Chapter 7
Diana
The Hot Chocolate Social was well underway, and her ever-growing family filled the gathering room with happy chatter. Cousin Joey carried a shoe box under one arm, happy to show off his latest acquisitions in the baseball card world. Uncle Al shook hands like it was the night before elections. Diana had already filled each marshmallow container at least once. The rainbow miniatures were a favorite with the kids, while the adults loaded up on the caramel and mint options.
The room was abuzz with the happy energy of people who hadn’t seen one another for a long time and didn’t spend too much time together otherwise.
Ah, the joy of family, Diana mentally snarked.
Cliff was in the corner, talking to Tucker and his wife. They flew in from Florida, wanting a white Christmas for their three kids, who were playing Jenga on the coffee table. She caught Cliff’s eye and glanced quickly away as her stomach skittered like a sled over ice.
He’d acted funny in her room earlier, implying that he was amanand she was awoman. Okay, he didn’t have to imply those facts. It was easy to see that he was a man. He stood a half-head taller than anyone in the room and was … thicker in all the right places. Like his chest, which had felt taught under her palms earlier. She dropped the thought as fast as she’d picked it up. Then she circled back to it, wondering why she hadn’t noticed howdefinedhe was in the time they’d spent together at her condo.
Always her condo—never his.
She frowned, realizing that he’d never invited her into his house. She always had to stand on the porch. Then again, a man who was uncomfortable in a woman’s room might feel protective of his personal space. When she’d showed him the guest room in the basement, with the bright red coverlet and pine furniture, he’d stood in the doorway to keep her out. She’d finally told him when to be upstairs and left him there to get ready.
“Hey, sis.”
Diana’s smile widened as her older sister came in for a hug. “Sadie! How are you?” They talked weekly, but it was one thing to video-chat and another to be in huggable range. The younger sister inside of her leapt with joy.
She checked Cliff again—he was doing great, with a cup of cocoa in his hand.
“We’re good,” Sadie said, including her husband, Packer, in the answer.
Diana’s smile froze. The proverbialwe. Not to be confused with the royalweused by the Queen of England, the proverbialweincluded a happy couple. AweDianna wouldn’t be using anytime soon.
Packer was right behind Sadie for a hug. She adored her brother-in-law and was grateful that he treated Sadie with respect and care—otherwise she’d have to kick his trash, which she’d reminded him during her wedding toast. Last year they’d skipped the cabin to be with his family, so to have them this year felt like a treat.
Cliff was smiling as he listened to Uncle Tom. She’d need to rescue him soon.
Sadie chatted about life in the country for a few minutes. They owned a small farm and wanted to be certified organic.
Diana glanced at the time on her phone. “Celine should be here to take over marshmallow duty any minute.” She rolled her neck to ease the tension from craning it to check on Cliff—again.
Sadie was about to say something when Celine breezed in, carrying a package of giant marshmallows. She didn’t bother with greetings but jumped right into a conversation as if they had already wished each other a merry Christmas and exchanged pleasantries. “Who brought Grizzly Adams along?” She ripped the plastic bag open and began building a pyramid with the mallows.
“Who?” asked Sadie, covertly checking out the guests.
“That guy in the red flannel.” Celine pointed her long, pink nail at Cliff.
A sense of protectiveness welled up inside of Diana. This feeling was different than when her mom had nearly fainted at the front door at the sight of Cliff—and that was before she saw his wrist tattoo. With Celine, she wanted to step between them and bare her claws. Her fashionable, stunning cousin wasn’t going anywhere near her man—er, guest. “I did. And hisnameis Cliff.”
Packer peeled off the group to go hang with the guys. Girl talk wasn’t one of his preferred topics. Sadie rolled her eyes and called him a wimp as he kissed her cheek.
Celine kept right on talking. “Please tell me he’s a holiday charity project and you’re going to give him a complete makeover.”
Diana huffed. Cliff didn’t need a makeover. He was handsome—really handsome. Like, turn heads in the grocery store good-looking. “He’s not charity. We’re, uh, together.” Which was technically true, since they’d come in the same car. She’d have to watch her word choice, or she’d end up spreading lies like frosting on a sugar cookie.
“Since when?” demanded Sadie.
Diana smiled easily, though her insides were boiling like water in a kettle. “It was a gradual thing.”
“When did you first decide you liked him?” Sadie continued her polite but pointed interrogation. A boyfriend was definitely something she would have mentioned. Celine leaned in—always ready for a bit of gossip or a good love story.
Diana grinned. “The second time he saved my life and the first time he saved my virtue.”
Both women gasped.
