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“This is great. Not too busy, not overdone,” Reed says, looking around.
“No, simple and classy fits you best,” I reply and feel my cheeks heat when he slides his hand into mine, linking our fingers.
“I love it.”
“I’m glad.”
“Now, my room!” Piper yells and hurries across the hall. She flings open the door, and then stops short, her brown eyes wide with excitement. “Wow!”
“Wow is right,” Reed says when we join her.
There’s a matching Christmas tree in front of her doors, but this one is draped in pink and cream-colored ribbons and ornaments, with bunnies sitting on the branches.
“So many bunnies,” Piper breathes.
“Well, your wish is my command when it comes to holiday décor,” I remind them both and can’t help but smile as we watch Piper inspect every single bunny, holding her own precious rabbit close to her chest.
“What are these bunnies?” Piper asks, pointing next to her bed.
“Those are bunny slippers,” I inform her. “You have a matching robe in the bathroom.”
Piper runs into the bathroom and squeals in delight.
“You decorated the bathroom, too?” Reed asks as he looks inside. More pink bunnies, more ribbons, and even a small tree on the corner of the vanity greet us.
“Of course.” I wink down at Piper, who wraps her arms around my leg and gives me a huge hug.
“Thank you,” she says.
“You’re most welcome.”
I show them to the guest rooms, where the design is simple and neutral, with reds, and gold and silver accents.
Then we make our way downstairs.
Each of the white kitchen cabinets have wreaths hanging on red ribbons. I brought in red blankets for the couches, pillows that say Joy to the World and Naughty or Nice?
“This should be featured in a magazine,” Reed says as they take everything in.
“Look outside,” Piper says, pointing to the lights strung across the outdoor living space.
Reed pushes back the accordion door, only a quarter of the way because it’s quite cold today in Seattle, and we step out. We can see boats gliding over the water of the Sound, but it’s the lights and the outdoor pillows on the furniture that have Piper’s attention.
“I hope you like it.”
Reed turns to me and pulls me in for a tight hug. Clients have hugged me in excitement before, but it’s usually the female ones that do so.
Not hot, sexy men that I’m pretty sure want in my pants.
His spicy scent surrounds me. I could get lost in him.
“Why is the tree in here naked?” Piper asks as she walks back into the house.
“Good question,” Reed says, looking down at me. “The living room tree doesn’t have any ornaments.”
“Well, this is the tree we picked out together,” I say as Reed closes the glass doors. “Once Bob cut it down a bit, we got it set up.”
I glance at Reed, who just narrows his eyes on me, but they’re full of humor.
It was totally too big for this space.
“A girl should decorate her own Christmas tree,” I say at last. “I have a box of ornaments ready to go. I’m even cooking you guys dinner, and I might have baked cookies for dessert.”
Okay, so I’ve never baked cookies for a client before, but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted everything to be just perfect, just so. I like spending time with them both so much, and I wanted to spend more time with them this evening, past the simple reveal of the decorations.
Piper jumps up and down in excitement, and Reed just watches me, his hands shoved into his pockets, and I wonder if I’ve overstepped.
I mean, he didn’t invite me to stay.
“If you’d rather do this, just the two of you, I totally understand, and I’ll just leave—”
Before I can finish my thought, Reed shocks me by pulling me in for a kiss. Long and slow and thorough, and when I come up for air, I glance down at Piper, who’s watching us with interest.
“Your daughter—”
“Will get used to seeing me kiss you,” he finishes for me. “Now, let’s get started on this tree. And dinner. I’m starved. Are you hungry, honey?”
“Yes. But I wanna decorate first.”
“We can do both,” I say, recovering my wits. “I made appetizers, so it’s easy to eat and work at the same time.”
“Perfect.” Reed follows me to the kitchen. “Thank you. For all of this. You killed it.”
“I know.” I grin and pass him a bottle of wine. “And you’re welcome. Will you please open that?”
“I’m happy to. By the way, I have a holiday party for my firm on Friday. I’d like you to be my date.”
I stop and stare at him. “That’s in two days.”
“Yep.”
I nod, mentally combing through my closet. I think I have several things that will work for a holiday party. “Okay. I’m in.”
“Excellent.”Chapter Six~Noel~“Noel, I’d like you to meet Nate McKenna, and his wife—”
