Page 43 of Hooked

“So you and Vinny?” Kristi asks as we descend the stairs, my arm still slung around her waist.

“Not sure,” I reply. I can be honest with Kristi, and that feels good.

“He likes you. I’ve never seen him emote until you came around.” We get to the bottom of the stairs and she looks me over. “Girl, if he doesn’t make it happen he’s an idiot.”

“Yeah,” I say, smiling.

“Zippers. Glued. Shut.” She nods fiercely.

“I hung mistletoe everywhere,” I say as we walk to the ballroom.

“There’s that ardor, you minx.”

The ballroom is packed.

I can’t believe it. I thought without my cousins there’d be no one here, but it’s teeming with merry makers. Plenty of people who will spread the word about the inn.

“Free booze,” Kristi says, like she can read my mind. “People love parties. Most people. Not Vinny, maybe, but he’s a weirdo. Don’t know why you like him.”

She grins at me.

“You know,” I say, giggling as we walk toward the bar. “Even Vinny knows Sven’s into you but needs help sealing the deal.”

“God, Sven’spathetic,” Kristi says, emphasizing the last word heavily. “He’s lucky he’s tall.”

“And kind? And funny?” I say, teasing her.

“Yeah yeah, and good on the water and handsome and all that shit. Let’s get to it.”

We reach the bar and Sven is busy as hell but handling it like the seasoned pro he is.

Until he sees Kristi. He stares, open-mouthed, and a glass falls out of his hand, crashing to the floor.

“Oh shit,” he says. “Shit. Sia, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” I say. “She’s a showstopper and it’d be wrong not to notice.”

Sven gawks for another few seconds and the line of thirsty patrons grows.

But they can wait.

“She is,” Sven says, finally. “You are, I mean.” He directs that comment at Kristi. “Wow.”

“You look like you could use some help,” she offers.

“No, I’m fine.”

I’m about to pop him one, but then he pauses.

“I mean, I don’t want to ruin your night, but if you’d like to help, I’d like that. A lot.”

That cheeky grin I love spreads across her face.

“Yeah,” she says. “I’d like that too.”

His eyes pop out of his head like he can’t believe his luck. I leave them to it and go to find my uncle.

“It’s incredible,” he says. “Seraphina, you’re a miracle worker. I can’t believe you pulled this together so quickly.”

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