Page 37 of Baking it Merry

Did he insist on his mother coming in with him so he’d have an excuse to kiss Daphne again?Also yes.

And did he continue to invite members of his family to the office every day so he could keep up this farce while giving himself an excuse to keep kissing her?Sadly, yes.

Although, Daphne didn’t seem to mind.If anything, every morning she always looked up expectantly when she saw him, as if checking to see who was with him and if they were going to do more than just talk.

Those small interactions were the highlights of his days.

And the most frustrating.

Every day, the gingerbread house became more…just more.She added twinkly lights, more oversized decorations, there seemed to be glitter on everything, and today there was music and fake snow around the whole thing.Obviously, he commented on each additional element in his typical tone, which naturally rubbed her the wrong way.

But a kiss always stopped their heated exchange before anyone knew they were arguing, and it was thoroughly enjoyable.

Friday afternoon, Tristan made his way across the lobby toward Daphne’s booth.His party for his top clients was tonight and he was kicking himself for making it an after-work event.Maybe he should have just had it at his office.All week he’d been obsessing over it, but Daphne didn’t seem fazed by it at all.

She was packing up when he spotted her.“Can I give you a hand carrying anything out?”

“That would be great.Thanks.”She looked a little flushed and seemed slightly out of breath, but he figured maybe she was just busy.

And probably shouldn’t have said…

“Are you okay?You don’t look so good.”

Her expression turned instantly hostile.“What does that mean?”she demanded.

“I just meant you look tired and you sound out of breath,” he stammered.“I’m just making sure you feel alright.

“I did until you showed up,” she murmured.“Those two black bins need to go out to my car, and I’ll carry the rest of it.I need to run home to take a shower and then my mother is going to meet me at your place with everything.”She picked up a couple of smaller boxes and two shopping bags.“The servers will be there by six-thirty.Since it’s a Friday, they both had to work.That’s why my mother is making the delivery.”

Picking up the bins she needed, Tristan followed her out of the booth and then out to her car.It was a small Hyundai SUV, and everything fit in the back.“Do you think they’ll make it in time?The servers, I mean.”

“They’ve never been late to any event, Tristan.You need to stop worrying.”She closed the hatch and faced him with a serene smile.“It’s all going to be great—a repeat of Saturday night, so there won’t be any surprises.Well…not a total repeat.We’re not doing the ornaments, but everything else is the same.They’re going to love it.And it’s thirty people, right?”

He nodded.“That was the last count that Faye gave me.”

“She’ll be there too, won’t she?Acting as hostess?”

If he wasn’t mistaken, it sounded like she was hopeful, like she was looking for an excuse not to stay.Honestly, she didn’t really need to, but…

“My parents will be there tonight, so with the way everything’s been going, they’re going to expect you to be by my side.”

With a weary sigh, she mumbled, “Fine.”

But he caught the small smile.

“Wait…why are your parents going to be there?In all the planning, you mentioned more than once that they weren’t going to be at this one.What changed?”

I asked them.

Okay, he couldn’t admit that, but there it was.He didn’t know why he was enjoying this…whatever it was he and Daphne were doing, but he was, and the only way he could enjoy spending more time with her was by inviting his parents.

“Mom really needed a night out, and these parties were always her thing.”It wasn’t a total lie.“Plus, she wanted to talk to you about catering some brunch she’s hosting next month.I told her you’d love to, so…”

“What?”she cried.“Why would you answer like that for me?You have no idea what my schedule is like!God, you are insufferable!What gives you the right to accept catering jobs?It’s not your place, Tristan!And…and…” Her breathing was hard and somehow, they had moved closer together.

Ah…so I’m not the only one who seems to enjoy this.

Unable to help himself, he reached up and caressed her cheek, even as he hungrily stared at her lips.

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