    “I could have dumped the coffee on you instead.”
    “I’m going to take this drink and see if the lovely lady over there needs my help.” With that Spence made a direct line for the woman with the low-cut shirt and a jacket better suited for a cruise ship than winter.
    Carrie rolled her eyes while Spence dropped his best line. “Some things never change.”
    Austin wished he could make that true. “You find the right Christmas tree yet?”
    “Still looking.”
    The stalling had to be a good sign. She’d stared at the same three trees for days. The process shouldn’t be that hard. You went out, picked a tree and dragged it home. Anything more bordered on obsession.
    He hoped he was the real reason for her sudden lack of decision-making abilities.
    “Carrie? Is that you?” A guy in his mid-thirties with a wide smile and strangely unmoving hair despite the wind appeared in front of them.
    Austin hated the guy on