He drew out the moment like any good trial attorney. “Talk your sister into going to the Elk’s New Year’s Eve Ball with me.”
I blinked like I’d been sprayed with water. “You don’t want to date her, remember?”
“Oh, I remember. But if I take her to the ball, and we decide to go our separate ways at the end, then I will get my grandmother off my back. It’s simple.”
“Why don’t you just ask Tessa to go? I’m sure she’d love to getourgrandmother offherback.”
His eyebrows drew down. “I did, and she told me to get bent.”
A chuckle burst out of me before I could stop it. “Come on, Nick.”
“That’s the deal, Albertini.” He turned to his computer, ignoring me.
“Fine.” I stood and kicked over one of his boxes while leaving his room, soon finding myself out in his reception area, where Jolene O’Sullivan stood, looking at the sad pink tree. I paused and then tried to sidle to the door.
“Already saw you,” Jolene said, turning to face me. “Were you and Nick meeting about the Santa murder?”
At least she didn’t have her photographer with her.
Movement sounded down the hallway. “Anna? Wait a minute. I need to put a couple of stipulations on the deal,” Nick said, coming into view and halting instantly.
“What deal?” Jolene asked sweetly, her blonde hair in a ponytail.
“No comment,” Nick bit out. “Get out of my office.”
Yeah, I wasn’t the only person who often starred on the front page of theTimber City Gazette, although Jolene was usually kinder to Nick. Probably because he was cute.
She batted her eyes. Like really full-on had those eyelashes fluttering. “Now, Nick. I thought we had a good working relationship.” Somehow, she purred the sentence.
I’d never met anybody who could purr words until now, and she sure the heck had never talked to me like that.
“We don’t,” he retorted. “Now please leave.”
“You need to go on the record about the Santa case,” she said, losing the purr. “The public has a right to know if we have a psychotic Santa going around stabbing people in the back.”
Nick moved and opened the door. “No. Comment.”
She swept by him, her head up. “I’ll be back.”
He shut the door and faced me. “Did she hear us talking about our agreement?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Good. Tessa has to wear a dress to the ball and look like she’s making an effort.” He walked back down the hallway, disappearing from sight. “There will be pictures and proof that I tried.”
I walked to sit by the pink tree and pulled out my phone, calling Tessa.
“Hey,” she said. “What’s up?”
“Do you love me?” I asked quietly.
She was quiet for a couple of moments. “What did you do?”
“Nothing. But I need a huge favor.” I told her the entire story and could feel her temper pulsing over the line as I finished. I gulped and kicked more snow off my boots.
“Oh, he wants a date? Yeah. I’ll give him a date.” Her voice was almost hoarse. “But you owe me one. I drew Aunt Rachel in the Christmas lottery, and I love her, but….”
I sighed. Yeah, Aunt Rachel was tough to buy for. She was a sweetheart but didn’t have hobbies or collections, and she bought what she wanted. I had an idea. “Okay. I’ll trade you Aunt Rachel for Knox since I drew his name. I already bought him a cool cross.”
