Page 32 of Stocking Stuffers
“What’s up, little bro?” she said as she melted into the chair next to him.
“Not much. Reading.” He held up the old-school bodice ripper he’d nicked from her library in the attic.
Valerie laughed softly and leaned her head back. She had dark circles under her eyes. This whole snowed-in situation had to be stressful for her. She had several staff that helped run Winterberry Inn, but none of them had been able to make it out here in the storm. Also, the inn didn’t usually have to feed its guests more than breakfast, but Valerie had been determined to make everyone’s stay exceptional, even with a snow-pocalypse.
“How are you doing, Val?”
“Fine. I’ve got several pots of soup and chili going for dinner, as well as crusty bread. It’ll be a nice, homey meal. Perfect snowed-in dinner.”
“Sounds great. If you need anything, please ask me. I’m happy to help you.” She didn’t react, so he continued. “I can help with the Soiree too.”
Valerie blew out a big breath, her cheeks puffing out, before she opened her eyes. “I’m a bit behind on that actually.”
“You always are,” Perry teased. It was a large, extravagant party. Not an easy thing to plan on your own. “What do you need help with?”
“The decorations mostly, which you’ll be awesome at. Eden is in charge of the menu, so no worries for me there. But transforming the inn into a romantic winter wonderland is a tad stressful. So many candles. Normally, I’d be setting up already, but with all the guests stranded here, I decided to wait.”
“Makes sense. Once the storm passes, we’ll hit the prepping hard.”
Valerie smiled and stole his beer from his fingers. “I’m so happy you’re here. I wish you lived closer, then you could help me all the time.” He started to open his mouth, to dump his truth on her, but she didn’t give him a chance to break in. “Man, if you lived here, you could try for something real with Sasha. You guys are adorably awkward around each other. And don’t lie. I know you’ve been getting up to some hanky-panky, Mr. Disappeared-With-The-Sex-Toy-Lady all afternoon.”
Perry laughed uncomfortably. “So, I have a lot of things to tell you, but I don’t know where to start.”
“Start with which sex toys you’ve used.”
“Ew, no. I’m not giving you details. And tomorrow, she’ll go back to her exciting, interesting life and forget about boring ol’ me.”
Perry jerked when Valerie punched his arm. “Stop the pity party. It looks ridiculous on you.”
He smiled at his sister. She knew exactly how to break him out of his moods.
“So I told you Brit and I broke up earlier this month.” he said.
Valerie nodded, her brows furrowing down. His ex-girlfriend and Valerie had never exactly gotten along, which should have been a warning signal. He was obviously good at ignoring his gut instinct when it came to his life, though. He’d done it with his accounting job for almost eight years.
“Well, we broke up because I got laid off and then decided to use my severance package to go back to school.”
“Oh, thank God.”
Perry gaped at her. “What?”
“You were miserable in that job, but it’s like you thought that hating your job was part of being an adult. If that’s true, then I don’t want to grow up. What do you want to do instead?”
This conversation was not going how he’d expected. “I enrolled in the horticulture and landscape architecture program. Here. In the city.”
“Shut the fuck up! You’re moving here?”
“My car is full of my shit. I sold my furniture.”
Valerie hugged him. “My little brother is back. Oh my God, I’m so happy. Best. Christmas. Ever.”
Perry laughed. “Do you think I’m making a mistake?”
She leaned back. “Absolutely not. You’ll be so great at that. I’m asked all the time who did our landscaping! I’m excited for you.”
“Thanks, Val. I’m nervous. I’m essentially jobless and homeless right now.”
“You’re not homeless. Hell, you can stay in the Red Cedar Room for a while. I can mark it as booked for the foreseeable future. Or you can move into your childhood bedroom in the carriage house.”
