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Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, we met up more often. The kids had various school events that required prepping costumes and such, and everything went much faster if we worked on them together. I grinned when I arrived. The house had a bright red roof and cream-colored walls. Jenna and Richard had already hung figurines and lights everywhere. It looked as if an army of tiny Santa Clauses was climbing the walls. The enormous yard was empty because it was too chilly to be outdoors.
The inside of the house smelled like vanilla, caramel, and a whiff of roasted peanuts. Yum. I joined the large group in the living room.
Today, we were working on elaborate costumes for the nativity play that everyone under ten seemed to be participating in. Logan Bennett’s wife, Nadine, was a successful evening gown designer, and her staff had done the brunt of the work. Now we were just personalizing every costume.
I was sitting between her and Ava. She was trying to sell me on moving to Bennett Enterprises just as much as Pippa. When I eventually moved, I’d be working directly with her. But I wasn’t ready to change workplaces just yet. Later, I moved next to Chloe, and we immediately started discussing the latest trends in belts.
“I’m confused by all the conflicting advice in magazines,” Chloe concluded.
“You know what? I’ll just ask one of the advisors on the women’s floor to give me the rundown, and I’ll tell you.”
“You’re the best.” Chloe was positively beaming. I couldn’t help myself and gave her a half hug and a huge smooch on her cheek. She pulled back.
Right. I really had to stop doing that. She was twelve. I remembered those years. I hadn’t liked our mom’s constant doting and had tried to escape it every time. Until we lost our parents, and then I’d treasured those memories. I would have given anything for one more hug from Mom. But Chloe had been so young that she didn’t remember our parents very much.
During a break from costume adjustment, I showed Victoria a video of the decoration pieces in the store that I wasn’t sure about.
“This bow could be smaller. And this would look excellent with a golden chest beneath. If you don’t have anything on hand, I can find you one,” Victoria said.
“Thanks, sis. Wow, you’re right. A chest would absolutely work. I’m sure I’ll find one.”
“Let me know if you need me to search for one,” Victoria assured me. My sister was a great interior designer. In my opinion, she was actually the best. I’d wanted to get Victoria on board as an official consultant this year, but she was always overbooked around Christmas.
“How are things with your boss?” Victoria asked. I’d told her all about Winston... well, almost everything. We hadn’t had a chance to catch up, so she didn’t know about the kiss. I planned to rectify that immediately. Besides, maybe talking about it would help me not replay it in my mind so often.
“So... a few things happened.” Under my breath, I described the kiss in exquisite detail.
Victoria’s expression grew from curious to incredulous. “Holy shit. This is... wow. Unexpected.”
“Crazy?” I suggested, smiling when I saw Pippa approach us. Her grin left me no doubt that she’d heard at least part of the conversation.
“What’s crazy?” she asked. Pointing a finger at me, she added, “You look like someone who can’t believe things escalated so quickly. My money’s on things with the boss from hell having gotten... hot and heavy?”
I laughed, blowing out a breath.
Victoria smiled. “Can’t hide from Pippa.”
“Details?” Pippa beckoned.
“You mean to tell me you didn’t eavesdrop on our entire conversation?”
She shrugged one shoulder, batting her eyelashes. “No, just the ending. I want to know the full story. How else can I give you advice?”
Here I went again, recounting every detail. Unfortunately, talking about it wasn’t helping me think about it less. If anything, I was breaking in a sweat while remembering his hot and determined lips on mine, the way he’d simply claimed me. His kiss was branded not just in my memory but on my mouth too. And the way he’d made me feel had just been out of this world. I’d wanted to stay there in the cocoon of his arms for the rest of the evening. He’d cooked for me. He’d taken care of me. I was melting again remembering all that masculine charm, that determination, and his unexpected protective side.
How was I supposed to forget about all that until Monday?
Pippa tilted her head, flashing a smile that told me I was in trouble. “Just saying, but you sound as if you want a repeat.”
“I do, don’t I?”
Victoria nodded sagely. I shook my head, then pressed my lips together as Christopher approached us.
“The girl council is in action, I see.” He laced an arm around Victoria’s shoulders, the other around Pippa’s. The girls both had their poker faces on, but that didn’t fool Christopher.
“You’re keeping secrets,” he declared. Victoria sighed, giving me an apologetic look. Big mistake. Christopher had just been trying to get a feel for the situation, and she’d confirmed his suspicions.
“Spill it,” he demanded.
