Just Home for the Holidays - Deborah Cooke Page 0,17
you to feel obliged to spend your vacation with us.”
“I don’t. I’ve been looking forward to it for ages.” Chloe brought her laptop to the bed and showed her sister the display. “Hunter says I’ve missed something and I can’t figure out what it is.”
Mandy laughed a little. “Ah, so you’re insulted.”
“I’m not.”
Mandy studied the screen. She’d cut her hair short after Alex’s arrival and it suited her. It also showed off her earrings more, since she was inclined to wear long sparkly ones. “Other than it being kind of intense, I don’t see an issue.”
“Intense?”
“The ultimate Manhattan Christmas. I’ll call you the next time we do a family vacation in Orlando and you can book it all.” Mandy smiled and handed back the laptop. She wandered around the room, looking at various items, touching a few. “It’s so strange to be back here, don’t you think?”
“Why?”
“It takes me back. It’s like a time capsule.” She picked up a teddy bear and wagged it at Chloe, probably remembering the guy who had given it to her in high school.
“I guess.”
“All the things we collected but didn’t take with us,” Mandy mused. Chloe’s dress for the party was hanging on the closet door and Mandy fingered it. “Very pretty. It’s a good color for you, too.” She glanced over her shoulder. “What’s he like?”
“Hunter?”
Mandy nodded.
“Irreverent, flirtatious and serious trouble.”
Mandy laughed. “Trouble in terms of what?”
“The status quo. Assumptions.”
“Your heart?”
“No.” Chloe couldn’t lie to her sister. She dropped her voice. “It’s just a fake date, but don’t tell Mom.”
“Is that right?” Mandy said, in that knowing big-sister tone that Chloe hated.
“It is!”
“Well, anything that helps you fend off the master plan of you and Josh tying the knot works for me.”
Chloe was surprised. “You don’t like him?”
Mandy shook her head, as decisive as ever. “Never could figure out what you saw in him in the first place, except the plan of the moms. I like the sound of Hunter, though. Is he hot?”
“Yes.”
“Aha! Admitted without hesitation. That’s promising.”
“He hates Christmas.”
Mandy turned to look at Chloe, her gaze assessing. “Why?”
“He won’t tell me.”
“Sounds like a riddle you need to solve.”
Chloe shook her head. “One of many. With Hunter, I’ve got a list.”
“Then he’s perfect for you,” Mandy said with misplaced confidence. She continued before Chloe could argue with her. “Doesn’t this place blow your mind?”
“Why? Because it’s so big?”
“Because Mom’s still living here, seven years after Cooper’s death.” Mandy came back to sit on the bed beside Chloe, her expression concerned. “Do you think she can still afford it?” she asked in a whisper.
“I never thought about it.”
Chloe’s sister shook her head, but her gaze was searching. “I though maybe she talked about money with you.”
“No, never.”
“There’s a scary thought,” Mandy said. “I wonder who she does talk to about her money.”
“She must have a financial advisor, maybe at the bank.”
“I hope so.” Mandy stood up and brushed off her skirt. “Sleep well, kiddo, and wear your running shoes tomorrow. These two never stop.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Chloe said, because it was true.
It took her a long time to fall asleep, though, even though it had been a full day. Had Hunter seen anything in her schedule, or was he just messing with her?
And how could anyone hate Christmas?
Wednesday evening stretched to eternity, devoid of activities and distractions—and it was still a week to Christmas. Hunter fully expected that he’d have his recurring nightmare again, but he didn’t have to welcome it.
It wasn’t the first time he’d tried to make himself too tired to dream, and just because the tactic hadn’t worked in the past didn’t mean it wasn’t worth another try. He locked up the apartment and headed down to F5F. He didn’t usually go swimming, but maybe this was a good chance to try it out. The partners were big on it as good exercise, plus when he checked, the lap pool was virtually empty.
No one would see.
Hunter bought himself a pair of swimming trunks in the shop, kidded around with Germaine, then changed and headed for the pool. He had it to himself, no doubt because the holidays were so close. It was kind of peaceful, with the lights of the city shining through the big windows. It got dark early this time of year, but there were a lot of lights shining in the windows of adjacent buildings. He dove in and swam, oblivious to everything else, until he couldn’t manage another lap. His body was tired but