by Layla Hagen
“Well, anyway, I’d still appreciate a heads-up.”
“But then you’d stress out, and we just wanted to get a feel for the situation,” Pippa said.
“And?” I asked.
“He is totally into you.”
My heart felt lighter. I wanted to believe in Pippa’s power of reading people now more than ever, but that seemed a rather hasty conclusion after such a short interaction.
“And you could tell that from the two sentences you exchanged?”
Pippa waved her hand. “Oh, no. From the way he acted when he noticed us. As if he was hoping Victoria and I could vanish into thin air so he could be alone with you.”
My cheeks flushed. “Still... really. Let me know when you want to come up to the office.”
“We won’t come again,” Victoria assured me.
“We just needed some first-hand observations so we could build a case for Christopher. We’re still deciding what angle to use.” Pippa waggled her eyebrows. “I wasn’t sure before, but now I’m weighing his chances of surviving Christopher and the rest of my brothers at around fifty percent.”
I burst out laughing, glancing at Victoria.
“You have nothing to add?”
“Nope. Pippa just about covered everything. Though I’d say fifty-five percent.”
“Your confidence is inspiring,” I teased.
After leaving the building, we went to a nail bar. It was the perfect combination of sipping drinks and having our nails done. We’d chosen a spot in Fisherman’s Wharf, because we were having dinner later at Blue Moon, Alice and Blake’s restaurant. We were overlooking the water, with a fantastic view of the fishing fleet. The boats and yachts there had been lit up since the lighted boat parade. I couldn’t make out one from the other because the fog was thick tonight, but the faint colors cast everything in a fairy-tale-like glow.
In the distance, the Golden Gate Bridge was barely visible, just specks of light in the dark sky.
Pippa was a spa girl through and through. She loved getting pampered. Victoria and I had always been the do-it-yourself type. Growing up, we’d had a spa day one Saturday every month, on which we went as girly as we could: face masks, doing our nails, peelings. It was harder to keep the schedule after Victoria became a mom, though, so we snuck in an evening at the nail bar here and there. Chloe usually came with us too, but she was working on a school project tonight.
“I need to confess something,” I said after taking a sip from my wine glass. “I’m glad Chloe isn’t with us tonight.”
Victoria nudged my shoulder, grinning. “Don’t feel too guilty. So do I. Means we can get you to share every delicious detail with us.”
“But maybe I should wait until we’re at the Blue Moon so Alice can hear everything.”
“Or... you can repeat everything once we’re there,” Victoria suggested with a grin. “I don’t mind hearing everything twice.”
“That’s a great idea,” I said.
Pippa did a little dance in her seat. “Start as early as possible and don’t leave anything out.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sienna
Tree-lighting ceremonies were one of my favorite things ever. As a kid, I’d looked forward to any I could get to. Even as a teenager, they’d held a special place in my heart—it kicked off the magic season.
On the day of the tree-lighting event at Statham, I arrived at work even earlier than usual. I didn’t go up to the office, remaining in the store instead, inspecting every detail.
Since I’d added it to the program at the last minute, we had to make a plethora of changes. I’d done my research, and other establishments closed for the few hours it took to prepare the ground floor for the ceremony, but I wanted it all out in the open. It meant extra work for us, because we had to maneuver everything around the customers—but I wanted them to be part of the experience from the very beginning.
The assembly team arrived at eight o’clock, and we got to work. I barely kept from squealing like a teenager when the giant fir tree was brought in. It would be the centerpiece of the store during the holiday season.
As I’d predicted, by nine o’clock, the store was as chock-full of customers as it was during rush hours. We’d put in place a red tape with a bow to separate the assembly team from the rest of the store until we were done. Kids cheered with every decoration we hung up. We’d only plug in the twinkling lights at six o’clock tonight, during the ceremony.
I was so happy, I had to fight against every instinct not to cheer with them too. I’d do this every day if I could. Once the tree was up, I moved on to rearranging the window display, so one could see the tree already just passing by the store. That task lasted well into the afternoon. Despite the tight deadline, everyone was relaxed and easygoing.
That was until five o’clock, when I felt a subtle change in the atmosphere. Everyone stood ramrod straight, suddenly very focused. I didn’t think much of it and just went on about my task, right until I heard someone say, “Everything’s running according to the schedule, Mr. Statham.”
I licked my lips, feeling prickles of awareness at the back of my neck. The boss was here?
“I didn’t take him for the type to oversee things like this,” said one of the guys who moved around mannequins.
Honestly, neither did I. Where was he, anyway? I glanced to my right, surprised to find Winston directly in my line of vision, as if I’d instinctively felt where he was. He was watching me and making no secret of it.
I smiled at him before returning to my task, but my skin still felt on fire. He kept watching me, I was sure of that. When I finished the window display, I went to plug in the twinkling lights adorning it.
