“Do you like wine?” Nicky demanded.
Law turned to face him. “It’s okay. Not my preferred drink.”
That wasn’t helpful at all. Nicky scowled. “Great.”
Law strode forward while smiling at him. “Do you like wine?”
“I don’t drink,” Nicky told him. He never drank. Okay, that wasn’t true. He’d indulged when he’d been in college. He’d quickly learned that when one drink turned to two then to more than he could count, Nicky might be in trouble. He’d spent the last two years in college avoiding all alcohol. Nicky’s fear of becoming his father batted at him until he could no longer stomach most alcohol liquids. So unless it was socially required, Nicky didn’t drink. And when the social situation called for it, he was a sipper.
“Then why are you asking me about wine?” Law questioned.
Nicky slumped forward. “I’m in over my head.”
“I’ll be happy to help if you explain the situation to me,” Law offered.
Nicky was past the point of embarrassment, meaning he might as well confess everything. “The caterer suggested wine with the Christmas meal. Of course, they don’t serve alcohol so that’s up to me to figure out.”
“How long have you been working on this?” Law asked.
What did that matter? “Apparently longer than I thought since I didn’t realize what time it was.”
Law didn’t appear pleased with that answer. “How long?”
“After lunch?” Nicky thought. He’d made himself a sandwich and ate it when he’d started organizing his list.
Law sighed.
“Sorry?” Nicky offered.
“You promised Jude last night that you wouldn’t stress yourself out planning this dinner.”
Damn it, he had. Nicky scratched at his right arm. “I didn’t mean to.”
“I do believe that,” Law said. “Where are you working?”
Nicky winced. “The kitchen.” He’d meant to eat his lunch and have some coffee before moving into the living room where he could enjoy his decorations. That always made him happy.
“Go in the living room and wait on me,” Law ordered.
“Are you mad at me?” Nicky had to ask. He’d messed up their first date so he wouldn’t blame Law, but Nicky hated to let people down.
“I’m not mad at you,” Law told him. “Concerned, but we are going to fix that.”
“Okay.” He shuffled his feet as Law pushed at his lower back. Law was still there. He hadn’t shouted and walked out. That had to count for something.
“Go, boy.”
Fine. Law wasn’t giving him a choice. Not that Nicky really wanted one. It was just easier to follow Law’s order.
Nicky slowly made his way down the long hall. It was colder back here than in the front of the house. Entering the living area, Nicky went over to the gas fireplace and pushed the button to turn it on.
Immediately flames rose. Nicky hovered in front of the fire as he looked over his Santa village. It was just so cool and brought a smile to his face. He’d seen his first village when he was abouteleven. The sweetest lady that had run the front desk of the library had been obsessed and decorated the library every year with the most beautiful Christmas village Nicky had ever seen. Nicky had known as soon as he had his own place that he wanted something like that. A holiday tradition that he could claim as his own no matter where he was in the world or what he was doing.
He'd bought one Santa a year even when he’d been in college and living in the dorms, although there hadn’t been much room. The village hadn’t come until Nicky had rented his first apartment. He’d saved his money for six months to afford the mini village that he still had to this day.
As he’d made more and more money, Nicky had totally indulged himself.
Even though Nicky could afford new decorations every year and did change the theme of the decorations, the villages and Santas were the one constant in his life.
