Page 53 of The Christmas Fix
“What if we make it like a grant? Have communities apply to become the home of King Tech. We’ll accept entries and choose the winner based on things like community need, proximity to urban centers, percentage of unemployment.”
“First of all, King Tech? Isn’t it hugely obnoxious to name a school after myself? Secondly, I love the idea. It will save us from months of cold research, and we’ll be able to narrow it down to a community that would benefit from the school. You’re a damn genius, Lorinda.”
“We’re going to need you to spread the word. You know, utilize that celebrity.”
“I’ll put it on the blog and have my agent distribute some press releases,” Cat decided. She covered the phone and bellowed for Henry.
“Let’s pull the trigger on this. That way we can get a jump on this in the new year,” Lorinda said.
“Perfect. I’ll get the releases drafted, and you figure out how to spend three million dollars.”
Cat hung up and spirit soaring pumped her arms into the air.
“Good news?” Paige asked mildly.
Cat grabbed her sister-in-law by the face and placed a smacking kiss on her mouth. “I fucking love you and your sarcasm!”
“You shrieked like a banshee?” Henry said, shuffling over in fleecy leather moccasins and a very stylish navy wool coat.
Cat grabbed him and kissed him. “I fucking love your British ass!”
Henry sputtered and blinked.
She grabbed the next available body by the biceps and reeled him in. She realized her mistake a split second before her lips met Noah’s, but it still didn’t stop her from planting one on him. She was too happy to hate.
“I even fucking love your grumpy ass!” she said. She pretended that this particular chaste kiss felt exactly the same as the others. That there was no shock of carnal desire singing through her veins at just the brush of his lips against hers. It was the first physical contact they’d had sincethat night. And just likethat night, this was a mistake. She made a move to step back, but he held her wrist.
He reached out, and before either one of them knew what was happening, Noah thumbed away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. That gentle, purposeful touch, the seriousness in his eyes had her heart tripping over a beat.
Silence. For one intimate, spontaneous moment it was just Noah looking into her. A connection so strong she felt like she could reach out and touch it.
“Cat, you’re killing me here. Why do you love us again?” Paige demanded.
Cat stepped back from the pull of Noah. “We’re building a school!”
“You got the grant?” Henry asked, calmly slipping his phone from his pocket.
Cat launched herself at him and grabbed him by the shoulders. “Yes, my British crumpet. We got the mother of grants!”
She could still feel the weight of Noah’s gaze on her as she trembled from head to toe with joy.
Drake poked his head out of the craft service tent. “What’s all the racket?”
“Cat got her grant,” Henry called out.
“No shit?” Drake whooped and caught her in three steps, swinging her around in a wide circle. “That’s my girl!”
Cat was dizzy enough that it took her several seconds to realize Noah was gone.
“Tonight, we celebrate!” she announced.
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Trailer Town, as it was affectionately known by its temporary residents, was hopping. After knocking off shooting for the day at a reasonable hour, Cat organized a progressive drinker. It was like a progressive dinner, only with less food and more alcohol. They started off with champagne toasts to Cat’s awesomeness in Drake’s luxury RV.
Still high from the day’s win, Cat felt the flush on her cheeks that had nothing to do with alcohol. She had a strict rule for overdoing it only once during a shoot, and she’d already used up that freebie. Besides, she’d just added an entire mountain range of work to her already steep to do list. Every spare second of her days would be focused on tackling the next steps.
They were crowded around Drake’s dining table and spilling into the bump out living room, laughing about the last toast when a production assistant shyly raised her glass. “To Cat, for being the kind of role model we can all look up to,” she said, blushing furiously.
