Page 61 of Wrapped Up with the Three Scrooges

My mother patted my cheek. “I’m just happy to see my boy settled down with such a lovely young woman.”

“Mother, me and Emery just started seeing each other,” I said through gritted teeth. I needed a drink. Several drinks. Possibly all the drinks.

Thankfully, dinner was close to being served, so we went outside to where a large tent was set up for dinner. It reminded me of a wedding reception.

“Dear, why don’t you and Emery sit here next to me, and Max and Ronan can sit across.” My mother had appeared out of nowhere, looping her arm through mine and guiding me to a table.

“The centerpieces are gorgeous.” Emery admired the elaborate arrangement of white roses and crystal snowflakes as she took her seat next to me. “Did you do these yourself, Diana?”

“Oh, heavens no, darling. I have people for that.” My mother waved her hand dismissively. “Though I selected the design myself.”

My mother and Emery started chatting about flower arrangements, and I attempted to relax. Max and Ronan were discussing something that I couldn’t hear, and I just knew it was about me. If the roles were reversed and one of them announced they were with Emery, I’d probably be pissed too.

The first course arrived, and I tried to focus on not spilling it down my expensive shirt instead of the way Ronan was watching Emery’s lips wrap around her spoon.

“So, Emery,” Mrs. Henderson called from three seats down, “what do you do for a living?”

“She works with us, actually,” I answered quickly, then immediately regretted it when my mother’s eyebrows shot up.

“Oh?” She set down her soup spoon. “I thought you had rules about dating employees, Levi.”

Across the table, Max took a very long drink of wine. Ronan suddenly became fascinated with his napkin.

“It’s... complicated.” And boy, wasn’t that the truth.

“I’m in the gift-wrapping department.” Emery jumped in smoothly, as if she’d been preparing for this question. “It’s a seasonal position. Though I’ve been told my bows look like a drunk octopus tied them.”

“A very talented drunk octopus,” Max, Ronan, and I corrected in unison, then shared a panicked look when several heads turned our way. We’d all taken to telling her that because of the cute way it made her scrunch up her nose.

My mother’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You seem to all know each other well.”

“We’re a close-knit company,” Ronan offered diplomatically.

The main course arrived, and the elaborate presentation distracted everyone.

Emery took a bite and made a humming noise of approval. Although, I wasn’t sure if the noise was from the food or the fact that she had her other hand on my thigh. The little minx was trying to kill me.

Emery glanced at me with a small smirk, then looked over at my mother. “This is delicious.”

“Isn’t it?” My mother beamed. “The chef trained in Paris. Levi, darling, you’re looking flushed. Are you feeling all right?”

“Fine,” I squeaked, as Emery’s hand found its way to my inner thigh and slightly dug her nails in. “Just... warm.”

I was going to die at this dinner table, and it would be entirely worth it.

“More wine?” the server asked, appearing at my elbow.

“God, yes,” I said, a little too enthusiastically.

My mother laughed. “The holidays are rather stressful, aren’t they?”

You have no idea, Mother. No idea at all.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Emery

Itook another bite of the exquisite meal, trying to ignore the thick tension radiating from across the table. Max and Ronan were doing their best to appear normal, but I could read the strain in their tight smiles and rigid postures. My hand was still on Levi’s thigh, but what had started as playful teasing now made me feel a little guilty.

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