The Wish Maker (The Billionaires 0f Silicon Forest Book 2)

by Melissa McClone

  Wes winked. “There’s always more. And it’s usually the best part. Ready?”

  Bundled up in their coats, hats, and gloves, they held on to their cups and stood on the deck. The temperature was cold enough their breath hung on the air, but Paige didn’t mind. Even when a slight breeze off the water brought a chill, there was no place she’d rather be.

  The fleet sailed by single file. Others around them oohed and aahed at the boats decorated with lights.

  She sipped her hot cocoa. The liquid warmed her insides. “I love that they do this.”

  Lights outlined some boats. Others had a display or two. A few went all out with Santa and reindeer figurines.

  She took another drink, relishing the heat sliding down her throat. “This is so fun. I would have never thought to come here.”

  “Cold?” he asked.

  No doubt her cheeks were red. She sniffled. A runny nose was one of the hazards of being outside in wintertime. “I’ll survive. Seeing the Christmas Ships is worth a shiver or two.”

  Wes stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “How’s this?”

  “Nice.” Paige didn’t know if it was his body warmth or his being so close to her that warmed her up, but she wasn’t as cold. She settled back against him.

  “I agree.” He tightened his hold on her.

  She swallowed a sigh. It was all she could do not to lay her hands over his. Instead, she clutched her cup with one hand and tried not to touch him with the other. “I think I could get used to more.”

  His laughter rumbled against her ear. Her body was reacting oddly to him.

  “Me, too,” he said in a low voice.

  Something brushed the top of her hat.

  Not the wind. That almost felt like… Could it have been… Did Wes kiss her?

  Paige didn’t know the answer, nor was she going to ask the question, but this was her surprise so she would pretend he had.

  And she was fine with him kissing her that way.

  Maybe it was the cold or maybe it was Christmas magic, but a part of her hoped he would kiss her again.

  With or without mistletoe.

  And this time on the lips.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Watching the ships with Paige, Wes wished the holiday season could last forever. Her Christmas spirit overflowed and was contagious, but he didn’t mind being exposed. Each of her gasps or sharp intakes of breath when a boat sailed past brought a smile. It also brought a dose of confusion.

  Wanting to stand close to Paige—hold her—wasn’t friend-like. Kissing the top of her head had been instinctual. She hadn’t appeared to mind, so he wanted to do it again. That messed with his brain. Because if he were being honest, he wanted to kiss more than her knit cap.

  After the last ship sailed by, they went back inside the restaurant with the crowd.

  She yawned. “Excuse me.”

  “It’s getting late.” Wes hadn’t noticed the circles under her eyes until now. He paid the check. “Let’s get you home.”

  “Sorry. I was up earlier than usual, and it all just caught up with me.”

  “Don’t apologize,” he said. “Even doctors with superpowers and capes need sleep.”

  Paige laughed. “We do. Or at least, I do.”

  On the drive home, Christmas carols played, but Paige didn’t sing along or mouth the words. When they reached the freeway on-ramp, she was asleep on his shoulder. Not that he minded being her pillow.

  Her beanie had fallen halfway off. The scents of lavender and rosemary tickled his nose. The fragrance must be her shampoo. He sniffed. Yes, it was her hair, not her knit hat.

  Her lips curved upward in a shy smile, suggesting she was having a pleasant dream. What about? Him?

  Oops. That wasn’t friend-like. Nothing tonight had been if he were being honest. The restaurant was perfect for dates. And that was what this had felt like—a date. A romantic one at that.

  Maybe he needed to rethink what they should do next time they got together. There had to be friend activities out there. He thought for a moment.

  Fishing.

  Friends fished.

  Only he hadn’t been fishing in years. Not since a vacation to the South Pacific.

  Board games.

  Friends played games.

  Only he hadn’t done that recently. Not with the rash of weddings, though Dash kept talking about hosting a game night.

  Movies.

  Friends watched movies together.

