Definitely wood-paneled rooms with worn brown leather couches for this guy, instead of glass and metal.
“Then we’ll go traditional,” Beau declares.
“Excellent. That’s the hardest part decided.” This is the part where I would usually see those dancing money signs coming closer to me, but today the fantasy is filled with a shirtless Beau. With a cowboy hat. “Now we can enjoy the best Christmas in the best city in the world.”
“Whoa.Nothin’beats a Southern Christmas.”
The Gupta family boos Beau. I cut through them. “The customer is always right...” I wait for the groans to settle down. “Except about this. A New York Christmas is magic.”
“And it’s more likely to be a white Christmas,” Ajay says.
“And there’s twelve thousand fun Christmas things to do,” I say.
“But mostly, the best people in the world are here to celebrate it with you,” my drunk boss/cousin/best friend says, throwing an arm over an amused Ajay.
“But can you guys decorate a real tree, growing in your backyard? Or see a decorated racetrack that you can drive on?” Beau asks.
“No. Can’t say we have any of that.” Priya’s tone suggests she doesn’t want any of that.
“You can’t celebrate a Christmas in short sleeves,” I say.
“The West Coast does it all the time,” Beau says.
“They don’t count. They think an outdoor movie in a cemetery is a good idea,” Priya says.
“If you had experienced a New York Christmas, you would understand why you sound absurd right now,” I say.
“Why don’t you show me a New York Christmas?” Beau challenges.
“Oh.” More time with Old MacDonald? With him looking like a hero in a seasonal Hallmark movie? That sounds dangerous and distracting.
“If it wouldn’t be imposing more than I’m already doing, of course.” Beau gives me puppy dog eyes. “Might be a good time to talk about more art.”
“You should be careful what you wish for.” Priya interrupts our staring contest. “Sonia is unnaturally obsessed with Christmas.”
What the hell? Priya once made me take clients to a regatta for work. Like, we get it, sailboats can move fast along a designated path. But do I have to watch them? It’s like NASCAR for people with too much money. So taking Old MacDonald around the city won’t be too hard. I’ll already be doing the Christmas stuff anyway, and Beau can tag along. Plus, spending time with an attractive man who has to leave at a set time won’t be a bad thing.
“First, everyone should love Christmas this much. And I would love to. Anything for a sale,” I say, in case anyone thinks I’m getting soft with emotions.
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”
Beau survives dinner with the cousins, even though he looks a little dazed at the end. I get it; they’re a lot to take. They disagree on practically everything, and the only thing they have in common is the intensity they bring to their beliefs. Which makes their disagreements loud and long.
“I can meet you at the front desk at around five p.m. tomorrow, if you want to continue the Great New York Art Christmas tour?” I ask as we walk out of the restaurant.
“I’ll see you then.” Beau inclines his head. “Nice to meet everyone.”
Priya waits until he’s a very non-circumspect fifteen feet away before she starts hitting me on the arm. “What’s with Wyatt Earp? Bringing him to cousin Christmas dinner?”
I ignore Priya’s intense stare. She’s not usuallythisobnoxious about my personal life, because she’s more focused on work. But that changes when she’s had an entire carafe of mulled wine.
“Can you not talk about the clients until they get at least a block away, my most exalted lord and master?”
“It’s the city. These streets are loud.”
“You’reloud. I’m just being a friendly, helpful peon of Loot. You said I should work more.”
“How come you never assign me attractive women to take out, Priya? You know how much I love Loot,” Ajay says.
