Inside, the orphanage was buzzing with energy in the dining area. Children darted from corner to corner, some in awe of the decorations, others drawn immediately to the giant Christmas tree that Lumen Events had donated.
“Looks good,” Adrian said with an approving nod.
I nudged him in the ribs. “Yeah, thanks again for making me fill out all those forms to get it.”
“Procedure, ma’am. What can I tell ya?”
Twinkling lights wrapped every banister, and garlands of red and gold ribbon adorned the walls. Mouthwatering smells from the kitchen made my stomach growl.
A familiar squeal cut through the room, and I turned just in time to receive Liv’s arms as she engulfed me in a bone-crushing hug.
“Look at this place,” she said into my shoulder. “Did you see the tree this year?” She pulled back, eyes immediately darting over my shoulder.
And there it was.
That slow sweep of interest that made heat creep up my neck. Because she saw them. All three of them.
Ethan moved first, hand outstretched. “Ethan, hi. I heard what you said before and just wanted to say it’s an honor for Lumen Events to partner with you and Maren. The tree, the gifts… You can count on our ongoing support.”
Liv’s gaze flicked back to me, and the look she gave me was half wry smile, half holy hell. “Uh, thanks… Ethan. You have no idea how much that means.”
I saw Adrian and Miles approaching and for some reason, was gripped with panic. I grabbed Liv’s hand. “Come meet the kids.”
“Maren.” Her voice dropped into that long-suffering note she used whenever I dodged her. “Don’t you dare—”
But it was too late.
“This is Will, Emma, and Sadie,” I said, and the kids shifted awkwardly as they stood in a line, not sure what to do with the sudden attention from a stranger.
Liv crouched to Sadie’s height. “You ready to be an elf today?”
Sadie nodded, then shuffled closer and whispered something in her ear. Liv widened her eyes dramatically. “Snacks first? I mean… I guess that makes you a union elf. Go on, then. Table’s that way.”
Sadie bolted. Will and Emma followed, eager to evaluate the spread like tiny food critics. Within seconds they had made three new friends and were reorganizing the cookie plates with ruthless efficiency.
Liv stood, dusted her jeans, and shot me a narrow look. “Convenient diversion.”
“Those cookies weren’t going to eat themselves.”
The men had drifted over to the tree, keeping an unofficial perimeter around me. Something none of them admitted to doing but all of them did anyway. Liv tracked their posture, their attention. When her eyes returned to me, I knew I had no escape left.
“Okay. Spill.”
I’d only given her half the story back when I’d surfed her and Jonathan’s couch. Too nervous to tell her the whole truth. Afraid she’d think differently of me, or whatever. The words got stuck in my throat.
“Maren.”
A strong arm snaked around my waist, and Miles’ scent enveloped the space we were in. “You guys have done an awesome job here. Thanks for inviting us.”
I cursed his easy physical affection at the worst possible time, my cheeks flushing hot. I couldn’t look at Liv, not with the way she kept smiling at me.
“The more the merrier,” Liv said with an unusually light tone. “I’m Liv. The best friend.”
Miles’ dimples worked overtime and I watched her melt under their power. “Pleased to meet you, best friend. I’m Miles.”
Then she giggled. Shegiggled.
I wanted the earth to swallow me up. Orphans be damned. There were bigger things at play here.
