Page 101 of Perfectly Wedded

“It’s only for a few days,” Vale says, taking another Christmas knot. This time I pull it away before he stuffs it in his mouth.

Leo crosses his arms. “Then I’ll gladly pay for a hotel room. But she can’t stay here.”

“Who can’t be here?” Tate asks, suddenly appearing in the kitchen with an empty bowl. “By the way, we’re out of the holiday pretzel mix.”

“Again?” I ask, even though I secretly love that the guys inhale whatever I put in front of them.

I pass him another bowl of the chocolate-covered peanuts-caramel corn-and-pretzel mix. “By the way, Victoria’s moving in temporarily.” Then I nod toward Leo, who’s rubbing his sore foot. “Scrooge here wants to put her up in a hotel when the weather is terrible.”

“It’s already snowing,” Tate says, glancing out the window. “And itneversnows here.”

“Perfect for the ice queen,” Leo mutters.

“Oh come on, Leo, where’s your holiday spirit?” I tweak his cheek as the doorbell rings. Since it only rings every fourth time or so, this is a minor Christmas miracle.

“Hello?” Victoria’s voice calls from the hall.

Leo scowls.

I bat his arm. “You look like you swallowed a grumpy elf.” Then I give him a warning look before I leave to welcome Victoria.

Victoria stands in the front hall, admiring the small Christmas tree on a table as she shrugs off her red wool coat dusted in snowflakes. “It’s like a snow globe out there—even the roads are turning into a skating rink.”

She’s holding a dozen snowman cookies on a plate, wearing a cute white stocking cap with a furry ball on top. It matches the soft white sweater that slips off one shoulder.

Rourke appears in the hall behind me, grinning like he’s up to something. “Here, let me help,” he says, taking her cookies. “Sounds like the roads are too bad to drive home tonight. I call first dibs on the couch!”

Given the way he’s suddenly turned on the charm, he’s clearly staking his claim on our pretty guest.

“No, you can’t,” Leo barks, standing in the corner of the dining room with arms crossed, looking surly.

“Why do you care? You already have a bed here,” Rourke argues.

“I don’t care aboutyou,” Leo argues as his jaw tightens. “But you’re not staying here. You can skate home if it’s that bad.” He shoots Rourke a dark look.

I clear my throat, and give Victoria an apologetic smile. “Maybe you can join Jaz in the dining room for charades. They’re just starting another round.”

Jaz waves from the dining room, her adorable baby bump peeking from under her shirt.

“She can be on my team,” Rourke volunteers.

Leo hangs back, his eyes following Victoria and Rourke to their seats. He looks like he’s about to shoot flaming darts from his eyes and pin Rourke to the ground.

I grab Vale in the kitchen. “You need to play referee.”

He frowns. “But I thought I was helping you in the kitchen tonight. I’m not risking your health on those two idiots.” He wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer, kissing my nose.

“Vale, I’ve never felt better, and I haven’t fainted since our honeymoon. But I’m afraid of a hockey brawl breaking out over a certain figure skater. Here...” I grab a tray of holiday cheesecake, drizzled in strawberry and chocolate sauce, and shove it into Vale’s hands. “Distract them with dessert.”

For the next hour, Vale passes out cheesecake and keeps our holiday charades civil, until the game ends in a tie. When I finally join the party in the living room, Victoria is chatting with Jaz by the fireplace, while Leo moves to sit with Lauren, our PR director. Victoria takes a sip of her drink, her eyes flicking to Leo who’s laughing at something Lauren says. Jaz and I exchange a knowing look.

“So, Victoria, how was your Christmas?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.

She shrugs. “The usual. Tense and awkward,” she says, giving me a weary smile. “I was so relieved when Rourke invited me tonight. It gave me a legitimate excuse for not attending my parents’ party.”

Rourke perks up across the room at the sound of his name and makes his way over, his gaze pinned on Victoria. It’s not that I care if Rourke flirts with our guest. The real problem is that Leo cares... a little too much.

“Hey, Rourke,” Victoria says. “Do you have some kind of superhuman hearing? We were literally just talking about you.”

---