Yours for Christmas

CHAPTER SEVEN

BAILEY WIGGLED INTO her Spanx camisole and smoothed it into place. Tonight was the triple-date dinner at Henri’s with Kenny. Not that they were dating. They were friends joining two other couples, one of whom was married, while the other was engaged. No big deal.

Except thinking about that over and over didn’t seem to be getting the message to the butterflies currently practicing their Nutcracker ballet in her stomach.

She’d been lucky with her sprain. The following morning she hadn’t needed her crutches at all. The swelling had gone down quickly and by the second day, there wasn’t much pain. She’d been careful to wear flats for the week so she could save her ankle for tonight.

She pulled her holiday sweater over her head. It was black with stylized bows knit into the pattern. All of the bows were white, except for one red one. She had her faux diamond-stud earrings she’d purchased on sale and a pair of too-high sexy black heels she’d gotten at a clothing exchange.

Bailey studied her reflection in the mirror. She’d done her best with her makeup. Her hair was good—long and thick with a curly wave. She thought she looked nice. But what would Kenny think?

She’d given up on the just-friends thing. She had a crush on him and all the sensible talk in the world wasn’t going to change that. The truth was they would be seeing a lot of each other over the holidays. She would enjoy every minute of that. But come the first of the year, she was going on a Kenny diet. She had a feeling that giving him up was going to be a lot harder than giving up carbs, which happened to be the second of her resolutions for January.

She didn’t have a choice. Not only had he made his feelings extremely clear, but she’d also actually taken the time to do an online search of him the previous night. The results had not been easy to see. While there weren’t many pictures of Kenny with the woman he’d thought of as the mother of his child, there were more than enough of him with beautiful, talented, sexy, thin women. Models and actresses. A couple of athletes and a woman who had founded a successful nonprofit while still in her teens.

If one ignored the beautiful and successful part, he didn’t seem to have a physical type. There were blondes, brunettes and a smattering of redheads. Some were short, some were tall. But not one of them had been curvy. Or plump. Or fighting an extra twenty pounds. There also hadn’t been any executive assistants or schoolteachers or hairstylists. In a word, Kenny didn’t seem to favor normal when it came to the women in his life.

Which made the need to get over him even stronger.

She got her coat and her least sensible handbag, which was still a pretty utilitarian black shoulder bag, and walked into the living room. Chloe was staying with her friend Allison for the night, saving Bailey the cost of a babysitter.

Right on time she heard steps on the stairs, then a knock at her door. She opened it to find Kenny standing there, looking way too good to be legal.

He had on a long camel-colored coat and a dark suit. He looked as if he’d showered and shaved. He smiled at her and stepped into her apartment.

“You look great,” he said by way of greeting.

“You, too.” She frowned as she noticed there were melting white flakes on his shoulders. “Is it snowing?”

He grinned. “Just started. Don’t worry. I have all-wheel drive.”

Because they were heading up the mountain. What if they got snowed in?

She allowed herself exactly four seconds to imagine herself and Kenny in a hotel room, with a fireplace and a very big bed. Then she gathered her “I’m a mother and I have to be sensible” thoughts and ignored the tempting, naughty ones.

The light snowfall became steadier as they headed for the restaurant. Near the resort, they passed a plow already doing its thing. So much for being snowed in, she thought with only a little regret.

The Gold Rush Ski Lodge and Resort had been decorated for the holidays. The bright lights were visible from the road. Kenny turned onto the property, then followed the signs to the valet.

The Christmas cheer continued inside the main building. There were several trees set up in the lobby, with garland around all the doorways. Carols played from hidden speakers and several of the staff sported festive Santa hats.

“It’s this way,” Kenny said, pointing to a long hallway.

She started in that direction. He put his hand on the small of her back. Even through her coat she felt the warmth and strength of his hand.

He was just being a gentleman, she told herself. She shouldn’t read anything into his actions.

Only a few more weeks, she reminded herself. She would see Kenny regularly through the toy drive and then he would be gone from her life. She would allow herself to be hopeful and even wistful through the holidays, right up until the New Year. Then she would return to her happy, busy, sensible self.

Henri’s was a five-star restaurant. Bailey wasn’t sure what, exactly, that meant, beyond the food being good. And probably expensive. She’s never eaten there before. In fact, she hadn’t spent any time up at the resort, except when she’d helped Dellina with a Score party there over the summer.

She had to admit the quiet elegance was very nice. A hostess took their coats, then showed them back to their table. Jack and Larissa and Sam and Dellina were standing next to it, talking.

The four of them turned and greeted her and Kenny. Jack and Sam surprised her by kissing her on the cheek. Her friends hugged her. They were all seated and a server appeared with a bottle of champagne and six glasses.