Kiss Me At Christmas. Susan Mallery

meal. People will have been eating turkey and prime rib already. It’s all heavy food. Her idea was to go for something lighter. Maybe even tropical. In contrast with the weather. Grilled fish and lots of finger foods.”

      Something he’d never considered. He knew that Oliver’s family did a traditional turkey dinner on Christmas Eve and then had prime rib on Christmas Day. Exactly what the chef had said.

      “They both like Mexican food,” he said slowly as he scanned the suggestions. “What about combining that with tropical?” He pointed to the Coconut Popcorn Shrimp with Mango Lime Salsa. “Like this. They’d enjoy that a lot. Ginger wants casual and easy. Food like that would mean giving her what she’s looking for.”

      “You’re a good brother,” Madeline said unexpectedly.

      “I want Ginger to be happy.”

      “But you know stuff about her. That’s nice. I have an older brother. While I adore him and I know he’d be here in a heartbeat if I needed him, he has no idea if I like Mexican food or not.”

      “You’re forgetting I took care of Ginger for a few years. I cooked and everything. I know exactly what she’ll eat.”

      She studied him. “I’m trying to picture you in an apron.”

      He chuckled. “Never wore one of those.”

      “I’ll talk to Ana Raquel and have her put together a menu combining tropical and Mexican foods. She makes a Black Bean Soup with Lime Cream that is to die for.”

      “Then we need that for sure.”

      Madeline made some notes. “It’s Thanksgiving tomorrow, so let’s say by Tuesday of next week? Are you going to be around?”

      He nodded. “I’m driving to San Francisco this afternoon to have dinner with Ginger, then I’m heading back.”

      “Which means the timing is perfect.” She pulled out another folder, then handed him several wedding invitations. “These are all the samples I could pull together on such short notice. If you don’t like any of them, I’ll get some more.”

      He laid out the invitations. They were all on thick card stock. Several had a picture of the couple and he immediately dismissed those. While they were nice enough, there wasn’t time to get a photo taken.

      “Which do you like?” he asked.

      * * *

      MADELINE KNEW THAT she was helping with his sister’s wedding, but it was still strange to be asked her opinion on something like wedding invitations. Now if it had been a veil, she would have been more comfortable with her choice. Still, she stood and leaned over the desk. She’d looked at the samples as they’d come in and already had a few favorites.

      “These are nice,” she said, pointing. “This one is a layered package, with different cards tucked into one envelope. You can do the invitation on one card, provide information on where to stay on another, have a map to your place.”

      She tapped another one. “I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for laser cutting. I think the lace effect on the paper is spectacular, but hey, I sell wedding gowns for a living. If I didn’t revel in lace, I’d be in the wrong profession.”

      He laughed. “Good point.”

      He considered her choices, then pulled out one that had a vintage feel and was cut to look like an unrolled scroll. “I like this one. I’ll take her all three and she can pick one tonight. I’ll get them ordered first thing.”

      “Would you send me the confirmation when you do?” she asked, sitting back down and making a note on a pad of paper. “That way I can move it from the to-do list to the pending list.”

      “There’s a pending list?”

      “Yes, and a completed list, although, so far, that’s blank.”

      “Once the menus are finalized, you can move that over.”

      She sighed. “You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to that happening.” She wrote a couple more notes, then closed her folder. “That’s all I have. If you’re going to be busy with Ginger, I can order the invitations, once she chooses the one she wants.”

      He was a famous guy. He had to have places to go and people to see.

      “I’ll do it.” He leaned back in his chair. “Won’t you have family over the holidays?”

      Madeline smiled. “I will. My parents have already flown in. As we speak, my mother is baking in my kitchen.”

      “Is that good or bad?”

      “It’s wonderful. She’ll make cookies and brownies and cakes. I’ll gain five pounds and every one is worth it.”

      “Nice,” he said. “How many in the family?”

      “I have one brother and a niece. Robbie lost his wife to cancer several years ago.” The whole family had been devastated, Madeline thought, remembering the sadness of it all. “We’ve always been close, which I’m hoping helped them.” She shook off the memories.

      “My parents are older. My mom had Robbie ten months after she got married, but she couldn’t get pregnant a second time. They’d pretty much given up when I came along.” She thought about all the stories she’d been told. “Robbie was seventeen when Mom announced she was pregnant and eighteen when I was born. He admits he was pretty horrified to realize his parents were still having sex.”

      “So you were a surprise.”

      “Yes, but they swear I was a good one.”

      “You had to be.”

      She laughed. “I’m sure I was a challenge, but my parents were always there for me. We have great traditions and I’m really close with my niece. Jasmine is only eight years younger than me. We text all the time. She’s going to die when she finds out you’re in town.”

      “You haven’t told her?” He held up a hand. “Don’t answer that. Madeline, I appreciate you’re respecting my privacy, but you can tell your family. Only if you want. I don’t expect to be a topic of conversation.”

      She laughed. “That would be kind of weird. Although we’re always looking for new traditions. You could be one.”

      “Thanks, but no.”

      She wondered what he did for his traditions. She would guess there had been years when he’d been away on movie shoots, or whatever they called it, over the holidays. Times when he couldn’t get home.

      He’d mentioned that he was seeing Ginger that night, but what about tomorrow? Would he be alone for Thanksgiving? And if he was…

      She dismissed the thought before it could fully form. On what planet would she be inviting Jonny Blaze to her house for anything? She couldn’t begin to imagine him sitting next to her mother or father. They would have nothing to talk about. It was too strange and he might think she was interested in him. So no. He was a rich, famous guy. He had a thousand places he could go. She was crazy to think about him being lonely on Thanksgiving.

      He glanced at his watch. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going to get on the road.”

      “Drive safely,” she told him.

      “I will.” He collected the three sample invitations, then stood. “We’ll talk after the holiday?”

      “Absolutely. Happy Thanksgiving.”

      “Same to you.”

       THREE

      MADELINE WAITED UNTIL Jonny left to go find Isabel. Her business partner was sorting through inventory. They’d been discussing putting a few items online to see if they could start selling across the