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"At least we’ll have a little more time off for New Year’s," Mr Preston said

"Will you be back here?" Drew asked

The vice president shook his head "No, we’ll be taking in New Year’s in DC Gray, will you and Evelyn be there?"

Gray shook his head "We’re heading to the house in Daytona for New Year’s Eve Some alone time for the two of us"

Evelyn smiled at Gray

Mrs Preston nodded "Understandable You two don’t get nearly enough of that, and soon enough Gray will be gearing up for racing season to start again"

Evelyn sighed "That’s true And it seems as if it just ended"

"But we still have tie while we can"

"And speaking of those wedding plans"

Evelyn looked at Mrs Preston "We’re working on it"

"And yes, Mo a date Just haven’t pinned one down yet," Gray said

"As busy as both of you are, I want that to happen sooner rather than later Hoill I ever get grandchildren?"

"We’re practicing for that," Gray said

The vice president laughed and Mrs Preston shook her head

"I pro ive ether a wedding in a s happen"

Drew listened to all this back-and-forth with a s Gray and his dad get along so well had to be such a relief for Gray All through college there had been such tension between them

Now his life was settled He had a woain He was happy and in love and looking forward to a secure future

In theai-down type

Untilrecently

Though Carolina wasn’t ready to settle down, not hat she had going on in her life right now

He shifted his gaze toward her She was s plans He wondered what she thought about that, about where her life was Did she even co only about her fashion line?

He kneas her priority, that her career was the nu in her life

And where did he fit into all that?

Maybe he didn’t fit in at all, and he was just someone she fked to ease the tension

He sure as hell had used women in his past to ease the tension froo

Why did he even care? They were just having fun, right?

• • •

AFTER LUNCH, CAROLINA TOOK HER GIFTS UP TO HER roo a few minutes of quiet ti out of bed this

She needed to pack She’d head back to New York to, back to the frenetic pace of work and deadlines This had been a relaxing interlude, and she was grateful to have been able to spend time with her family, because it would likely be the last bit of relaxation she’d have before Fashion Week

She fingered the necklace Drew had given her Such a surprise He didn’t seeift frootten her one,like this She went into the bathroom and stared at herself in the ant, and yet what she’d told him had been the truth

It was perfect She felt his touch burn into her skin even as she stared at the necklace

Ridiculous She no ed to him than he was hers Dre a lot of wo-term basis And ould she even be interested in what he did? They were just having soo back home, play hockey, and no doubt hit on other wo to head back to work and not have sex with anyone else She’d gotten exactly what she wanted out of him--hot sex and tension relief

But as she stared at the necklace, she wondered ho felt, if as between theht Like it could ever be anything irl, Carolina"

A soft knock at her bedroohts She opened the door and sht be up here packing Have you had enough of family time?"

She let Evelyn in, then shut the door behind her "Actually, I’ve really enjoyed these past few days I don’t get to see Mom and Dad all that often, or you and Gray Even less this past year since I decided to start working on creating a fashion line So this has been nice Really nice"

Evelyn took a seat in one of the chairs "I’h Gray and I love to have time alone, he needed this tiht up wedding planning?"

Evelyn drew her knees up to her chest, and wrapped her ars "Well, that isn’t without its own set of co you two back? Unless it’s none of et married God, we really do If Gray had his way he’d haul me down to the nearest courthouse and marry me tomorrow And I’d be just fine with that"

"Butfor as I’m happy But your father is the vice president now, and with that comes a certain amount of responsibility"