Page 119 of All I Want for Christmas

‘That’s not funny.’

She wanted to laugh. It actually was funny. It appeared that what was good for the gander was in fact not good for the goose.

At least they’d moved out of the awkward stage, she supposed.

‘Just let me eat in peace,’ he muttered.

‘I didn’t know I was disturbing your peace.’

‘You’ve been disturbing my peace since we met, and you know it.’

She was quiet for a few moments. She did know it. But she also knew something that wouldreallydisturb his peace; something he had a right to know. ‘Are you aware we’ve gone viral?’

‘...I wasn’t aware we’re a “we”.’

‘I’m afraid so. You haven’t seen it on TikTok?’

‘I don’t have TikTok.’ He’d stopped eating now, a look of mild alarm crossing his face. ‘What’s gone viral?’

She swallowed. ‘...Someone filmed us in the ladies’ at the fundraiser.’

‘What?’ The word was a bark, breaking through his carefully controlled composure. ‘Why?What was there to see? You’d got wine on your dress! Why is that interesting to anyone?’

‘It’s just social media nonsense. This is what happens. I’m not happy about it either.’

He stared at her, looking stunned. ‘Show me.’

‘Maybe I shouldn’t—’

‘Darcy, show me! I have a professional reputation to consider.’

She brought it up on her phone and stared at the table as he watched. He played it through several times before flinging himself back in his chair, his hands in his hair. He clearly understood the intimation upon them. How the caption was casting him: the way he’d held her as he called for his driver; how he’d kissed her hair; the protective body language as he’d turned for the door...He was no longer Max Lorensen, corporate law titan, but the poster boy forIf he wanted to, he would.

‘Four million people have watched this?’ He was incredulous. Mildly panic-stricken.

‘If it makes you feel better, it’s probably just ten teenage girls who have watched it four hundred thousand times.’

To her surprise, he gave a small laugh. ‘...Fuck,’ he groaned.

‘I know. I’m sorry.’

‘Why are you sorry?Youdidn’t film it and post it.’

‘No, but if I hadn’t—’

‘If you hadn’t been flirting with that guy, your dress wouldn’t have ended up ruined and I wouldn’t have had to go after you?’

‘Youdidn’thave to go after me. And besides, I wasn’t flirting with him. We were talking.’

He shrugged. ‘Looked like flirting from where I was standing.’

‘I wasn’t aware you were even looking.’

His eyes flashed. ‘I’m watchful. Remember?’

‘...Ha-ha, very clever.’ She looked away, feeling her heart pound. The conversation between them could veer from awkward to intense so quickly, it made her head spin.

They were quiet for a few minutes, drinking and eating, but from the way his eyes kept going to her phone, she knew he was preoccupied with what he’d just seen. Would he be professionally embarrassed?

---