Page 77 of Merry Kissmas

And it’s nice that Pierce is the reciprocating kind, because after he comes down my throat, he splays me out on the bed and returns the favor.

We’re getting ready for dinner, though I really want to stay here with him and see how many positions we can master.

Pierce graciously allowed me to get ready first, so I’m on the couch with my laptop out, looking at The Mad Batter’s current branding like Tessa asked me to.It’s a cute bakery with anAlice in Wonderlandtheme.She’s got cookies with phrases like Eat Me on them, which I love, but there’s definitely some work and updating that could be done.

Pierce swings his legs behind me and sandwiches me between him and the computer, resting his chin on my shoulder.“What are you doing?”

“Looking at Tessa’s bakery.”

He doesn’t say anything.

“What do you think?”

He kisses my neck.“I think you got this.”

“Thank you, but I want to know what you see.”

He sighs.“It’s outdated.I’d probably overhaul the store, make a new logo that doesn’t haveAlice in Wonderlandas a part of it.The shop name already implies it, and as long as she has goods to fulfill that demand for avid fans, she should expand to get people who couldn’t care less aboutAlice in Wonderland.”

“I was thinking the same thing.Plus, they’re a small woman-owned business.”

“All good things when it comes to consumers,” he says.

“Look at the cute cookies.”I point out the Eat Me cookies.

“I’ll eat you.”He pretends he’s going to eat my neck, and I giggle.

“Hey.”I close my laptop and turn around so I’m facing him.“We have a problem.”

His forehead wrinkles.“What’s the problem?”

I tilt my head.“We’re up for the same job, remember?”

His head rocks back, and he smiles.

“Plus, we live in different countries.”

“Not if I get the job over you.”He winks then rests his forehead against mine.“Just kidding.”

“I only ask because Christmas is in two days, then we’re leaving here.I’m going back to Portland and…”

“I can go to Portland,” he says as though it’s no big deal.

“You mean until you hear from Enzo?”

Pierce sighs.“Honestly, I don’t know what to do about that job.I’m really happy right now.I know we have to figure a lot out, but there’s nothing for me in London.”

My heart races.What is he saying?

“But there is a possibility of a job in New York.What if one of us gets that?What happens to the other one then?Or what if neither of us get it?”I ask.

I’m not even sure I want to live in New York City.It wasn’t really my thing, but maybe Christmas is busier and crazier than usual.I should probably ask Tessa, since she lived there and moved to Portland with Tre after they met.

He shrugs.“If you get the job, I’m sure I can search for other marketing jobs in New York.”

He can’t really be already deciding that we go where the other goes.

“So, we try to stay in the same city?”

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