I’d barely made contact with the plug when I felt a burning sensation on my forearm. Yelping, I pulled my hand back. Ouch, ouch, ouch.
The small electric shock passed the next second, but my skin was pink where it had touched the wire. It still stung, but I tried to hide it, just requesting another set of twinkling lights, since this one was useless.
I was convinced I’d fooled everyone, right until Winston walked up to me.
“Show me your hand.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Show me your hand,” he repeated. His voice was low but commanding. I held up my arm. His eyes flashed as he inspected the pink line. It looked worse than I remembered and felt just as bad.
“Come on, let’s go.”
“Where?”
“The ER.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I just need to put some honey on it.”
He cocked a brow. “Honey?”
“It has antiseptic properties.”
“Sienna, don’t be difficult.”
“I’m staying until we light up the tree.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Winston—”
“You’re not. We’re leaving now. I’ll carry you out even with everyone watching.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
His eyes flashed. Holy shit, challenging Winston when he was this determined was a dangerous endeavor. Still, I didn’t back down. Even knowing he might make good on it, I didn’t want to give in.
“I’m here to oversee the ceremony. And it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Second degree burns don’t hurt right away because you can’t feel the nerve endings anymore.”
“Second degree... Winston,” I huffed in exasperation.
I was a little disarmed because he sounded so concerned. All right, a lot disarmed. But it was a ridiculous concern. The wire had barely touched me. Still, the longer I kept his stare, the more obvious it became that if I didn’t give in at least a bit, he was going to keep pushing.
“We can have a doctor look at this after we’re done here.”
“We’re staying until the ceremony is over. Not one minute longer.”
“Yes, sir.”
Not wanting to give him a chance to recons
ider, I strode back to my team quickly. When I glanced over my shoulder, that look in his eyes was just as intense as before, but a hint of a smile played on his lips.
I found honey in the food court, and after smearing some on the burn, it immediately felt better.
By the time six o’clock rolled around, everything was in place. I had no idea who was more excited: the customers or me. Just waiting for the lights to go up filled me with so much joy, I felt like jumping up and down.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spied Winston walking straight toward me.
“I didn’t think you’d linger,” I said when he was close enough. “Actually I wasn’t expecting to see you here at all, Mr. Grinch.”
Winston pinned me with his gaze, and that smile of his told me I was missing something.
“I had a strong incentive: seeing a certain beautiful woman.”
“And who might that be? You think she knows you’re here?” I asked playfully. I was swooning.
“Might have to kiss her right now, so there’s no room for doubt.” He dropped his gaze to my mouth. I felt warm from the tips of my fingers to my toes. He was leading this push and pull so subtly, but all it took was one touch and I became undone. Or in this case... one look.
“Winston, shhh,” I muttered, biting down a smile.
The lights were lit up one by one, completely captivating me. The kids in the crowd cheered, and even some adults—I was among them. I always felt like a child on Christmas. The sixteen-foot tree was simply glorious, with huge red bows and golden ornaments. At the bottom of it were huge presents.
My heart was a little heavy, wondering if he was having a good time or if this just served as a reminder for the deadline ahead.
I looked at Winston again. He was still looking at me.
“You missed the lights being switched on?” I admonished him. He just shrugged, but he had a full-on smile now. It made me immensely happy that he enjoyed it, that I’d played a small part in bringing back the joy of Christmas for him.
“Ceremony’s over,” he said.
“My hand is f—”
I’d been about to say fine but stopped at the expression on his face.
“It’s silly to go to the ER. They’re busy with real emergencies. I can go to my GP tomorrow.”
Winston said nothing, but his expression was mutinous.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
I felt his hand at the small of my back as he led me out of the store. I didn’t know why, but this small gesture made me feel so protected. Several of my coworkers glanced at us, and I realized that everyone would put two and two together after this. And when he took it one step further, lacing his arm around my waist, pulling me closer, I just melted into his touch.
Oh, well... why pretend? I worked hard. If anyone thought I was getting any favors, they could shove their opinion somewhere.
Once we entered the hospital, I started to feel a little ridiculous, because people lining up at the ER had serious problems, not a minor burn. We were wasting everyone’s time. I tried to reason with Winston. He wouldn’t hear of it.
“Sienna! We’re staying here until someone checks your hand. That was the deal.”
I couldn’t help it. I brought my good hand up in a salute. “Sir, yes, sir.”
Winston watched me for a beat before pulling me to him. He kissed me gently, as if
he feared I might break.
“I know this isn’t convenient but better safe than sorry, okay?” he muttered. “I’d hate for you to be in pain later just because we were too impatient.”
We waited for two hours until a doctor finally looked at my arm, declaring it perfectly fine.
“There are general practitioners for this,” he said sternly. “We deal with emergencies here.”
“It was all his idea,” I said at once, pointing at Winston, who’d come in with me. “No amount of persuasion worked.”
