Page 10 of Santa's Pretty Helper

“Not yet,” I say. “But I have savings to tide me over while I figure things out. Don’t worry, Bella. I’ll be fine.” I sigh. “I’ve actually been thinking about opening my own place.” I hadn’t planned on telling anyone until my plans are more concrete, but it feels right to tell Bella.

“Your own restaurant? Gabe, that would be amazing! It would be incredible.You’dbe incredible, I just know it.”

Fuck, she’s sweet. It makes my chest ache. But despite that ache, I find myself smiling at her unabashed enthusiasm.

“It’s just an idea, something I’ve been mulling over,” I say, even though it’s more than that. I’m hesitant to put all my cards on the table, though. Not because I don’t trust Bella, but because I don’t want to count my chickens before they’ve hatched.

“Well, I think it’s a brilliant one,” she says a little breathlessly. There’s a pause, and I hear her take another breath. Or maybe it’s a sigh. I can’t tell without seeing her. “I’m really sorry Hugo fired you, Gabe. You’re so talented, and Eric told me it happened because you were defending him. So not only are you talented, but you have a good heart, too. You didn’t deserve to be treated like that.”

Christ, she’s too good for this world. Guilt slides through me, slick and oily. I don’t deserve her worry. Thanks to my secret career, I’ll be fine financially. I don’t deserve her kind words. Notwhen I’m the one fantasizing about her and getting off to filthy thoughts of her every single day.

“You’re really sweet, Bella. But I’ll be okay, I promise.”

“Okay. Well. Um.” There’s another pause. “If you need anything, likeanythingI um…” I can hear her swallow, can picture a blush staining her pretty cheeks. “Our whole family is here for you. Oh! Um, are you coming to the Christmas tree decorating party this year? It’s on Saturday.”

Every year, the Holland family hosts a small party where they decorate their tree while eating and drinking. It’s fun and festive, and even though I’m not a huge Christmas person, I do enjoy it.

“Of course I am. Who else could make those gougères you love so much?”

She moans softly and my insatiable dick perks up beneath my towel. “Oh, the ones with the smoked salmon and the prosciutto?” she asks, and I chuckle.

“Yeah. Any other requests?”

“Hmm. Well…Oh! Maybe that spinach artichoke dip you make? It’s so good.”

“You got it.”

“Mmm. I’m going to need someone to roll me home in a wheelbarrow.”

I laugh. “Nah. I’ll just toss you over my shoulder and carry you if you’re too full to move.”

There’s another pause, this one crackling, electric. “I mean it, Gabe,” she says softly. “Anything I can do to help, just let me know.”

“Bella. Such a sweetheart,” I say warmly, heat pooling in my gut. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Well, I do. Worry about you. I can’t seem to help it.” Fuck, that makes me want to pull her into my arms. I don’t know what to say to that, and we go quiet, the silence thick but notuncomfortable. I never want this call to end. I want to bask in her concern, the warmth of her sweetness, for hours. Days.

Eventually though, she speaks again with a soft sigh. “Well, I should…let you go. I’ll see you Saturday?”

I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face knowing I’ll see my girl in just a few days. “See you Saturday, Bella.”

Six

Bella

I sigh heavily as I grab my laptop and sit down on my bed. This week has been crazy with assignments and tests, group projects and late-night study sessions. I generally like school, but not when it feels like it’s consuming my every waking thought and stressing me out to the point of losing sleep and not eating.

But the week from hell is over, and while others have gone out bar hopping to celebrate, I’d much rather have a quiet night at home. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet. I could read, although I might go cross eyed from how much reading I’ve already done this week. I could see if Madison wants to watch a movie. I could binge a TV show alone in my room.

There’s a knock on my door and then Madison pokes her head in. “Hey. Emma, Jacob and Sarah are all going out for dinner and then maybe drinks. I’m gonna join; you wanna come?”

I smile at her and shake my head. “Thanks, but not tonight. I’m so beat. Next time?”

“Sure. You just gonna have a quiet night in?”

“That’s the plan. Honestly, I’ll probably be asleep before nine. But have fun,” I add with a smile. Madison nods.

“Okay. Text me if you change your mind and I can let you know where we are.”

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