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But the risk is worth it to be with Nina again. While she’s living with us, we don’t have to worry about her dating anyone else. And when the holidays are over, so is this arrangement.

That works for me. We have our fun, and then I forget it ever happened.

Everyone’s agreed. The rules are clear. There’s an end date. Not much can go wrong. It’s not at all what I expected when we arrived for our winter holiday, but a temporary relationship with Nina is turning out to be the best thing about this Christmas.

For the first time that I can remember, I actually feel festive. Maybe I’ll even give in and toss a few things in the stockings this year.

The thought makes me glance at the hearth, and I notice one thing is still missing.

I’ll take care of that tomorrow.

CHAPTER 16

NINA

Three gorgeous, ridiculously wealthy men, and all of them want me. After Reid, it’s the last thing I ever expected.

The morning after we agree to our “seasonal romance,” I glance into the study on my way to the kitchen, and something catches my eye. I’m detail-oriented to a fault, so even one thing out of place gets my attention. When I walk over to the hearth, I break into a smile.

Hanging between the guys’ stockings is a new one with my name on it.

“I figured you might like to be included,” Zander says from behind me.

I turn. He’s in cotton joggers, the soft fabric hugging his cock in a way that makes me want him all over again.

“Thank you!” I beam. “This means a lot.”

“Don’t get too excited.” He takes a sip of coffee and heads back into the hallway. “I can’t promise there’ll be anything in it on Christmas morning.”

I grin at his stubbornness. Zander doesn’t let anything past those castle walls without a fight. There might even be a moat. But however much he plays it down, the gesture means a lot to me.

Today’s agenda keeps me inside—calls, emails, and reservations. Pascal is out for the day, handling last-minute arrangements for his gala guests. Jarek has been arguing with someone on the phone all morning and is now outside splitting firewood, apparently taking it out on the logs. Zander is working quietly in the study.

Tonight, the guys promised a winter walk on one of the trails that winds from the house into the woods. It’ll be freezing, but I can’t wait.

Just before dusk, as golden light pours through the windows, I wrap up work and check social media to see what’s going on back in Denver. I’ll be home in a couple of weeks.

I can’t check out completely, but I regret checking my social media almost immediately.

In all the chaos of being here, I forgot to block Reid. The algorithm apparently thinks I still care, because his page is the first thing I see. His latest video starts playing before I can scroll away, and sick curiosity keeps me watching.

“You know, I think of this as my healing era.” Reid’s smug face fills my screen. “I was so taken advantage of by Nina that I need some time to focus on my own needs.”

I actually snort. Reid, focusing on his own needs. That’s all he ever does.

“I’ve put together a little montage,” he tells his followers as they pile into the chat. “Those of you who really know me will understand how much damage a woman like this did to my life. All I’ve ever tried to do is make people’s relationships better, including my own. I guess this is what I get for trusting a selfish woman. See for yourself who Nina Adler really is.”

I’m shaking with anger. Why does he keep coming back? Why does he keep dragging my name through the mud? He’s the one who cheated. He’s the one who lied. Why can’t he just move the fuck on and leave my name out of his mouth?

I watch clips of myself play one after another. He wasn’t just secretly recording me all those months. He’s cut every clip out of context and spliced them together to make me look demanding, whiny, and cruel.

I remember every one of these moments. In one, I was yelling at an annoying character in a movie, and we both ended up laughing at how dumb it was. In another, I was venting to him in confidence about a difficult client. None of it was even about Reid. But here I am, turned into a horrible girlfriend who berated him and constantly demanded more.

My mouth is still hanging open when he starts talking again.

“This is what I had to put up with.” He looks straight into the camera like he’s got more acting experience than Jarek. “So, like I said, I need some time to heal. Thank you all for your patience and support as I navigate this difficult time.”

His comments explode with sympathy, people cursing me out, even donations. Reid might give terrible relationship advice, but he’s one hell of a con man.