Page 28 of Second Chance Christmas

“So, is that a ‘you’ll consider it’ or a hard no on the order? I have the number handy.”

Tempting. So darn tempting. Wouldn’t that make the perfect Christmas gift? She could picture the smug look on her ex’s face as he tore into the package. His latest socialite prissy girlfriend giddy and wondering what could possibly be in such a large pretty box.

“Send it over.”

“That’s my girl!”

Delivering a dose of payback to that two-timer made her mood lighten. Good old-fashioned revenge was so underrated. “Thanks for the idea.”

“What are big brothers for?”

“You really want an answer to that because I have a list a mile long that I could use some help with.”

Of course, he scoffed at that. “Oh no. I was the one that stood up for you when everyone wanted to pick you to help Gran at the B&B this year.”

She pulled the phone from her ear and gave it a long side-eye as though Jon could see her face. “Yeah, right. No way can I believe that. Besides, I’m still miffed that everyone saw fit to call Mom and Dad and plan this behind my back.”

Her brother had a knack for talking his way out of and into anything. He would have killed it in the courtroom had he opted to follow in their father’s footsteps, but he chose to go large and in a direction no one saw coming. After a family vacation her brother literally came up with a billion-dollar idea. Fast-forward five years and he was one of the wealthiest men in the country.

Which is how she knew he worked his gift for words to his favor when it came time for nominating the right Winters sibling for the job.

The faint scent of cinnamon and fresh pastries from earlier that morning clung to the air and she inhaled instead of lashing out at her brother with a snarky remark. He was only trying to help.

“Our lovely Gran had a bigger hand than you think. Is there anything I can do? You need anything?”

A light voice spoke in the background asking for her brother’s signature. As the owner and CEO of Winters Resorts andTime Magazine’smost eligible bachelor once again her brother never had a minute to himself nor a shortage of wannabe future Winters brides ready to be arm candy.

Only he didn’t play that way.

Stretched out over two continents and four countries, his resorts were top end and his clients dominated most of his time. Now he had his eye on something closer to home.

“Is everything still on schedule for the Vancouver branch?”

“So far, so good. But at the rate we are moving it seems like it will take another year to pull all the plans together. The board is being a stickler too. Many think Vancouver isn’t the right fit for the Winters.”

“Imagine that.”

Another pause as someone asked for Jon’s time. “Look, don’t fret, Ivy. Everything will be okay. I’m only a call away too. You’re not alone.”

She didn’t reciprocate the feeling. A concentrated mass of pain settled between her shoulder blades.

“You think you’ll actually pull away this Christmas? Mom’s been going on about a new secretary or lawyer you’ve hired, too. Not sure which.” She let the tail end of her thought kind of drift off so her brother could pick it up. He normally did not fall for her bait, but she had to try.

Even over the phone she heard the tightness in his laugh. He probably stood with his hand in his pocket while staring out over the grounds of his resort below.

“Mom talks too much and you like to daydream. Belle is a professional at her work and has a job to do to ensure the Vancouver deal goes through.”

“Well, you better get back here then and set Mom straight. She thinks she hears wedding bells and already has magazine subscriptions filling the mailbox. Has Dad all worked up.”

“Dear Lord,” he ground out. “That woman is a menace with her planning.”

Yeah. Ivy got that. She had the sameslighttendency. “So, what do you say?”

“No promises, but I’ll try. Just don’t get any funny ideas, okay.”

“Sounds like it’s the best answer I’ll get.” She flipped open the last cupboard and sighed heavily.

“But if you don’t make it at least I won’t be the only one calling home and telling Mom Christmas dinner at the house is a no-go again. Be warned though, this year she might go to you. Gives her an excuse to meet this Belle she’s hearing things about,” she teased to the tune of a heavy sigh from the other end.

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