Page 16 of The Darkest Knight

Savannah shoots him a don't-even-go-there look.

"They've got so much work to do," Brooke protests.

"They gotta fly around the world, and Santa's gotta go down chimneys,” Eden wails.

"No, sprout, you cannot feed the reindeer," I say, hoping Brooke will understand.

Savannah crouches down to their level. “They have a big night ahead of them, girls. Lots of flying to do. They need special food to stay strong.”

“Not even chocolate fingers?” Brooke asks hopefully.

"Definitely not!" Savannah and I cry out in unison. I note that Tobias is silent. I secretly think this man would let these two feed them whatever they wanted if it made them happy.

Luckily, there are handlers with the reindeer to make sure the children don't do anything ridiculous.

"Are you girls having fun?" Savannah asks, bending down. They look at each other and nod.

"Would you like to come and see the chocolate fountain? I think it's coming out now." She looks at her watch. "I told the servers to only have it out for the last hour, otherwise all the children would be high on the sweet stuff,” she says in a low voice to me and Tobias. Would you both excuse me." She moves, one hand holding Eden’s and the other Brooke’s. “You can go to Rachelle, honey,” she says to Jacob. “Me and the girls will take the twins to the fountain.”

"You think that's a good idea?" I hear Jacob say.

I’m left watching them, a family so seamlessly whole it makes my heart ache. I feel a smattering of sadness watching the Stones because I now understand what Brooke sees when she’s at their house.

This is family, pure and simple. Love and belonging. No wonder Brooke gets lonely after seeing how things could be. “You’re a lucky man, Tobias. You have a beautiful family.”

“Thanks, man. It's the best thing in the world. The best thing.”

My phone vibrates and Dina’s name flashes on the screen. I excuse myself and step away to take the call. “Are you coming?”

“I'm going out for cocktails,” she says, “and we’ll come later.”

I knew she wouldn't want to come to this. It's a bit too much for her, and it's not her scene. “I'll see you later at the hotel.”

“I don't know, Jett. I don't know, you know? I’m going out with my girlfriends, and one drink turns into many drinks.”

“I understand. You do you and I'll do me. I'll see you when I see you.” I hang up, and see Cari across the room.

She hesitates at the entrance, still in her work clothes—the signature satin blouse and slim fitting pencil skirt, with her smart suit jacket over it. She looks gorgeous, polished, andprofessional. Her eyes dart nervously around the room, until they land on me.

I’m already moving toward her. “You came,” I say, shoving my hands into my pockets.

“I thought it might be good to ... you know, have some time off.”

“I know.” And I do. I’ve heard the weight in her voice lately, the struggle she’s tried to hide. “Enjoy.”

Her lips curve into a small, unsure smile. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“You’re allowed to take time off.” I remember how her laughter used to fill the office, a sound so contagious it could lift the worst of days. She hasn’t laughed like that in a long time. I heard her talking to someone on the phone about struggling to pay the rent because her mom had stopped working. She’ll have a nice Christmas bonus that will hopefully help.

“I needed to get away,” she agrees.

"Didn't you want to bring your plus one?" I've seen this guy hanging around the office sometimes.

Before I can say more, someone interrupts us. Her friends, I think, though I don’t see their faces before stepping back. I’m already missing her presence as she turns to greet them, and I’m left wondering why seeing her here feels like the best thing that’s happened all night.

Chapter 7

CARI

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