I hesitated for half a second, only just long enough to catch her knowing smirk, then followed her behind the curtain. The tiny dressing room felt about three sizes too small to us both in it. She turned her back to me, sweeping her hair over one shoulder to expose the line of her neck.
“Just the zipper,” she teased, her voice was soft now. “I’m not putting you out of your misery just yet.”
I tugged it down carefully, but my fingers brushed her skin and she shivered, and that was it—the last straw. Before I could even remember where we were, I’d turned her in the circle of my arms and I was kissing her, deep and desperate, walking her back until she was pressed up against the mirror.
She kissed me back like she’d brought me in here with her for this exact reason, tugging at my jacket and pulling me closer until there wasn’t an inch between us. I groaned into her mouth, one arm sliding around her hips as I stroked her tongue with my own and wondering if?—
“Everything all right in there?” a voice called brightly from right on the other side of the curtain. “Do you need any help, Ms. Van Alen? Some of those zippers are tricky.”
We froze, both of us breathless. Aurelia’s lips were still only inches from mine, but she ducked her head to stifle a laugh against my chest.
A moment later, she replied, “We’re fine!” Her voice was way too high-pitched to be convincing, but the footsteps retreated, and she looked up at me with flushed cheeks and a wicked glimmer in her eyes. “You should probably get back out there now.”
“We almost got caught,” I muttered, my forehead lowering to hers.
“Worth it,” she echoed my earlier words, stealing one last kiss before shoving me back toward the curtain. “Now get out before I cause a scandal.”
CHAPTER 38
AURELIA
We were down to the wire. Christmas was days away, and with it, ourpartyat the estate. Every spare second Harrison and I had was a blur of lists and deliveries, decisions about flowers and menus, and continued ideas for how to pull it off without CC or Regina catching wind of our scheme.
It was more difficult with CC, of course, since the setup was happening right under her nose on the estate, but then again, several city blocks could fit between Harrison’s house there and hers. The fact that he didn’t live there helped.
None of his family members, all of whom resided in their own homes on the estate, had any reason to venture up to Harrison’s place, but still. We’d been coming and going far more often than Harrison had told me was usual for him, and with the cleaning crews, event planners, and caterers in and out as well, it was a constant worry that our surprise was going to be found out.
However, so far, so good.
Outside of the fact that I’d ended up Christmas shopping with my mother. Harrison had been trying to get a hold of her, figuring that if the invitation came from him, it would besomething of an olive branch, but she hadn’t responded to him at all.
As we wandered through the mall, I tried to keep the wordweddingout of my vocabulary with as much caution and precision as not saying the wordbombat an airport. Regina, of course, had other plans. She’d already accepted the invite I’d extended to the party a few minutes ago, but of course, she didn’t stop there.
“You know, darling,” she said, plucking up a silk scarf and wrapping it around her neck. “It’s simply marvelous that you and Harrison are hosting an event at the estate. I’m proud of you for embracing your role as a Westwood lady so completely.”
I bit my tongue, forcing a smile. “It’s just going to be a small gathering. We’re keeping it cozy and intimate. Family and close friends only.”
Her eyes narrowed with interest, the expression reminding me of the way a cat looked at a dangling ribbon. “Well, that’s good. I do hope CC will be there. I’d like to see her. Look at how our story turned out. With our children, our families, soon to be bound together.”
I let her have her moment. This wasn’t about me. It was about her winning the imaginary duel she’d been fighting with CC since the dawn of time. We moved on to the next shop, arms heavy with bags.
I was still silently congratulating myself for dodging further interrogation about the party when she struck again. “Now that you’re living in the Westwood world, you really must stop thinking about work.”
I nearly stumbled over my own feet. “Excuse me?”
“Work,” she repeated, her nose wrinkling like she found the very word distasteful. “It’s not proper for you to work anymore. Harrison may indulge you for now. He might even tell you that you can keep doing it for now, but you shouldn’t.”
Heat climbed up my throat, sharp and fast, but I bit it back, biting my tongue at the same time. Harrison and I had our plans. That was what mattered. Not what she thought about it. I tried to remind myself of that like a mantra as she patted my hand dismissively.
“You’re marrying into something greater than a career, darling. The Westwood name has gravity. Your job is to honor that, not to run around like some working girl.”
I bit my tongue so hard it hurt. I might have survived the whole outing in strained silence, but then we ran straight into Harrison, Callum, and Brody. Their arms were also full of bags and they grinned like they’d completed some covert mission, but to me, all three of them looked like boys who’d put off Christmas shopping until the eleventh hour.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Harrison said, his eyes catching mine instantly. “I hope you didn’t forget about the gag gifts.”
I widened my eyes at him, but when I glanced at my mother, I realized it was too late. She’d definitely heard him. Her nostrils flared, but then she cleared her throat after Harrison had introduced her to his brother and his son.
“We were just discussing wedding plans,” she said. “You haven’t accepted my offer to host in the Hamptons yet, Harrison. Why is that? You said you had a venue booked for Christmas Eve in New York, but that doesn’t seem to have worked out.”
