Excited gasps and murmurs ripple through the room. Hugh raises his glass high, nods to the crowd, and downs the last mouthful of whiskey before handing the microphone back to the DJ.
“I’m going to spend the night with Peri,” Celia says to me, raising her voice to be heard as the music starts up again.
“You don’t need to do that, Ce,” I say.
“It’s okay. You guys go back to the apartment and enjoy your last night together.” She gives me a quick hug, pulling away before I can even wrap my arms around her in return. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll be home as early as I can tomorrow.” She knows Hugh is leaving before the sun even rises in the morning.
Pressing my lips together, I simply nod. She returns the gesture and walks away. She intercepts Hugh on his way back to me and they talk for a minute, then hug. She attempts to pull away as quickly as she did with me, but Hugh wraps his arms around her and holds her for several beats. Finally, she rises on her tiptoes and puts her arms around him. I swear when he releases her, she wipes at her eyes.
I. Will. Not. Cry.
Several other people stop Hugh, and more hugs—many of them tearful—are exchanged before he reaches me again. He waves to someone over my shoulder and his assistant appears, handing me an envelope emblazoned with the Santa’s Village logo in one corner and my name handwritten in the center.
“Merry Christmas, Ivy,” Kristal says, patting my shoulder. “I hope to see you again next year.” And with that, she gives Hugh a cheeky salute and disappears into the crowd.
“Shall we?” Hugh asks. I stare at the envelope, resisting the urge to rip it open right this second. Employees get a Christmas bonus every year at Quest, but I never thought Village employees would get one. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, considering how generous Hugh is and how well he treats his employees. He extends his arm to me and I loop mine through it, letting him lead me from Connelly’s.
We spend the drive back to my place rehashing the party. All serious subjects are avoided, as is any mention of him leaving. The minute we get inside my apartment and close the door, our mouths connect. I’m not sure who initiates it, but I know we both feel the same urgency, the same electric desire.
Hugh breaks away first, breathless. “I had thought we’d have a romantic evening, maybe open a bottle of wine, light some candles. But I need you, Ivy.”
Rather than answer with words, I tug my shirt off and toss it on the floor. He cups the back of my neck with one big, warm hand and pulls me to him, kissing me deeply. Without breaking contact, I begin leading us to my bedroom. We remove each other’s clothes as we go, leaving them where they land. I’ll have to remember to collect everything in the morning so Celia doesn’t come home to a trail of clothes.
We fall onto my bed, laughing breathlessly as our bare limbs tangle together. I’ll have days and weeks and months to examine my feelings for Hugh when he’s gone. Tonight is for this—hungry kisses and roaming hands and the gentle slide of skin on skin. Tonight is about Hugh and me, and nothing else.
