Isla looked at Riley and shrugged after Leo left the house. The girl smiled. "Maybe he's going Christmas shopping."

Isla frowned. He had told her he had that part of Christmas under control. Why so secretive? Maybe he went to buy a gift for her. She panicked. In all the craziness, she hadn't considered a gift for him. Maybe she should have asked Lilli.

Her friend's visit had only left her more confused. Isla knew Leo was waiting for an answer but her belly churned every time she thought of saying yes. Then the dread hit her as she realized Leo would never want a timid girl like her. He needed a bold woman. Reagan wouldn't hesitate to accept his invitation. Marcia and Helen were no help either. They both thought she should go to the party.

Isla stood at the sink and shut her eyes. When Lilli had finished her magic, she looked like an imposter. The Sisters certainly wouldn't recognize her. The dress she tried on was conservative at the neckline, but it clung to places Isla preferred to hide. Still, the big question was if she wanted to hide them from Leo. Her mind wandered to the night on her bed and she squeezed her legs together.

She had kept her mind off her decision by reading Office Secrets. Lilli told Isla about her amateur writing on the app Novelpost. Her friend even confided how she wrote it about her crush on Zach. "In my story the characters got together after a work party. You and Leo can have happily ever after."

Isla wanted what Lilli described, but she was also scared, frightened, petrified. As wonderful as kissing was, happily ever after led to more than kissing. She shut her eyes and remembered the night Leo held her in the hotel room. Isla dried her hands and walked into the living room.

"Cody, let's read." The boy was on the verge of blossoming into a real reader.

Isla jumped when she saw the headlights flash on the wall. She had expected him to shop longer. Cody jumped up, and she followed the boy to see Leo enter empty-handed. After he took off his coat and shoes, he dropped the keys on the counter. He smiled at her, but turned his attention to Cody. Their evening continued like every other and she talked herself out of hiding in her room.

Leo returned and sat down on the chair across from her. She liked when he sat next to her. She watched him as he looked at the tree.

His voice sounded distant. "I like the tree. It reminds me it's the holiday season."

"I would think the stores would do that too."

Leo turned his head to her and smirked. "Thanks to you, I don't shop often."

"I just thought that maybe you were shopping."

He shook his head. "Nope." He smiled. "Are you curious?" She shrugged then nodded. "I'm curious what you're thinking."

"Thinking?" She had been thinking about a lot of things she shouldn't.

"About being my date. We need to plan. Either I drive tomorrow or if you come, we need a babysitter."

Marcia had volunteered to watch the kids. She wanted to do her makeup, but she trusted herself with Lilli's instructions better. Lilli had bought her lipstick and mascara and said it was all she needed. Isla wasn't so sure.

"Earth to Isla. It won't be torture. I think riding the train home together will be romantic. We can leave the party in time for the eight-fifteen if you aren't having fun."

Isla had a list of excuses, but only one reason to agree, Leo wanted her to. She shut her eyes and imagined him dressed in a suit by her side.

"You are brave. You boarded a train without knowing what you would do when you arrived. I'm asking you to board a train and I'll be waiting for you when you step out of the station."

Her heart felt heavy and warm. Stalling, she asked, "Where did you go?"

He frowned. "You gave me the idea. I went to talk to Father about forgiving myself."

Isla felt a tear. "Really? Did he help?"

Leo nodded. "I can't be grumpy on our date."

"Date. Real date?" Leo nodded. "Okay." She didn't make eye contact.

"Really? Thank you." He lunged forward and hugged her.

The following afternoon when Isla stepped upstairs, she feared she might throw up. Marcia looked at her and smiled. "You're beautiful, like a swan."

Leo called her a butterfly, but she wore black. Lilli had told her every girl needed a little black dress. The sleeveless dress had a festive beaded sweater to match. Lilli had worn it two years before. She teased only Zach would remember.

"Isla, you look so pretty." Riley smiled.

She didn't want to miss her train. Isla had gone into the city once with the family to the science museum. Leo had reminded her to ride to the end of the line, South Station. Nothing felt easy as she stepped out of the house. The drive was one she did twice a day. She thought of Leo taking the same train ride over and over. A part of her felt excited because she missed him each day until he walked to the car smiling.

Just as he had promised, he was waiting for her. Leo smiled as she took him in. He looked handsome wearing his wool coat. He reached out his gloved hand, and she took it. His lips felt cold when kissed her forehead.

"You look beautiful." Her belly tumbled from his words as he led her down the street. While they walked he pointed to a tall building. "My office is on the twentieth floor."

Isla looked, but he kept walking through the nippy air. He stopped and open the door of a brightly lit restaurant. A gush of warm air hit Isla. Leo's hands were on her shoulders and he asked for her coat. He slipped it off her shoulders and handed it to a young girl. As he took off his own coat, he looked at her dress from neckline to hem. When the girl took his coat, she handed him a ticket.

He met her eyes. "I'll have to thank Lilli." She reached up and straightened his tie. He smiled. "Do I look okay?"

She croaked, "Perfect."

