“Hey. Snowstorm or not you and I are going to have a fun Christmas Eve. You up for that?”
A smile replaces the frown. “Absolutely.”
There’s no mistaking how her gaze lingers with mine for a heartbeat. And just like that, the oven timer beeps effectively breaking the moment.
She slides around me and takes the casserole dish out of the oven. “Okay this needs to cool. In the meantime, I’m going to try these gorgeous pieces on.”
“Breakfast and a show, lucky me.” I toss her a wink and I’m rewarded with a laugh.
Amy picks up the box and saunters down the hallway. Those blue eyes. That smile. Her laugh. I hadn’t forgotten that laugh.
Or the way she looks at me.
It’s been a long time since Amy’s looked at me that way, but I’ll never forget how it makes me feel.
No woman has ever made me feel the way Amy does. She is some kind of magic. Maybe we can create a little Christmas magic of our own.
CHAPTER FIVE
Amy
While Spencer joins the video call with his team, I clean up the kitchen.
He ate three pieces of the casserole, which made me so happy. He ate like a starved man.
I wonder if he screws like he eats.
Wow. What a thought, and on Christmas Eve no less.
Forgive me Santa.
With that thought I should call my family to wish them a happy Christmas Eve.
When my mom doesn’t answer I call Ella.
“Amy? What’s up?” She sounds out of breath.
“What have you been doing? Working out?”
“Alex and I were just—”
“Stop. I don’t need to know.”
“Get your mind out of the gutter. We’re sledding and having a snowball fight with Ronan and Holliday and their kids.”
“Ronan and Holliday came for Christmas?”
Ronan is Ella’s brother and a famous movie star. When Ella moved to New York Ronan hired Alex to be Ella’s bodyguard. And the rest as they say is history.
“Yep. They celebrated Christmas with Holliday’s family last weekend. And my parents are in Bora Bora, so they decided to come here for Christmas Day celebrations. We’re going to London for New Year’s Eve.”
“New Year’s Eve in London sounds amazing. Be sure to wish Holliday and Ronan a Merry Christmas for me.”
“I will. How’s it going with your man? Have you banged him yet?”
“No. But things are getting a little hotter.”
“Oh really?” Her voice perks up.
I clear my throat and step into the hallway. “Yeah. He’s got a hot tub and I don’t have a swimsuit so he—”
“Suggested that you go skinny dipping.”
“Uhm, not quite. But maybe,” I say that a little too quickly and with more enthusiasm than I meant.
“I knew it. Girl, you are snowed in with your hottie crush, all alone in his penthouse, which I’m sure is super cozy.”
I hold the phone away from my ear when Ella starts chanting, “Do him. Do him.”
“I feel sorry for the therapist that your children will talk to in the future.”
“Relax they’re sledding. Honestly, you need to make your move—we’ll call it the Sexmas Blitz.”
I can’t help the booming laugh that comes out of my mouth. “Nice use of football terminology. I’m impressed.”
“It’s all Alex’s fault. He made me start watching the Lions. They’re seriously tragic. But honestly Amy, you can’t let this moment slip away. Show him what’s in your playbook.”
“Ella please, it’s kind of complicated. And that makes no sense.”
“It makes total sense! You told Alex that it was fate that the two of us met and now look where we are—married with a family. There’s a reason Spencer walked into your gate at the airport.”
Shit. I did tell Alex that. But it was different. Ella was planning to stay in New York. I have no plans to move. I can’t move for a guy. Can I?
Unless...
No.
“Amy make a touchdown with your quarterback. Move those chains, baby!”
“Oh my gawd. Will you calm down. When did you become such a pervy punny perve?”
“I’ve always been a dirty bird. And I will not calm down. You are snowed in with your dream guy. So if you’re not skinny dipping then what is happening?”
“Let’s just say I have my choice of designer swimwear to choose from. A couple of bikinis and a single-shoulder one-piece. He’s making dinner and I don’t know—I mean this is Spencer Ward. He can have any woman he wants.” I walk back down the hallway towards the kitchen.
“Amy listen to me—you’re a beautiful woman. He’d be stupid not to have eyes for you. Now, you go get yourself some holiday cheer with that man.” Ella’s voice is firm, with a hint of laughter.
“Fine. I’m hanging up now.”
“Love you. We’re done here and the kids want hot chocolate.”
A big smile crosses my face as I hit the end call button and toss my phone onto the counter. My eyes roam around the living room. This place needs a tree and some decorations.
Right.
I wander along the hallway, stopping outside Spencer’s home office. The door is open just a crack. The low hum of holiday music pipes around the room. The next thing I hear is Spencer singing along with the song.
When Spencer stands, I get a glimpse of him wearing a blue Santa hat. The kids’ voices begin to drown Spencer out. He’s laughing and I fall in love with the sound.
I step back making my way to the guest room and pull out my laptop and charger. When I get back to the kitchen, I set up a makeshift workspace.
A glass of wine and thirty minutes later, I’ve called every tree lot within walking distance and then some. No luck with any being open.
There’s a tree lot across from the organic food market.
“Hi. Wow. I didn’t expect anyone to answer. The whole city seems to be shut down.”
A gruff voices drifts into the phone. “We’re like the Post Office. Nothing can keep us shut down. Not even a little snow.”
That makes me chuckle. “I’m looking for a tree. Do you have any left?”
“Yep. We’ve got a good bunch left.”
“How are the roads?”
“Some of the side streets are a little messy. But the city plows are doing a great job. Hurry down.”
“Thanks. I will.”
After I end the call, I punch the address into my phone and then pour another glass of wine. The food market should have decorations. I start to browse their website on my laptop.
Disappointment winds through my veins at the limited selection. With a snap of my wrist I check out the same day delivery websites.
Due to the winter storm we’re experiencing delays on most deliveries.
Dammit. I’m not going to be able to make good on my promise to Spencer. I close my laptop and settle back on the sofa in the living room.
When Spencer wraps up the call, the sun is shining and the snow has long stopped. My fingers hover over my phone’s screen, but I decide not to check the flights.
“Hey, so, the tree lot by the organic market has trees and they’re open. Do you want to give me a lift to get a Christmas tree?”