Page 134 of Holiday Hire

I put my phone on silent and slip it inside my purse. Then I pull on my jeans, oversized red sweater, and boots. I glance at myself in the mirror, add some gloss to my lips, brush my hair one last time, and exit the bedroom. I step into the hallway and go into the family room.

Wilder urges, "Come on, Phoebe. We're going to be late."

"Sorry," I say sheepishly.

"You take a long time to get ready," Ace says.

"Sorry," I repeat, making a mental note to get ready earlier. Since Alexander and I have gotten together, I'm spending more time getting ready.

"Stop harping on Phoebe. And she looks nice, doesn't she, boys?" Alexander says, stepping out of the kitchen, wearing his jeans and a green button-down shirt.

My butterflies take off. I glance at him, trying not to smile too much, remembering all the ways he made me orgasm with his hand over my mouth last night so the boys wouldn't hear.

But then I had to sneak back into my bedroom, which, like always, sucked.

Wilder gives me a cocky Jagger smile, stating, "You look great, Phoebe. Can we go now? It's party day."

I move toward the door, saying, "I'm ready."

"It's going to be awesome today," Ace adds, rushing to the front door and yanking it open.

A rush of cold air hits me.

He grins. "After you!"

"Why, thank you!" I say, then tousle his hair, step outside, and hurry to the truck.

Wilder slides in front of me and opens the passenger door.

"Thanks!" I beam, my heart swelling. Alexander is teaching the boys to be every bit of a gentleman like the rest of the Cartwright men.

The boys and Alexander get into the cab. He turns on the engine, pulls past the gates, and turns onto the road.

It's the last day of school before the new year, and the kids have been talking all week about their party. The school wanted volunteers to help, so I asked Alexander if he could take the day off. I didn't know if he would, but he surprised me and agreed to come. The boys were ecstatic when we told them.

Wilder and Ace babble with excitement the entire ride. Alexander and I fall into platonic mode. It's been hard hiding things between us, but we've managed to keep things under wraps. It's been a week since he took me to the cabin, and we take any chance we get for alone time. Yet the fear of someone catching us is always there and someone is always close by.

Alexander pulls into the school parking lot, and before he turns the truck off, the kids open the doors. He questions, "Can I park first?"

They don't answer and jump out.

Wilder opens my door.

I slide out of the cab. "Thank you!"

"Sure. Come on, Phoebe," he says, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the entrance.

Ace and Alexander follow close behind. We get into the school and go directly to the gym.

"We don't even have to go to our classroom today. It's a free-for-all," Ace declares.

Alexander chuckles, and the boys run off. He puts his hand on my back and guides me through the school.

Tingles race down my spine the entire way. It's the same thing that happens every time he touches me. He leans close to my ear and murmurs. "If you see a janitor's closet, let me know."

I smirk. "Bad boy."

He winks, and my insides turn to jelly.

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