doesn’t like Valentine’s Day, you seem like you’re already setting expectations.”
“How is not wanting a life-sized solid-chocolate dildo setting unreasonable expectations?” I countered.
“Are you kidding me?” Jonathan said. “That’s a hot item.” He checked his watch. “We better head back. Don’t want to be late for naked yoga.”
Yes, naked yoga. Thirty minutes later, I stood out in the cleared courtyard of one of the industrial buildings. Dorothy had insisted that as one of my first duties as the head of the Hamilton Yards Art Foundation, I make the naked yoga sessions more official.
I had replied that part of that meant that people had to be at least modestly clothed.
She had told me that I needed to be out there, then, to inspect.
And that was why I was outside in February, shivering in a two-piece swimsuit on a yoga mat that had already frozen to the ground.
Dorothy waltzed to the front of the class. She was wearing pasties on her boobs and a skimpy thong bottom. Everything else proudly hung free.
“Breathe in,” she instructed the crowd. “Let the cold air fill your lungs—we’re trying to stave off inflammation, and we were all out drinking last night—and exhale.”
I winced as my back popped.
“Valentine’s Day is coming up, ladies, and I know you all want to impress your men! Let’s firm up those thighs and those vaginal cavities. Also, don’t forget, thanks to our sponsor today, Bath and Body Twerks, they have provided a free Valentine’s Day gift for everyone. Don’t forget to take yours! Now, everyone give me a garland pose!”
My thighs were burning after the lesson. I staggered across the property to my office. I had set up temporary shop in another converted shipping container.
My intern was waiting there for me. “Hi!” Arlo Svensson chirped. “I have your tea, Supreme Mistress of the World.” The tween carefully set the steaming cup down on my desk.
Apparently shit had gone down over Christmas at the Svensson estate, and it had ended with Hunter shipping a kid to Manhattan every couple of weeks to live with—that is, annoy—Greg and work at his firm. Greg had told me he would write me a big, fat check if I took the kids in. They made tea and answered my phone while I cosplayed Miranda Priestly.
“Madam,” Arlo said seriously, “your significant other has requested your presence at a Valentine’s Day event tomorrow evening. I have penciled it in on your calendar.”
“Ugh, Valentine’s Day.” I leaned back in my chair.
“Shall I send out a sardonic tweet for you?”
I smirked. I had been training my interns well. Now that I was on the fourth iteration, I had it down pat.
“Not today,” I said loftily.
As much as I did not like standing out in the freezing cold, I did feel invigorated after the half-naked yoga sessions.
I worked on my strategic plan for art-themed events in the complex through the afternoon. It still got dark around four thirty, and as the shadows lengthened, I started thinking about packing up.
At five, the door opened, sending the wind howling in to scatter my papers. Arlo raced to pick them up.
“I need a vestibule,” I complained.
Jonathan bounded in, scooping me up and kissing me.
“Ew!” Arlo gagged, covering his face.
Carl followed Jonathan. “Ew!” Carl mimicked Arlo. “It’s a child.” He rushed at his little brother, and the two tussled. “Same time tomorrow?” Carl asked me.
“You may go,” I told Arlo with a wave of my hand.
Jonathan smirked. “You’re really enjoying your interns.”
“I am the queen of my own fiefdom.”
Jonathan was thoughtful. “You’re surprisingly good with kids.”
I felt self-conscious. We hadn’t really had a serious talk about THE FUTURE. I hadn’t even officially moved into Jonathan’s condo. I stayed over a lot, but it still felt like his space. Officially, I was living at Emma’s tiny apartment, sleeping on my yoga mat on the floor. But Jonathan’s bed was much more comfortable.
He was looking at me softly.
“I guess I should go back to Emma’s,” I said, feeling awkward.
“Did you all have plans?” he asked.
“Er, no,” I said, “but I should do laundry.” I waved a hand vaguely.
“You can do laundry at my place,” Jonathan offered. “In fact,” he continued, “don’t you think it’s time to just go ahead and move in?”
“I don’t know. That seems like a lot,” I said. “It’s such a big step. We should, you know, really talk about it.”
“Sure,” he said lightly. “No worries. I just don’t want you sleeping in your office like a Hobbit!”
2
Jonathan
Morticia had been really weirded out by my suggestion that she move in with me. I didn’t see what the big deal was. She practically lived there already. It felt so right and relaxing to be around her, like we were meant to be. But maybe she didn’t feel the same way.
First, she hadn’t seemed excited about my Valentine’s Day plans. Then she didn’t want to move in with me. And that was going to be a real problem, because I had just found the perfect house. I had a whole reveal planned. Was my big Valentine’s Day plan about to implode?
Morticia didn’t seem to be picking up on my internal turmoil as we walked into my condo. I needed to know if I should table the surprise or not. Maybe I should save the house for her birthday and just do something quiet for Valentine’s Day.
She unpacked her bag, taking out a bright-pink gift sack.
I glared at it. “Who sent that to you?”
“Jealous?” she teased. “Maybe I have a secret admirer.”
“You better not,” I growled playfully, wrapping my arms around her. “I’m the only man for you.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Morticia purred. “I think this gift bag might contain something that can give you a run for your money.”
Read Frosting Her Cake Pop
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Thick and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
This recipe comes from Cook’s Illustrated Magazine, not any family members, haha! It makes about 18 large or 30 small gingerbread cookies. The frosting is all mine!
For the Cookies
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
¾ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
¾ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cloves (totally optional – I leave it out as I hate cloves)
½ teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still cool, cut into 12 pieces
¾ cup fancy (not cooking) molasses 2 tablespoons milk
Directions:
In a food processor, process the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt until combined, about 10 seconds. Scatter the butter pieces over the flour mixture and process until the mixture is sandy and resembles very fine meal, about 15 seconds.
With the machine running, gradually add the molasses and milk. Process until the dough is evenly moistened and forms a soft mass, about 10 seconds.
Scrape dough out onto a work surface and divide it half. Working with one piece at a time, roll the dough, ¼ inch thick, between 2 sheets of parchment paper. Leaving the dough sandwiched between the parchment layers, stack on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, 15-20 minutes.
Adjust the oven racks to the upper and lower middle positions and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Remove 1 dough sheet from the freezer; place on work surface. Peel off top parchment sheet and gently lay it back in place. Flip the dough over; peel off and discard second parchment layer.
Cut the dough using cookie cutters of your choice. Transfer shapes to prepared baking sheets, using a wide metal spatula, spacing them ¾ inches apart. Set scraps aside. Repeat with remaining dough until baking sheets are full.
Bake the cookies for 8 – 11 minutes, until they are set in the centers and the dough barely retains an imprint when touched very gently with a fingertip. The baking sheets should be rotated from front to back and switching positions top to bottom, halfway through the baking time. Do not overbake. Cool cookies on the sheets for 2 minutes, then remove the cookies with a wide metal spatula to a wire rack to cool completely.
Gather the scraps; repeat rolling, cutting and baking.
For the Royal Icing:
3 ¾ cups confectioners’ sugar
3 large egg whites
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch kosher salt
Using an electric mixer, combine the ingredients. Whip until stiff and glossy.
Acknowledgments
A big thank you to Red Adept Editing for editing and proofreading.
And finally a big thank you to all the readers! I had a great time writing this book, and I hope it puts you in the Christmas spirit!
About the Author
If you like steamy romantic comedies with a creative streak, then I'm your girl!
Architect by day, writer by night, I love matcha green tea, chocolate, and books! So many books…
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