Page 47 of Sincerely Not Yours

Gigi laughed at his resistance. “Yes! Do you think I’d let you fall?”

“Maybe?”

“Never,” she replied through a grin.

“Okay. For you, I’ll do it.”

Gigi took his hand, and Harris shut his eyes, surrendering to her guidance. He followed her voice and touch, reveling in each sensation, all his senses on fire. Her warm, soft hand in his. Thesweet vanilla fragrance she exuded. Her contagious laugh that Harris was sure he could pick out from seven states away.

Each step felt like a promise, a whispered secret shared between them. The world around them faded, leaving only the warmth of her hand and the thrill of the unknown.

“We’re here.” Gigi guided him to a stop, her voice brimming with excitement. “You can look now.”

Harris opened his eyes, first finding Gigi’s beautiful face. Then he blinked against dazzling lights, wondering if he’d stepped into a dream. The Macy’s window showcased a Winter Wonderland—a snowcapped, enchanted forest, framed in gold. Fake snow twirled down from above, dusting emerald pine trees. Woven through branches, twinkling lights cast a magical glow, and woodland creatures danced through the trees.

In the center of the forest was a vintage clawfoot bathtub, overflowing with glittering ornaments. A cozy fireplace crackled in the background, its warmth almost palpable through the glass. Plush white towels and robes were draped elegantly over branches or pooled in the snow, inviting relaxation. And an array of SheTime soaps and lotions artfully adorned the scene, each product glowing under soft spotlights. A pedestal showcased one boxed gift set, elevating it like a precious artifact.

Harris gawked, taking it all in. Then he turned to Gigi, struggling to find words. He was speechless.SPEECHLESS.

“Do you like it?” she asked tentatively, her hand grasping his forearm.

His eyes were wide with admiration. “Gigi, this is incredible. I don’t even have words. You’ve created something trulymagical.”

Her eyes flashed with relief and then pride. “You really think so?”

“Absolutely. This . . . this is beyond what I imagined. How did you . . . how did you even do this?” He waved a hand at the scene,at the piece of art before them. He knew what kind of budget she’d worked with, yet she’d knocked this project clear out of the park.

She smiled brightly, nerves replaced with joy. “Lots of work. And negotiating. I managed some great deals. Found the bathtub at a garage sale. It has a hole in the bottom, but I didn’t need it to hold water. It just needed some paint. The trees and animals came from a local high school. Bought them from the theater department after their spring run ofThe Sound of Music. I got all the lights and ornaments on clearance last year, the day after Christmas.”

“Really?” he asked, dumbfounded.

She nodded. “You can accomplish a lot by getting up early, putting in some elbow grease, and having crafty friends.”

Suddenly, it became clear to Harris why his father didn’t give Gigi more support. She did it all without a single complaint. He was letting Gigi do the work of ten people, because it saved him the cost of a team.

“I hope you weren’t doing this off the clock,” Harris said, gathering that she had and wanting to give his dad a piece of his mind.

“It’s fine.” She shrugged. “Besides, how many people get to create a window display for Macy’s? I wanted it to feel special, to really showcase SheTime. I tried to capture the way our products should make customers feel—like they are being whisked away to a luxurious fantasy, even in the midst of holiday chaos.” Her smile widened.

Harris pushed down a flash of anger aimed at his dad, not wanting to rain on Gigi’s parade. He’d deal with his father later. Right now, this moment was for Gigi.

Scanning the scene, he lingered on the intricate details. The effort, thought, and love Gigi had poured into this project was evident. “You’ve outdone yourself. This is beyond perfect.”

She blushed. “I’m so glad you like it.”

Gigi still had her hand on his forearm, and Harris set his hand on top of hers. He wanted to take hold of her, to kiss her and tell her how amazing she was and how much she meant to him, but he held back. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

“On Christmas Eve?”

He nodded, losing himself in her dark-chestnut eyes.

“Having an early dinner with my nonna,” she replied, looking confused. “Why?”

“After you celebrate with your nonna, would you join me for the Christmas Ball at the Ice Castle?” Never in Harris’s life had he wanted to take anyone to a ball, but the emotions Gigi pulled out of him were different. He wanted to sweep her off her feet, make her feel like a queen every minute of every day. And he knew the Christmas Ball would be something Gigi would love.

Her red lips opened, as if he’d confessed he could fly. “Are you asking me on a date?”

Harris stepped closer, wanting his intentions to be clear. “Gigi, will you be my date for the Christmas Ball tomorrow night?”

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