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I snort. “Good luck to her. I proofread that toast harder than my college thesis.”

Both of them burst out laughing, and we grab our own champagne just as Pascal begins.

The toast is perfect, and his delivery is flawless. He’s confident and completely in command. When the applause dies down, I glance at Mrs. Beaumont. She’s watching her son with an expression I can’t quite read. Then she lifts her glass to him. Just slightly. But she does it.

With the formal part over, the rest of the night is ours. And I enjoy every second of it.

“May I have this dance?” Jarek asks when the music starts.

I take his hand, and he spins me, my dark green velvet skirt swirling around my ankles. Melinda outdid herself again. Well, Melinda and the guys. They picked my dress out together.

Jarek’s hand rests at the small of my back, warm and steady.

The music, the lights, the clinking glasses and laughter, all of it is perfect. But the best part is the four of us, together.

Even while I’m dancing with Jarek, I catch Zander watching me from the edge of the room. His eyes find me over everyone’s heads, wherever I move. I can feel his gaze without even looking. And more than anything, I feel happy, because now I know this doesn’t have to end.

“There’s one more thing we still need to do,” Pascal says when it’s his turn to dance with me. “Tomorrow. We’ll be right there with you.”

I nod and rest my head on his shoulder, soaking in the last of the song. I know exactly what he means, and honestly, I can’t wait for tomorrow morning. But tonight, I’m just thinking about how perfect this night has been, and that little lift of his mother’s glass.

As the song ends, Pascal leans close to my ear.

“You know,” he whispers. “I didn’t get to take you out of the last beautiful dress you wore. I’d like to take you out of this one.”

I lift my head and grin. We’re in the middle of a crowded ballroom, and he just told me he wants to undress me. Nobody has a clue.

I really do love this man.

“I should probably let you get some sleep, though,” he says, reluctantly, as we walk off the dance floor. “You’ll want a clear head when we come back here in the morning.”

“True,” I say. “But maybe we can do both.”

The look he gives me makes the rest of the party feel very, very long.

When we get home, Pascal walks me to my room. At the door, he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Still want to do both?”

I pull him inside by his tie.

CHAPTER 33

NINA

“It’s Christmas Eve!” I announce, bursting into the kitchen to find all three of them with their morning coffee. It’s our routine now, and I never want to live without it.

“What a way to spend Christmas Eve morning.” Jarek laughs. “Crashing a livestream. Honestly, I’m kind of excited. We’re lucky Mack likes us enough to help.”

“I’m not sure he actually likes us,” Pascal says with a chuckle. “I think he’s just a good guy.”

Zander looks over at me. “I promise, Nina, once we’re done with this, we have some real Christmas Eve plans for you tonight.”

“Really?” I light up like a kid.

“Of course.” He grins. “We know how much you love Christmas. We had to manage at least a few cheesy traditions.”

I laugh. I can’t wait. Then I gulp my coffee so fast I burn my tongue.