Page 60 of All We Need

I take three seconds to calm myself before turning to our new guests, a smile plastered on so tightly, my cheeks ache. “Martin.MerryChristmas.Goodto have you again this year.Everyoneis in the dining room.Whydon’t you head in,Ineed to speak toAlessandra.”

Martin doesn’t question me and ambles away.

“There’s nothing to discuss,” she snaps once he’s out of earshot.

Folding my arms,Igive her a once-over.Whichis a mistake.Herbeige duster coat is unbuttoned, giving me the perfect view of the forest green dress molded to her body.Myteeth clench asI’mtransported back to the cabin.Withher.Sansdress.Leanlegs spread.Dustypink nipples rising and falling with her moans.Tauttummy contracting as she comes.Onlythis time there is no toy.Becauseshe’s riding me to the finish.

Huffing, she storms away, butIsnatch her by the wrist to gently tug her back.

“There’s plenty to discuss.”Idrop her hand, our glares inches apart. “I’veasked this of you plenty—but why are you here?”

She sucks in a long breath, like the answer keeps gettingstuck in her throat. “Yourmom is the sweetest manipulatorI’veever come across.”

“Sorry, my mom?”Thenit hits me.Herguests. “Sheinvited you?”

A throat clears, and we spin to findMotherdearest at the end of the hallway.Throwingdaggers in my direction. “Shedid,BoothElias.”

“Elias,”Alytitters.

I don’t look at her.

“Alessandra, so lovely of you to join us.I’msure my youngest son was offering to take your coat.”

BecauseIvalue my life,Ido just that.

My gaze sticks to the back of her head as she shrugs out of her coat, letting it drop into my arms without a backward glance.Withthe paper bag in hand again, she pulls out aTupperwareand a bottle of wine.

“It’s really kind of you to have me.It’snot much, butIhad time to make somemelomakarona—a family recipe.It’sa traditionalGreekdessert.”

“Oh, how lovely.Letme take you through.”Bakedgoods are the way to my mom’s heart.Sheloops her arm throughAly’sand escorts her away, chatting happily.

What the fuck is my fucking life?

CHAPTER NINETEEN

alessandra

I’ll cometo regret this decision tomorrow.

It had been one day sinceIescaped the cabin, whenIbumped intoClaireyesterday afternoon in the grocery store.Iwas on the hunt for an easy, one-person dinner and hadn’t expected an invitation toChristmasat theSadlerhousehold, let alone thatI’daccept.She’sgood,I’llgive her that.Afterpolitely declining for five times, she came out victorious.Heronly request: a dish for the table.

After leaving the store—armed with the ingredients needed to make my grandmother’smelomakarona—Ispent the day baking and mentally preparing to seeBoothagain.TheGreekspicy honey cookies are a crowd-pleaser when my mom does them.Butjust in case,Ibought a bottle of wine to wash it down with.

The disappointment of not spending the holidays with my family is the only explanation for whyIsaid yes.

Nothing else.

Claire is nice.

Her son is…complicated.

Regardless, he didn’t play any part in my decision-making.

Nada.

So why does my skin still tingle from where his fingertips brushed my shoulders?

“Everyone,Ithink you’ve all metAlessandraby now,”Claireannounces to the room, andI’mmet with a mixture of greetings.Somefriendly.Mostcautious.

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