Page 44 of Snowed In with the Bosses

Clara plucked a potato skin from her plate and popped it into her mouth. The blissful look reappeared.

Liam kicked me beneath the table.

I returned the gesture with a “not now” glare. I’d booked a surprise for Clara later. Every passing minute made it harder to keep quiet, but I wanted today to be special for her. “Congratulations on your first massive project.” I raised my glass in a toast and clinked it with Clara’s from across the table.

Liam and Alexander joined us, our glasses raised high. “To Clara,” we said simultaneously.

She blushed beneath our attention but lifted her chin. “It was a group effort, but I’m glad to be part of the team.”

“We’re good together.” I let the double-sided words land between us and watched her blush deepen.

Liam’s elbow grazed Clara’s, and they shared a look that raised the temperature several degrees. The rest of the meal passed with general talk about the project and what happened next. It was refreshing to have Clara’s opinion on things and to see her mind at work. She thought outside the box, her youth and energy bringing a new spark to the overall look and feel of Harrington’s ideas.

Alexander paid the bill and led the way to the front door. Christmas music trilled overhead in a rise and fall of cymbals and drums. Clara tapped her toes along with the beat while pulling her coat on and sliding the buttons home.

The four of us walked out together, Clara in the center of us as we crossed the sidewalk.

“Ethan?”

I turned from Clara toward the sound of my name.

Daniel, Rachel, and a few others from the upper offices at Summit walked our way. Surprised looks passed from me to Alexander, and then to Clara.

“We didn’t know you were going out for dinner.” Rachel stopped in front of me, her red hair blowing in the breeze whipping down the street. “We would have joined you.” Curiosity coated her voice, and the constant looks she sent Clara set off warning bells in my mind.

“We took Clara out to celebrate.” Alexander took hold of the conversation with his usual stoicism. “Her meeting with the city council was a masterpiece.” Nothing in his voice or the way he looked at Clara gave any hint of how he truly felt. I knew it only because I’d seen it in him when we spent hour after hour together with Clara.

Clara’s shoulders stiffened just enough to draw my attention to her. She looked Alexander over before shifting toward Rachel and the others. “Mr. Thorne is being too kind. I did my jobas it was expected of me.” Cold. Clipped. Her words resembled daggers being thrown at each of us.

There was nothing we could change about the situation we found ourselves in. Clara knew that, but I understood her frustration.

Rachel turned away when her companions called to her on their way into the restaurant. “Congratulations, Clara.”

Clara offered a tiny nod of thanks before turning away. The bite in the air had nothing on the sudden change in demeanor. Now wasn’t the best time to bring up my surprise, but I couldn’t let her think this thing between us was over. “Clara.” I cupped her elbow and drew her off to the side. “Would you like to have a movie night with me and Liam?”

“What?” Confusion drew her brows down. “Where are we going to see a movie?”

“The cinema.” I motioned one hand toward Alexander. “He can’t join us. Curse of being CEO is that he has meetings with shareholders.”

“I’d rather go with you.” Heat filled Alexander’s eyes. “But I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time with Ethan and Liam.”

“What do you mean, exactly?” She arched a brow. Myriad expressions flickered over her face.

I caught surprise and optimism that I hoped meant she’d say yes. I leaned in close and whispered, “I’ve rented out the movie theater. We have the whole thing to ourselves.”

“The whole thing?” Her chest rose in a hard breath. “Why do we need the whole theater?”

“Because I wanted to spend time with you.” The admission came easier than I expected. “And I didn’t want to have any interruptions.”

Liam shouldered his way into the conversation. “We both wanted time with you.”

It wasn’t a competition, I reminded myself while swallowing the sharp retort. The theater was my idea but I refused to ruin the moment by giving in to the nudge of jealousy.

“Lead the way.” Clara held out both hands, then wrapped them over her stomach.

Alexander hesitated on his way around the hood of the car. “I’m sorry I’ll miss the movie. I’ll make it up to you later.”

Clara’s flush deepened. Her head tipped to the side. “I’ll hold you to that.” Wind danced through her hair, plucking strands and sending them trailing over her cheeks. She brushed them away and took a step toward me.

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