  Only he hadn’t done that in a few weeks, maybe a couple months, but Paige loved Christmas movies.

  That was it. He would invite her over to watch one. Netflix and…

  Nope. They would watch as friends.

  He was free on Saturday. Maybe she would be, too. They could do something before that.

  Craig parked in front of Paige’s condo building. “Do you want me to take her up?”

  “I will.” Wes hated waking Paige, but he gave her a nudge, anyway. “You’re home.”

  She blinked open her eyes. Straightened. “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

  “You needed it.”

  “I did.” She stretched. “Thanks for the wonderful night.”

  “I’ll walk you in.”

  He followed her into the building, up the stairs, and to her front door.

  She unlocked it. “Do you want to see Dalton’s ornament?”

  Wes did, but he wanted to spend more time with Paige. Awake or asleep didn’t matter. He needed distance before he did something stupid like kiss her again. “I’ll take a raincheck.”

  “It’s late.”

  He nodded even if that wasn’t the real reason. “Sweet dreams.”

  “You, too.” She smiled at him.

  His stomach did a somersault.

  “I hope we can get together again.”

  “Me, too.” He fought the urge to brush a stray hair off her face. One touch and he might need more. “I’m free this weekend.”

  Subtle, Lockhart.

  Except did it matter if they were friends? This whole label thing confused him. Maybe they should just hang out together and not define what it was.

  Her smile widened, but her eyelids were heavy. “On Saturday, I’ll be finished at the hospital by eleven.”

  “We can discuss the details tomorrow.” Wes touched her shoulder for a nanosecond before lowering his arm. “You need to sleep.”

  Nodding, Paige stared up expectantly as if she were waiting for him to kiss her.

  Temptation flared. Heat flowed through his veins. He could think of ten different moves to make, but he didn’t give in. “Goodnight.”

  Something flashed in her eyes, so brief he couldn’t catch what it was.

  She wet her lips. “Sweet dreams.”

  He hoped his dreams would be as sweet as her. “You, too.”

  Walking away shouldn’t be as hard as it was. He didn’t hear her door close, so he glanced over his shoulder. She stood in the doorway and waved.

  Wes waved back before quickening his pace until he reached the SUV. He slid into the back seat that suddenly seemed ten times larger and lonelier without Paige next to him.

  “Everything okay?” Craig looked in the rearview mirror.

  “Yes.” Wes’s confusion had only gotten worse. Paige seemed to be throwing off mixed signals. Not that she was the only one. Maybe the adage about men and women not being able to be friends was true because he was having trouble thinking of her as only that.

  The next day, Wes still couldn’t figure out what he was feeling, but he wanted to see Paige. He also didn’t want to wait until Saturday.

  Wes: Do you have plans tonight?

  Paige: Yes, a staff party at the clinic.

  Wes: Tomorrow?

  Paige: I’ll be free after seven.

  Wes: Peacock Lane and dinner?

  Paige: Sounds like a plan.

  On Friday night, Craig drove them along Peacock Lane, four-blocks of a residential street in southeast Portland de
cked out with Christmas lights and decorations, and then they grabbed a late dinner at an Italian restaurant. Once again, conversation flowed, no matter the subject. As they drove to her condo, Wes wished the night didn’t have to be over.

  “I’m stuffed from dinner.” Paige rested her hand on the seat between them.

  If Wes moved his hand three inches to the left, he could touch her. Ugh. He was getting borderline creepy. But he enjoyed being close to her, feeling her warmth and soft skin.

  She leaned her head against the seat and touched her stomach. “Eating that slice of tiramisu was a mistake.”

  He laughed. “Tiramisu is never a mistake.”

  “I must have gained ten pounds.”

  Wes checked her out. He saw nothing different. “If you did, it looks good on you.”

  “When I can’t zip my pants in the morning, I’ll blame you.”

  “That’s what leggings are for, according to Sadie, who runs the foundation.”

