Page 46 of The Christmas Accomplice

Chapter 11

Reece was having trouble focusing on work. Any spare second he had, his brain immediately turned back to Welton. It was like a movie trailer, showing the best snippets of their afternoon. And it was very, very distracting. Nick had already called him out on it twice, and he could tell she was losing her patience.

“All right, what is it?” Nick said between guests.

“What’s what?”

“Don’t give me that. You’ve got the all the focus of an overly caffeinated chipmunk. What’s all up in that bearded noggin of yours? Are you nervous about the activity tonight?”

“No. I’m actually looking forward to Christmas karaoke. I’m glad you convinced me to take the lead on it, and, as much as I hate to admit it because it’s Graham’s activity, it’s actually pretty fun.”

“Then what is it?”

“What’s what?”

“What’s going on?”

“There’s nothing going on. Just another evening shift.”

She was quiet a moment, studying him, then a smile slowly curled up the corners of her mouth. “You had sex.”

Reece frowned and looked away. “What? You’re crazy.”

Nick stepped in close and lowered her voice. “How was it? Did you hear angels sing? Did he ask you to roll a handful of strangely shaped dice to choose the position?”

“No, and definitely not.”

She stepped back and pointed with a victorious look. “Ah ha! So you did have sex.”

He swatted her hand away and looked around the lobby. “Will you keep it down, please?”

“How was it?”

Reece smiled and blushed. “It was good.”

“Oh my God, are you blushing? Holy ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, you’ve really got it bad for this guy, don’t you?”

“Oh my God, can you please keep your voice down?” Reece let out a breath, and couldn’t help smiling. “It was good. It was very good, as a matter of fact. And fun.”

“Fun? Really?” She frowned and shrugged. “I don’t understand what this fun equated with sex is all about.”

He gave her an over-exaggerated pout. “I’m really sorry to hear the weekend you spent with Kyle from Boca Vista Gardens, with his deep tan and full ginger beard and washboard abs wasn’t fun.”

“It was a mercy fucking.”

“Well, you had to have been very merciful that weekend because you didn’t stop smiling for a month.”

Nick sighed and rested her hip against the counter as she stared dreamily off into the distance. “Yeah, it was pretty amazing.”

“And, see? This right here. You’re pining over Kyle, and that happened over a year ago.”

“I’m not pining. I’m recalling a really great connection and physical attraction I shared with someone.”

“What if you never feel that way for someone again? He’s gone, and you’re still here.”

Nick moved closer and touched his arm. “Hey, why’d you suddenly go to the dark side about this?”

Reece made a face. “Sorry. Every now and then I realize he’s leaving after Christmas, but I still keep pursuing something with him. It’s like I can’t help myself.”