Page 105 of Five Days of Christmas Spice

My cheeks are burning.

“Fine. So what florist do you want, and why hasn’t she agreed to take the job?” I say it through gritted teeth.

Thankfully, Noel lays off the remote control.

Evan pauses with his skewer to his mouth. He lifts his wine glass to me. “You got all that in five minutes?”

“Holly’s a great reader of situations. It comes in handy with her job,” Noel is smiling so huge. I want to climb into his lap.

“I guessed from Theo’s reaction. He looks like he has a secret. Noel’s right. There are lots of florists in the city, so there must be a reason why you cancelled your floral order.”

“Yes, the previous company fired her, and now she’s started on her own and won’t take my calls.”

“Sounds like my kind of woman,” Hunter says.

Theo and Noel laugh, but Evan glares at his youngest brother. Hunter shrugs and pops the skewer in his mouth.

“Why won’t she?” Noel asks.

“She doesn’t like this place.” Evan shrugs.

“It’s not everyone’s taste.” Theo says.

“No, but she hasn’t even tried. She can’t judge without giving it a fair chance,” Evan says.

“Then why don’t you invite her to experience it as a guest?” Noel says. “That’s how I got this one.”

I giggle as he holds up my hand, my cheeks flaming.

“Maybe. I don’t like people telling me no.”

“A woman dared to tell you no? I like her too.” Noel grins. “What’s her name?”

“Mara.” Evan stares at us coolly.

“Ooh, Mara,” Theo says.

“And Theo, how’s it going with Callie?” Noel asks.

I grin as his brothers laugh, and Theo wags a finger at Noel. “I told you, it’s not like that.”

“That’s why he’s going to the middle of nowhere again next week.” Hunter grins.

“I wish you guys all the luck in your pursuits or non-pursuits,” Noel adds, glancing at Theo.

The next course comes in with more wine, and I settle back, holding Noel’s hand under the table, listening to the brothers talk.

It’s clear they love each other, and I can’t wait to meet their parents.

“Mom is going to freak. She’s going to want to hold the wedding in the backyard,” Evan says.

“This time, I’ll let her. If that’s okay with you, Holly,” Noel raises an eyebrow at me, and I sense the collective held breath around the room.

Noel’s wife will always be a part of him and a part of his past. Just like my past, it sometimes comes out into the present moment.

But it doesn’t matter.

I love Noel, and I know the next moment we create is more important than anything that’s ever come before.

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