Total pages in book: 224
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
It’s three days before Christmas when Reid and I meet at lunch to taste cakes. We sit at a table in a hotel where samples have been delivered, compliments of Mia. She and Grayson are with us to pick their cake as well, and it’s a fun few hours that shifts the relationship between Grayson and Reid from distant business partners to friends. We even plan a dinner for after the honeymoon.
The next morning, after Reid leaves for work, Cat and I really bond at a new level. With both of us on the couch, snuggly in sweatpants, the kitty in her lap, and Nikki at my feet, coffee in hand, we share some very special moments. We officially order the flowers, and we’ve emailed invitations and made calls, to complete the list. We shift to planning Christmas day festivities when she tears up. “I’m glad Christmas is going to be about more than losing mom. It’ll be about weddings and Santa Claus. She’d like that. She’d want that.”
My eyes go wide. “Wait. What?”
“It’s a good thing, Carrie.”
“No. Wait.” I sit up straight. “You’re telling me that your mother died at Christmas?” I shove fingers through my hair.
“The twenty-sixth.”
“Why didn’t I know this? I should know this.” I stand up and start to pace. “Oh my God. Oh my God.”
Cat sets Kesha down and stands up. “Why are you freaking out?”
“We can’t get married the day after your mother died. I’m so selfish. I didn’t even know. I didn’t even ask him if this was a bad time of year.”
“It’s not. It’s crazy, I know, but it’s almost like she’ll be more present at the wedding.”
“Because you’re grieving for her. Because anniversaries of this type make that loss ripe again. I have to go talk to Reid. Now. Right now. I need to go.” I rush to the bedroom and grab my purse and hurry back to the living room. “I’m sorry, Cat,” I say rushing to the coatrack and pulling my coat on. “I have to go. I’ll be back. Stay. Go. I love you and thank you for everything including this.”
“You’re overreacting,” she says, hurrying to join me at the door. “But you know what? You love him. I see that.” She hugs me. “Go talk to your man. The critters can be my writing partners. I need to work on my column.”
“Thank you.”
I all but run to the elevator and, since Reid is at his office, several blocks to the Maxwell building. Once I’m there, I don’t announce myself. I hurry past the receptionist and find Connie at her desk and Reid’s door shut. “Is he alone?”
“Gabe’s in there.” Her brows furrow. “You okay, honey?”
“I just need Reid,” I say.
I walk to the door and I don’t knock, that would break our tradition. I walk in and Reid and Gabe are sitting at a conference table. “Hey, baby,” Reid says, standing up, looking gorgeous and perfect in a blue suit, his blond hair rumpled like he’d been deep in thought about a problem and got his fingers involved.
Gabe twists around to look at me. “Hey, Carrie.”
“I need to talk to Reid alone.”
“Oh,” Gabe says. “Got it. Get lost. Unwanted. Going now. And all those other women said I can’t take orders.” He heads for the door and Reid meets me in the center of the office.
“What’s wrong?”
“You didn’t tell me your mother died on the twenty-sixth.”
“I thought I had.”
“No,” I say. “No, you didn’t but I didn’t ask. I suck.”
“You do not suck, Carrie.”
“I do. We need to move the wedding. Can we do Valentine’s Day?”
“No. We can’t do Valentine’s Day.”
“Reid—”
He cups my face. “My mother loved Christmas just like you. It feels profoundly right to marry you at Christmas.”
My chest constricts with the emotion welling there. “Reid—”
“It’s perfection,” he whispers, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. “Just like you and just like us. We’re getting married on the twenty-seventh. I’m not waiting a day longer. Now. About that office sex we haven’t had recently.”
“Last week,” I remind him.
“Like I said. About that office sex we haven’t had in way too long.” His mouth closes down on mine and I end up on the desk. I really like his desk. And I really love him.
Chapter one hundred fifteen
Reid
On Christmas Eve, I wake to our little family. I’m on my back, and Carrie is laying pretty much on top of me because I can’t move my legs. Actually, I think the cat is on my legs. Carrie is on my chest. Talk about a different holiday season from any of the rest. Well, since my mother was in charge of the holidays.
“Merry Christmas,” Carrie whispers, lifting her head to look at me, her dark hair a tousled, sexy mess. “It’s going to be a good Christmas. I’m going to make it great.”