Page 27 of Baking it Merry

“Tristan…”

“I’ll pay you double and build the storage extension you need on the…the…you know…gingerbread house.And I’ll pay for the whole thing.”

The sigh was out before she could stop it.“We went over this earlier when you tried to get me to stay tonight.I can’t be bought, Tristan, and it’s a little insulting that you keep trying.”

She would have felt better about standing firm if he didn’t look so miserable.

Suddenly, his words from the night he brought her pizza came back to her.

“I seriously just need a win.You have no idea what it’s like to be the only person in a family of successful architects and engineers to never…you know…do anything big.”

It shouldn’t have meant anything to her.

It certainly shouldn’t sway her decision to leave.

But it did.

Plus, even though it shamed her to admit this, the extra money would go a long way in helping her achieve her dream of opening her own bakery.

I hope I don’t regret this.

“If I stay,” she began.

Tristan jumped up and immediately pulled her into his embrace.“You won’t regret this.I swear.”When he pulled back and smiled at her, Daphne quickly reminded herself how rarely she saw him look like this.

Gently clearing her throat, she repeated, “If I stay, there needs to be some ground rules.”

“Anything!”he blurted out.

“We don’t come up with any kind of elaborate stories about our relationship.If anyone asks, we simply met at work and have only gone out on a few dates.Nothing serious.”

Nodding, he said, “I agree.”

Relaxing a bit, she added, “I would still like to make it to Sara’s party, so I’ll stay for an hour and then we can tell everyone that I simply have another party to cater, okay?”

“It would really be better if you stayed.I’m sure your friend will understand.”

“Really?Like the way you understood that I was leaving?”And yes, she was heavy on the sarcasm.

“Okay, I hear what you’re saying, but they’re not the same thing,” he reasoned.“How would it look if my girlfriend left the party where she’s meeting my family for the first time?A family who would probably want to use her baking business for more of their catering needs in the future?”

Her gaze narrowed as she leaned in.“That is a cheap shot, dangling the possibility of gaining customers.You play dirty, Tristan.”

Then he leaned in even closer.“I play towin.”

The urge to grab her things and leave was strong, but so was the image in her mind of the bakery she wanted to open.The extra money and the potential for some corporate clients were too great of a lure for her to go.

No matter how much she wanted to smack his smug face and walk out.

“Fine,” she murmured as she moved away.“Let me just text Sara, and I’ll join you out in the living room.”

“I’ll wait,” he replied sweetly.

Yeah, I definitely want to smack him.

“Whatever.”Turning, she pulled her phone from her purse and quickly sent an apology text to Sara.A catering emergency was the perfect excuse—and kind of fit this situation—but she still hated that she was missing the party.She had no doubt that it was going to be a lot livelier and more festive than this one.Putting the phone back, Daphne turned around.“All set.”She knew she was smiling, but her face felt tight.

Slowly, Tristan walked over to her.“I have watched you genuinely smile at pretty much every single person who works in our building, so I know you can smile more naturally than this.”

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