“Winston, this is my sister Victoria,” I said quickly. “And this is Pippa Bennett-Callahan.”
Winston shook hands with Victoria first.
“Victoria, Sienna told me you advised her about the decorations this year. Didn’t get a chance to thank you.”
“It was my pleasure.”
“Sienna said you were booked far in advance ahead of time this year, but hopefully we’ll be able to officially collaborate next year. I’m sure Sienna will love working with you in an official capacity. Of course, that is if she doesn’t leave me by then.”
Focusing on Pippa now, he added, “She also says you keep tempting her with offers to move to Bennett Enterprises.”
“I am,” Pippa said playfully.
“Fair warning, I’m going to use any and every tactic to keep her here as long as possible.”
I knew the girls well enough to realize they were both melting. Hell, I was melting.
Was he doing it on purpose? What was I saying? Of course he was. He was winning the girls over. He planned to keep me here, did he? He hadn’t told me any of that.
This was a whole new level of charm—and I absolutely loved it.
“Right. What I have to say can wait until tomorrow, Sienna. Have fun.”
Amusement flashed in his gaze.
“We’ll wait for you by the elevator,” Pippa said.
Victoria hurried after her. Now they were leaving, were they? After they’d ambushed Winston in his own office building.
“Did I pass the test?” he asked the second we were alone.
“What test?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.” He gestured with his head in the direction of the door.
I grinned. “They’ll tell me later, but my money is on a resounding yes. You were quite the charmer.”
“Everything I said was true.”
“Including the part where you plan to keep me here by any and every means?” I paraphrased.
“Especially that one.”
“And what exactly does that imply?”
He smiled ruefully, coming closer. “You’ll see.”
“Keeping me on my toes, huh?”
He drew a small circle on my temple with the tip of his nose. “I don’t want to keep you on your toes. I just want to keep you.”
I blushed. No man I’d ever dated had spoken to me this way. So openly and determinedly.
We were close enough that he was going to kiss me, I was sure of that. But then he just pushed a few strands of hair out of my face, smiling before stepping back.
“They’re waiting for you.”
“No goodbye kiss?”