Page 44 of Hot Holiday Fling

“Sometimes I’m too damn smart for my own good. Or rather, your good.”

“Meaning what?”

Kate snagged a full glass of champagne from a passing tray and stared at the pale yellow liquid for a long time before answering his question. “Look, it’s not a secret that I never liked Griselda and when I met Adie, the first thought that popped into my head was that she’d be perfect for you. That’s why I asked you to attend her Christmas market.”

Hunt stared at her, trying to wrap his head around Kate’s words. And her matchmaking. “I thought you wanted to use me as a way to break into Manhattan society, to pick up some new clients.”

Kate’s snort was in direct contrast to her elegant red Vera Wang gown and the classy diamond-and-ruby hairpin in her blond hair. “I am the daughter of Richard and Rachel Williams, who have been part of that world since before I was born. I am stupidly rich and invited to all the best parties. I didn’t need your help to pick up clients or for you to introduce her to potential clients, Hunter.”

Wow, talk about being slapped back.

Kate smiled at him. “Don’t get me wrong, my connection with you doesn’t hurt and Adie working for you has definitely impressed a lot of people, but neither of us needed you to establish her business.”

Hunt sipped his whiskey and narrowed his eyes at Kate’s smirking expression. “Okay, got it. Message received. Can we talk about your matchmaking scheme now?”

Kate slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and rested her head on his biceps as they both watched Adie. “I thought you were well matched but I never expected you two to have such hectic chemistry and be so well suited.

“I see you two together and you gel. You are both so close, this close,” Kate lifted her hand, a tiny gap between her thumb and index finger, “to falling in love.”

Hunt stepped back and folded his arms across his chest. “How much champagne have you had?”

Kate ignored his question, her eyes going back to Adie. “But I’m scared for her, Hunt. Hell, I’m scared for both of you. I know her better now and, while I don’t want either of you hurt, I do know how resilient you are. You’re a survivor, you can cope with anything, but Adie isn’t as strong. She’s worked so hard to become who she is today. If she falls for you and you don’t fall for her back, it’ll hurt her, Hunt.

“For Adie, love has been...elusive. If you don’t plan on keeping her forever then you need to end it, Hunt, before she falls deeper and can’t get herself out.”

Hunt couldn’t speak. He could hardly breathe. He wanted to argue with Kate, tell her she was allowing her imagination to run away with her, but he couldn’t utter the lie. Kate, as observant as ever, had hit the nail on its head and demolished it in the process.

He either had to go all in with Adie or end it. And since he didn’t want a relationship, didn’t want more than what they had, couldn’t deal with more, that meant cutting ties...now, immediately.

Well, as soon as possible. His skin prickled and ice invaded his veins. No, it was too soon. He hadn’t had enough of her yet.

They had three days left together. They could be together during the remainder of her stay in the city and then they’d say goodbye.

“She’s leaving in three days, Kate. Nothing much can happen in so short a time.” Was he trying to convince Kate or himself?

Kate didn’t even try to hide her enormous eye roll.

“It’s the most romantic time of the year, Sheridan!” Kate gestured to his window and Hunt noticed gently falling snow and the way it covered his balcony in a pretty layer of white. “This is the season of magic and miracles and, let’s be honest here, stupidity! Babies are made, proposals are issued, I-love-yous seem to fall more easily. Don’t get caught up in the hype, Hunter!”

“Have you ever known me to be unduly influenced, Kate?”

“Well, no,” Kate admitted, a stubborn look on her face. “But there’s a first time for everything.”

Hunt rubbed her arm. “Relax, Katie, Adie and I know what we are doing. We’re adults and very much have this under control.”

Kate stared at him for the longest time and Hunt resisted the urge to squirm. Maybe this situation with Adie was a little out of control, but he intended to rectify that, to make sure they kept their intense chemistry corralled. He had no intention of getting hurt, but he could handle it if he did—Kate was right, he was a survivor—but he had no intention of allowing Adie to be affected in any way, at all.

Adie in pain was simply not an option. And if calling this quits three days before its expiration date meant avoiding that scenario, then that was what he’d do.

But in the morning, after he’d spent the night making love to her.

He’d give them both one last, glorious night to remember.

The next morning Adie opened her eyes to see big fluffy snowflakes floating to the ground as they passed Hunt’s floor-to-ceiling bedroom windows. If she sat up, she knew she’d see the tops of the trees in Central Park dusted in powdered sugar, and Adie couldn’t wait to find out if the busy city was the picturesque fairy-tale location she imagined it to be.

But for now, she was content to lie here in Hunt’s huge bed, her bottom to his crotch, his big arm holding her close, his breath on the back of her neck, his big hand covering her breast.

Romantic, easy, lovely...yes, this was the perfect way to start a day.

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