Belle handed Jack, Jonathan, and me aprons. “Don't want icing on those expensive suits! Owen's already ruined one today.”
“That wasn't totally his fault!” Holly said, kissing me.
“I've definitely been practicing,” Jack bragged as he started decorating cookies.
“Have you?” I asked. “Because that one looks wonky.”
Jonathan slathered frosting on three cookies then mashed them all together and took a big bite.
“It's a Christmas sandwich,” he said, crumbs flying everywhere.
“It's hilarious,” Chloe said, making a neat little icicle pattern on a Christmas tree cookie. “We have several powerful men who run successful, valuable companies and they can't manage to decorate one little cookie.”
“Jonathan's hedge fund is iffy,” I said.
“Hey, I just bought all those distilleries. My hedge fund will have the last laugh. This time next year, Belle,” he said confidently, “I'll be sponsoringThe Great Christmas Bake-Off. Everyone's going to be talking about how my hedge fund is the biggest power player in the northern hemisphere. Let it be known there will be booze,” Jonathan assured us as he slathered way too much icing on another cookie, globs of it dripping on the counter.
Matt scooped some up and was about to flick it at Oliver.
Belle raised her arm, and my brothers and I collectively flinched. She smirked and continued the motion to tuck a strand of her hair back into her braid.
“Now that's power!” Holly said.
“The power of the older sister!” Chloe added.
*
After Oliver,Matt, and Jonathan had gone off to play video games, Jack and Chloe went home, and Belle went back to her condo, Holly and I sat in the living room in front of the fireplace. I lit a fire and threw a few logs on to burn cheerfully.
“For some reason, I thought this was decorative!” Holly said, snuggling under a large furry blanket. “Who has a working wood-burning fireplace in New York City?”
“I bought this building for a steal a few years back. I went in on it with the Svenssons. The building was built while you were still allowed to have wood-burning fireplaces, and the architect kept the ones here when she designed the penthouse. This used to be a smoking club. High-level employees of the insurance company that previously had its office here used to wine and dine clients up here.”
Christmas carols played softly. The light from the fire reflected off the Christmas-tree ornaments. Holly lay her head against my chest.
“I think this is going to be the best Christmas ever,” she said happily.
“It already is.”
77
Holly
Iwoke up the next morning bright and early. It was Christmas Eve! Owen was still asleep, and he rolled over next to me. I snuck out of bed and threw open the curtains. It was snowing. I whistled the first bars of “White Christmas,” putAChristmas Storyon TV, then started cooking.
First, though, I needed coffee. I was going to make peppermint mochas and a big breakfast for Owen's brothers. Fiona, who had said she was happy to help with the restaurant, had already gone home. Morticia was in Harrogate but was going to be back for the Christmas Eve shindig. I needed all hands on deck.
“Want a peppermint mocha?” I asked Owen as I mixed the chocolate and peppermint into the coffee then topped it with a generous helping of whipped cream and more chocolate sauce.
“Um...”
“Don’t make that face. You drink Bulletproof coffee. This is basically the same thing!”
“Is it?”
Owen took Rudolph out while the breakfast casserole baked. I went and changed. As I was putting on my apron and fixing my makeup, Owen appeared in the doorway. Rudolph was next to him wearing little reindeer antlers.
“Thought you might need some Christmas inspiration.”
