by Whitley Cox
Emmett stepped forward and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Rory. I’ve heard great things … at least as much as Zak was able to tell me from the driveway through the garage.”
So far, so good. Emmett seemed to be genuinely giving Aurora the benefit of the doubt. There was no chip on his shoulder, no edge to his tone. The Rage Room appeared to be working.
Aurora shook his hand back. “Nice to meet you too.” Her cheeks pinked up real nice like a schoolgirl’s. “I’m afraid I haven’t heard anything about you, though.”
Emmett laughed and released her hand. “Probably for the better, actually.”
Sounds of footsteps on the stairs had them all turning their heads. Two sleepy-eyed old coots came down, smiling when they saw Emmett.
“Emmett, nice to see you again,” Grammy said with a yawn, coming up to give Emmett a big hug.
Emmett had actually looked up Zak and Adam’s grandparents last spring when he was in South Carolina at a medical conference, so there were no introductions needed.
“Where’s JoJo?” Grammy glanced around the room in an attempt to see Josie, or JoJo, Emmett’s five-year-old daughter.
“She’s with her mom for Christmas dinner,” Emmett said with palpable pain. “I had her last night and this morning though.”
Grammy nodded as she pulled away to allow Papa to shake Emmett’s hand.
“At least you got to see her,” Papa said. “Zak here almost missed out on Christmas with the kiddos entirely.”
“Thank goodness for canceled flights,” Grammy added, stepping next to Tia and wrapping an arm around her.
Emmett nodded and smiled, though Zak could see the ache inside his friend from not getting to be with his daughter all day on Christmas.
Zak clapped his hands once. “All right, Chef Rory,” he said, addressing his woman in her sexy red sweater and tight black dress pants. “Where are we with dinner? Put me back to work.” He wandered toward the fridge and pulled out three beers, popping the tops before he handed one to his grandfather and the other to Emmett.
“Tia’s peeled the potatoes for me,” Aurora said. “Sprouts are in the oven. Turkey is resting. Stuffing is still inside the turkey. I was just about to check on the yams and put the potatoes on to boil.”
He leaned over and pecked her on the temple, pinching her butt where nobody could see. “Thank you, co-Chef. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
She chuckled. “You’d planned to, so yes, you could have. But thank you for the compliment.”
“Are we having dessert?” Tia asked, grabbing herself a drinking glass from the cupboard. “I know we’re generally a sugar-free house, but come on, it’s Christmas.” She glanced at Aurora. “I guess we have the cookies you and dad made and the ones we made yesterday.”
Aurora nodded. “That we do.” She shot a glare in Zak’s direction. “Though some health freak doesn’t have a sprinkle to his name in the house, so they’re undecorated.” She batted Zak playfully on the chest. “Who doesn’t have sprinkles? M&M’s or candy I understand, but sprinkles?”
“Uncle Liam is bringing the pies,” Zak said, giving his daughter a sympathetic smile. “He said he picked up a lemon meringue and a chocolate orange pie from Emerald City Bakery yesterday before they closed. He ordered them special for dinner tonight. And Uncle Emmett brought his mama’s famous figgy pudding. It’s just out in the garage in a big cooler bag. Ice cream is in the freezer out there.”
Tia’s eyes went wide. “Figgy pudding, like in the song?”
“We won’t go until we get some … ” Papa started to sing.
Emmett nodded once and lifted his index finger, pointing it at Tia. “The very same. My mom’s recipe is the best in the land.”
Tia licked her lips. “I can’t wait.”
Zak grumbled. “After New Year’s Eve, it’s broccoli for every meal until Valentine’s Day, you guys hear me?”
There were groans from everyone, including Emmett.
“You really need to ease up,” Grammy said. “It’s just pudding.”
“What are your plans for New Year’s Eve, Emmett?” Zak asked as he stood at the counter with the big electric carving knife in his hand. Aurora had helped him into his apron so as not to muck up the dress clothes he’d run upstairs and changed into.
