Wrapped In Red: Mistletoe Mantra / White Hot Holiday

The knock on her door came at eight sharp and she was a little surprised to find Linc on the other side. They weren’t supposed to meet until eight thirty. “Oh, good morning. I’m almost ready. I just need to finish my makeup.”

“Sorry I’m early, but I figured maybe we could get breakfast before we head over to Jilly’s gallery. Besides, she’ll kill me if I don’t bring her a pastry from Claire’s bakery.”

Nomi smiled. “I see Jilly still has her sweet tooth. How is she doing anyway?” Nomi shoved aside the twinge of guilt. She didn’t want to ask secondhand, but Jilly would pretend she was okay for Nomi’s sake. Her fiancé had called off their wedding in New York just six months ago and Jilly’d had a rough time.

“You know Jilly. She’s tough.”

“She also puts on a brave face even when she shouldn’t.”

He gave her that almost smile of his again. The man was dangerous to her equilibrium. “Like someone else I know.”

She raised her brow. “You’re her twin, so if anyone would know, I suppose it would be you.”

“She’s still hurt and reeling. But she’s good. She’s back at work and business is booming. Jilly will bounce back. She always does.”

She put down her powder brush. “I was sad to hear about your father. How’s he doing?”

Linc shrugged “Fine, I guess. It’s hard to see him slipping, you know. Most days he’s lucid and he wants to work. But there are days now where he’s not even sure where he is and who people are. It’s killing Mom.”

“Can’t be easy on you, either.”

Again he avoided talking about his father, this time by changing the subject. “After the gallery, do you know where you might want to try next?”

Guilt pricked at her. He had enough things to worry about without shuttling her around town. “What about work?”

“I work at the winery for Mom. I’m the operations director.”

“I’m sure she needs you.”

He rolled his eyes. “Everything is shut down until after the holiday. I’m all yours.”

The way he said that sent a tingle through her body, awakening nerve endings she hadn’t thought about in a very long time.

“I feel bad. I’m sure there are things you’d rather be doing than spending every waking minute with me.”

His gaze skimmed over her body. “Not really. How about this? I’ll feed you, take you to see Jilly and we’ll see where things are. It probably won’t be easy to find this guy, especially if he doesn’t want to be found and it’s tourist season.”

She nodded. “Yeah, okay. I just wanted to get this done as quickly as possible so I can get out before the holiday.”

He cocked his head. “Not a fan at all of Christmas?”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been soured on the whole holiday season.”

“That’s a shame. No eggnog, no caroling, no presents?”

Nomi laughed. “Hold up now. I still like presents. I’m not an idiot.”

He nodded, his eyes narrowing imperceptibly. “Lennox really did a number on you.”

No. She was not discussing Brad Lennox. “He’s not even on my radar. I’m here to work and get out of Faith as fast as my stilettos can carry me. And I’m sorry, Linc, but you’ll have to think of another way to have me pay you back. I slept on it, and I still can’t go to his wedding with you.”

His lips tipped up at the corners. “We’ll talk about it later. Right now, your taxi service awaits.”

She had a sinking suspicion he wasn’t going to let it go. But she was hungry and needed fuel for that kind of fight.

For breakfast he took her somewhere she’d never been, just on the outskirts. Even though it was still somewhat early, the place was full of tourists, but at least there wasn’t a line out the door. If this were LA, there would be at least an hour wait.

While they waited for their food, she studied him. “You know, I realize I don’t know you that well. Even back then, I didn’t really know you. All I know is you run an excellent taxi service and you were sweet enough to offer a girl a lifeline when she needed one.”

His laugh transformed his face, making him appear more open and, if possible, more handsome. The sound rolled over her, making her warm from the inside out despite the chill outside. “I’m an open book. Ask me anything you want to know.”

She widened her eyes. “Anything? You realize that as a journalist, my whole job is to ferret out the story I’m looking for. This is a dangerous proposition for you.”

“I think I can take it.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. No evading, Porter. You have to answer honestly.”

He shifted in his seat a little, but his gaze never wavered from hers. “Do your worst. Just remember, turnabout is fair play.”

She weighed her options. She had no life to speak of besides the magazine, so he could ask her whatever he wanted. “Fine.”

He leaned back to make room for the waitress bringing them their coffee. “Shoot.”

She opened her mouth, but decided to take a sip of coffee first. Sighing in contented bliss, she put her cup back down. When she looked at him again, he was staring at her, his green eyes now hot and dark.

“What?”

“That look on your face. It’s sexy.”

She blushed, but would put down money saying he couldn’t see it. “I see you’re starting with the flattery.”

“Or truth.” He shrugged.

Nomi laughed. This felt like...flirting. Or maybe you’re woefully out of practice. “You were super smart. I figured you’d go off to law school or something, like the rest of the prep school set, or bum around Europe. What are you doing back in Faith?”

He opened his mouth, then a light flush stained his cheeks, but he answered her. “I did all that. Transferred every AP credit I could and busted my ass to graduate from Carnegie Mellon in three years. Travelled some, came home. Not much to the story.”

“Now, why don’t I believe you?”

Her flashed her another grin. “I did graduate from CMU. Have the diploma to prove it.”

“You know what I mean.” She changed tactics. “You could do anything. Go anywhere, be with anyone. Why here?”

“Dad got sick, and the way I figure it, there’s plenty of time for me to go do other things. Mom has needed more help at the winery.”

“Are you happy?”

A shadow drifted across his face, but then his good-natured smile was back in place. “Right in this moment, yeah. Good food in the company of a beautiful woman.”