Page 78 of The Lie That Stole Christmas

“Did you know that when he offered me a job, I had just lost my apartment to a fire?The building was condemned.They wouldn’t even let us in to get our stuff.I had nothing and barely enough money in the bank for a month’s rent, let alone one month’s security.”

He shook his head.“I had no idea.”

“I was homeless.The only option I had was to get a hotel room until I ran out of money or go to a shelter.I had a coworker who offered me her couch, but only for the week her boyfriend was away on business.After that, I’d be out on the street.Then Bill showed up and offered me a ridiculous salary and the option to live here.”She held her hands out, palms up.“At Winterridge.At the estate I had fantasized about since I was a little girl.”

Her voice cracked, and she looked around the kitchen.

“This place became my home.Ms.Porter became like a mother to me.Clint taught me how to ride a horse and drive the sleigh.Hawthorne showed me which forks went where.”She laughed through her tears.“Wendell still leaves peppermint patties outside my door every Christmas Eve because he knows they’re my favorite.”

A smile tugged at Carter’s mouth.

“When everyone else saw a pastry chef, Bill saw family.”She looked at the bowl in front of her filled with most of the ingredients for the spice cake.“How do I repay someone for that?”

“You don’t,” Carter said without hesitation.For all that Bill had done for him, he knew he’d never be able to repay him, but Bill didn’t want payback; he wanted loyalty and companionship, and Carter knew that came naturally.It wasn’t something you forced.It was given willingly, just as Tiny had been doing all along.

“I have to try,” she insisted.

Silence settled between them.The only sound was the old pipes.

Carter stepped beside her.“You know what I think?”

“What’s that?”

“I think Lily would have loved you.She would have respected the hell out of you, and she would have been pretty damn honored someone put this much effort into her cake, especially for Bill.”

A tear slid down Tiny’s cheek, and she swiped it away.“I wish I could have met her.She sounds fabulous.”

“She was.She would also tell you to stop overthinking it.That Bill would love anything you gave him.”

A watery laugh escaped Tiny.“That man loves his desserts.”

“Exactly, so go to bed.”

She shook her head.“I’m going to get this right.It’s the Winterridge way.”

“I won’t argue with you, Chef.”

“Good, because I’m not above kicking you out of my kitchen.”

A laugh erupted from Carter that was pure and light.“I’ll save you the energy.Night, Tiny.”

“Night, Carter.”

Carter made his way to his room, shutting lights and making sure nothing was out of place.By the time he got to his room, he was ready to collapse on his bed and drift off to sleep.He pushed his door open and stepped inside, easing the door closed behind him.

His nightlight clicked on, casting the room in a soft glow.He spun around, his eyes settling on Ashley, who had his covers pulled up over her chest.Bare shoulders sat above the comforter, and a smile spread across her face.

“I was getting worried you’d never show up,” she said.“Or that you were Luca coming in to borrow a book.”

“Luca doesn’t read.”

Ashley smiled and covered her lips beneath the comforter.A pretty pink spread across her cheeks, and her bangs slid to the left as she tilted her head.“Are you going to join me?”she asked.“It’s a little cold and lonely under here.”She lifted the blanket, giving him a glimpse of her naked body.

His cock jumped to attention as he took her in before she lowered the material, cutting off his view.

Carter slipped off his shoes, then slowly removed his suit jacket, draping it over his desk chair.Ashley bit her lip as she watched him.

Christmas hadn’t even arrived yet, but this was the best Christmas gift he could ever receive.He refused to think about what would happen once the holiday came and went, or what that meant for them.For now, all that mattered was this moment and absorbing every second they had together.