Page 19 of The CEO's Christmas Wife

“If we had arrived two weeks earlier, you would have seen the lighting of our Christmas tree.”

He pointed to a large oak tree that stood in the square. It was beautifully lit with lights, handcrafted ornaments, garland, and even some ornaments that looked like children had made them.

“It’s so beautiful, Kayn.”

“This tree stands here all year long, waiting to be decorated by the townspeople. In most cities, people cut a tree down to decorate. Not Mistletoe Falls. They use what they already have available.”

We toured several more spots before heading back to his aunt and uncle’s place. I slipped on the porch, and he caught me by the elbow.

Gentle, gloved fingers reached out and fixed my hat before they tucked away a stray hair that clung to my face and lips. The front door opened, and Uncle JR pointed above our heads.

We both looked up at the mistletoe hanging over us. “Your aunt just put it up this afternoon,” Uncle JR explained.

I looked back down at Kayn as Uncle JR closed the door. I giggled, but his expression remained serious. I stared up into his eyes, and we both leaned forward.

He brushed my lips with his lips, and I leaned into the kiss. It was sweet, slow, and gentle. I didn’t want it to end, but Kayn pulled back first.

“I’m sorry, Kandi.”

My heart jumped in my throat. I didn’t want Kayn to be sorry. I wanted him to give me what I needed: another taste of him. Instead, I spoke what I hoped were reassuring words.

“No worries. It’s easy to get caught up in the spirit of the season. Thank you for this, Kayn. It was such a beautiful way tospend the day. I’ve enjoyed hearing about your memories and creating some new ones of my own.”

“I think we’d better be getting inside, li’l mama. You gon’ get me in trouble.”

A slow smile crept over his lips, and something sparkled in his eyes when he looked down at me. I hoped that maybe we could have more memory-making times in the future.

10

CHRISTMAS GHOSTS OF THE PAST

Kayn

She was such a good sport about the storm all day long. Not once did she complain about getting stuck in town longer than planned. I knew that she missed her family. I had overheard her tell her mother on the phone that she would be back in time for Christmas Eve and that all was going well. She promised her mother that she was being treated very well and that she was making some new memories.

The thought of her making those memories with me did something to my heart. I hadn’t had a lot of Christmas memories since entering adulthood. Once I left my family, I hit the streets and did what was necessary to survive, stack, and start building my empire. I never had time to slow up and enjoy shit like Christmas movies and music, bake desserts, watch a tree lighting, or any of that anymore. Not that I probably would have done any of that anyway, but still, I hadn’t had time.

I had been hustling since the age of fifteen, out on my own since seventeen, and at thirty-six, I was ready to build a life that I could appreciate. I doubted that I would ever stop focusing on making money, but I did want something more than just money to reflect on at the end of the day.

I glanced back at my laptop as I reviewed the final contingencies for the contract that had been sent to me by Green Nature’s lawyers. That was another company that I would be taking over. They had several commercial and residential contracts throughout New York, and they were struggling to maintain things.

“No. I need you to add twelve more of those same meals to the order. Correct. We want to make sure that we have additional besides what we initially reported.”

Kandi tugged a piece of her hair loose from her bun as she tapped on her computer while talking on the phone. She was making last-minute arrangements for the Christmas party that she planned for our staff. At the rate we were going, there was no way that she would be back in time to make the party. I hated that she had planned it to a tee and wouldn’t be able to participate. But it couldn’t be helped. This was beyond either of our control.

Not for the first time, guilt plagued me. I insisted that she come on this trip, and truthfully, she hadn’t needed to be here. I had wanted her by my side. There was something about her presence that calmed me and brought me peace. I had made trips in the past on my own, but I wanted her with me. I wanted her calming nature and wanted her to handle some of the things that I might delegate to someone else while I was away.

She looked up at me and smiled. I felt the corners of my lips tug. I didn’t do that smiling shit, but she made me want to smile. It seemed like that was all I had been doing since I had been stuck with her.

I continued watching her as she finished her call with the caterer for the Christmas party. When she finished, she looked back up at me again.

“What?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“No, but you’ve been staring at me for a while now. Did I do something wrong?”

“What makes you think that you did?”

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