  Smiling, Paige nodded. “I have a few pairs of leggings. And they are great for those mornings I don’t want to deal with a zipper.”

  Wes doubted that was often.

  The image of her with a round belly like Sadie’s popped in his mind. Paige’s face glowed. Something unfurled inside him.

  Wait. What was he thinking?

  Sweat beaded at the back of his neck. His muscles tightened into hard balls.

  Wes shouldn’t be imagining her pregnant. He shouldn’t be thinking of her in that way at all.

  Maybe he was getting sick. He ran his fingers over the lymph nodes on his neck. None felt swollen. But that fact didn’t bring the usual relief. Not when the image of a pregnant Paige appealed so much.

  She stared out the window. “After seeing Peacock Lane, I may have to add more lights to my condo.”

  “Nothing wrong with ‘less is more’ decorating.”

  She made a face. “But it’s Christmas.”

  He thought about his house in Portland. “I have white lights along the roofline and a wreath on the front door. Maybe I should add one of those inflatable decorations like we saw tonight.”

  “If you do, the snow globe ones are nice.”

  “Not a character from a show or movie?”

  “The snow globe ones remind me of a Christmas movie I saw.”

  She loved those movies, which reminded him. “Tomorrow after you’re finished at the hospital, how does a tour of Pittock Mansion sound? Afterward, we can get take-out and watch a Christmas movie together.”

  Her lips formed a perfect o. “Yes, yes, yes.”

  Paige was adorable. “So that’s a yes.”

  “Ha ha.” She eyed him. “Did you think I’d say no?”

  “No,” he admitted. “But I would have sweetened the deal with peppermint hot chocolate.”

  “That is my beverage of choice when I watch holiday movies. What’s yours?”

  “I don’t have one. I haven’t seen that many.”

  She angled her shoulders toward him. “Which have you seen?”

  He thought for a moment. “Elf, Home Alone, A Christmas Story, Die Hard, Love Actually, a few of the old classics.”

  “Any from Hallmark, Lifetime, Netflix, Disney Plus?”

  He shook his head. “I never watched much TV until I got sick.”

  She rubbed her hands together. “You’re in for a treat. Not everyone loves them the way I do. But we get along, so chances are you’ll enjoy them, too.”

  They did get along. Wes couldn’t remember getting along with anyone as well. It was as if they’d known each other for years. Okay, they had, but Paige being his doctor had been different than her being his friend.

  Wes grimaced.

  His head kept saying “just friends,” but his heart disagreed. What had started as a whisper—you need her in your life—was growing louder—you won’t be whole without her. But as soon as he was ready to follow his heart, his head screamed. “No, you will hurt her.”

  Did it have to be one or the other? He needed to figure that out.

  Fifteen minutes later, he stood in front of Paige’s Christmas tree. Funny, Wes smelled pine, but a fake tree wouldn’t have a scent.

  She pointed out a sparkly star. The ceramic ornament had been painted and decorated with glitter. “Isn’t it sweet?”

  Wes turned it over. On the back, he read the words written in black marker: To Paige. I believe. From, Dalton.

  He didn’t know what Dalton believed in—Santa or something else—but the big smile on Paige’s face told Wes how much the ornament meant to her. That gave him an idea of what to get her for Christmas.

  “Very special.” Wes straightened the star. He noticed another silver star—the one from the dinner last week with her wish tucked in the back. Had she made a wish on Dalton’s star, too? “You hung the ornament in the front where everyone can see it.”

  “Well, you and me.” She stared at the tree. “I don’t have many guests.”

  “I’m honored.”

  “We’re friends.”

  Wes tried not to grimace. Being friends had been his idea and not his smartest, either. He was tired of what the word implied. And didn’t. “We are.”

  But that was all they could be, right?

  * * *

  Paige finished rounds on Saturday morning. She stopped in the coffee shop to have a peppermint hot chocolate and a cranberry scone. That would tide her over until they ate after seeing the Pittock Mansion.

