Page 33 of Stocking Stuffers
They both laughed. Once Valerie had taken over the Winterberry Inn, she’d also renovated the carriage house. It didn’t resemble their childhood home in the least, but it reflected her farmhouse-chic style. His childhood bedroom was her quilting room.
“I’m happy I’m here,” he said and stole his beer back.
“Maybe …” Valerie glanced at him and frowned. “Never mind.”
“What?”
“I was scheming.”
“About what?”
“Matchmaking.”
Perry turned in his seat to face her. “Valerie, no. Whatever you’re planning—don’t.”
“I’m just saying … we host the ‘most romantic Christmas party in the Midwest’ according toMidwestern Living. It’d be the perfect party to invite someone’s new fuck buddy to.”
“That’s not a good idea. She’s made it pretty clear she doesn’t do romance. Or Christmas.”
“Maybe she simply needs the right person to bust her out of her shell?” Valerie said.
“Maybe you’ve been reading too many romance novels?”
Valerie tapped the old romance in his hand. “You too, brother. Anything can happen at Christmas. Isn’t that the magic of the season? People open their hearts and miracles happen.”
“Sasha agreeing to come with me to the Soiree is about as likely as a flying reindeer.”
“If you don’t believe, you won’t receive, Perry.”
He laughed. “Oh, fuck off.”
“Fine.” She lightly kissed his cheek after standing up. “I love you.”
“Love you too.”
“But you still owe me a 2013 Venge Vineyard Late Harvest Zinfandel.”
“Shit. Sorry,” he called after her as she waltzed out of the room, throwing a cheeky smile over her shoulder.
He stared down at the cover of the romance he’d been reading. It showed a couple in a sensual clench, both partially undressed and seemingly wrapped up in each other.
Maybe one day he’d have that, but it wouldn’t be with Sasha. Hell, right now, with his life in total upheaval, it was undoubtedly the worst time to fall for someone, but he was.
Falling.
He wouldn’t push Sasha. There were a million reasons Sasha might not want a relationship. Even more reasons not to want one with him. It wasn’t his place to try to change her mind. Part of his heart, his mind, was screaming at him to fight it, to help her see that they could be great together. But he respected her too much.
He’d read one too many romance novels if he thought two days of sex with an unemployed accountant was going to change her mind. He returned to his book.
Dinner snuck up on him a few hours later. He was half-asleep next to the fire when Andie and Karen found him.
“Hey, lover boy. Time to eat,” Karen said after snapping next to his ear. “Your sister made chili. She says it’s spicy, but I don’t trust that girl to know her way around spicy.” Both Andie and Karen laughed at that, and Perry stretched.
“It won’t be spicy. She’s a weenie.”
“Figures. Why so glum?” Karen asked. Perry had known Karen for over five years, and he recognized the sudden seriousness in her voice. She’d always been able to get the young members of the Staunchly Raunchy Book Club to open up when they needed to. She’d probably been trained in interrogation.
Andie patted Perry’s shoulder and left the room, giving them space.
