Page 26 of Third Time's the Charm

Oh, my full name, huh? “It’s true. We’ve decided to be friendly. What’s more friendly than helping out on Christmas?”

Chapter 7

Baby got barracudas

Berlin

Turns out I liked hosting for Christmas. Sure I missed London, but she was spending her first Christmas as a married woman with her new family. I was happy for her.

But having everyone else here? Awesome! Harrison and Ryker were deep frying a turkey in the yard, Paris made trays and trays of appetizers that we all munched on throughout the day, and I was making sides. The house smelled heavenly and hearing Melly and Lia giggle because I allowed them to decorate the living room any way they wished, was pretty fantastic.

Christmas on Mistletoe Key!

“How have I never had eggnog before?” Cynthia asked. “This shit is delicious!”

Paris held up the bottle of bourbon. “This is the secret.”

“Oh...”

And that’s why we were all a little tipsy.

Cynthia picked up a pita chip and dipped it in the spinach dip. “I could live on just appetizers.”

“We do this every year,” Paris shook her head. “We eat all day, and then somehow manage to eat dinner, and then we feel like we’re dying. And yet we do it anyway.”

“I mean, the holiday’s are an excuse to eat as much as you want. Calories don’t count,” I shrugged.

“Do you eat dessert after all that?” Cynthia asked.

My eyes bugged and my heart thudded in panic. “Oh shit!” I can’t believe I forgot.

“What?” Cynthia and Paris asked at the same time.

I moved to the front door, grabbing my purse on the way. “I was supposed to pick up the Key lime pie! Be right back!”

I ran as fast as I could. Conchita was going to bepissedat me. This wasn’t the first time I blanked on a pickup order. Normally she’d shoot me a sarcastic text or—worst case scenario—drop it off. Luckily I wasn’t late (yet.)

I was moving so fast I overshot the glass front door of the bakery and had to slide to a stop. My heart was already pounding at top speed but when I opened the door and sawhimstanding at the counter, it somehow managed to stop altogether, and then keep beating even faster. I heard that whooshing in my ears so I couldn’t understand what Jack was saying until it suddenly cleared, like popping your ears when the elevation changes.

“I was just about to head to your place.” He had a sexy smirk on his lips.

Conchita’s eyes darted between us, her lips pursed and her right eyebrow raised. Then she folded her arms. “Do you want me to kick his ass out of here?”

“We’re friends now,” I said automatically.

“You both say that.”

“Well it’s true.” I wanted to grab my box and run, but Jack blocked most of the little counter space between the large glass display cases now empty of their usual baked goods.

“No it’s not.” She waved her hand between us. “This kind of passion? There are only two sides. Hot, sizzling love making or hot, sizzling fire. You love or you hate, there is no in between.”

“Well.” I moved closer to the counter but couldn’t quite reach the box. Jack’s eyes followed me, but his body didn’t move. “We’re different now. No passion at all. No love, no hate. Just friends.”

She stared me down. “Mmmhmmm.”

“What?”

Jack chuckled, finally turned so that his hip rested on the counter and his full gaze was on me. “You really feel nothing for me? Not even a little anger?”

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