“What cookies?”
“Belle said you were dating one of the Great Christmas Bake-Off bakers, and I want cookies.”
“Is she going to come cook?” Oliver asked as I herded them all out of my office to the elevator. “Jack said Chloe was too busy to party plan. She has that new franchise opening up. Jonathan said you and Holly were going to host.”
“I'm not sure,” I admitted as the elevator took us down to the bake-off studio.
Belle was in the studio, arguing with Gunnar about the editing of the latest episode. My sister had been more of a mother to Matt and Oliver than our own mother had been, and they ran to her when they saw her.
“How's the bake-off?” Matt asked.
“Two more episodes, then that's a wrap,” Belle said, patting his hair.
Jonathan opened his mouth. “Are there—”
“Cookies?” Belle raised an eyebrow.
Jonathan nodded happily.
“No.”
He looked deflated.
“If you want free cookies, you can be in it next year,” Gunnar said.
“Or help Owen with the holiday party he's hosting,” Belle added.
“I thought that was tentative,” I complained.
“Jack did it last year. It's only fair to rotate,” she said.
“Guess you've been voluntold!” Jonathan joked.
*
As I walked backto my office later, a woman in an elf costume jumped out from a doorway, snapping pictures.
“Owen, I love you!” she yelled before scampering away.
I seriously could not wait for Christmas to be over. The holidays made people crazy. Though if Holly wanted to wear a sexy elf costume, maybe I wouldn't mind celebrating all twelve days of Christmas.
My phone buzzed, and I looked at it. Holly had sent me a picture of herself holding up two cupcakes as if they were boobs.
Holly:Want a sweet treat tonight?
Of course that meant I had trouble concentrating for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, Holly was not waiting for me wearing nothing but frosting when I went back to my condo after my last meeting of the day.
Instead, I took Rudolph out for a walk. It was snowing, and he was happy to be out in the cold. He wanted to sit out on the balcony when we returned. I took off my jacket, loosened my tie, and checked my phone. Where was Holly? I'd already grown so used to having her around that the condo felt empty without her.
Holly:How about a late-night sweet treat? It took a lot longer to finish cooking for the winter festival than I planned.
Owen:You don't even have to cover yourself in frosting.
Holly:I was planning on smothering you in frosting.
Owen:Can you come now?
Ten minutes later, she showed up at my door with frosting on her cheek.
