Page 10 of Secret Santas and Holiday Dances

“I’ll be right back,” she said to her cousins, not sure if they heard her or not, and made a beeline out of the exhibit area and toward her desk at the back of the gallery. Liam changed directions, catching up with her easily in just a few long, strides, even through the crowd. He took her arm, his fingers cold against her skin, and kept her walking.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he whispered in her ear, sending more goose bumps all over her.

A group of women, including the former mayor’s wife, Mrs. Lindgren, stared at them as they passed, their gazes locking on where Liam’s hand gripped her arm.

“A big-city lawyer can do better than a social-climbing shop girl,” Mrs. Lindgren said, making the other women chuckle. “Just like her mother, mark my words . . .”

Grace’s face flushed, shame swelled in her belly, and a whole host of other emotions fought for dominance. Anger, hurt, frustration, guilt. Did people think she was trying to entrap Liam so she could claim status in town? He was too good for her, she knew that. And not interested to boot. That’s why she’d contented herself with being his friend only.

Liam had heard nothing. But people were still staring, so she pulled her arm from his grasp. A few feet later, they stood at her desk, and she turned on him. He didn’t expect her sudden move, and slammed into her, pushing her back against her desk and nearly collapsing on her. She reached a hand back to brace herself, and he gripped both her shoulders to help steady her.

Their gazes locked, and the air between them seemed to shift—his eyes sparkled with mischief for just a moment, then went serious, and his gaze dropped to her lips. She sucked in a breath and sidestepped away from him, her feelings a mess of knots within her.

“What are you doing here?” She kept her back to him as she caught her breath and calmed herself.

“Are you all right?” Liam asked.

She forced a smile and faced him. “Right as rain. What’s up?”

Whatever his intention had been, it changed then and there. He folded his arms. “Grace, tell me.” Darn him and his ability to read her facial expressions like shorthand.

She sucked in a breath, not sure what she was going to say, but was saved from having to figure it out by Davina and David, of all people.

Davina came tearing out of the crowd and threw her arms around Grace with a little squeal. “Grace, you are a marketing genius.” She pulled back, but kept an arm around Grace’s shoulder. “You have to tell me how you pulled this off?”

David stopped at her side and answered for her. “We sent out special invitations, optimized the website, placed ads, and got the town involved, of course. The best marketing shouldn’t feel like marketing, and getting the town involved helped with that.”

We? More like she. But, then again, he didn’t veto any of her ideas. He’d barely listened to them either, but that was beside the point. What was it her professors always said? “Success is making those that believed in you look brilliant.” That was a quote from Dharmesh Shah.

Davina looked at Grace. “Well, whatever you did, Grace, it worked. And I’d love to sell more of my work here in the future.” She turned her attention to David. “You have a real gem here, David. If it wasn’t for her, none of this would’ve been possible.” She signaled around the room.

David smiled; looked like it hurt. Then his gaze found someone more interesting than Grace—easy to do. “Oh, excellent. Davina, the mayor is here. Let me introduce you.” He escorted her away.

Grace blinked after them. “Did that just happen?”

Liam laughed and swooped her into a hug. “Yes, it did!”

Her stomach somersaulted at the spicy scent of his cologne, and the feel of his stubbled cheek against hers, and of his strong shoulders under her palms.

He sat her down. “Congratulations!”

She laughed. “I can’t believe it. I mean, I hoped she’d want to keep working with is, that was the goal, but I never really thought . . .”

Liam nudged her shoulder. “Come on, now. Stop that. You’re amazing at what you do. And now everyone knows it. You earned this. If David doesn’t give you a big raise immediately, he’s an idiot.”

Grace hugged herself, feeling like she might explode from happiness. She’d done it. She’d made this exhibit a huge success!

“You know what this means,” Liam said.

She glanced up at him and shook her head. She was too happy to guess.

“It’s time to celebrate! Barn dance, baby!”

Her happiness fled, her stomach lurching. Oh, no. No. She for sure couldn’t be seen with him now. She’d been flip-flopping before about whether she’d go after work, but now she knew she couldn’t. What would people think?

Liam threw his hands up. “Oh, come on, Grace. You deserve to get out. To have fun with friends. To party. You work so hardallthe time. It’s time to let your hair down.”

She grinned. “My hair is down.”

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