Page 3 of Five Days to Be Mine

Matt returns her kiss. “Then let’s go play, my brat,”

Jenny giggles and gives us a wave.

The two make their way to the back of the cavernous restaurant to the pair of wooden doors.

As dark as it is, the glass tables in different sizes, with the overhead lighting that is just the right tone of yellow, makes the place warm and cozy in a professor’s library kind of way.

Kyle reaches for another pastry on the plate and feeds it to Sabrina.

“I want to see what’s behind the doors, but I don’t want to leave Mara,” Sabrina says.

Matt looks over and gives me a grin. “Mara, you could come back and play with us.”

That’s it, I’m going to have to quit my job.

It’s a job I love, and I’m good at it, but I know after tonight, there is no way I can work alongside the Wilsons anymore.

“I’m not in the mood to play. Thank you for bringing me here, though. This place is wild.”

Across from me, a man is spoon-feeding his partner hot chocolate while pulling on a chain connected to her right nipple.

The hot chocolate spills off the spoon, and the man is now leaning across, licking it off his partner’s skin.

“It’s our pleasure. We couldn’t think of a better way to reward our staff for a successful year.” Kyle claps me on the shoulder while Sabrina stares at me as if she’s calculating something.

“Mara, you’re so talented. Wendy Svennson asked for you to be her designer specifically. It’s time you take the lead on a project.”

I struggle for words. This is what I want more than anything: to create stunning pieces out of flowers, to make people happy.

“Thank you.”

Sabrina flashes me a smile. “You deserve it! We’ll talk about it when we get back in the studio. Now come play!”

“You two can go ahead. I’m fine here by myself.”

“Oh, I don’t think you’ll be by yourself for long,” Kyle smiles above my head, and I turn, a sinking feeling in my stomach.

“We’ll leave you,” Kyle pulls Sabrina up by the arm, and they stand.

“Ryder, glad you could make it,” Sabrina says.

I stare through the square glass top table at the floor. I know my face is bright red.

“You’ll keep Mara company, won’t you?” Kyle brushes my shoulder. I look up at him. His exaggerated smirk makes me feel awful, like I'm the butt of a joke.

“Of course I will. A pretty girl like Mara shouldn’t be alone on this festive night.”

Sabrina giggles. “I need another drink, Sir.”

“Hey, Mara,” Ryder says, touching my shoulder.

I reflectively jump. I didn’t want to talk to this Dom, to this guy who told me I had to lose weight. I’ve heard that my whole life. It’s getting old.

“Hi, Ryder.” I am definitely going to quit. I can't believe they didn't take no for an answer, and this guy is here.

“Good! See, our Christmas matchmaking is a success! Are you surprised, Mara?” Sabrina asks.

“Definitely,” I murmur.

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