Page 40 of Baking it Merry

After that, it was the weirdest form of foreplay.There were sultry looks and flirty touches, and it left her feeling more than a little flustered.

“Here.You look like you need it,” Cynthia said as she walked over with a frosted brownie on a plate.“I’ll bet you didn’t take the time to eat dinner before you got here.”

Smiling, she accepted the plate.“I meant to, but I took a quick nap instead.”

And dreamed naughty dreams of your son…

“I know this schedule you’re on is only for a few more weeks, but you really need to take better care of yourself.Having a strong work ethic is one thing, but not at the expense of your health.”Turning her head toward the kitchen, she added, “I’m sure Tristan must have something to make a sandwich with.Let me go see.”

“Oh, Cynthia, please don’t,” she begged softly.“We know everyone will be gone by nine and I promise to go home and make myself a sandwich or something.I don’t want to look like the oddball eating a sandwich instead of a dessert I’m hoping everyone here will eat.It would embarrass Tristan.”

Waving her off, his mother laughed.“My son is too uptight for his own good.Why do you think I made him host these parties?”

“Um…because you needed help this year?”

“Well, there’s that, but I could have cut back.Everyone would have understood.”Leaning in, she went on.“Tristan’s brothers are married and have their wives to help with social situations.It was very eye-opening as a mother to discover how clueless they were on their own.Luckily Tristan has you, but he didn’t when we first threw all of this at him.”Pausing, she gasped.“Please don’t take that the wrong way.I’m not saying it’s the only reason the two of you are together.”

“I didn’t.You’re fine.”

Only because it’s exactly the only reason we’re together!

“Still, I know he’s not fully comfortable hosting like this.That’s why he begged his father and me to be here tonight.Honestly, Dan and I had planned on having a quiet night in.Tomorrow night we have a holiday party at the country club, but Tristan insisted we be here.I hope you were okay with that.”

So many thoughts were swirling through her head, but she kept on smiling.

“Are you kidding?I think it’s incredibly sweet of you to give up your plans to support him.”

Cynthia visibly relaxed.“Please don’t tell him I told you all that.I’m sure he’ll be embarrassed.”

As much as she hated lying, sometimes it was necessary.So, picking up her brownie, she replied, “Don’t worry.It will be our secret.”Then, to stop herself from saying anything else, she took a giant bite of the brownie while mentally telling herself how delicious it was.

At some point over the course of the evening, something changed.

And not for the better.

Daphne had become more aloof, and every time he got near her, she suddenly had to help one of the servers.It was maddening and he couldn’t wait for the party to be over.By the looks of things, that would be soon.Lawrence Cane and his wife were sitting with Tristan’s parents, and if he could just nudge them toward the door, he could get to the bottom of whatever was going on with Daphne.

“The kitchen’s all cleaned up, Mr.Knight,” Jackie told him.The room was immaculate to where you would never know it had been filled with food and drinks just minutes ago.

“Thank you, Jackie.Have you seen Daphne?”He was looking all around, but didn’t see her anywhere.

“She’s helping Marcus put things in the van.Is there anything you need?”

Yes.Daphne.

Dammit.

“I’m fine.Just curious where she went.Thanks.”

It took another fifteen minutes before the Canes, his parents, and the servers were gone.Daphne was trailing closely behind them out the door when he stopped her.

“Would you mind staying for a few minutes?I’d like to discuss how the evening went.”It was a lame excuse and the look on her face confirmed it, but it was all he could think of.

“It’s been a really long day, Tristan, and I’d like to go home.”

But she stepped back inside and walked stiffly back to the living room.Closing the door, he quickly followed.He found her pacing with her coat still on and her arms wrapped around her middle.

“Okay, can you please tell me what changed here tonight?Before everyone arrived, things were completely different, and I thought we were on the same page.I know I’m asking for trouble, but…did I say something wrong?”

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