Lexi threw back her head and laughed. “Sounds perfect.” Her expression turned serious. “When we go back to Boston, would you be okay with me asking Sophie to help us with the foundation? Not because we couldn’t do it without her, but because I want to include her.”
“Sure. I’ll have Dax clear an office for her in his building.”
“Do you think Dax might see the foundation’s location as an inconvenience for his business?”
Clay considered her concern for a moment then dismissed it. That was one possibility he refused to believe.
THE END
Love these characters? Keep reading with
Book 4: Let It Burn
Bonus Novella:
Just in Thyme
The Barrington Billionaires Series
Book 3.5
A Holiday Novella
by
Jeannette Winters
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World-renowned chef, Vincent Moretti, could have anyone, anything, anytime. Social events had a single agenda—build his business, which was why he couldn’t refuse the last-minute invite to the New Year’s charity event. When he learned his investors wouldn’t be there, he was angry he’d wasted his valuable time.
Adventurous and loyal Renita Gallo had chosen to stay in Stowe, Vermont for one reason—her father. She wanted to be a teacher. He wanted her to follow in his footsteps and become a chef. When her father became ill and couldn’t cater the very important Barrington event at the Vermont resort, she was forced into a role she wasn’t prepared for, and into the presence of the most arrogant man she’d ever met.
Renita was confounding, a woman who challenged Vincent, a woman so enchanting he couldn’t resist. Wouldn’t resist. She was also determined to ignore the allure of the devastatingly handsome Chef Moretti.
Vincent ignited such passion within her that shook her steadfast sense of responsibility.
Thrown together during a snow storm, more than food will be cooking in the kitchen.
A memory from Jeannette Winters
I love thinking back on my childhood memories, and Christmas was always special to me. It wasn’t the gifts because we already knew what they’d be: socks and underwear wrapped in brown paper bags. Things were so simple back then.
My favorite Christmas was one I spent with my father. He’d retired earlier that year and finally could concentrate on things he enjoyed. Christmas music was always his favorite so that year he wanted to make his own Christmas carol booklets for us all. I must have been nineteen and didn’t really want to spend each night home typing (there was no computer or printer then), but it was a project we were doing together. After countless hours and all the preparation, we were ready to go.
When we gathered back then, our immediate family consisted of my ten siblings and their families, for a total of forty-five people in the house. My father had me gather everyone together and pass out the sheets. We were all waiting; my mother sat in the middle of us all smiling. She had the voice of an angel. The rest of us not so much (you’d understand if you heard me sing). When my father came downstairs my mother’s eyes lit up, but our jaws dropped. He was dressed in a red plaid shirt and was carrying a large black boom box with a microphone around his neck. He made his way around the room and no one escaped their turn at the mic. Christmas was never going to be the same!
And this one, this year, will never be forgotten either. Thank you Mom and Dad for always showing us what is important. Miss you both every day, but your spirit lives on with us. A spirit of love.
One of the greatest lessons our parents instilled in us is to take care of one another. Through this journey of writing, I would like to think that our love and the care we show for each other is because of what we’ve been shown. Not once have I ever felt as though I was alone. I’m blessed to have family who are on the journey with me. My baby sister Ruth Cardello gave me a nudge to follow in her and my niece Danielle Stewarts’ footsteps. They had already cleared the path for me and welcomed me into the group with open arms.
Writing this holiday novella together is just another example of how this journey has brought us even closer. The three of us cannot get together without talking and laughing about the good ole days. Writing this book brought back all the wonderful and crazy memories of our Christmas parties long ago. Each year another nephew or niece has been added to the mix. Seeing how we’ve all changed over the years, yet are still so close, is even more special.
Many have told me writing can be very lonely. But when you choose to do it with people you love, it is something you look forward to, filled with times you learn to treasure. We are not just putting words on paper, we are building memories of time we spent together.
So like our parents before us, we hope we are also leaving a legacy for our families to continue. It may not be through writing, but whatever it is, we hope they also remember: It’s always better together!
Chapter One
Renita Gallo was having difficulty processing what her father told her earlier. How can the resort be in such dire financial straits? We have the best slopes in Vermont, the staff is always attentive to the guests’ needs, and Dad’s given his life to this place.
She had so many questions she wanted desperately to voice her opinion on, but it wasn’t the time to do so. Her father, still at home recovering from the flu, made it clear that everything was riding on the success of the Homes for Vets New Year’s Eve fundraiser. It was far from the first event that had taken place at the resort, but in the past there had been family reunions and school outings. She couldn’t remember anything of this magnitude.
Even before addressing what little staff there was, Renita had gone into her father’s office to take one last look at the guest list. There were many names she didn’t recognize, but the ones she did meant the resort was about to cater to some very powerful and influential people. It explained why her father was on edge and had spent his vacation last week working. If you’d have told me Dad, I could’ve helped, or at least have been prepared for what’s about to hit us. Instead, I feel like I’m on a sinking ship without a life preserver.
She wasn’t sure if she was angry about the lack of communication or if it was just good old-fashioned fear creeping in. Either way, she needed to brush it off and do what was asked of her: take full charge of the resort until either her father or the owner, Mr. Prescott, could make it in.
Renita felt anything but prepared to take on such an endeavor. Even though she’d grown up on the resort, she purposely distanced herself from certain areas. The kitchen was number one. Working as the waitstaff supervisor and hostess wasn’t what she wanted as her career. But it was a choice she’d made; she was close to her father if he ever needed her. This isn’t what I thought you’d be calling on me to do, though.
There were many things she was talented at, however cooking wasn’t one of them. If it weren’t for the fact her father, Ricco Gallo, was the head chef, she’d live on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or mac & cheese every day.
