Page 51 of The Business of Love Box Set 1: Books 1 - 4

RICK

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose as the three men on the other line, who had all been conferenced into the call, bickered about expenses and write-offs as the year came to an end.

This wasn’t the kind of bullshit I needed to tend to on Christmas Eve.

My daughter was in the kitchen with Verity, who I could hear singing Christmas tunes in her melodic voice.

I didn’t like that I was missing out.

“Okay, boys,” I said, leaning back in my leather office chair. It creaked softly beneath me. “I think this is a conversation that can wait until after the holidays. Get back to your families. Turn your phones off.”

One of the men on the call, my accountant, spoke up. “Agreed. The three of you can call me back between the twenty-eighth and the thirtieth, or anytime after January second. I’m taking some time off.”

“Good for you,” I said.

What I thought was a natural ending to the call soon morphed into another opportunity for discussion. I groaned, not worried about them hearing my dismay.

Then my phone buzzed against my ear as another call came in. I pulled it away and peered at the screen.

Kim.

I hadn’t heard from her since we spent the afternoon at the aquarium.

Things had gotten a little too close for comfort.

Not that I thought something was going to happen between us, but the thought had crossed my mind that it would be nice to kiss her.

She’d been so close. I told myself afterward that I’d been drawn to her because I was tired from the wedding stress and there was something about seeing her with Chessie that just stirred something to life within me.

Either way, it hadn’t been right.

“I have to go, boys,” I said. The bickering men fell quiet. “I’ve got another call. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. I’ll speak with you all in January.”

Their protests filled the line but I hung up on them in favor of answering Kim’s call.

“Hey,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips before I even heard her voice.

“Merry Christmas,” Kim chimed. She sounded as chipper and radiant as ever. “I wanted to call and check in with you and Verity. I’m taking some time off work until January fourth and wanted to know if you guys had any questions before I step away.”

“No questions here. I’m glad you’re able to take some time off. You deserve it.”

“I do, don’t I?”

I chuckled. “Most definitely. I know Verity sent you an email the other day. If she has any questions or concerns, I’m sure she addressed them all there.”

“Oh yes,” Kim said. I could hear the smile in her voice. “I got the email. Don’t worry. I’m working on it. Would you remind her that as of January tenth, we won’t be able to make any more changes? That’s firm. No flexibility. All the details must be final by that date.”

“Got it. Loud and clear.” I pushed back in my chair to kick the heels of my shoes up onto the desk. “What are your plans for Christmas?”

I could hear her shifting through some papers and it was easy to picture her in her home office clearing clutter and preparing to settle into vacation mode.

“Well, tomorrow night I’m going to my best friend’s house for Christmas dinner.

She always hosts an awesome evening with her family and this is a special year because she’s very pregnant.

And after this year, it will never be the same because there will be a new little one running around.

Which I must admit is terrifying and wonderful all at the same time. ”

“You have no idea,” I mused.

“What about you?”

“Well, tonight it’s just the three of us,” I said.

“And tomorrow morning, we’ll do the big Christmas shindig.

You know, presents, stockings, breakfast. The works.

And tomorrow night, we were supposed to host Verity’s father but something came up and he won’t be able to make it.

She’s a little put out, so I’m hoping to try to make it up to her somehow. ”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

“What about tonight?” I asked.

“Tonight is the best night of them all,” Kim said.

“Oh?”

“Yep. It’s just me, a very good steamy romance novel, and the most expensive bottle of red wine I’ve ever laid eyes on from a good client of mine from six months ago. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion and this is it.”

“Was that a hint?”

“Oh? Have I not told you? I drink red exclusively.”

“Expensive red?”

“ Very expensive red.”

“Noted.”

Kim giggled into the line. It was good to talk with her.

I knew she’d been distant with me since that night at the aquarium and I understood why.

Whether I meant to or not, I’d put her in a strange position.

Regardless of whether we acknowledged it or not—which we hadn’t, not really—things got a little weird on that bridge.

A little charged. And I wished they hadn’t. I’d felt guilty about it ever since.

“Hey, Kim, I’m glad you called. There was something else I wanted to speak to you about.”

“Shoot.”

“I wanted to apologize. The last time we saw each other in the aquarium, I feel that I put you in an uncomfortable position and that was not my intention.”

Kim was quiet for a brief moment as she collected her thoughts. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

“Yes, there is. And I mean it. I’m sorry, Kim.”

She was quiet again. Then softly, she said, “Thank you, Rick. I appreciate that.”

I stifled my sigh of relief. I’d wanted to apologize for the last two weeks, ever since we parted ways after the afternoon in the aquarium. I’d watched her go as Chessie held my hand and waved goodbye, and I’d struggled with the coil of guilt tightening in my gut.

Now it felt like it was finally loosening.

“Well,” I said, “I won’t keep you any longer. I’m sure you’re itching to dive into that book of yours.”

“Mostly the wine.”

I chuckled. “Right. Of course. Priorities.”

“You should treat yourself to a glass of wine and a W. Parker novel sometime. You ’won’t regret it.”

I stroked my chin. The stubble on my jaw whispered against my fingertips. I needed to shave but I’d probably hold off until just before I went back to work. There was something about growing a beard that made it truly feel like I was in vacation mode. “I don’t think W. Parker novels are my style.”

“Suit yourself. You don’t know what you’re missing.”

“Have a good evening, Kim.”

“You too, Rick. We’ll touch base in January. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.”

I ended the call and sat at my desk staring at the screen for a couple of minutes, thinking about Kim alone in her apartment, curled up in the corner of her sofa with her book in her lap and her wine in her hand.

It was so easy to picture.

I imagined she’d light a couple of candles and her fireplace.

Christmas music would likely be playing in the background, and out her window, the city would wink and dazzle with thousands of Christmas lights and the reflections of trees in the windows.

She’d probably stay up late and sleep in, waking to a quiet peaceful home on Christmas morning.

Would she lounge in her pajamas at home with her coffee to start her day?

Or was she the kind of woman who would hop right into the shower and start getting ready?

I suspected it would be the former. I could see her shuffling around her apartment in oversized slippers and an old robe with messy hair sipping steaming-hot coffee while she waited for her toast to pop.

I caught myself smiling and gave my head a shake.

Why had Kim been on my mind so much as of late? She was taking up too much space in my thoughts.

My dreams, too, but I didn’t want to think about that too hard.

I removed my feet from my desk with a sigh and stood up to crack my back.

I left the office and closed the door with the intention of keeping it closed until I returned to work in the first week of January.

Then I willfully pushed Kim out of my head and made my way down the hall to the kitchen, following the sweet singing voice of my bride-to-be.

I paused in the doorway to the kitchen and smiled.

Chessie was kneeling on a stool at the kitchen island, icing cookies Verity had just pulled from the oven.

My two girls were laughing together and getting into the Christmas spirit and it was a sight for sore eyes.

I knew their relationship had been a slow one.

The instant connection hadn’t been there and Verity had confessed that children made her unsure.

She’d grown up as an only child on her father’s private property and had never really been exposed to young children. Chessie was the first.

So I’d been patient with her.

And it finally seemed like things were coming together as they should. It finally felt like we were a family.

Chessie glanced up from a cookie she’d smothered in green and red icing. She beamed at me. “Daddy, want to help me ice cookies?”

I grinned and moved into the kitchen. “I thought you’d never ask, kiddo.”