Page 50 of Wintertime Love (Holiday 2)

Danny, tactless moron that he is, snickers. “Nah. He overheard me and you talking about our contingency plan last year and he decided to make it happen.”

“Contingency plan?” Finn asks in a silky voice that screams danger.

I glare at Danny. “It’s noth—”

“We decided that if we’re both single by thirty five, we’ll get married.”

Finn’s jaw tightens.

Lucia frowns. “How come I don’t have a pact like that? I don’t want to be single when I’m thirty five.”

“Sorry.” Danny shrugs. “I’m already taken.” To add fuel to the fire, he winks at me.

Is he really this dense? Can he really not see the way Finn is watching him?

Lucia gives me a devastated look. “Wait, so I’m going to die alone?”

“It’s just a joke.” I let out a strained laugh, very aware of the way my lover hasn’t removed his eyes from Danny.

“I don’t care.” She looks around the diner. “Somebody needs to promise themselves to me right now!”

Jerry doesn’t look up from his puzzle book and pie as he lifts his fork in the air.

Lucia gives him a scornful look. “You’re already married, and you could drop dead any day now by how much desserts you swindle out of Clara.”

Jerry narrows his eyes in her direction. “I was going to set you up with Reggie, my nephew who’s coming into town tomorrow. But hey, if you don’t want to—?”

Lucia is on her feet. “I want to! Let’s do this!”

Jerry sniffs as if he’s been vindicated.

I leave them to their negotiation, turning my attention towards Danny. “So, Ben’s getting along with Sharon then?”

“Yeah. She’s thrilled about it. So much so that she insisted we take him with us tonight for the Christmas market. It was supposed to be a date.” He looks a little put off.

“Isn’t she hosting a party on Saturday?” I ask, putting a coffee before him.

He nods. “I heard she asked you to cater it. What are you making?”

“Mini pizzas, sandwiches, some potato stuffed pastries. She’s making all the desserts; she just wanted a few savories.”

“Cool. Need a hand?”

I stare at him, blankly. “A hand? Stacy- Oh, shit!” Stacy was going out of town for three days this weekend. How could I forget that? “Well, crap,” I groan out loud, covering my face with my hands.

“I can help out.” Danny grabs the sugar container and starts shoveling it into his coffee.

Finn is being oddly silent.

I glance towards him.

He has a considering look on his face as he stares at Danny, a gleam in his eyes.

I study him, warily, before turning to my friend. “I’ll try to get myself organized before that. But I might end up asking you to—”

“I’ll help out,” Finn suddenly comes back to life and his voice cuts smoothly into my sentence.

Danny gives him a doubtful look. “You sure, pal? Have you ever worked under Clara before? She can be a real—” He turns towards me when I pick up a knife from the rack, and gives me a hasty smile, “Charming person. I love helping you out, babe.”

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