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“That’s an extreme accusation. Do you have any proof? Horns? A tail?” Erica teased.
“When did you switch your major to professional heckler?”
“Sorry, boss. I’m just saying you might want to ask him if you’re in a pinch. I bet he’d be more than happy to help.”
When hell freezes over.
“I don’t think so.”
“But why?”
“I thought calling him Satan covered it?”
“I think my lit professor is evil but I still go to class because I need him. Sometimes we have to suck it up to get what we want.”
Holly mulled that over, thinking back to the day she’d walked into the hardware store with a plate of cookies for Mr. Gallagher because she’d hoped something sweet would warm the old grouch up a little. She’d been pleasantly surprised to find Declan instead, his beard neatly trimmed although she wasn’t a big fan of facial hair, but his eyes were absolutely dreamy. While relationships had never been her strong suit, a little neighborly fun might have been in order.
If he hadn’t turned out to be grumpier than his dad, their relationship might have gone in an entirely different direction, and last week she’d had hope that maybe they were almost becoming friends.
But she’d sunk that ship with a cannonball.
“You’ve been here when he stomps over like a giant man-baby about the music.”
Erica shrugged. “Some people don’t like Christmas music.”
“People who hate joy and warm snugly feelings hate Christmas music.” God, even Holly heard the judgy tone and grimaced. “I shouldn’t say that.”
Her employee laughed. “I mean, it’s not my favorite but I’ll listen to it.”
“So I’m the bad guy because I like it?”
“I’m not saying you’re the bad guy at all. He’s definitely come in here hot and over the top, but I get the feeling that’s about more than Christmas music.”
“What do you mean?”
“The sexual tension between the two of you.”
Holly sputtered. “There is nothing sexual between us. Period.” Declan’s face leaning into hers flashed through her mind, and she beat it back with a mental baseball bat.
Erica grinned slyly. “You may not want there to be any, but it’s thick and juicy like an apple waiting to be sliced open.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Then why don’t you hire him?” Erica asked.
“Because I don’t like him enough to give him my money.”
“Looks like you’ve got more reasons than choices.”
“Don’t try to manipulate me with logic,” Holly grumbled. There was no way Declan would take the job, not without extorting something from her. An apology? Another restriction on her music?
But Erica had a point. She was out of options.
“I’ll be back.”
“Where are you going?”
“To kill a piece of my soul.”