The good doctor glanced at Winston, shaking his head. I was dangling my feet, waggling my eyebrows at Winston, who didn’t even look ten percent guilty or ashamed. Then the doctor focused on me again.
“Wait until you have children. Bet he’ll be one of those dads driving to the hospital for a scratch.”
My cheeks heated up. Then my neck and ears. Winston was grinning from ear to ear.
“Nothing wrong with your arm. Go home and never let him bring you to the ER unless it’s a real emergency.”
“Will do. Thank you.”
My face was still hot as I hopped off the bed, heading out the corridor with Winston.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked him.
“Hmm?”
“For our date. You bossed me into going out to dinner with you today, and instead, you brought me to the ER. I still want that dinner though. And I’m starving, so wherever you take me better serve fast.”
“How about I make dinner for you?”
“Absolutely. Last time was delicious.”
“We can also pick up dessert on the way.”
“That sounds decadent. And I’m completely for it.”
Smiling, he brought his mouth down on mine. He’d held back during the last kiss, but now?
He kissed me as if he was one step from yanking my dress away.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sienna
Winston lived in a beautiful apartment overlooking the San Francisco bay. In the distance, I could even see the Golden Gate bridge.
I was looking around with a huge grin on my face. I loved being in his apartment. It was like having an inside view of who he really was, seeing this personal side to him.
“What’s going on in your mind?”
“Nothing,” I said a little too quickly. He immediately caught on that I wasn’t exactly truthful.
“That smile doesn’t look like nothing.” He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me to him, kissing one corner of my mouth, then the other before tracing the contour of my lower lip with his mouth, giving me just the tip of his tongue. It was enough to make heat curl through me.
The way this man could light up my body was incredible. It was as if he’d discovered the secret to what my body needed—something no one had done before.
When he pulled back, he was smiling from ear to ear.
“I just like seeing your lair. Says a lot about you,” I said.
“A lot of good things, I hope?”
“Why do you think I’m smiling?”
His smile turned into a grin as I looked around. His furniture was brand-new, in shades of white and dark blue.
To my astonishment, I spotted a plastic fir tree in one corner. It was sad and lonely without any decorations whatsoever.
“What’s with that?” I asked.
“The building management put one in every apartment.”
“I’m not a fan of plastic trees.”
“I don’t like them either. We can go buy a real one if you want.”
Oh my God. Was he saying what I thought he was saying?
“Mr. Grinch, let me see if I got this right. You want a Christmas tree. In your apartment.”
“Yes.”
I was barely keeping myself from jumping in his arms. And then I realized... why hold back at all? I pressed my palms down on his shoulders for leverage before literally jumping him.
Winston had good reflexes, only he wasn’t quick enough. He realized what I was up to one second too late. He caught me, but our balance was precarious.
We barreled straight toward the couch.
He grinned, lowering me on it. “What’s this for?”
“Just expressing my happiness. I promise to give you some sort of warning next time.”
He touched my lips with his thumb, looking down at me with so much warmth that I just wanted to pull him closer and not let him go.
“Let me know when you want to go shopping. We also need to buy Christmas ornaments. I just moved here and didn’t have time for anything. Thank God the place was furnished.”
“H
ow many ornaments exactly am I allowed?”
“Your call.”
“Have you seen the office? You cannot give me free rein.”
He touched the tip of his nose to mine.
“Yes, I can. And I am.”
“Why?”
“I want you to like it here, Sienna.”
Were those butterflies in my stomach? Yep, most definitely. An entire army of them.
He was still hovering above me, one knee propped on the couch between my legs.
“I want you to be happy. I want to bring you here as often as possible, keep you here.”
My breath caught. His fingers touched my lips and then my neck. He looked at me as if nothing else mattered more than me.
“And what exactly do you plan to do with me?” I teased.
He pressed his thumb against my mouth. I parted my lips lightly, licking it. His eyes darkened.
“Right now, I’m going to feed you. And after that, I’ll have my fill of you. All night long, Sienna.”
He moved off the couch, heading to the kitchen. I shimmied in place before rising to my feet. This man had a way with words that was just more than my body could take.
“What are you feeding me?” I asked.
“Grilled cheese sandwiches work for you?”
“Sure. I eat anything.”
He pointed a finger at me. “What’s that semipout?”
Damn. He’d caught that?
“Well... after the delicious rice you whipped up at my house, I kind of thought you cooked gourmet food at your place. At least we bought cupcakes for dessert.”
He laughed. “I don’t even have food in the fridge. Don’t have time to cook for myself right now. I just eat on the go.”
“What do you do after you leave the office?” I asked, confused.
“Most days I head to the gym. We’ve got one here on the top floor. It’s the only way I manage to unwind. Otherwise I’m too wired up to sleep.”
I could relate, sort of. But I didn’t have anywhere near Winston’s responsibility on my shoulders. I couldn’t even fathom how that had to feel. I could help though, couldn’t I?
