After a long silence, Allen spoke. “Very few people stand up to me anymore. I’m richer, smarter, and more powerful than all of them. But you’ve surprised me from the start, Jack.” Allen suddenly grinned, looking ten years younger as he waved Jack out of the room. “Go get your ring and the girl. I’d wish you luck, but I have a feeling you’re not going to need it.”
Jack thanked Allen again and was just getting into the elevator when Howie and Larry stepped out of it.
“Where are you going?” Howie asked. “Isn’t Allen waiting for all of us in his office?”
“You two can take this meeting without me. I’ll see you all tomorrow at the final shoot.”
Where, hopefully, he’d arrive as a newly engaged man.
* * *
Mary had really enjoyed the mix of photo shoots and interviews while working on Jack’s campaign, but tonight was her favorite moment so far. The ad agency had booked her to be a part of the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Union Square, and she would be giving away twenty-five free Pocket Planners as early Christmas gifts to people in the crowd.
Already, Mary had spotted several people who she guessed would really benefit from one. A young mother trying to simultaneously hold the hands of three rambunctious children. A businessman who had arrived tense and harried but who, when he saw his kids in the crowd, immediately dropped his briefcase to the ground to catch their hugs. Even the teenage girl with the heavy backpack who was clearly dreaming of finishing her classes for the semester so that she could enjoy winter break with her friends.
The night air was crisp and the sky was clear and sparkling with stars. The only thing that could make Mary’s night better was if Jack were here to share it with her.
For the dozenth time that day, she worked to push back her impatient longing for him…especially when there was only an hour left to go before she could meet him at her house.
Though the night was cool, remembering their lovemaking from the night before made Mary warm all over. How sweet Jack had been as he whispered “I love you” over every bare inch of her skin, then followed up his words with heated kisses that stole every last rational thought from her brain. Again and again they’d loved each other, until they’d finally fallen asleep in each other’s arms. They’d awakened to tangled sheets and a sensual hunger that hadn’t even come close to being sated. Mary had never known pleasure so sweet, so decadent or so overwhelming.
Deep inside, the still-wary part of her heart kept trying to warn her not to let bliss blind her to the possibility of future pain. But she refused to listen.
Jack was different. Yes, they were working together on his campaign, but every step of the way, he’d reassured her that his feelings for her had nothing to do with business.
And that he loved her.
Still, nothing soothed her lingering fears better than being in Jack’s arms. Yet again she wished he were—
“Angel.”
Mary looked up into the most beautiful face she’d ever set eyes on.
“Jack, you’re here! I thought you had a meeting with Allen.”
His smile as he drew her close was both warm and filled with desire. “I couldn’t stay away a moment longer.”
He’d been the one to ask for a little more private time together that morning, but despite the dozens of eager and interested onlookers, how could she possibly keep from kissing him?
Mary was just moving to wrap her arms around his neck when a little girl pushed between them.
“Here are your candles for the ceremony.”
Soon, Mary reminded herself as they moved apart to each take a candle from the girl, she and Jack would be alone again and then she could kiss him to her heart’s content with no interruptions.
As their candles were being lit, a young boy walked onto the small stage beside the tree and began to carefully recite a Christmas poem he’d written about Rudolph the reindeer and Santa Claus. In the dark, Jack slid his hand into Mary’s and she leaned into his warmth, loving how strong and steady he always was. Just as the boy finished his poem, the Christmas tree came to colorful, glittering life.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Mary said as she squeezed Jack’s hand tighter.
“The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he agreed. But he wasn’t looking at the tree.
He only had eyes for her.
A children’s chorus began to sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” and when Jack joined in, his voice ringing out deep and true, Mary’s heart swelled with love.
Chapter Seventeen
“I haven’t enjoyed a Christmas celebration that much since I was a child,” Mary said when they had finished distributing the Pocket Planners to the crowd. Mary had explained how the device worked to the mother, the businessman and the student, and they’d all been thrilled to go home and play with their unexpected gifts.
A short while ago she’d met Jack in this same spot in Union Square, and he’d asked her to join him for pie and ice cream. Now she was the one saying, “I happen to know a great diner just around the corner from here. Want to join me for some of the best pie you’ll ever have?”
Strangely, he gave her a slightly nervous look that confused her. She’d never seen Jack anxious before. Was he tired from the string of long days getting ready for the big holiday launch? Or was there something else going on?
Before she could ask him if everything was all right, he finally gave her one of his beautiful grins. “Great idea. In fact,” he added as he took her hand and they began walking toward the diner, “I think pie and ice cream at the diner should always be part of our new post-Christmas-tree-lighting tradition.”
Tradition.
Mary had thought she’d left tradition behind when she left Italy. The idea of starting a new tradition with Jack was at once terrifying…and wonderful. Because it meant that he really did intend to keep loving her past this first Christmas, when everything between them was so fresh and exciting.
She forgot all about his slightly strange initial reaction as they chatted easily about their busy days while they walked. They weren’t just lovers, they were friends, too. Best friends who would do absolutely anything to make the other person happy.
Despite being fairly empty, the diner was cozy and warm. This time, they both sat on the same side of the booth and shared a supersize slice of pie. Her night couldn’t get any more perfect than this, sitting with the man she loved while he fed her warm cherries coated in melting vanilla ice cream. They simply enjoyed being with each other.