Spying Under the Mistletoe (Love Undercover #2) - Stina Lindenblatt Page 0,47

Agatha points to the stack of baby photos in Chloe’s hands. “So, Landon, do you want to have kids one day?”

I open my mouth to answer, not exactly sure what to say. I guess, yes, if Sarah and I had been able to marry, we would’ve had kids.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Agatha. Looks like Mathilda needs us.” Chloe grabs my wrist before I can answer, and drags me away from the table, toward the kitchen. Mathilda’s nowhere to be seen.

I’m not letting Chloe get away so easily. “Is what you said to her true?”

“About what?”

“That you want to have kids one day?”

She shrugs, the movement drawn-out. “Just because I want to remain single doesn’t mean I don’t want to have kids. But whether I’ll have kids is a whole different topic.” She flashes me a glance that warns me she doesn’t want to talk about it.

Fair enough.

17

Chloe

After Landon and I finish helping at the seniors’ home, we swing by Landon’s town house to shower and change before heading to Sausalito.

Several vehicles are already parked on the driveway by the time we arrive.

We’re not precisely fashionably late. Things ran later at the Thanksgiving lunch than expected. So between that and having to clean up afterward, we’re well beyond the fashionable part of the equation.

We climb out of the jeep. Landon takes my hand, and we walk to the front door. Even though we’re playing make-believe when it comes to our relationship, that doesn’t stop the zing humming through me at the feel of my hand in his.

Clearly, we’re doing a great job. We’ve even fooled my body into believing this fake relationship is real.

This time when he rings the doorbell, the sound of Jingle Bells greets us. A moment later, Juanita lets us into the grand house. She takes our coats and directs us to the living room.

Isabelle and Jayden are standing next to the massive Christmas tree, talking to Henri and an elderly woman I don’t know. Several other groups of people are mingling around the room, drinks in hand. Isabelle’s wearing a gorgeous royal-blue cocktail dress. Landon and Jayden are wearing black suits. Both men look incredibly handsome.

“What can I get you to drink?” a man in his early twenties asks, a silver tray in his hand.

“I’ll have white wine, please,” I tell him. Landon requests a red wine.

“I’m so glad you made it, darlings,” Josephine says, shuffling toward us. Even her shuffle is elegant. The black-and-silver ball gown might have something to do with that. “You look absolutely stunning, my dear,” she says to me. “Don’t you agree, Landon?” Her gaze roams down my black sleeveless dress. It’s dressy but nothing like her gown.

“She does.” He smiles at me, and my breath hitches. I’ve seen him smile a number of times since he first landed in my life. But this is the first time it’s caused my breath to catch this way, this unexpectedly.

Heat spreads across my cheeks. I duck my head, hoping he doesn’t notice.

“I love your hair,” Josephine adds. “It’s such a beautiful color.”

I look up and thank her, my face still heated.

“Did your principal tell you my volunteer status has been approved? As has Andrew’s.”

“She did.” And I couldn’t have been more relieved than when Principal Woodnut called to tell me that.

“We’re both looking forward to working with the children next week,” she says. “Nothing makes you feel younger than working with kids.”

A papery chuckle comes from behind me. “Don’t you mean they remind you how old you are?” Henri’s standing in a tux, grinning with an easy gleam in his eyes and holding a cane with fleurs-de-lis etched in the bronze handle. “Just last week, one little guy asked me what dinosaurs were like. He honestly thought I was alive when they roamed the earth.”

Josephine bursts out laughing.

“What did you tell him?” I ask.

“That most of them were mean and conniving, but I was smarter than them”—he taps his temple—“which is why they’ve long since vanished, and I’m still walking the earth.”

That has us all laughing.

“So tell us about your Thanksgiving lunch,” Josephine says. And for the next few minutes, Landon and I tell them all about our afternoon with the seniors and how they’re so excited to see the show.

Juanita approaches Josephine and says something to her. Josephine smiles broadly at the woman, who isn’t much younger than her. From what Landon told me, Juanita is more like Josephine’s companion than a housekeeper.

“May I have your attention?” Josephine calls out to everyone in the