The Cinderella Deal - Jennifer Crusie [61]
“I want to know how to make these.” Olivia turned her ornament over and over and marveled at the details, so Daisy told them how to mix the salt dough, and then showed them how to make the little sausage figures while Linc watched. It was all warm and comforting, like a family, and it made him a little nervous to be so warm and comforted, but he couldn’t tear himself away.
The next day the students left, and Julia came into town. She stayed at the inn but spent every waking moment with Daisy. Evan began to haunt the house, which Linc didn’t mind, and Art began to drop by every afternoon, which Linc did mind.
“What is he doing here?” he asked Daisy on Christmas Eve afternoon. “The party doesn’t start until seven.”
“He’s a friend. Friends come by anytime.”
“I should have told Caroline that,” he said, and Daisy sniffed.
By eight the house was full of people who were full of good cheer and eggnog. The house looked like a Better Homes & Gardens photo spread, the Christmas dinner table looked like a Norman Rockwell magazine cover, and Daisy looked like a witch-queen in a long, low-cut green velvet dress she’d found at the secondhand clothing store in town. Linc knew it was secondhand because she’d told him when she’d crossed the hall to his bedroom to get help with the zipper. “It sticks,” she said. “I think the last person who wore it jammed it.” He’d eased the zipper up, watching the creamy flesh of her back disappear in the shortening V, noticing that she wasn’t wearing a bra, using all his restraint to keep from reaching around and cupping her breasts. Since then she’d wrapped a thick red curtain rope around her waist and put holly in her hair, and Linc knew he should be wincing at how bizarre she looked, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“That holly should be mistletoe,” he heard Art tell her at dinner, and she said, “That’s in the hall.”
Linc made a note to keep an eye on the hall. And an eye on Daisy. She was drinking a lot, he noted, finishing his own third cup of eggnog. He’d have to watch her.
“I cannot think who you remind me of.” Daisy leaned precariously over Julia to see Evan. She was showing a lot of creamy cleavage, and Linc reminded himself to make a note to tell her not to bend over. “It’s been driving me crazy ever since I met you.” Daisy looked at Julia, who had a peculiar expression on her face. “Have you had too much eggnog, or do you know?”
“Both.” Julia took Evan’s hand in hers.
“Well, who?”
“Eeyore,” Julia said.
“E. York?” Daisy echoed.
“No. Eeyore. From Winnie the Pooh.”
“Oh, my God.” Daisy fell back in her chair and laughed until she got the hiccups.
“Who’s Eeyore?” Evan asked suspiciously.
“Absolutely my favorite childhood character.” Julia looked into his eyes with drunken affection. “I loved Eeyore. I still do.”
“Oh.” Evan didn’t pull his hand away. Linc resisted the urge to tell him there were probably germs on Julia’s hand and poured himself another cup of eggnog. What the hell? He wasn’t driving. Neither were they. Another great thing about Prescott: everybody lived within walking distance.
“I have ivy in my bathroom,” Booker said to Linc. “I don’t think I mind, but I’m constantly surprised when I go in there.”
“Wait until she paints the snakes in.” Linc shook his head at the thought. “There’s one in my bathroom that stares at me while I wash my face.”
“This is just perfect, honey,” Chickie told Daisy. “This is the best Christmas I ever had.”
“I love you, Chickie,” Daisy said a little drunkenly. “I wish you weren’t married to such a—”
“Christmas cookies in the living room,” Linc said loudly. “Not to mention Lizzie Borden and her headless father. And there’s a surprise for everyone on the Christmas tree. Could I see you in the kitchen for a minute, Daisy?”
“No.” Daisy smiled lovingly at him and took his breath away. “But I’ll be good.”
Linc caught Art glaring at him. He glared back.
“Come on, Art.” Daisy said just as brightly as Linc had a few moments before. “Linc, bring some more eggnog. Isn’t this