Page 79 of Won’t Let You Get Away

“So, are we addressing or ignoring it?” I inquire.

He gulps down his wine in one swallow and stares at the empty glass before finally meeting my gaze.

“I got dumped,” he confesses bluntly. “She went back home for the holidays, ran into her ex…and now here I am, dumped on Christmas Eve.”

I exhale, unsure of what to say. But Leo continues speaking.

“I couldn’t stay in the city, but now that I’m here, I’m realizing being around people probably wasn’t the right decision either.”

Before I can respond, my mother appears by our side, clearly having overheard our conversation.

“Oh Honey,” she soothes, “being here is exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

Despite his heartbreak, a genuine smile finally graces Leo’s face as he looks down at my mom.

“Good to see you, Mrs.Jones. I apologize for bringing down the mood.”

“What did I tell you about that ‘Mrs.Jones’ nonsense? It’s Ma," she corrects him, linking her arm with Leo’s. She turns to me. “I have a bottle of wine set aside for this occasion.”

Before either of us can object, my mom whisks Leo away through the party and onto the back patio. I watch them go,debating whether or not I should follow and rescue him from my mom’s clutches. But just as I move to do so, Addison intercepts me.

“Oh thank god, there you are,” she exclaims, holding up a piece of paper. “One of the bartenders said they’re running low on these bottles and asked me to get more. But I have no idea where they are.”

I chuckle at her bewildered expression. “I’ve got it,” I assure her, taking the list from her hand. “Why don’t you go check on the glasses and try to enjoy the party?”

“Glasses,” Addison repeats, nodding before hurrying off. “NowthatI can handle.”

Glancing around the room, I can’t help but smile at how smoothly everything is going. This is our first holiday party for investors and staff, and I made sure they could relax and have a good time. I even convinced my mom to hire a catering company to take care of food, giving everyone the chance to enjoy the night.

Turning, I make my way down the back hallway and look over the list to see which wines I need to grab from storage. While this room is mainly used for tours and aesthetics, it’s convenient during events so we don’t have to trek over to the production building for supplies.

As the wooden door closes softly behind me, the room falls into a deafening silence. I know I should get back to work, but I relish this moment of peace and take my time. My thoughts drift to Nicolas, wondering if he’s asleep or still awake. A pang of anxiety hits me, but I shake it off and force myself to focus on the task at hand. Grabbing an empty box from the floor, I place it on one of the empty barrels that serves as a makeshift table.

Once I’ve collected all six bottles, I let out a sigh and reach for my phone. Just as I’m about to dial a contact, a voice startles me and I nearly drop my phone, barely catching it in time.

“You better not be texting Connor.” Noah’s voice comes from behind me. Turning around, I cross my arms and scowl.

“So what if I was?” I deadpan.

His eyes bounce between mine, concern etched on his forehead before pulling me into a hug.

“Connor has things under control. If not, he would call you right away.” He reminds me for probably the hundredth time in just an hour.

“I know,” I grumble, resting my head against his chest. “I don’t know why I’m so worried. It’s not like we went far. He’s literally next door.”

Noah presses his lips to the top of my head as he tightens his hold on me.

“You worry because you care. Even when you went back to work earlier this year, you made sure Nicolas was with you or nearby.” He pulls back and cups my face in his warm hands, smiling softly down at me. “We just need to be better about taking some time for ourselves.”

He’s right, and we both know it.

Over the past year, anytime Noah and I have gone on a date, Nicolas has come along with us. Our parents and his brother have offered to babysit, but the thought of leaving our baby was too difficult for us before tonight.

Sighing, I reluctantly step away from Noah and straighten out my dress. Putting on a smile, I smooth down the front.

“Do I look okay?”

Smirking, he drops his gaze slowly down my body, lingering on my exposed thigh. My body warms at his attention as he openly checks me out.

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