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“I like the dynamic element,” he said appreciatively. “But we need something we can implement right away. Including the slide and everything else would take structural changes to the building.”
“Got it.”
We went on discussing the pros and cons of the ideas for the winter schedule for what felt like hours. Finally, the well of ideas dried up. Hell, my mouth was dry from talking so much.
“Let’s call it a night,” he said.
I leaned back, stretching my arms. Finally, Winston pushed his own chair away, massaging his temple. I immediately missed his nearness.
I packed my things quickly, then turned off the Christmas lights. I was even more hyperaware of Winston’s presence than before. He could have left, but he was still in the room. I was about to bring a chair so I could reach the string of lights I’d put on a shelf when Winston said, “I’ll do that.”
He must have been closer than I’d thought, because I felt the heat of his body behind me almost immediately. He was so close that if I leaned back a few inches, my head would touch his chest. I stood completely still while he extended a hand, reaching the switch with ease, turning it off.
“There.”
I waited a few seconds before turning, but he’d only taken a step or so back. He was far too close for my peace of mind, and he knew it. That amused glint in his eyes was a dead giveaway. I cleared my throat, smiling, attempting to diffuse this... energy that seemed to grow more intense each time we were alone.
“See, want to tell me this didn’t help? Put us in a Christmas mood?”
He cocked a brow.
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Put me in a Christmas mood, and makes me feel as if I’m home with my family. That fuels my creativity.”
“Noted.” Unexpectedly, he added, “Do your parents also live in San Francisco?”
“They passed away when I was a teenager.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thanks.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“An older one, Victoria. Two younger ones—Lucas is seventeen and Chloe twelve.”
I rarely spoke about my parents, least of all to people I wasn’t close to. But he’d fed me my favorite food, and I was surrounded by twinkling lights and all manners of Christmassy things. How could I not let my guard down?
“My mom was a nurse. For a long time, I wanted to be one too. But I don’t like the sight of blood and sick people. I just couldn’t do it. One summer in high school, Christopher arranged for me to intern at a hospital, and I just couldn’t go through with it. I felt as if I was letting her down. But Christopher was really supportive and said I should intern for the rest of the summer at Bennett Enterprises. I was in the marketing department and loved every second of it. You know the saying ‘Don’t try to be an apple if you’re a banana, because you’ll always be a second-rate apple’?”
“Love that saying. And you’re brilliant at this, Sienna. You’ve definitely found your place.”
“Thanks. Anyway, Mom used to bring us all here for the Christmas program. It’s one of my favorite memories.”
His eyes softened. That only loosened my tongue more.
“So when I saw an opening in the marketing department, I jumped at the opportunity. I’m a Christmas enthusiast.”
“You mean a Christmas dork.”
“Hey! Don’t say that,” I teased. I’d meant it rhetorically, but Winston shifted closer again. It was intoxicating, taking my breath away.
“Or what?”
That challenging tone, the whiff of pepper and ocean were too damn appealing to me. I could almost feel the warmth of his skin, even though he wasn’t touching me. This energy between us had turned sensual again. Everything was like that with Winston. It was his superpower.
“Anyway, being in charge of the decorations fits me like a glove,” I said.
“I can see that.”
