Page 33 of Love Without Demands

“Heeeey,” I chirped when I drew near, and both kids waved exuberantly. I squatted to their level and handed over the candy. “I brought you both something.”

“Thank you, Auntie Lehra,” they replied in unison while unwrapping the suckers.

Jaxon pointed his at me and waggled his eyebrows. “Have I told you you’re the most beautiful woman in this room?” I stifled a snicker.

Leaning forward, I pressed a kiss to his cheek, leaving a lip print there. He already had two on the other side. “Thank you, Jaxon. That means a lot coming from you.” I straightened the lapel of his little jacket. “You look incredibly handsome in this suit.”

“Thanks, babe.”Oh my god, this crazy kid.

I turned to his twin in her wheelchair. “Janie, that dress is so pretty.” She was wearing white on white with a small faux fur shrug. Brilliant snowflakes danced across the shiny material of the dress.

“Thank you. Lolli made it for me.”

“Did I hear my name?” a voice sing-songed from behind me, and I stood and turned to find Tora and Tony approaching with matching smiles on their faces. They had recently come out as a couple, and I couldn’t have been happier for them.

“Lolli! Pops!” Janie squealed before accepting hugs from her soon-to-be grandfathers.

As the guys visited with the kids, I introduced myself to Abby, their babysitter for the evening, and learned that she wanted to be a pediatrician one day. She had long hair braided into cornrows and the emerald dress she was wearing set off her smooth, dark skin.

“That dress is stunning,” I told her, and she beamed.

“Mr. Auburn brought it for me.” Her eyes widened. “He said I could keep it. And he and Ms. Gianna bought a new Christmas tree for the home and got presents for everyone.”

My heart was full, and I’d never been prouder to work forBouvier.

“Merry Christmas, Tink.” I would have recognized the voice even without the nickname.

Twisting my head, I found Cruz standing beside me at the canapé table. “Merry Christmas,” I said, lifting my glass of wine in a toast. “You look nice.”

Actually,nicewasn’t exactly the right word for how he looked in a solid black suit and shirt, the first two buttons open at the neck to reveal a masculine smattering of chest hair, but I figured he might not take it as a compliment if I called him dark and dangerous.

“And you look… wow.” He patted his chest. “I think you gave me palpitations in that dress.”

I laughed and elbowed him. “Stop teasing.”

He gave me a once-over that made my skin flush before turning to the table and picking up a canapé with some kind of creamy spread and a rosette made of a thinly sliced meat. Studying it, his brow creased.

“I need man food.”

“Man food?” I scoffed, and he nodded.

“These are tiny. Just big enough to piss me off.” He popped it into his mouth and chewed. “It’s tasty, but they need to make them bigger.”

“They’re canapés. They’re supposed to be cute and small,” I argued.

Giving me a mock scowl, he said, “Cute is not something I look for in food.”

I stacked four of them on top of each other and handed them to him. “There ya go. Manly canapés.” He crammed them into his mouth, and I laughed. “Are you satisfied now?”

Swallowing the enormous bite, he crooked his lips up on one side in a sexy half-grin. “Not quite, but it’s a start.”

Oh. My. Was that statement filled with innuendo or what?

I drained my wine in a single gulp, and Cruz looked down at my now-empty glass. “You want another drink?”

“That would be awesome. I’m drinking the chardonnay.”

“Be right back,” he said, heading for the elegantly decorated bar in the corner.

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