Page 14 of Tangled In Tinsel & Knots
“And it tried to kill me,” he corrects.
“That feels personal,” I say.
“It was.” He tilts his head slightly. “Point is, if your business partner turns up dead, I’ll try not to look too impressed.”
Lily nods approvingly. “See? Reasonable.”
I rub my forehead. “I love that none of you are talking me out of this.”
“Weighing pros and cons,” Chris replies. “Your pros are winning.”
James steps out from the café kitchen, tall, dark copper hair, black T-shirt, forearms to die for. His presence shifts the air, heavier, protective. James is another of Lily’s three Alphas. I’veseen the way people look at him, like they’re not sure whether to flirt or run. The guy did spend some time in prison, so he has this rough edge to him. Reminds me slightly of Chris.
“Hannah.”
“James,” I reply. “Making coffee or plotting a coup? Hard to tell with that face.”
A ghost of a smile. “Why limit myself?”
I glance at Lily. “How do you live with a man who could intimidate a brick wall?”
“Brick walls are cowards,” James says.
Lily laughs and moves to him without thinking. He presses a kiss to her temple, one hand sliding briefly to her waist before he goes to plate pastries. Casual. Intimate. Like breathing.
I admire the way her menadoreher. All three of them. No question, no hesitation. I remember when I was terrified to tell Lily I wanted to leave the bakery for event planning, so I kept it a secret for a long time. I thought she’d hate me. Instead, she hugged me, shoved a box of cookies at me, and said she was proud.
And now…
Now I’m on the verge of losing everything before it has even started. Because Scot sucks. Because maybe I wasn’t firm enough. Because I thought he was a friend.
Lily looks up suddenly.
“Oh—James, this is Chris. He’s the guy who arrested Declan today. And then took his place as Santa at Hannah’s party.”
James pauses, eyes flicking over Chris, evaluating, measuring.
“That so?”
Chris shrugs. “Seemed like she needed a Santa.”
“Actually,” Lily cuts in loudly, “he only did it because I bribed him with brownies for a year after arresting the first Santa.”
I choke. “A year? Lily, that’s?—”
“Standard rate for heroics,” she says solemnly. “And I did it for you.”
My heart melts.
Chris smirks. “I would’ve done it for six months, but she negotiates like a demon.”
“A demon with an apron,” James agrees, kissing the top of her head again before setting a tray of pastries on the counter.
I shake my head, laughing despite the dumpster fire my life is becoming.
“Well, you got a great deal, because her brownies are basically currency,” I add.
“Good,” Chris says, quiet and rough. “I could use a little sweetness.”