“Daisy and Riley are throwing a party,” Emmett said. “I’ve got JoJo, but apparently their party is kid-friendly. They said to bring her, that other people will be bringing their kids too. They’re going to have a room set up for the kids to play in, watch movies and stuff.” He scrunched up his face. “We’ll see how it goes. If JoJo isn’t having fun, we can bail and just head home and have our own little celebration.”
“Where’s Tiff going?”
Emmett’s lip curled up. “She and Huntley are going to some fancy party at The Ludo Lounge. A masquerade thing. I wasn’t supposed to have JoJo, but Huntley surprised Tiff with the tickets to the party, so they asked me if I could take her.”
“Did you have plans?” Zak asked, knowing that this wasn’t the first time Emmett’s ex had pulled something like this on him. Considered her plans more important than his because he was single and she was not, so therefore he shouldn’t have a life outside of work.
Emmett shook his head. “I was going to go in to work, but now I’ll just go to work until five or so, then swing by Tiff’s, grab JoJo and take her to Riley and Daisy’s party.”
“What do you do for work?” Aurora asked, scooping the stuffing out of the turkey. Zak was waiting for her to finish before he started to cut into the bird.
“I’m an ER doctor,” Emmett said. “I work with Mark, who Zak said you met yesterday.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes. “Ah, yes, we did. Along with Isobel, Tori and Aaron. And of course, baby Sophie and sweet little Gabe.”
Emmett’s dark amber eyes softened, and he smiled wide at Aurora. He was one of Mark’s best friends and extremely protective of Mark’s autistic son Gabe, so to hear Aurora talk so affectionately about Gabe, Zak knew that was earning major bonus points with Emmett.
“Yeah, and Riley is a doctor as well, and our buddy, Will. Though Will and Amber are off on their friend’s island in Belize.”
Zak made a noise in this throat. “Must be nice.”
Emmett’s lips pursed, and he nodded. “Right?” He glanced at his watch. “Where the hell is Liam? He wasn’t going into the office today, was he?”
Zak shook his head. “No. I think he had Jordie until noon or so and then he was going to spend some time with Scott and his kid. Scott has Freddie for Christmas, but he wants to do something with just the two of them. Scott and Liam’s parents are in Palm Springs visiting their sister and her family.”
Emmett’s head bobbed in understanding, and he took a sip of his beer. “What about Mason and Atlas?”
“Mason and Willow are with his parents. It’s Willow’s first Christmas, so his parents are making a big deal. Understandable—first grandbaby and all. Atlas and Aria are in Oregon visiting his parents. Apparently, some shit is hitting the fan with one of Atlas’s cousins or something and she might lose custody of her kid. Atlas was going to go see what he could do to help.”
Emmett blew out a long breath and raked his fingers through his short, dark curly hair, scrubbing his hand down his face. “Shit, man. Poor Atlas.”
Zak nodded. “Right.”
“All right,” Aurora said, running her hands beneath the faucet. “That turkey is empty.”
Zak leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. “There isn’t anybody else I’d trust to unstuff my bird.”
Emmett snorted across the island.
Aurora rolled her eyes. “Was that supposed to be dirty?”
Zak shrugged. He was in too good a mood to care. “I dunno. It sounded better in my head than it did out loud.” He pressed the button for the electric carving knife, and it began to vibrate and whirr in his hand. He bugged out his eyes. “Muahaha, prepare to be carved, Mr. Tu
rkey. Your breasts shall be mine. Get in my belly!”
Aurora snorted and shook her head.
He flashed her a big grin. “You love it.”
Her eyes softened. “I do.”
And fuck, I might be falling in love with you.
They were just sitting down to eat when there was a ring and a knock at the door.
Zak rolled his eyes. “Shows up just in time to eat,” he grumbled. “If he wasn’t bringing the pies, I’d pretend we weren’t home. Make him freeze his ass off out there.”
“Dad, let him in. I want lemon meringue pie,” Tia said. “It’s my favorite.”
Aurora smiled at Tia. “Mine too.”
Zak got up from his spot at the head of the table and ran his hand over Aurora’s shoulder as he made his way to the front door. She loved how affectionate he was becoming—even out of the bedroom. His kids had accepted her, his grandparents had, so now he must have felt it was okay to show them all that he accepted her as well. He accepted her as more than just a person to warm his bed and body for the last few days.
