“In their gardens?”
I nod.
Beau shakes his head. “The only thing that’s going to get us is a lawsuit.”
“Very probably.” I nod. “Look over here.” I direct my attention to his other side. “I pulled some harvest slash agriculture scenes from different cultures. Can’t hurt to remind people you already have oodles of money. Stay-at-The-Plaza money.”
Beau looks down, bashful again. “I like that idea. It’ll be nice to see the familiar scenes when I visit. Remind me of home.”
“Yes. And with the different styles, locations, and time periods, they would make your company seem more international right out the gate.”
“It’s all so manipulative.”
“It’s marketing. They’re the same techniques that your salesmen will use once it’s time to market your product.”
Beau sighs deep and stands. He walks around, considering all the pieces on display. And then walks back and forth even more. “Okay. I like these pieces.” He points while he walks back and forth, and I make notes on my tablet.
“Excellent. I’ll make the bids for you and keep you updated if the prices rise.”
I smile contentedly while I do that on my tablet. It’s unreal how much I’ve been enjoying this interior decorating gig. I was actually excited to come to work and arrange all this for Beau’s office. I even worked through lunch because I was in such a working groove. I don’t even recognize work-me anymore. But I like it.
I’m less excited to tell everyone I’m doing this.
Beau finishes looking through my ideas (avoiding the Priapus), and we leave the warehouse behind, work done for the day.
He wraps his arm around me and looks down into my eyes, an intimate smile playing on his lips, the same one I saw last night in his hotel room. He’s transitioned nicely to the pleasure part of the evening.
“What’s next on the Christmas agenda?”
Chapter Eleven
“You have to trust me some more.” Plus, I love a good surprise reaction, love seeing the happy excitement on a person’s face when I nail the perfect present. I’m definitely going to miss seeingBeau’sresponses to my surprises; they’ve been fantastic so far.
Beau sighs. “Baby Girl, does this mean that you’re not gonna let me get us a car?”
“No. I already ordered one when we left the warehouse,” I smugly say.
He pulls me in for a squeeze, and I don’t know if he’s resigned or mad about it. His face doesn’t give me any clues, remaining neutral and keeping his real feelings a mystery.
“I saw our gingerbread auction in there.” Beau changes the subject and jerks his head as we pass through the lobby. Our project sits behind the reception desk, welcoming visitors like it welcomed me this morning. “I sent a picture to my mom and sister when we were done. They couldn’t believe I made something so artistic. They think you’re magic for getting me to do it.”
I look up at him, unsure of how to react. Talking about me to his parents is deepening the relationship past a casual fling. And I’m not sure how to deal with that.
But Loot has the best employees in the world, because Tom, with his impeccable timing, drives up to the curb before I have to think about that more.
Beau opens the door to the back seat before Tom can get out and I scoot in to make room for him.
“Hey, Tom.”
“Hi, Sonia.” He does some technology magic and Christmas music fills the vehicle. And it’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”
“I got hot chocolate for you both in the thermos back there.”
“Thank you!” I pour out the hot chocolate into some mugs and throw in some marshmallows that Tom had the foresight to include. The man knows Christmas.
“I’m getting really curious. Any chance of you telling me where we’re going?”
“Live in the moment,” I say. “But if this doesn’t make you think the city has the best Christmas hands down, then I might have to throw my hands up in defeat.”
