Page 24 of Christmas Wishes

Doris bought fudge from a vendor and said it was Riggs’s favorite. I seized the opening to mention him.

“Does Riggs always work so much?”

Doris sighed. “He learned it from Nico. Those two would work twenty-four-seven if they could.” After a moment, she gave me a knowing smile. “You’ve noticed how much he works, have you?” The tease in her voice made me laugh.

“Hard not to when his loud-ass truck rolls up late in the evening. I’m sure the whole neighborhood hears it.”

Doris snickered. “That thing is loud.”

“So, no one else lives in the house? I’ve only seen him,” I hedged.

One side of Doris’s mouth shifted into a wry smile. “Just Riggs. He’s single.”

I ignored her suggesting tone.

“Such a big house for him to be all alone in.”

I hummed my agreement. She was right. That house should be a home, and it didn’t feel like Riggs’s.

Doris introduced me to another vendor. I had no business worrying about Riggs getting solid meals and wanting him to have someone in that house with him, but Nicolas’s Christmas wish sat heavy on my heart. I couldn’t work a miracle, but the least I could do was get the gears moving before I headed home. Riggs deserved someone special in his life.

* * *

A few hours after getting home from the holiday bazaar, I’d scattered a few cat treats for my shy roommate. Then I scrolled Instagram for far too long. Time to get off my phone and test out my cosmetic purchases.

I took the makeup to the breakfast table and angled my chair toward the window. Not a reliable solution for the week, but it would do in a pinch.

I circled my favorite eye shadow brush in a plum color to get the pigment on the bristles and swiped it across the back of my hand. The color spread evenly and maintained the vibrant pigment. A good first step.

Next, I brushed it across my eyelid and studied myself in the mirror. So far, so good. It didn’t cake or crease on application, but the real test was how the color lasted the rest of the day. I’d been let down by the lack of lasting power of many eyeshadow palettes. And men.

If it passed my testing, I would happily add it to my regular products. Next, I applied highlighter. The snowball color gave the tip of my nose and the corners of my eyes the perfect ethereal glow.

As I wondered how it would hold up while sweating, an idea struck for videos. I could put makeup through a series of ridiculous tests, like how the products lasted after time in the snow.

Flutters raced along my spine as that idea took hold. I put the makeup down and bagged it back up. One idea didn’t make a brand, but I supposed ideas had to start somewhere. I would let this one settle for a while as I cooked dinner for Riggs and me. I had a plan for him later and needed to bribe him with a delicious hot meal.

Chapter14

Riggs

I glancedtoward the oven and wondered if there was more meatloaf left. It had melted in my mouth and went perfectly with the roasted vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes. The home-cooked meal was so good that in my food-drunk state, I had half a mind to bend over the table and continue eating while Keaton took his payment for his thoughtfulness from my ass.

Stop thinking about getting fucked by Keaton.

I lifted the fork to take another bite of meatloaf and closed my eyes in anticipation of the robust flavor.

“Did you grow up here?”

“Yes.” I opened my mouth.

“Cool.” Keaton looked at me expectantly.

Was that the payment for a delicious meal? I had to talk? I wasn’t sure it was worth it. I eyed the half-eaten slab of meatloaf on my plate and the perfectly whipped potatoes. Okay, maybe it was.

I sighed and set the fork down. “I suppose you want me to elaborate?”

“That’s usually how conversation works, yes.” He clasped his hands under his chin and rested his elbows on the table.

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