to the pile. The rules of Secret Santa were simple—the gift had to be inexpensive and fun. Everyone drew numbers out of a hat, and that was the order the gifts were chosen. If you were last and ended up with your own gift, you got to take a gift from someone else in exchange for yours.
Wynn had found a cute wooden penguin at an estate sale. The little guy looked like he was about to burst into penguin laughter at any second, and she knew he would be right at home on anyone’s desk.
“This is so fun,” Pallas said. “Merry Christmas, everyone. As you can see, we’re going to have a delicious lunch. We’ll start with Silver’s cocktail. I can’t wait to find out what it is. Then butternut squash soup with cheddar biscuits. Blueberry chicken salad with more biscuits, and Wynn’s sugar cookie tarts for dessert.”
Everyone moaned.
“That sounds amazing,” Bethany said. “I’m not sure my soup is up to the challenge.”
“At least you got to bring something,” Natalie said with a pout. “I didn’t bring anything.”
“You were away at a show,” Renee pointed out. “You got home at midnight last night. When were you going to make a dish?”
Wynn patted Natalie’s shoulder. “Next year you’ll get the entrée.”
Natalie brightened. “I’d like that.”
“Cocktails,” Silver said, picking up a tray of champagne glasses. “This is called a Wallaby-Darned.”
Carol laughed. “Seriously?”
“That’s what they tell me.” Silver served each of them. “The basic ingredients are champagne, vodka and peach schnapps.”
Renee leaned close to Wynn. “That explains why we all have rides home,” she murmured.
Wynn laughed. “They sound delicious.”
They took their seats at the table to talk for a bit before the meal service began.
“I heard the baby shower was so fun,” Pallas said. “I wish we could have been there.”
“It was great.” Wynn took a sip of her cocktail and decided it was so good, she was going to have at least two. “Joylyn was so appreciative of everything. Thanks again for the loan of the table and chairs.” She looked at Carol. “And thank you for helping me.”
Carol waved away the words. “It was fun. I never get to do the party stuff. Plus we never get to help you. You’re always helping us.”
The comment surprised Wynn. “You help me.”
“We don’t,” Silver told her. “You’re so together all the time. You rarely need anything.” She held up a hand. “I’m not complaining. I love that my friends are all self-sufficient, but it’s nice to be able to give a little something. Like Holly’s wedding.”
“That’s coming together,” Renee said. “I met with her Saturday morning and she is such a sweetie. I can’t wait for her big day. The wedding is going to be perfect.”
Bethany asked if everyone had already decorated for Christmas and the conversation shifted, but Wynn didn’t join in. She didn’t think of herself as particularly together, but it was nice that her friends viewed her that way. She tried to be a good person and take care of business. She loved her friends and her son and her life.
Only it was no longer enough. She wanted more. She wanted love and more babies, and she wanted them with Garrick.
The truth had been standing in front of her for a while now. Yes, they hadn’t known each other that long, but it wasn’t as if she didn’t know a lot about him. His past, his work, his daughter all spoke to the kind of man he was. He loved deeply—the question was, did he want to love her?
“You okay?” Natalie asked.
Wynn smiled. “I’m great.”
She turned her attention back to her friends and the fun of the day. She would think about Garrick, and what she wanted, later. She would come up with a plan to tell him how she felt and then hope he wanted the same things she did.
Doing so meant risking her heart, but she knew it was time for her to take a chance. She’d forgiven herself for her past—now she had to be willing to embrace her future and all the possibilities it offered.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
WYNN POINTED TO the counter. “Just dump them there,” she said, setting down a box containing ribbon, gift tags and tape. Garrick did as she requested with a half dozen rolls of wrapping paper. When his arms were free, he grabbed her by her jeans belt loop and pulled her close before lowering his mouth to hers.
Her body, still humming from her recent orgasm, responded immediately. A reality that made her