Page 33 of Unwrapped

I burst out laughing, leaning over and nudging her playfully. “Oh my God, Tessa! You have a crush on Zane?”

She groans, covering her face. “I wouldn’t call it a crush. It’s more like… I don’t know, he gets under my skin. But in a way that makes me want to… punch him and then kiss him. Maybe have some really hot, bed-breaking hate sex.”

I can’t stop laughing, and she swats at me. “It’s not funny! He’s impossible, and yet…”

“And yet you like him,” I finish for her, grinning.

She throws her hands up in defeat. “Fine. Yes. Maybe I like him. A little. But he’s so infuriating!” she says again, as if that’s the only word that can truly capture her feelings. “Why does it have to be him?”

I pat her knee sympathetically. “Well, I think you should go for it. Who knows? Maybe there’s more to him than you think.”

Tessa groans again, but I can see the tiny smile she’s trying to hide. “He’s not my type at all.”

“No, what you mean is he isn’t falling over himself to be with you and you’re not used to that,” I tease her.

“Or maybethat’sprecisely the draw. My brain just wants him because I know it can’t ever be anything. He’s too much trouble for me,” she says emphatically, as if she’s decided she wants nothing to do with him now. Then she giggles again. “Okay fine, I’ll think about it.”

After a few more minutes of playful teasing, we get back to business, agreeing to let Asher be part of the bakery plans. Withour decision made, we make the calls—first to our lender, then to Suzette, the real estate agent. Each conversation feels like another step forward, and by the time we hang up, I feel a sense of relief.

Tessa grins at me, holding up her coffee cup in a toast. “Here’s to new beginnings.”

I clink my cup against hers, smiling as I think about everything that’s unfolding. “To new beginnings. And maybe a little Christmas magic for you too.”

Chapter 10

Asher

Ilean back in my chair, watching the skyline of the city stretch out in front of me. The view from my office is something most people would kill for, but today, I’m distracted by something else—someone else, to be more precise. Ivy.

Ever since we talked about the possibility of me becoming an investor in her bakery, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. Not just about the business aspect, though that’s definitely part of it. The idea of helping Ivy and Tessa bring their dream to life excites me. But it’s more than that. Ivy has a way of sneaking into my thoughts in ways that have nothing to do with work. The way she laughed the last time we were together, the way her lips felt against mine… Hell, the way she makes me feel like I’m not just Asher Mercer, CEO, but someone real, someone who could be more.

I glance at my phone, a message from Keri sitting on the screen.

Keri

Ivy Calloway is here to see you.

I can’t help but smile. I’ve been hoping she’d come by. My fingers move quickly across the screen.

Asher

Send her in.

The anticipation makes my pulse quicken as I stand up and adjust my jacket, trying to play it cool. A few moments later, the door to my office opens, and Ivy steps inside. She looks as beautiful as ever, her brown hair loose over her shoulders, her eyes bright but conveying a hint of nerves. She’s holding a folder, but all I can think about is how much I want to pull her into my arms.

“Ivy,” I say, crossing the room toward her, “it’s good to see you.”

She smiles, but there’s a nervous energy to her that I recognize immediately. “Hey,” she says, holding the folder out as if it’s a barrier between us. “I, uh… I wanted to talk to you about the investment.”

I take the folder from her hands, setting it down on my desk without even glancing at it. My eyes never leave hers as I step closer, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Business first, huh?”

She blushes, her lips parting slightly as she looks up at me. “That’s why I’m here,” she says, her voice soft.

I grin, leaning in just enough to close the distance between us. “Is it?”

Her breath hitches, and I can see the way her eyes dart to my lips before she catches herself. She’s nervous, I know, but I also know she feels this pull between us just as much as I do.

“Asher,” she says, her voice shaky, “we should talk about the investment. I mean, that’s why I came here…”

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