Would he ask her for more once the whimsy of the holiday wore off? Would he want to date?
Did she have time to date?
It’s Zak. You will make time.
“Always show up just as we’re about to sit down and eat, huh?” Zak said after he heaved open the door, his voice loud enough that they all heard him loud and clear in the dining room. “Typical Liam.”
“Had things to do, man.”
That voice.
Why did she recognize that voice?
“Had to spoil my kid rotten, then spoil my nephew rotten. Finally, I spoiled myself rotten. Ordered a new set of wheels.”
“Just the wheels?” Zak asked, their voices drifting closer to the dining room after the sound of boots stomping and the hallway closet being opened to hang up his coat.
Liam’s coat.
Liam.
Liam Dixon.
Aurora froze. Ice trickled in thick tributaries down her spine, and her gut roiled and churned. Bile burned the back of her throat.
“No, the whole shebang,” Liam continued. “New Audi should be arriving in a week or two. Santa didn’t bring me what I wanted, so I said fuck it and decided to be my own Santa.” Liam rounded the corner, a huge smile on his face, mischief twinkling in his dark brown eyes—just like it always did.
Because Aurora knew Liam.
Aurora worked with Liam.
Liam was her boss.
“Rory, this is Liam,” Zak started, wandering behind her and planting his warm hands on her shoulders, giving them a gentle, loving squeeze. “Liam, this is Rory.”
Confusion flashed behind Liam’s dark, almost black eyes. “Yeah, I know.”
Puzzled expressions flitted around the table. She was glad she couldn’t see Zak’s face at the moment. She wasn’t sure she could bear it.
“I’m her boss,” Liam went on, his dark eyes narrowing.
Zak’s fingers tightened just a touch on her shoulders, but not in an angry sort of way. “I didn’t know you two worked together!”
Aurora could only nod. Her heart pounded wildly inside her chest, and her palms were slick with sweat.
Neither Liam nor Zak seemed to be aware of how she was feeling though.
“Nice to see you, Aurora,” Liam went on. “How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you,” she croaked, feeling the sudden urge to leap up from the table and go puke.
He sat down directly across from her. Zak released her shoulders and took his position at the head of the table once again after he placed the pies Liam had brought on the buffet ledge behind him.
“All right, now that we’re all here, let’s eat,” Zak said, rubbing his hands together. “I’m starved.”
Aurora couldn’t imagine eating anything. Not when she knew in just mere moments every lie she’d ever told Zak was about to come flying back in her face, was about to ruin what had been the greatest three days of her life.
“So,” Liam started, scooping mashed potatoes onto his plate, “how did you two meet?”
“At the gym,” Zak said, jabbing a fork into the turkey meat and then transferring it to his plate. “Don’t normally date members”—he lifted one shoulder—“but when Aurora’s car wouldn’t start, I helped her and, well … now we’re having a wonderful Christmas.” Zak passed his friend the plate of turkey.
“You’re … dating?” Liam asked slowly.
Zak made a dismissive face before he shrugged. “Sure. It’s still new, haven’t really put a label on things yet, but sure. Why not?”
Liam pinned his dark eyes on Aurora, one eyebrow slowly ascending on his forehead before he spoke. “You really need to trade in that lemon of a car.” His gaze shifted from curious to fatherly. “It’s only a matter of time before it dies on you for good.”
Aurora’s smile was tight and forced at the same time a prickle of unease slithered down her spine. “I know. Have other things sucking my money though.”
Liam’s eyes softened. “Right.”
Aurora swallowed, and an ache began deep in her chest.
Zak’s gaze narrowed. “If you work at Wallace, Dixon and Travers, why did you tell me you work close to the Rainier Vista gym location? That law firm is nowhere near Rainier Vista. It’s nowhere near Greenwood either.” Confusion filled his eyes. “Do you even live in Greenwood?”
That ache intensified.
She knew he hated liars. And even though her lies were small, they were still lies.
Slowly, she nodded, feeling like a bug under the magnifying glass just seconds from the sunbeam ready to fry her to a crisp. “I do.”
