Brandon (Anderson Billionaires #3) - Melody Anne Page 0,77

type of woman to settle for anything less than that.

Brandon was far from perfect, but he’d been raised by a loving mother and with four siblings who had guided him through life, showing him what it meant to be a good man. He should buy them all thank-you gifts. It was odd how the love of a good woman could make a man a better person.

A smile permanently on his face, he stepped into another crowded shop and looked around. It was antiques. He didn’t think there was anything in there he’d be looking for, but he wandered, anyway, and it wasn’t long before he was stopped in his tracks. When you found the perfect gift, you just knew what you had.

Chloe had said her favorite gifts were the ones that showed a person knew her. Well, he was beginning to think he knew her quite well. Her passion was cooking—and, he hoped, lovemaking, now that the two of them had discovered the magic they could bring each other. But he’d watched as she’d designed the kitchen in the center, and he had a good idea of what would make her smile.

He gazed down at the case with his goofy smile in place. The shopkeeper stood behind the counter, and when he met her wise eyes, she was looking at him in a knowing manner that shook him even further. He’d always been an open book, but maybe it was becoming even easier to read him now.

“Can I have this gift wrapped, please?” Brandon asked, his voice slightly choked.

“This is why I love my store so much. There’s magic in here when the right item is found,” the woman said as she pulled the gift from the case and held it in her wrinkled hand.

“Yes, I believe I found exactly what I was looking for,” Brandon told her. “Can you place these inside first?”

The woman took his items, then put his gift in a box and handed it to two high school kids sitting at a table, wrapping items. It took them about thirty minutes to get to his gift, and Brandon didn’t let it out of his sight the entire time, too afraid of it being lost. He paid the shop owner and tucked his package away, then began walking to the restaurant.

It was closing time, and he wanted to be there to help. She was swamped, and he knew she wouldn’t leave the cleanup to her crew to take care of on Christmas Eve. Brandon couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually used cleaning supplies. He might be more of a hindrance to Chloe than a help, but wasn’t it the thought that counted? He sure hoped so.

He entered through the front door as the last of Chloe’s customers were gathering their items and wishing everyone a merry Christmas. The staff all looked exhausted, but they still wore smiles on their faces.

“Okay, crew, you did fantastic this year. There is no way this business would be even half as successful without all of you. There aren’t words to express how grateful I am to you all,” Chloe said as she spoke to the employees, who were all still smiling. “Now take your bonuses, grab your gifts, and get out of here to celebrate Christmas Eve with your families.”

“We need to help clean up this mess,” one young girl said as she looked around at the messy restaurant.

“Nope. Not today. Go home,” Chloe said as she began passing out presents.

The rest of the crew didn’t argue, and Brandon made his way to the counter and sat. Chloe smiled as she moved over to the coffee machine and began making a few shots.

“I need a triple,” she said with a laugh. “What do you want, Brandon?”

“I can make it myself,” he told her, feeling guilty having her do anything extra.

“There’s no way I’m letting you handle my machine,” she said with another laugh. She looked tired but happy. He could get used to seeing that expression every day for the rest of his life.

“I’ll have an eggnog mocha, four shots,” he told her. “And if all of the pastries haven’t been cleared out, I wouldn’t mind something to go with it,” he added with a hopeful smile. He hadn’t eaten since their breakfast together.

The doorbell rang, and Chloe groaned. “I forgot to lock it,” she said in a bit of panic. Brandon didn’t think she could refuse someone if they wanted a last-minute item. He sure as heck could, though.