Page 71 of Holiday Hostilities

“And you’re both young, and hot, and otherwise not romantically entangled, right?”

Olivia’s skin is the color of her dress. “Yes,” she says unevenly.

“So, if you make it look real tonight, Brandi will have no choice but to fade into the background. Or risk looking like ahysterical brat having a tantrum.” Reagan mimes dusting her shoulders off, then gives us an upward nod. “Another cracked case by the Cyclones’ resident super sleuth! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an auction to prepare for. I’ll see you on-stage in five minutes.”

And with that, she exits the coat closet, leaving Liv and me alone.

I rake a hand through my hair. As perfect as Reagan’s solution might appear to be, there’s one very important factor here. “I’m sorry, Liv. This wasn’t part of our agreement. You are, in no way, obliged to go along with Reagan’s plan.”

I honestly expect Olivia to look as horrified as she did when she saw my Christmas tree at the prospect of acting like more than just my auction-bidder tonight. But there’s a smile playing on her lips. “I’ll do it.”

“You will?” I blink at her.

“Sure.”

“Why?”

Her smile grows, and despite how focused I am on sorting out this Brandi stuff, I can’t help but notice how beautiful she is.

“Because you’ve done me more than a few favors lately.” Her brows furrow slightly as she adds, “And because what Brandi’s doing is pretty gross, and I’d like her to be stopped. There are so many women—so manypeople—who have actual terrible relationships. Her pretending you treated her badly just to blackmail you is horrendous.”

“Well… thank you. This means a lot.”

“And I am poised and ready to spend a lot.” She bounces her eyebrows up and down. “A lot ofyourmoney.”

“All to win the date of a lifetime with me,” I tease.

“We’ll see about that,” she says with a laugh as she puts her hand on the doorknob. “Now, let’s get you auctioned off.”

She throws open the door and we tumble out of the closet to find Sadie Lincoln—AKA the right-hand reporter for Satan himself—standing in the hallway. Reflexively, I reach for Olivia’s hand.

Sadie’s pencil-thin brows shoot up. “Hello, Aaron.”

I nod brusquely. “Sadie.”

She snaps straight into pitbull mode, pulling her lips back in a grimace. “Just the man I wanted to see. I had some follow-up questions regarding Dennis Lieberman’s dissatisfaction with?— ”

“Whoa,” Olivia cuts her off with a sweet smile. She gives my hand a squeeze, while placing her other one on my chest, gazing up at me adoringly.

I’m momentarily stunned by the liquid hazel depths of her eyes. It’s a look she’s never directed at me before, and I want to drown in it.

“You promised me we wouldn’t talk about work tonight, honey. Tonight is about raising money for the children, remember.” She pouts her bottom lip, then looks up at me seductively. “And for spending time with me.”

“I remember,” I say solemnly, shaking my head like I’ve been reprimanded. “Sorry, my love.”

Sadie practically topples over in shock.

Honestly, while I’m apprehensive about seeing Lieberman tonight, Olivia’s presence is making me feel much better about whatever he might have to say to me.

So much so that I turn back to the reporter and arrange my features into a bashful grin. “Sorry, Sadie, the boss has spoken. And she’s right—tonight’s about the children. So you’ll have to save those questions for our next pre-game media chat. Have a good night.”

With that, I put my hand on the small of Olivia’s back, just like I did in my fantasy earlier. I direct her back into theballroom, reveling in fact that I now know what her silky soft skin feels like beneath my palm.

I’m going to need zero help making this look real tonight.

27

OLIVIA

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