Page 97 of Only for the Season

I lift my hands but he shackles my wrists. “Serious discussion time.”

“Uh oh. Am I in trouble? Are you going to spank me?” I joke since ‘discussion time’ doesn’t bode well for me. Maybe Jeremy has decided a long-distance relationship is too difficult. Is he done with me already?

“Don’t distract me, Princess.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Was it working?”

He studies me. “Maybe it would work if you were naked.”

“I can be naked in two seconds flat.”

“As much as I’d enjoy watching you fail, we do need to have a serious discussion.”

“What?” I pout.

“We’re in a relationship.”

“Phew.” I run the back of my hand over my forehead. “I didn’t have sex with some man I don’t know.”

“Knock it off,” he says but his lips tip up. “What I’m trying to say is that we’re in a relationship and my business is your business. I don’t mind you listening in on phone calls. Or knowing what’s going on atApparoo.I trust you.”

“I trust you, too, but …”

He places a finger over my lips. “No buts. I don’t want to hide or keep secrets from you.”

“For not doing serious relationships, you sure know how to act in one. Is this how it’s going to be? You always besting me in everything?”

“Pretty sure you can bake circles around me.”

I giggle. “I can’t disagree.”

“Now, about business.”

I clear my throat and straighten my back. “Okay, Mr. CEO. Hit me with it.”

“Unfortunately, that was Chuck on the phone. He’s the operations manager forApparoo.There are some issues with the rollout of our new product and I need to troubleshoot.”

“Does this mean you’re going to California?”

And so it begins. How long will this long-distance relationship last? I won’t be taking any bets on it lasting, no matter how much I love Jeremy. If he doesn’t feel the same, there’s no chance for us.

You don’t know he doesn’t feel the same.

Yes, I do. Jeremy’s a straight shooter. He would have told me otherwise. But he hasn’t.

He caresses my cheek. “Why don’t you come with me? My penthouse has a view of the Pacific Ocean.”

“I can’t. It’s nearly Christmas or did you forget, Scrooge?”

“I’m not Scrooge.”

He isn’t Scrooge anymore but it’s fun to tease him.

“I have a ton of Christmas pies and cakes to bake.”

“What about Holly? You’ve been teaching her to bake.”

I snort. “Teaching. Holly is not ready to handle the Christmas rush on her own.”