Page 25 of Honkers Under the Holly

It had to.

TINSEL AND TATAS

“Sir Honksalot, that wreath is not a snack!” Mac’s voice came through my phone as I touched up my lipstick in the Crown of Curves reception area. “No—don’t you give me that look. We talked about this.”

An indignant honk, followed by a crash made me wince. “Everything okay there?”

“Oh sure. Our goose just thinks he’s an interior decorator now. Apparently, the wreaths would look better on the floor. All of them.”

I bit back a laugh. We’d only been officially together for a week, but hearing Mac say “our goose” still made my heart do funny things. “You knew what you were getting into when you agreed to goose-sit while Tommy was a practice and I was in Colorado.”

“Yeah, well, next time you have a meeting with April de la Reine, you’re taking the chaos machine with you.”

“Somehow I don’t think they want a goose at their brand launch meeting.” I checked my reflection one last time. The emerald green wrap dress with the fur on the cuffs and hem hugged my curves perfectly, making me feel confident despitemy nerves. “Though he does have more InstaSnap followers than their current spokes model.”

“Speaking of social media...” Mac’s voice turned cautious. “Have you seen the latest?—”

The receptionist appeared. “Ms. Bauer? They’re ready for you.”

“Got to go. Love you. Don’t let Sir Honksalot eat Santa.” I would never tire of saying that. The love you part, no the eating Santa part. Unless, of course, Mac was dressed as sexy Santa when I got home.

“Too late for that warning,” Mac sighed. “Love you too,Liebling.”

Aww, he remembered the german pet name I’d called him at the airport. He was too cute for words.

I followed the receptionist down a hallway lined with gorgeous photos of plus-size models. My heart nearly stopped when I recognized April de la Reine’s iconic lingerie campaign from five years ago—the one that had made me believe curves could be more than just “brave” or “controversial.”

“Sara Jayne.” April herself emerged from the conference room, absolutely glowing in a designer maternity dress. “I’m so glad you could make it. Thank you for flying out to Denver. I’m a bit too far along now and Bridger said no more flying. Oh, and congratulations on the engagement. I always knew that goose of yours would lead to romance.”

Right. That. “About that?—”

“Everyone’s obsessed with IS’s video and the cover of the magazine,” she continued, ushering me into the room. “The spontaneity, the joy—it’s exactly what we’re looking for with Crown of Curves new line.”

The conference room held several executives who all looked at me with that same excited recognition. Great.

“Now,” April settled into her chair, one hand resting on her very pregnant belly that had seemed to have grown about a million times over since I saw her a month ago, “normally I’d be the face of our launch campaign, but baby Kingman number eight has other ideas. Which is actually perfect timing, because you’re exactly what this brand needs.”

“I am?”

“A fresh face in the plus-size world, already trending on this social media thing, America’s new sweetheart thanks to that adorable photoshoot...” She grinned. “Not to mention you’ve got that natural confidence we want to showcase. Magda told me all about the way you handled that photoshoot disaster with the hockey player? Pure genius.”

One of the executives—Janet, according to her nameplate—nodded enthusiastically. “We love how you’re changing the conversation about plus-size modeling. No more ‘brave’ or ‘controversial.’ Just beautiful, confident, and so... authentically real.”

“If we’re lucky, because we’re bidding late to get in, but we’re shooting for a spot during the Bowl,” April added. “Assuming the Bandits continue their winning streak, Tommy could be playing in that very game.”

My stomach dropped. The Bowl. As in the championship of professional football? Where Tommy might be playing? Of course they would want that. Because everyone thought we were engaged.

“We’re thinking a whole series,” Janet continued. “Women from all walks of life, not just models. But we’d like to start with yours—the plus-size model who captured the heart of America’s favorite bad-boy athlete.”

April looked at Janet funny and then back at me, giving me a look that seemed to express she was sorry Janet was being soweird. “Maybe we can even include Sir Honksalot. The internet loves that goose.”

My phone buzzed with a text from Mac.

Update: Santa has been rescued, but the wreath is a lost cause. Also, you and Tommy are trending again. Something about #RelationshipGoals?

I looked around the table at all these people ready to believe in me, in what I could bring to their brand. Then down at Mac’s text, proof of what was real in my life.

Sometimes the best opportunities come wrapped in complicated packages.

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