Page 25 of A Very Titan Christmas
“Who do I talk to and make sure you’re the one assigned to her?”
Bryce swallowed hard. “I guess that would be my boss—” He caught thema’ambefore it escaped. “I’ll be wherever I’m assigned.”
“You seem to have come out of nowhere.”
They could both agree on that. He offered a placating smile but could tell he wasn’t fooling Eloise. “Things fall into place sometimes.”
“If this is a game you two are playing, I’d like you to back away and give me a chance to help my daughter.”
“With all due respect—” Again, he lassoed thema’ambefore it passed his lips. “Rachel is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions.”
“I know that. I do.” Eloise almost looked ashamed of herself. “She really has the world at her fingertips.”
“Not to overstep, but why are you trying to set her up?”
Eloise bit the inside of her cheeks. “Sometimes I overdo it.”
There couldn’t have been a bigger Porter understatement. Bryce decided it was best to keep mum. If Eloise had more to say, then he would listen. If not, he’d move back to his post and update HQ about the change in dinner plans.
“I get an idea and go on a tear,” she continued. “But I really have her best interests at heart.”
Bryce believed her. His parents didn’t notice a damn thing about his brother and him. Eloise was a lot to deal with, but that was much better than being ignored and unnoticed.
“And I’d make an amazing grandmother.”
Bryce had to laugh and wanted to escape before she started making demands of him too. “I’ll let headquarters know about the change for this evening.”
CHAPTER NINE
Colby and Mia Winters’s Home, Virginia
Gathered around Mia’skitchen table again, the women were using the time to iron out the kinks in their quick-and-dirty assignment to move Titan’s Christmas extravaganza to Vermont. Mia held a spatula as if it were a scepter. “Okay, ladies, good news. Jared finally accepted that Vermont is the new plan.”
“Hallelujah.” Nicola repositioned herself on the chair and lazily rubbed her protruding belly.
“The resort has been great to work with, and they have enough cabins to handle everyone. Most have two to three bedrooms and bunk beds with trundles, if anyone needs more room.” Mia held up a hand to Sugar. “And before anyone asks—yes, the dogs are allowed to come too.”
“Roman said the resort is adorable,” Beth offered.
“I’m sure that’s exactly what he said.” Sugar adjusted the bandana around Sarge’s neck, which the dog was pretending to ignore. “But to be fair, I checked out the pictures, and he’s not wrong.”
“Don’t be testy during our planning committee meeting,” Mia chided and placed a tray of peanut butter cookies on the table.
“Just sayin’. I didn’t realize we were a committee.” Sugar snorted and signaled Sarge to lay down.
“Anything with snacks is a committee.” Mia shoved the cookie tray toward Sugar. “Eat.”
Sugar chose one and took a bite. “Oh, you goddess of a woman. These are still warm.” She rolled her eyes back and closed them. “So good.”
Nicola snagged a cookie as well. “How have I known you this long and was unaware of the committee parameters?”
“I just made it up,” Mia admitted.
Beth reached for a cookie. “At least she’s honest.”
“What do you need from us?” Nicola asked.
Mia opened the folder before her and passed packets to Sugar, Nicola, and Beth. “Here are the cabins. Since you’re here, you can call dibs on any that catch your eye.”
