Just Home for the Holidays - Deborah Cooke Page 0,14

place, and where had he come from?

And what was this Jacinda like, the one whose call made him smile so warmly?

She had a list of questions and no answers to any of them. Plus she doubted Hunter would tell her anything outright.

On the upside, she had ten days to uncover the truth. Good thing Chloe loved a challenge.

They got stuck in traffic near Central Park, which was good as she needed the time. She’d just have to change quickly. Chloe started a list of her own, so she could send it to Hunter before he broke more of her rules.

Chloe Richardson’s Rules for Hunter Tate

In effect December 18 - 26, 2019

1. No (more) kisses.

2. No other physical intimacy.

3. No sex.

4. No calls during activities in public venues. (See schedule.)

5. No calls or text messages between 10 PM and 9 AM.

6. No sexting ever.

7. No modification of the established schedule. (See schedule).

8. No late arrivals or departures when your attendance is agreed upon.

9. No pretending at F5F that our relationship is real. (i.e. Tell Meesha nothing.)

10. No selfies or incriminating photos.

11. No mistletoe.

12. No surprises.

13. No expectations or obligations after December 26.

Three

Chloe’s list landed on Hunter’s phone right after he left the tailor’s shop. He hadn’t thought she had an actual itemized list of activities that were out-of-bounds, but he’d underestimated her. Or maybe she’d compiled it just for him.

Reading it was an eye-opener. She’d forbidden every single fun possibility that he’d been able to think of.

He’d have to think of more.

The combination of the rules with the schedule for her so-called vacation was enough to make him break out in hives. It was astounding to Hunter that any sane person could imagine that life could be controlled to such an extent.

The temptation to show her otherwise was immediate and fierce.

He tried to stop it. He really did.

Hunter scrolled through the list, twice. The fact was that it would be a public service to teach Chloe that life was more unpredictable than this. It might just be his civic duty. It certainly would be a favor to Flatiron Five Fitness and everyone who worked there to disabuse her of this fantasy.

Never mind that he’d enjoy it. It was the perfect project for his holiday season. Hunter felt himself smile. He was going to break every single one of her rules if it was the last thing he did.

And he’d make sure Chloe thanked him for doing so.

He checked the time and her schedule, then chose the rule that would die first.

Alicia Brett’s apartment, where Chloe and Mandy had spent their teenage years, had more square footage that most people’s houses. There were only four bedrooms, but each and every one of them was bigger than the entire apartment Chloe shared with two other F5F West employees in San Francisco. It was two stories tall on the corner of an old building with high ceilings on the Upper East Side, coincidentally the same building that the family had lived in when Chloe and Mandy were small. They’d had a much smaller and less luxurious apartment then, although it had been nice. This one had a sweeping staircase between floors and it was easy to forget that it was an apartment, not a house.

Her mom had completely redecorated the apartment, acquired with her direction after her second marriage, and Chloe would never forget Cooper’s expression of astonishment when the bills began to arrive. She’d always wondered whether her mom’s ability to spend large sums of money had contributed to his final massive coronary. He’d adored Alicia, though, and always joked that he just had to make money faster to keep her happy.

The apartment was perfectly decorated and filled with antiques. It had been featured in all the big decor magazines. There were quarters for live-in staff, since her mom had bought an adjacent apartment and had it incorporated into the floor plan. The apartment had always made Chloe feel uncomfortable with its lavish dimensions and furniture. It dripped with expense, and to her, it felt like a house of cards, doomed to collapse.

After all, that had happened before. She knew her mom was better at spending money than keeping track of it.

Of course, the same doorman was there, Mr. Patterson, and he swept her into the building with his usual paternal protectiveness. He carried her bag and asked after her health, welcoming her home.

Was this home? Chloe wondered as she rode the elevator, and that made her think about Hunter again.

Her mom came