Adie washed her body, wishing she could dry off, slip into a pair of soft jeans and a pretty sweater and socks and curl up in a comfy chair with a glass of wine. Or she wished that instead of entertaining strangers she didn’t know, she could open the door to the Williams clan.
Instead of expensive ornaments and fancy food, they could order Chinese and sing along to Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra as they argued about where to put a papier-mâché Santa or a string of tinsel. She wanted to watch Kate and her brothers argue, see the soft smiles Richard and Rachel exchanged, sneak into the kitchen to kiss Hunt senseless.
She wanted simple and meaningful, a Nativity scene and red candles and gaudy decorations. She wanted colorful rugs on his neutral couches, badly wrapped presents under the tree, greenery over the door frames, mistletoe hanging in every room.
She didn’t want rich—she worked all day with rich—she wantednormal.
Adie placed her hands on the shower wall and looked down at the tiles beneath her feet, rolling her shoulders as the hot water loosened the tension in her neck. In a few minutes she’d climb out, dry off, and then she’d apply some makeup and slip into the sexy designer dress she’d picked up earlier in the day. Comprised of black Chantilly lace, beaded and embroidered, over a nude fabric, it was both sexy and demure, with its scalloped V neckline and A-line skirt. She loved it and she hoped Hunt would too.
But she’d still prefer to be dressed in jeans, drinking red wine, trying not to think of the call she’d taken earlier...
Think about something else, Adie.
Adie went over her mental to-do list, hoping she hadn’t forgotten anything. A Dubai client wanted a last-minute gift from Tiffany, and she’d sent Kate to buy the bracelet he’d seen online, a complicated design featuring diamonds and sapphires and costing a little shy of half a million dollars. She’d received the photographs from the floral designer who’d decorated her client’s Knightsbridge flat. He’d done a fantastic job. But the client wouldn’t get to enjoy her festive house after all, because—after telling Adie that her payment had been processed—they’d changed their minds and wouldn’t be visiting London this year.
She agreed with Adie’s suggestion that the flowers and the exquisite tree be donated but Adie was furious that Gid had worked his butt off during an already busy season, to fit in her request to decorate the house only to have her clients change their minds at the last minute.
Sometimes her clients could be real jackasses.
Like most people, there were days when Adie hated her job, and today had been one of those days and Adie couldn’t help but focus on the negative.
How many more private chefs would she organize for marriage proposals to later hear that the couple had split up just a few years later? How many more holidays would she organize that would not be enjoyed because her clients changed their minds? How many more diamond-and-sapphire bracelets would she buy and ship, how many would be worn?
But she was dancing around the real reason for her distress.
Her day had spiraled only after she received a request from her client, a German businesswoman, the CEO of a perfume company. The call had rocked her, and for the first time in a long time, she’d had no idea how to respond to her client’s blithe, this-isn’t-a-big-deal request.
Sadness overwhelmed her, and Adie placed her hand on her stomach, pushing the sensation away. She couldn’t afford tears now, or to remember the past. Her childhood was over and she wasn’t that neglected child, nor was she a lonely teen, looking for affection.
Change your thoughts, Adie. Now, immediately. Switch gears and focus on the positive.
She was a successful businesswoman having a brief affair with a gorgeous, smart guy. It was Christmastime, but she was managing the blues, her emotions and her expectations. Maybe she’d finally grown up and could handle a no-strings affair. And she deserved an extra pat on the back for doing it at Christmastime, when she was, historically, more likely to slip back into those destructive patterns of looking for love in all the wrong places.
And maybe that was why she felt so very comfortable with Hunt, relaxed about where they were and what they were sharing. They’d spoken about their pasts and their expectations and it was a relief to know that Hunt didn’t do relationships. He was as anti-marriage, anti-commitment and anti-children as she was.
They were on the same page, reading from the same book. He liked her, loved her body and in a couple of days, he’d kiss her cheek, hug her goodbye and send her on her way.
There would be no tears or regrets. In time he’d become a pleasant memory.
And maybe Hunt was her gateway man, the one who would show her how to be with a guy without any expectations or projections. That she could have a sexual relationship with a guy and remain unaffected.
She’d handled herself, and Hunt, well, Adie decided. She’d thoroughly enjoyed his company and his lovemaking and she’d managed to ruthlessly shut down any dreamy thoughts or wacky ideas of having a long-distance relationship, or any kind of long-term relationship, with Hunt.
She liked him, adored his body, would miss him when she left—but she’d resisted falling in love with him.
Thank God.
Adie rubbed her eyes with the balls of her hands, wishing she could crawl into Hunt’s big bed and go to sleep.
Despite her mental pep talk, she still felt a little overwhelmed and a lot tired. Christmas was always the most stressful time of year for her and she generally worked ridiculously long hours. She was not only working hard, but when she did finally collapse into bed, Hunt was always there.
And because she was on limited time with him, and because she couldn’t resist him, she’d always spend a few hours tangling the sheets with him.
Adie released a huge yawn, closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the tiles. She just needed a little nap...
Eight
Adie heard footsteps and then the shower door opened. She groaned when Hunt’s thumbs applied pressure to that spot at the base of her skull, enjoying the sweet, sweet pain of tension releasing. Reaching back, she tapped his bare thigh, murmuring a quick hi, and a “man, that feels so good.”