Page 79 of A Newport Christmess

“The gingerbread houses?”

I nodded.

“You’re Quinn, TheKookieCook?”

I nodded again, amazed someone here knew me. The other influencers Nikki had introduced me to throughout the night, as kind as they were, hadn’t seemed super interested in me once they realized my interest was in baking and not beauty, fashion, or travel.

“I love your account. I’ve been following you since Nikki shared one of your posts, like a year and a half ago or more. I can’t believe some of the things you make. They’re incredible.”

“Thank you. That’s sweet of you to say.” I took a sip of water to make it look like I was nowhere near freaking out that someone in the big vast universe not only knew who I was but actually loved my account. “How do you know Nikki?”

“I’m Kade’s cousin, Rachel.”

The water I’d started to swallow went down the wrong pipe, and I started coughing. Rachel? This was Rachel? Why was I not surprised Nikki had wanted to set her up with Landon?

“Are you okay?”

I nodded, putting up a finger until I could find the ability to breathe again. “It just went down the wrong pipe,” I said in a strained voice. I cleared my throat and forced out a smile. “So what do you do, Rachel?”

“I’m a senior architect for a big firm in New York, but I’m hoping to start my own firm soon.”

That was not what I’d expected. Model. I wouldn’t have been surprised. Social media influencer. Absolutely probable. Lead architect. It never crossed my mind. “That sounds amazing and like a lot of work.”

“That’s kind of why I’d like to start my own firm—a healthier work-life balance. Right now, it’s hard to travel as much as I’d like.”

My stomach tightened, remembering that Landon said he also wished he had more time for it. “You enjoy traveling?”

“I live for it.”

“And where’s your favorite place to go?”

She sighed like I’d asked if she preferred to die by fire or ice. “That’s hard. Europe—Spain, France, Croatia. Basically anywhere along the Mediterranean. But the East is incredible too. I wouldn’t mind going back to Thailand or Laos. Vietnam.” She pointed at me, her eyes brightening. “I’ve also been to New Zealand. The Hobbit village where they filmed the Shire in Lord of the Rings.”

I couldn’t fight my smile. “You got to go there?”

“It was magical. You have to go. You could recreate that personal tribute you did to the Hobbits—your fellow short people. Your followers would love it.”

I clearly needed to take that video down. “That would be fun.”

“And where is your favorite place to travel?”

“I’ve not traveled much. I went to Arizona once when I was little, and I’ve driven through Nevada up to Utah. I have been to Mexico, but via a cruise, so I didn’t actually get off the boat at that port—my mom had heard about a recent kidnapping.” I pinched my lips together, refusing to say anything else about my pathetic amount of traveling, but I couldn’t leave it on the kidnapping comment. “And then all over California. Oh, and even into Oregon once, but barely over the border.”

Rachel nodded, not a hint of judgment on her face. “I love California.”

It was the right answer after my awkward rattling off of all the places I’d been—or lack of places.

“And I’ve never been to Utah. I’ve always wanted to go, though. I’ve seen pictures of Zion, and it looks insanely beautiful.”

“I’ve not been ... but it does look beautiful.”

“So these centerpieces,” Rachel said, having mercy on me. “How big are they?”

“They’re all slightly different sizes, but the three smaller ones are somewhere around three by two feet. And Rosecliff is almost four by three.”

“Do you have some sort of background in architecture?”

I tucked an obstinate curl behind my ear “No. Not at all.”