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I waited. He normally didn’t respond right away, but the three little dots were moving on the screen, so I figured he was typing something.
Wyle
I’m actually doing well, brother. Looking forward to seeing you on Christmas.
We always spent Christmas at my grandparents’ house. But it had never been the same since my mother’s passing. Something about finding your mom without a pulse on Christmas Eve had a way of changing the holiday vibe. But our grandparents always did their best to make it a celebration. They were close to our mother, too, and we all grieved hard this time of year. Aside from my father, who acted as if it were just another day to open presents and eat a fancy meal. The man was heartless.
Me, too. Why don’t you come stay with me in Cottonwood Cove for a few days after? I think you’d like it here.
Wyle
Are there any good-looking women there?
I thought of Georgia, and I growled, even though I was sitting here alone. My brother was a bit of a womanizer, and he’d be all over her. I’d just have to make sure that didn’t happen.
Yes. There are plenty of beautiful women here.
Wyle
Dad has been calling me, but I haven’t picked up. Have you seen him lately?
I was back in the city a few weeks ago, and we had lunch. Same shit. Different day. Yes, I’ve missed a few calls, too, but we’ll see the bastard soon enough.
Wyle
Miss you, brother. I’ll see you soon.
That was the most I’d gotten out of Wyle in a while. He was off traveling this past year, and I was hoping he’d eventually move back to the city or maybe even come work with me here or with my father at the real estate company.
I made my way to the bathroom and turned on the shower. My phone dinged, and I looked down to see a text from Georgia.
Tink
Thanks for trusting me enough to share your mom’s story. I’m happy we’re friends, Bossman.
I thought about bringing up the kiss. Asking if she thought it was as good as I did. But I wasn’t going to play with fire. I’d been burned too many times in my life.
Me, too. Goodnight, Tink.
* * *
The next few days were busy as we had things in motion with Mara Skye. I’d just finished a Zoom call with Paramount and Arthur Hobbs, and things were moving forward there. Not only were my editors reading submissions, but my personal assistant, who now called herself my “bestie” and also happened to be the woman who starred in every fucking fantasy I had now, was also reading submissions for me.
I went downstairs for the holiday party that Georgia had organized for the office. It was the day before Christmas Eve, and we’d be closed until the day after New Year’s. Normally, we just brought in lunch, but, of course, my assistant had decorated the whole place and had turned this into quite the celebration.
Personally, I fucking hated Christmas. It reminded me of sadness and darkness and death. I highly doubt Hallmark would be putting that sentiment on their cards, but it was how I felt. Somehow, though, when I came down the stairs and saw Georgia in a green fitted dress with red-and-white-striped tights and a green hat on her head, my hatred for the holidays dissipated a bit.
“What the hell is this?” I asked when I stopped in front of her, and my eyes scanned her gorgeous body. She’d been wearing a different outfit earlier.
“I’m the host, so I just changed into my elf costume.”
If she was an elf, I was going to embrace fucking Christmas by the balls, because she looked like the sexiest bundle of holiday joy I’d ever seen.
“Since when do elves look this good?” I asked, leaning close to her ear before I could stop myself. I’d been really trying to keep my distance since the world’s hottest kiss, but just one look at her in this tight little green number, and I couldn’t see straight.
“Are you actually in a good mood?” she purred. “How about you try to take me out of the ping-pong championship? There’s no one else left to challenge me.”
“You sure you want to risk it? You’re on top right now.”