“Why did you lie about where you worked?”
She swallowed hard again when her throat tightened, and a sting in her eyes began to blur her vision. A tear slipped down her cheek, and she finally brought her head up to look at him. “I don’t know.”
“What else have you lied about?”
“Zak … ” Emmett’s voice was soft and gentle. “This isn’t the place, buddy.”
Zak shot his friend a look that said shut up.
“I agree with Emmett,” Liam said. “I never meant to blow up Christmas dinner.”
“Better I find out now that she’s a liar than six months from now,” Zak said, his tone wooden. He turned back to face Aurora.
“Enough, Zachary,” Daphne said, her soft green eyes flitting back and forth between Aurora and Zak. “This is not the time.”
A muscle in Zak’s cheek jiggled, and he did a slow blink before opening his mouth, but Sherman cleared his throat at the other head of the table and let his utensils clatter noisily to his plate, causing Zak’s mouth to snap shut. Heat rushed to his eyes and his cheeks, but it wasn’t a boyish blush or the flames of lust—no. The fire that stared back at her was that of hell, was that of fury
“Your grandmother is right, Zachary. This is Christmas dinner. Don’t ruin it.” Sherman fixed Zak with a fatherly glare. “Enough.”
Zak’s jaw grew ever tighter, and red filled his cheeks.
Aurora felt smaller than a gnat.
Then his expression became blank, which made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up even more than they already were. Because it was at that moment that she knew there was no going back. There would be no forgiveness, no reconciliation. Zak was done with her.
She’s ruined Christmas.
She’d ruined everything.
The rest of the meal was eaten in tense, awkward and excruciating silence.
Zak wouldn’t even look in Aurora’s direction, wouldn’t even glance at her. And she was sitting right next to him, so it wasn’t easy—but he managed.
He managed to ignore her.
He managed to finish his meal. Eat a second helping, and then take his plate to the kitchen, all without so much as acknowledging even Aurora’s pinky finger.
She’d barely touched her own meal, the pain in her heart making her want to curl up in a ball and cr
y her eyes out.
She’d ruined everything.
She’d ruined Christmas, Zak’s affections for her, any potential future they might have had. She’d lied her way right into hell. And there she would stay.
Unable to eat anything else due to the tight knots in her gut, she picked up her plate and took it to the kitchen. Daphne was in there, putting foil over the rest of the turkey. She paused her efforts, her eyes sad as she looked up at Aurora. “He’s very set in his ways. A stubborn ass with deep-seated rules and values. I’m not excusing how he spoke to you, I’m just explaining to you who he is.” She rested her cool hand on Aurora’s shoulder. “I hope the two of you can work through this, dear. We all really like you.”
Her eyes flicked up behind Aurora, her smile turning grim.
Zak?
She turned around to find Liam standing there, worry written all over his face, his shoulders unusually hunched. Normally the man appeared larger than life, in charge of the room and with all eyes on him—and loving it. Not so much now.
He stepped forward, gripped her forearm and wheeled her back around and over to the far corner of the kitchen with a strength and speed that startled her. “We need to talk,” he murmured.
“I’m going to go grab more dirty dishes,” Daphne said, excusing herself.
“Are you not with Pressley anymore?” Liam asked, his voice low and almost accusatory. “You’re not … cheating on him, are you?” Color rushed to his face, and restrained anger filled his eyes. His hold on her forearm tightened. “Why are you here? Where is Pressley?”
Aurora clenched her jaw. “I … we … ”
She hadn’t wanted anybody to find out. Let alone anybody at work. Most of all her boss. Her big boss. And Liam Dixon was one of the big bosses. A name partner.
A throat cleared behind them. Liam stilled. Aurora’s body turned to ice.
“Can you give us a minute?” Zak’s deep voice sent Aurora’s whole body into a nervous tremble.
Aurora didn’t turn around to face him, but she heard Liam murmur something to his friend before her boss’s footsteps retreated into the living room, where the rest of the family and Emmett had reconvened—all of them laughing, all of them having a great time enjoying what was left of Christmas day.