The minute they stepped inside, Lilli rushed over and hugged her. When Lilli let go Zach took her place. He had a beautiful blonde by his side.

"Isla, this is my good friend Olivia. Livvy planned this gathering."

Zach's friend smiled. "Nice to meet you."

Leo had put his arm around her, and with his free hand, he picked up two champagne flutes. He whispered. "Better than church."

She smiled and took a sip. The bubbles tickled her tongue. She liked the taste, but she liked Leo's hand on her waist better. As he led her further into the large room with tables laden with food trays and servers carrying trays of drinks and hot appetizers, Leo waved and smiled to a few people. Everyone looked glamorous with jewelry and heels. Isla felt frumpy with flat shoes. She didn't even have her ears pierced.

He stopped in front of a young woman wearing a dress that showed a lot of skin. "Chelsea, this is Isla."

Isla smiled and nodded, as the young woman said, "Hello." She pointed in a different direction.

Leo said, "Have fun."

It reminded Isla of when he sent the kids to play at the restaurant on the last day of school.

"Leo." A middle age man shook his hand.

"Ryan. Great to see you. Isla, Ryan writes young adult mystery stories."

She smiled and Ryan said, "Nice to meet you. Leo, I'm almost through those rewrites."

Leo nodded. "You had me stumped."

Ryan chuckled. "I love a good twist."

Leo smiled. "Are your kids coming home for Christmas?"

"Yes. The dorms kick them out. They have no choice."

Leo turned to Isla. "Ryan has triplets."

Before Isla could respond, Ryan said, "The infant and teen years were the worst."

Leo frowned. "Don't scare me. Riley is two years away."

"Enjoy her before it's too late. I see a friend. I'll let you move on."

Isla said, "He's nice."

Leo smiled as a large woman who looked like a Christmas tree saw him. "Leo, darling. Who is this pretty little thing?"

"Isla, this is Janice. She's an amazing author."

Janice asked Leo about her new book. Isla stood bored as they spoke. Lilli waved her over, so she left Leo's side and crossed the room alone. Lilli sat at a table with a middle-aged woman.

"Isla, come sit. This is Nancy. She was my first client."

"Join us. Are you an agent too? Lilli, put that ring down, you're blinding me." Nancy lowered her voice. "I remember when she said things like we're just colleagues."

Lilli laughed. "Isla is here as Leo's date."

"Leo? Oh right, the cute one from LA. What do you do, dear?"

"I'm a nanny."

"Really. I've always wanted to write a steamy story about a nanny and employer."

Lilli coughed. Isla reached for another drink from a passing tray and drank a large sip. Nancy commented about a woman in a Christmas tree dress. Even Isla laughed. Then she said, "Lilli, watch out that blonde has her net out for your guy."

Lilli laughed. "They're just friends."

"Isla are you just friends with hot Leo?"

Isla couldn't answer. She wasn't certain and was afraid she might be wrong.

Lilli said, "They're more. Nancy, you need to lust over your husband, not Isla's man."

Isla felt jealous and embarrassed at the same time. She laughed as Nancy made fun of herself. The woman was crazier than Marcia and Helen combined. Somehow she emptied another glass, before Leo appeared.

"Hi Nancy, can I have my date back?"

Nancy took Isla's hand. "She's darling. I want to keep her."

Isla blushed, but Leo sat down beside her and put his arm around her. Nancy didn't miss a beat as she launched into another story which ended with everyone laughing. Zach joined them by standing behind Lilli with his hands on her shoulders.

Eventually, Lilli cleared her throat. "I have to say hello to some others."

Leo leaned in and whispered, "Me too."

"Let her stay with me." Leo looked at Isla who nodded. Nancy said, "Is this your first Dwyer Mitchell party?"

Isla nodded. "It's my first party like this."

Nancy snatched two more glasses and handed her one. Isla tried to shake her off. "Come on, it's a party. So a nanny, how old are the children."

Isla smiled. "Six and eleven."

As Leo walked by, Nancy said, "Hey, Leo! How old are your kids?"

"Eleven and six."

"Coincidence?" Nancy wagged her finger. "I think not." She whispered. "A love story, the nanny and the cute dad."

Isla felt her cheeks they were burning. "I need to find Leo."

She hurried away feeling lightheaded. Leo's smile turn to a frown when she reached his side. "Are you okay?"

"It's warm."

"Come with me."

With his arm secured around her, he led her outside to a patio bar with a large gas fueled fire. The air felt frosty and warm. A beautiful ice sculpture of a Christmas tree stood by the outside bar.

Leo turned to her. "Was Nancy too much?"

"She. She teased me about being your nanny."

He frowned and looked serious. "You look beautiful."

"You do too." She covered her face embarrassed.

His soft laughter made her look. "Thank you." He reached up and caressed her face. Without warning, he pressed his lips onto hers. She already felt warm inside as she leaned against him. "Now you're my date, I don't want to go backwards."

"Backwards?" Confusion swirled inside.

"Back to just friends."

Isla giggled, even though it wasn't funny.

"How many glasses have you had?"

"Three." She thought. "No." She held up four fingers.

Leo laughed and pulled her into his arms.

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