“I guess we’re both kind of broken,” he said.
The minute the words were out, he regretted them. He didn’t want to think of himself that way. He wanted to be good old Drew Richardson, the easygoing personal trainer everyone liked. The happy-go-lucky Santa who loved making kids smile.
When Kate spoke up again, her voice was weary. “The thing is—we don’t have to stay broken. We can do better, and it starts with trusting the right people. Rosie sounds like that kind of person. If I found someone like her, I’d be willing to take the risk again.”
“Kate…”
“Just think about it, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks.”
But even as he agreed with her, he knew he wouldn’t follow through. Better to enjoy what he and Rosie could offer each other—friendship, support, and camaraderie—than try for something that would leave another scar.
He’d just have to make sure he and Rosie didn’t end up in a situation where they’d be tempted to blur the lines again.
Fourteen
22 Days UntilChristmas
There were Mondays, and then there were Mondays. And this morning was a large caramel latte with two shots of espresso Monday, especially since Rosie had set her alarm two hours early so she could get to the hotel by seven. Thanks to all the time she’d invested in making the Duchess “holiday forward,” she was behind on her paperwork. Unread emails sat in her inbox, demanding replies. Job applications for a new breakfast room attendant needed to be reviewed. She also had to work with Charlie to figure out staffing for the front desk because they’d lost two of their clerks.
It didn’t help that she was woefully sleep-deprived. Not just because she feared losing her job but also because she was afraid she’d messed things up with Drew.
On Saturday, when he’d teased her about having sexy Santa fantasies, she could have responded by bantering with him. Kept things light and flirty, without crossing any lines. Instead, she’d asked for a kiss. An impulsive move that had resulted in a passionate make-out session she couldn’t forget. Though they’d both agreed it was a bad idea, she’d almost asked him to kiss heragainwhen they’d been out walking afterward.
In retrospect, it was a good thing those teens had interrupted the moment by catcalling them.
Cradling her coffee and a box of pastries—for a meeting with the Damsels at eleven—she unlocked her office door. She set everything down on her desk and turned on her computer, hoping to tackle a few of her emails. But she couldn’t focus.
Instead, she remembered how she’d felt on Saturday evening, after she’d gone home to her apartment. She’d tried watching TV, but her mind kept drifting back to those kisses. What would have happened if Charlie hadn’t interrupted them? Would Drew have kept going? Would he have taken things further?
Yes, please.
To compound the awkwardness, the two of them had been expected for dinner at her parents’ house the very next day. Unlike the past two dinners, he’d met her there rather than driving with her. Though he’d been as outgoing as ever—regaling her family with tales of playing Santa—he hadn’t spent any time alone with her. After dinner, they’d parted ways quickly.
Which meant he was probably regretting those kisses.
Her best option was to ease back into their regular friendship. A damn shame, considering how badly she wanted to kiss him again. Or do more than kiss, if she was being honest.
She turned her attention back to her emails, flagging the ones she needed to deal with first. When her phone rang and the caller ID displayed the name Alejandro, she recoiled instinctively. As the assistant general manager of the Grand Duke, he was at the same level she was, but he always treated her like she was beneath him.
Even so, she had to play nice with a fellow hotelier. Or should she say,hospitalitarian, which was how he referred to himself.
Gritting her teeth, she answered the phone politely. “The Duchess Hotel, Rosie Gonzalez speaking. How may I help you?”
“Rosalina. How’s my favorite AGM doing?” Despite his overbearing smugness, there was no denying his smooth Castilian accent was enticing as hell. Word had it that he was a consummate womanizer. “I saw your little hotel made the paper on Friday. It must have beensoexciting for you.”
Could you be any more condescending?“Thanks. It was a nice article.”
“A little birdie—I mean, a peon from our marketing department—told me Sofia Sanchez showed up at your event. I’m not sure if that makes you look hip or desperate.”
Rosie took another sip of coffee. It was too early for this shit. “Is there a reason you called? As much as I’m enjoying our chat, I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
“Yes, well, I need a teeny favor from you, querida.”
She perked up immediately. A favor? In what world did anyone from the Duke ever ask for a favor? “What can I do for you?”
“Long story short, last night, we had a dreadful kitchen fire in the restaurant. It was a total disaster.”