  She sat at a small round table eating, drinking, and reading her email on her phone. She opened the personal ones from friends first. Some contained Christmas e-cards with letters telling her what was going on in their lives. Paige appreciated the updates. She’d never included a holiday letter in the card she sent the old-school way, using the U.S. Postal Service. Someday, when she had a family, she would write a letter. But who wanted to hear about her work and research?

  A text notification beeped.

  Big Bro: Working or out having fun?

  Paige: Just finished and about to have fun.

  Big Bro: Doing what?

  Paige: Touring a mansion decorated for Christmas with a friend.

  Except Wes felt like more than a friend. She’d caught him staring at her a few times. And for a moment on Wednesday, she thought he would kiss her. She didn’t think she was blowing her crush out of proportion, but who knew?

  Big Bro: Is this friend male or female?

  Paige: Male. His name is Wes.

  Big Bro: When did you start dating?

  Paige: We’re just friends.

  Big Bro: No guy looks at Christmas decorations with a friend. That’s a date or you’re his girlfriend or it’s both?

  Paige: Really?

  Big Bro: Unless West Coast guys are different?

  Paige wiggled her toes. Maybe she hadn’t been reading Wes wrong and there was hope for…more.

  Paige: I guess I’ll find out.

  Big Bro: Be careful.

  Paige: Always.

  Big Bro: Can you send Mom your recipe for spiced apple cider? Otherwise, she’ll use the instant kind on Christmas.

  Paige: Oh, no, she can’t do that. I’ll email it when I get home.

  Big Bro: I hope things work out with you and Wes.

  Paige: Thanks!

  She hoped so, too, because she enjoyed having Wes in her life. He was good for her and vice versa. But one question kept her from getting too excited.

  Had Wes really changed his mind about wanting a relationship?

  * * *

  This year’s Pittock Mansion Christmas theme was the Wonderful World of Books. Eighteen rooms were decorated with an individual title in mind. The exhibit was popular, which meant Paige had little time to talk to Wes without others being around.

  She didn’t mind too much since she had wanted to see the decorations, but that left her no closer to figuring him out. Perhaps some covert studying of him might give her some answers. If not, at least she would enjoy the view.

  �
��This is a lovely mansion.” Poinsettias sat on the steps of the grand staircase. Fancy garlands hung on the banister. Beautiful, but… “It’s hard to imagine a family lived here.”

  “Have you been to Henry’s estate?” Wes asked.

  She shook her head.

  “It’s not as old,” he explained. “But his place has a similar feel. Laurel Matthews has been redecorating it room by room to make it more like Henry and less like his late parents.”

  That shouldn’t surprise Paige, but sometimes she forgot his friends were billionaires.

  The Harry Potter library captivated her. Little touches from the series were everywhere.

  “Look at the Hogwarts letters coming out of the fireplace.” Wes typed on his cell phone. “Blaise will want to see this if he hasn’t already. He’s a huge Harry Potter fan. I’m sure Hadley’s niece and nephew would love this, too.”

  Paige and Wes had read the books, so they took their time pointing out favorite items like the birthday cake made by Hagrid and the Marauder’s map. They searched for as many “Easter eggs” as they could—as any true nerd would. Sharing the excitement with another fan made the experience so much better. The fact the person was Wes made her want to buy a lottery ticket tonight because luck was on her side.

  They had more in common than she expected. She wanted to know everything about him.

  Who was she kidding?

  Paige wanted to date him.

  She wished she was brave enough to ask him if he’d changed his mind about being just friends. The more time she spent with him, the more she fell for him. She couldn’t stop herself.

  But what if Wes said no to more? This was different than asking if he wanted a second dessert or another spin around the dance floor. Would he think she was pushing him? Would things change between them?

  She didn’t want that to happen, but she also couldn’t stop thinking if they were this good as friends, they would be even better as a couple. That might be worth the risk.

  Wes placed his hand at the small of her back. The gesture felt as natural as breathing to her. “Let’s check out the music room.”