A Villain for Christmas (The Holyoake Christmas Series, Book 2)

Overcranking Billie

1 out of 2 <3

I hope you enjoy!

Love,

K. xx

***

Nada let them out of her Rover a few blocks away from Miss Rosa's tearoom; and Billie obediently plodded after the director, who was marching through the streets, turning her head left and right, yet another cigarette in her fingers.

The bell over the tearoom's door jingled melodiously; there was a small commotion at the entrance, because the director tried to come in with the fag in her mouth, then muttered 'Damn it,' and tried to reverse, while Billie followed her; and the two of them clashed. Billie jerked back, trying to avoid the ash and the director's shoulder.

"Go in," Bondarenko dismissed.

Billie was at the end of her rope by now - and then suddenly someone firmly picked her up under her elbow and pulled her inside.

"Sorry for manhandling you," a velvet baritone above her rumbled. "You looked like you needed help."

Billie met the bright blue eyes of Will Holyoake, a man well-known in Fleckney. He was a military veteran and a popular fiction author. Billie read all his new releases religiously. His trenchant laconic style was a rare treat even for a reader as snooty and persnickety as Billie.

"Thank you," she muttered, and he gave her a short nod.

He turned to leave - and of course Bondarenko chose exactly this moment to surge in. They clashed, and the cane he used when walking fell on the floor with a loud thud.

"Oh dang it, I'm sorry!" Bondarenko picked it up and stretched her hand with it to him. "Oh, you're one of them, aren't you? The Holyoakes. Eric warned us that you lot are everywhere."

Billie felt blood rush to her cheeks in torturous second-hand embarrassment. No one spoke like that to a Holyoake in Fleckney - especially to this particular one! The man had gravitas. Will Holyoake said little - but everyone listened. Billie pressed her head lower into her shoulders - when suddenly a warm chuckle bubbled in the man's throat.

"And you are Yulia Bondarenko," he stated. When he smiled, charming laughing crinkles ran near the corners of his eyes. "It's an honour to meet you. I'm a fan."

He stretched his hand, and the woman absent-mindedly shook it.

"Nice to meet you," she grumbled, and then muttered an 'excuse me,' rounded him, and walked to the counter at the back of the tea room.

Billie suppressed the urge to verbosely apologise for and explain the woman's horrendous behaviour - by the latter's caffeine withdrawal, perhaps - but based on her personal experience, Billie used the Japanese proverb "The stake that sticks up gets hammered down" as her life motto. Be quiet and hope for the best, basically. Though, the 'playing possum technique' rarely worked with her Aunts.

And then, against all odds, Will Holyoake burst into quiet laughter.

"Never meet your heroes, right?" he said to Billie, shook his head, gave her another nod, and left.

Billie stared after him.

Would you look at that! Yulia Bondarenko had suddenly become worthy of Billie's research efforts.

On the other hand, Will Holyoake's seal of approval of Bondarenko's work did nothing to improve Billie's opinion on the director's personality, especially considering that at the moment Bondarenko was in the middle of a heated disagreement with Miss Rosa, one of Fleckney's most influential business owners. Miss Rosa was just as feared and respected by the residents of the county as her food was loved and craved.