Page 46 of My Secret Snowflake
“Surprisingly, yes. My dad takes long walks around Central Park with Pepper, and he’s made a whole new circle of friends at the dog park. It’s a whole new life for him. He was a private equity partner, and he worked hard his entire life. He was kind of at loose ends when he retired. But now he’s fundraising for a renovation of the dog run. He takes it very seriously. He’s running it like he used to run his company. My mom had a dinner party the other night, and he solicited donations like he used to pitch for investment capital.”
“I always wanted a dog too, but my hours are so erratic at work that I’ve been holding off. Also, I’m not sure Fatma will tolerate a dog.”
“Don’t tell my dad you want a dog. He’ll have you at the pound in no time.”
I smile. “How come he hasn’t persuaded you to get a dog?”
“He’s focused on trying to get me to work at his fund. But that’s probably next on his list.”
“Why don’t you want to?”
“I’m not sure family and business should mix…just like friends and business don’t mix.”
Does that mean he’s against dating in the office? Is that why he doesn’t want to try dating? Or is he still not over his ex?
“Should I bring anything for your parents’ party?”
He shakes his head. “Just brush up on your Hallmark movies, given our cover story.”
“Is Mrs. P. going to be there?” I ask.
“Probably. And please don’t bring anything. My mom can’t wait to meet you because she’s consumed with curiosity about the woman whom I wandered around Baby Love with, pretending to be a couple. She thinks there’s something more.”
“I’m coming to show her there’s not?” I ask, completely confused.
Sebastian reaches out and brushes my cheek with his fingertip. His touch reverberates down to my toes.
“You had some flour on your cheek.” Sebastian’s glance meets mine and holds it. “I’ve already said there’s probably something more. You don’t agree?”
I hold his glance. “You’re crossing the line.” I draw a line in the cookie dough.
“No flirting?” he asks.
“Not if you want me to play fair,” I say.
Sebastian’s eyes light up. “I’m not sure I want you to play fair.”
My lips curve up. Playing dirty can be a lot of fun. And it may be a safe way to explore this attraction between us. Unless he isreallycommitted to remaining single. I need to remember that Lily and Tessa both described him as “Mr. Single.” I could get hurt if I pursue this.
Sebastian picks through the tin of cookie cutters, laying the options out on the counter.
“No demon cookie cutters in here. Only angels. I’ll have to make my own demon.” He takes a gingerbread man cookie cutter and lightly presses it into the sheet of gingerbread dough. With a knife, he adds a cape and horns. “To not playing fair.”
I press a cupid cookie cutter into the dough, its arrow aimed at Sebastian’s devil. “To not playing fair.”
He makes a few elves and some gingerbread men. I make a tree, a star, a few gingerbread women, and then a whole bunch of hearts.
“Another heart?” he asks.
“Getting worried?” I ask.
“No.” He makes a snowman. “My heart is ice. I’m safe.”
“No way.” I cut out a sleigh just as Jingle Bells plays in the background over the speakers. “Your devil is perfect for my sleigh.” I place my sleigh shape on the cookie tray under his devil. He adds a gingerbread man and woman next to the devil on the sleigh.
We carefully lift the rest of our cut-out shapes onto the tray and then add the sprinkles. He covers his devil cape with red sugar powder, which I then sprinkle all over my hearts. We take turns adding green sprinkles to the trees. Blue sprinkles make my star pop.
I make a heart in the leftover scrap of dough.
