Page 7 of Christmas in Quincy (The Edens 0.50)

No bratty kids complaining because the thousands of dollars in gifts weren’t enough. No extravagant parties where I was forced into heels and a cocktail dress as I made small talk with Dad’s business associates. No vegan Christmas dinner because my stepmother was on a new diet.

I was in Montana and I was staying.

A knock at the door had me springing into action, salivating for my champagne. I grabbed a twenty from my purse to give as a tip, then ripped the door open. “Thank—”

No.

My stomach dropped to the fuzzy slippers on my feet.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Chapter 2

Austin

“Get your stuff,” I ordered Cleo. The last place I wanted to be two days before Christmas was Montana. Maybe she wanted to escape here for a white Christmas, but sunshine, palm trees and seventy-degree weather suited me just fine. “Let’s go.”

“Why won’t anyone answer my questions?” she asked under her breath, her eyes narrowing at me. “Let’s try this again. What. Are. You. Doing. Here?”

“Collecting you.” I pushed past her into the room and set my backpack down. Then I walked to the closet, ripping the door open and hauling out her empty suitcase before tossing it on the bed. I pointed toward it as it bounced. “Pack up.”

“No.” Cleo crossed her arms over her chest, stepping away from the door to let it slam closed. “I’m not leaving, Austin.”

“Yes, you are.” The sooner the better. The second to last place I wanted to be two days before Christmas was in Cleo’s hotel room, beside a bed. “Hustle up.”

“No.” She huffed. “No, I’m not leaving.”

“Damn, but you are difficult.”

She jutted out her chin.

The movement shifted the loose waves of her long, brown hair. The color always reminded me of the cocoa buttercream frosting she used on my favorite cupcakes. Her hazel eyes flared brighter, like they always did when she was angry, and the green flecks glowed.

I sucked in a breath, willing my temper and self-control into submission, but all it got me was a deep inhale of her scent. Sweet honey infused with her favorite cinnamon gum. Fuck, I really needed to get out of this hotel room.

There was a reason I avoided Cleo. There was a reason I made sure never to be alone with her in a confined space. Cleo Hillcrest was a beautiful, enchanting, infuriating woman and the daughter of my biggest client.

Cleo Hillcrest was categorically off-limits.

And she hated me to boot. Well, as close to hate as Cleo could come. She was too good, too sweet, to truly hate.

But her brand of hatred was exactly how I preferred things between us. How I’d designed it. As soon as I hauled her home to California, we could go back to the way things had been. Me, pretending like she didn’t exist. Her, cursing the day I’d been born.

Harmony.

“This isn’t up for debate.” I mirrored her stance and jerked my chin to the suitcase. “Pack.”

“Unbelievable.” She seethed. “I haven’t seen you in three months. The last time you spoke to me you criticized my work, my hair and my clothing. Now you’re here, ruining my vacation.”

I had criticized her, and I’d do it again. I’d walked into Crumbs and she’d been behind the register. She’d given me a smile so sweet it had made my heart skip. So I’d told her that the croissant she’d given me the day before was dry, her hair was looking a little flat and that the flour covering her jeans and T-shirt was an improvement because it made them less boring.

Not the nicest way to say hello but it had erased her sweet smile and the only thing in my heart had been guilt.

I’d planned on apologizing the next time I saw her, but that same day, her father had called to inform me that my job duties were to change. He’d made an agreement with Cleo. No more bodyguards. No more round-the-clock security.

It was all bullshit.

The only deal Ray had made was with me. My team was to ensure Cleo’s safety from an unnoticeable distance.