Page 77 of Santa Baby

“I didn’t think so,” I rasped, dipping my head to kiss her.

I tossed my phone into the passenger seat of my sleek black car for the second time as I sped up a private, winding lane in upstate New York. The daylight was fading fast as my car approached a security gate, manned by a single guard, who opened the gate without even looking in my direction.

I bit the inside of my cheek, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel as a stately mansion came into view. Its boxy, gray exterior blended with the snow-dusted landscape beyond.

I’d left Fia’s apartment earlier this morning, gone back to my apartment to change my clothes, and drove here. To my parents’ house. The old family estate.

No Christmas lights lit the carport as I pulled beneath it, greeted by William, the butler who’d been working for the family since before I was born.

“Sir,” he said by way of greeting, looking slightly surprised and off kilter as I got out of the car before he could finish rushing down the steps. “You’re aware that the dinner is tomorrow night, in the city, not here⁠—”

“I’m just here for a quick visit,” I told him with a clap to his shoulder.

“Your father isn’t home.”

“Thank God,” I murmured and stepped through the grand, glass-paned double doors. The grand foyer brought back a rush of memories of Christmases past. The huge Christmas tree between the curving twin staircases. The warm scent of pine and spice. The reds and green I couldn’t see very well. It all felt familiar, and for the first time in years, I didn’t shy away from it. I didn’t scowl or ignore it.

“Fia is going to love this,” I murmured to myself with a smile as I looked around.

“What on earth are you doing here?” Small, rushed footsteps sped in my direction, Mom’s heels clicking on the hardwood floor. Her light blonde hair was pulled away from her face in a tight ponytail and she was wearing her usual matching beige cashmere “house clothes,” as she called them. Her smile beamed toward me as her light blue eyes creased, shaking her head at me in confusion. “We’re having dinner in the city tomorrow night, remember?”

“Yes, I am aware.” I tucked my hands in my pockets. “I’m glad you’re home.”

“Why?” She looked me up and down, tilting her head to the side as she took in my crewneck knit sweater and jeans, my ruffled hair and five o’clock shadow. “Are you well?”

“Of course. Why?”

“You look so casual.” She smiled again, chuckling softly. “I haven’t seen you out of a suit in years, I think.”

“Well it’s the day before Christmas Eve and I had no reason to go to the office today.” I pursed my lips as the reality of why I’d driven out here, to the country, to the family estate, came crashing down on me. “I need your help with something.”

Mom perked up, her tiny hands on her hips. She was just over five feet tall and lithe, always had been. I’d been taller than her by third grade, and now I towered over her with ease. She looked at me like she knew exactly what I was here for, which sent feelings skittering through my chest. “You want the ring, don’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“You have that look.” She waved a hand toward my face, her gaze lingering on my eyes for a moment. She exhaled with what I could only describe as relief. “Like when we’d take you to Grand Central Station to ride the trains.”

“I did love the trains as a kid.”

“You did.” She sighed wistfully, her eyes going glassy. “Well, come on then.” She turned on her heel and started climbing the stairs to the east wing of the mansion.

“Aren’t you going to interrogate me about her? Her family? Whether I’ve considered how she might be using me for my money?” I climbed after her. She was surprisingly fast for such a small person.

“I’m sure your father did that already.” She shot me a knowing look before tucking her hands behind her back and leading me into the depths of the house. “You forgot that I was once in Fia’s position.”

I was honestly shocked she remembered Fia’s name. They hadn’t met yet. That would happen tomorrow night, and now I was really looking forward to it. She opened the door to the library and turned on the light. “So, tell me about her.”

Where did I even begin?

“She’s beautiful, of course.”

Mom climbed a ladder and raked her eyes over one of the built-in shelves, pulling on a large leather-bound book. A loud click echoed through the room as she climbed down again without missing a beat.

“Well, there must be more to her than that,” she said before grunting with effort as she pulled the trap door open leading into the safe.

I rolled my lower lip between my teeth as I followed her inside a snug space made of solid concrete, stopping in front of the built-in safe itself.

“She’s smart, and capable.”