Page 15 of She's A Hot Christmas Mess

“Yeah. Pity on me, right? So here I am, running from my friends’ wedding capers. And I’m supposed to have a date. You wanna throw off this tour thing, spend the afternoon in the spa at the Plaza and come with me?” I looked out over the water, unable to bear the sympathy swimming in her liquid gold eyes.

“Ford, I think you need to stop–” she started, scooting back to where I put her before I fucked this whole thing up the first time around.

“No,” I said harshly, enough that Jansen turned in his driver's seat. Nisha waved him down. “I don’t want tostop and think, Neesh. All I want is to have a date on my arm I can cling to when it gets rough tonight, and think how damn gorgeous she is in a dress I buy her. You’re not the only one with an empty life, honey.”

She gaped at me, water cascading over her thick black lashes. “I can’t do that.”

“Sure you can. You say yes, I give Jansen a Christmas bonus so he can go home and cuddle his grandkids, and you and I go shipping. Then massage and pampering for you while I figure myself out.”

“You know that’s not what the deal was.”

“I’m changing the deal.”

She sat quiet for a moment. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Too fast, Ford.”

I grinned. “Nah, too fast is telling you I already booked you into the spa for this afternoon and bought the dress.”

Her mouth hung open. “You didn’t.”

“I did.” I turned to face her. “Say yes, Nisha.”

She blinked at me and did the unthinkable.

“Yes.”

***

Ikept Nisha's handwrapped around mine firmly as we entered the Plaza Hotel. Dressed as always in her cute little elf suit, she pushed all the right buttons on me– today's tights were pink and white candy striped with glitter. And without the face paint, I got to see a little more of who she was beneath the Christmas overload that suited her so perfectly.

Leading her lest she disappear on me, I stepped into the Plaza Hotel with my head swirling with the scent of cinnamon buns we picked on the way from the ferry, to her pomegranate and berry scent that lingered between us.

Today finally went like I planned.

Right up until I raised my gaze to the foyer desk across the large open space in time to connect with a pair of cold blue eyes I prayed I'd never see ever again.

Jess.

When I told Nisha the story of my ex, leaving me for the stripper on my own buck’s party night, I didn't expect to come face-to-face with her any time soon, like I summoned the demoness by mentioning her name

Worse, the bulky, overspray tanned man she left me for lumbered at her side.

I halted midstride, and Nisha ran into me.

"What? Ford?" She peeked around me, scanning past the pair who lounged against the reception desk like they belonged there. "Did somebody let Pickles out?"

"He shouldn't be back from his appointment yet." I'd send him off to have his sperm frozen, so the trips to the US weren't as frequent.

"Oh."

I inhaled a long breath and walked on as thought I hadn't seen my ex, and she wasn't watching me like a cat got the cream, her greedy, icy gaze travelling over my body like I was something she wanted to lick.

A shudder worked its way through me, and I clutched Nisha tighter. Jess mouthedupstairs,and pointed a talon tipped nail towards the ceiling.

Her stripper friend grinned at me.

---