Page 51 of The Christmas Fix
“Actually, we do,” Paige countered. “Noah, since you’re the town figurehead. We really could use you on camera when we go through the park storage. Maybe give us some backstories on some of the ruined pieces. It’ll give our designers some ideas on what items need replaced and which ones we should try to salvage.”
“On camera?” Noah absolutely hated the idea. Standing next to Cat pretending not to think of the insane mistake they’d nearly made the night before for a national audience? Pass.
“I don’t think—”
“It would be you and Drake, and I was thinking Sara might also like to be part of the scene. She’s sweet and smart, and I think an audience would really connect with a kid whose known nothing but Merry’s Christmases,” Paige put in.
Sara would murder him on the spot if she ever found out he passed up a chance for her to be on TV with Drake Mackenrowe.Shit.
“Um. I guess so,” Noah said reluctantly. “Just Drake?” he clarified.
Cat rolled her eyes, then winced.
“Cat’s shooting the demo at Reggie’s at the same time,” Paige told him.
He stared at the swatch of tan skin at the base of Cat’s throat visible above the top button of her plaid shirt. There was a small bruise peeking out above her collar. Noah swallowed hard, knowing he’d put that mark on her.
Cat coughed into her sports drink.
Paige patted her on the back.
“Down the wrong hatch,” Cat gasped weakly. She glared at Noah.
Stop it, she mouthed when Paige bent to dig through her purse.
Stop what?he mouthed back.
You know what!
Paige sat up swiftly, phone in hand, and then clutched her head. “Ooof. A little too fast. So, I’ll email the releases over to you, and we’ll need you at the park at four. Plan for about two hours.”
Cat glared at him and shoved her sunglasses back on. So, the kiss and ensuing second base hadn’t mellowed Cat one iota. Well, he wasn’t going to let it affect him either. As far as he was concerned, he’d pretend like he had no idea just how spectacular Catalina King’s breasts were.
“That’s fine.”
Cat snatched the paper Imani had given him off his desk. “Are these for streetlights?” she asked peering at the glowing reindeer over the tops of her sunglasses.
“A request from the city council. And, looking at the astronomical price tag, yet another no from me.”
“You don’t like them?” Cat asked.
“Besides them being incredibly gaudy, I don’t like the idea of wasting a huge chunk of the budget on reindeer. Even if their noses do light up. Now if you two will excuse me, I’ve got a town to run, and you’ve got one to rebuild.”
“Thanks for your time, Noah,” Paige said, offering him a friendly grin.
Cat grunted and headed for the door.
“I appreciate you both being willing to put aside your personal differences,” Paige said pointedly as she slung her bag over her shoulder.
Cat paused mid-stride, sighed as if the words pained her. “Bye, Noah.”
“Bye, Cat.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Five weeks to Christmas Eve
Temperatures dropped and spirits rose as mid-November marched out of town. Progress was humming along on the job sites scattered around Merry. As word spread, more volunteers came out of the woodwork demanding to help. On the weekends, the town’s population swelled with drywallers, plumbers, and contractors giving up their days off to lend a hand.
