Page 46 of Daycare Santa

She nodded, then turned her face to the breeze. “Definitely. I’m glad it’s over, though. This is the biggest function I’ve done for the holidays this year.”

“I’ll bet you’re looking forward to Christmas Day.”

“You’ve got that right. No functions. No fuss. Just Luca, Seya, and me spending a quiet day together.”

He turned toward her with his arms folded. “What if I asked you and your family to spend Christmas with us?”

His face was in shadow, making it difficult for her to read his expression. “Why would you do that? And what would your parents say?”

“They wouldn’t mind in the least if I had my lady and her son over for our celebration.”

She studied him, knowing he was serious, but did Zack understand what he was saying by opening his family to her?

He pulled her closer and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I’m reading your mind and figuring that you’re asking if I know what I’m doing.”

His next kiss grazed her cheek, and the final one brushed her lips. “Trust me, Gina. I know exactly where I’m going and how I plan to get there.”

Chapter 19

“You’re distracted bythat moving business.”

Zack stared at Gina, who sat one sofa away in her living room.

She toyed with a piece from the checkerboard and wouldn’t look at him. “Are you asking or telling me?”

Her smile wasn’t as bright as it had been a moment ago, and Zack wavered between being considerate and satisfying the need to understand what was bugging her.

She’d only told him about Nichelle’s demand for their business space on Friday. Today was Saturday and nearly impossible for her to do anything about moving with the holidays coming next week.

He chuckled and slapped his legs. “Luca has won so many times, anybody with two eyes can see your head isn’t in the game.”

Luca had decided it was time for ice cream, so they abandoned the checkerboard. He and Seya disappeared into the kitchen, and from the racket, Zack guessed they were using a fair number of dishes, plates, and cutlery as they prepared dessert. Gina had offered to help, but Seya insisted she stay and entertain Zack.

Her invitation to dinner had surprised him, and he wondered if it was to thank him for helping on Thursday, to let him down gently, or gauge his interest in having dinner with her family. Thinking back, she hadn’t exactly said yes or no to his invitation to spend Christmas with him.

As he suspected, Gina was a superb cook. She’d served tender curried mutton that melted in his mouth, with rice and peas and a salad. During dinner, he didn’t need to say much, but listened as the sisters exchanged small talk about work and the holidays.

---