Page 8 of The Boyfriend Material Novellas

“Not fair. I told you about my ugly Christmas sweaters, as well as my gingerbread house skills.”

She arches a skeptical brow. “You don’t really have an ugly Christmas sweater collection, do you?”

“Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. Maybe you need to tell me why you deserved coal in your stocking.”

She scans the restaurant for spies, then cups her mouth and whispers, “I used to peek at my presents.”

My jaw drops. “That’s an affront to all that is good in the holiday season. You definitely belong on the naughty list.”

Her lips curve up in the tantalizing start of a grin. “Yeah, I kind of do.”

I’m about ready to wave the white flag.

I’mthis closeto breaking my diet.

To asking her out on a date.

But Josh’s return saves me.

“Sorry about that. Had to put out a fire. Everything good here?”

Quinn looks at me, still with that sliver of a smile. “Everything’s great.”

“Excellent. Glad to see you’re getting along,” he says.

“We’re definitely getting along,” I add, trying to take my eyes off Quinn.

But that’s no easy feat, and it’s a damn good thing Josh returned when he did.

We order our food, and as we eat and bat around ideas for the party, in the back of my mind, I cringe at how self-congratulatory I was when I walked into the office this morning. That was before Quinn Summers, who is shaping up to be the toughest temptation I’ve faced since I started my fast.

Good thing this is only one dinner.

3

QUINN

It’s not that I want my brother to leave.

It’s that Ireallywant my brother to leave.

And I love Josh madly.

But after the waitress pours the wine, his phone bleats for the twenty millionth time, and I honestly could kick him out of the booth just then.

Happily.

“You’re in demand tonight,” I say. “You can take the call. I won’t be upset.” He knows I’m not a phone person during meals. I’m not afraid to use the “do not disturb” setting, and I use it liberally.

But that’s not why I want him to go.

“Sorry, guys. It’s Enrique again. He’s stressing out over something the Dodgers’ GM said,” Josh explains, waving the phone.

“Go. Take care of our guy,” Vaughn says. I love the affectionate way he talks about their clients.

“Thanks. I’ll be back after I triage this sitch.” He takes off, weaving through the tables and out the door to chat on the street.

Good.

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