Page 45 of Daycare Santa

Chapter 18

If things went softin the technology business, Zack could make it in hospitality, or branch into food styling. His warmth and ability to put people at ease made him fit in with her staff.

Now, he was in the middle of greeting and guiding Sharone’s guests to their tables. In his lounge suite, he’d gotten more than his fair share of attention from the ladies, whose gazes followed him around the conference room.

Gina couldn’t help the satisfaction that zinged through her at the thought that he wanted her. Boyd crept into her mind, and she swept him away. Why dampen her spirit with something that no longer mattered, but still had the power to sour her mood, if she let it? A pinprick of regret jabbed her, and she picked up a tray with hors d’oeuvres and passed it to one of the waitresses. She had nothing to be disappointed about with the past, and right when she needed it, Zack saved her from a pointless relationship.

Zack surprised her when he proposed that aside from having Lizette watch Luca during the function, he’d provide an extra pair of hands. She’d looked at him as if he lost his mind until he said, “You need help. I’m available.”

When she stared at him over her desk, he shrugged. “What? Just because I run a business doesn’t mean I can’t help you with yours. Anthony and Icilda Winters taught their kids that in a relationship, we’re supposed to be all-in or not at all.”

She’d cocked one brow as the feel of his lips against hers came to memory. “Is that what we’re doing? A relationship?”

“We’re feeling our way, but yeah, definitely.”

As they studied each other, wrapped in the silence that was only broken by the piped Christmas music flowing through her office, Gina said a silent prayer.

This man, who she’d met by accident, was turning out to be everything she didn’t know she needed. If she read him right, he was thinking the same about her.

Someone tapped Gina’s elbow, waking her from her mental cloud. When she turned, Sharone cheesed at her, elegant in a sleek, black evening dress and high heels that added to her impressive height. “Thanks for accommodating me with the extra orders. You’re a miracle worker.”

“Thanks, but as you can see, my team is efficient.”

“Noted, but I always prefer having you on hand.” She scanned the room as she brushed the hair off her forehead. “Your presence makes the difference. I can relax and leave everything in your capable hands. Summer and Tara are good, but you’re my choice.”

Gina nodded, grateful for how the situation worked out. Summer wouldn’t have been available anyhow, which meant Gina would have been attending.

As the evening progressed and dinner time arrived, Zack shrugged on a vest when he realized he could help expedite serving the meals. Gina was surprised and grateful to find out at their lunch meeting that Zack already had a food handler’s permit because it was a government requirement for those working not only with food, but at places where it was served, like the daycare.

“Lizette made me get it because, according to her, she didn’t want the government to shut down her business because of carelessness on her part. She’s small in body, but big on dotting every I and crossing each T.” He smiled then. “When I think about it, the two of you are kind of alike in that respect.”

She didn’t know why her mind kept skipping back to scenes with Zack, so she reminded herself daydreams couldn’t pay the bills.

After the main course, the attendees kept the chef and servers busy with dessert, which comprised bite-sized pieces of cake—a sampler of red velvet, black forest, blueberry cheesecake, and the local favorite, dark fruitcake, which was in heavy demand.

By the time the official part of the function was over and the crowd took to the dance floor, the team was already working through the room. They cleared tables and those operating on the back end rinsed and stacked dishes and cleaned the serving area.

When everything in the kitchen and pantry was as they found it, Gina gave the team members permission to leave. The designated driver of her service vehicle, a roomy Noah, would take the staff home, then move the rented items back to base for collection the following day.

Gina’s feet were tired when the last of the staff moved out and she prepared to leave. The party was still going full force, and the crowd sounded merrier than ever. She suspected the bar was doing brisk business.

Zack had gone to the men’s room and came through the swing door into the service area with his jacket thrown over one arm. “All done and ready to go?”

She nodded and walked with him toward the rear of the building.

With his back to the door, Zack held it open to let her out. In the cool night air, he took her hand as they strolled toward her Hyundai. She had insisted on picking him up, after dropping Luca off at his sister’s place.

He’d groused that the pickup should have been the other way around, but she reminded him that at the end of the night her knees might not cooperate to get her inside the Maserati. They agreed to compromise, and she wiggled the remote starter in the air as they leaned against the side of the van.

“You’d agree that was a success, right?”

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