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Predictably, Baby Girl growled

“Whatcha got in there?” I asked, and Lexie offered , but there in front of her friends and my sister and the porcelain Rudolph statue on the corner of the desk, I kissed her She was stiff, for just a second,to but then she sighed and kissed me back

“Egg nog!” I said, licking my lips after we parted “Dad’s?”

“Who else?” Kristen said and lifted a flask “For the Jamboree It’s cold out there”

I grabbed the flask and tucked it in my coat Lexie was flushed and sparkly eyed, and it wasn’t all from my kiss “Howwas about a zillion proof liquor

“Well, the crea counts as dinner”

“You know it doesn’t work that way Let’s go put soood stuff at the Jamboree”

She bundled herself into her coat and I turned back tofor the inn?”

“Well, we’ve certainly salvaged this season,” Kristen said

“Do we still have to sell?” I asked

Jased and looked at Kristen “Would it be…” Kristen shook her head “Never mind”

“What?” I asked

“I’m just…what if I stayed? Ran it?”

“Really?” I asked, thrilled at the idea “You’re considering that?”

“I don’t knohat I’,” she said “But…I don’t know It’s not so bad here There’s good coffee Dad Fun work—”

“Paul?” Jasled her eyebrows

“Wow You and a tree farmer?” I asked

“It doesn’t make much sense, does it?” she asked

“I don’t know,” I said “I’ht be doing it wrong”

“You ready?” Lexie asked, decked out in all her pretty white fur and her blond hair In the few ht red lipstick on and swept sparkly gold shadow onto her eyelids

“You look beautiful,” I said, leaning in to kiss her again She tilted her face and I got her cheek

“It’s the lipstick,” she said “It’s like paint, and if it gets on you, everyone will knoe’ve been kissing”