Christmas Homecoming. Lenora Worth

was just leaving anyway. And I’m not sure where Dawn is right now.”

      “Here I am,” came the breathless reply.

      Gabi breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Dawn rushing toward them. “Hi.”

      “Hi,” Dawn said through a long sigh. “Sorry. Last-minute orders from the Typhoon.”

      They both giggled, then Gabi shot a look toward Jeremy.

      Dawn shrugged. “Jeremy knows how Tim can be, right, Jeremy?”

      Gabi saw a slight smile fighting to break through on Jeremy’s handsome face. “Is my hyper brother causing woe around here?”

      “Always,” Dawn replied, taking Gabi by the arm. “Let’s get out of here before he barks something else at me.”

      When she grabbed Jeremy with her other arm, both he and Gabi stopped to stare at each other.

      “What?” Dawn asked, all coy and innocent. “Jeremy, don’t you need to eat? We’re going over to Betty’s Bake Shoppe. Might as well come with us, since my date is too busy to eat.” She lifted her head toward Tim’s office. “I’ll have to bring him takeout again.” Then she turned to Gabi. “You don’t mind, do you, Gabi?”

      What could Gabi say to her friend? Yes, she did mind? Yes, she’d love to have lunch with Jeremy Hamilton? No, she couldn’t possibly have lunch with this man? Well, she couldn’t be rude, could she?

      Both Jeremy and Dawn were waiting for her answer. One with a knowing smile, and the other one—well, his perfectly blank expression gave nothing away. But his eyes held a hint of hope. And challenge.

      Remembering Dawn’s suggestion that Jeremy could use a friend, Gabi shot him a wan smile, while she poked Dawn in the ribs. “Of course not. It’s just lunch. And we’re wasting precious minutes, standing here.”

      Dawn pushed the elevator button. “Good. I’m starving.”

      Gabi got in behind Dawn, hoping she’d be able to eat. It might be hard, with a Hamilton man sitting across the table. Jeremy stood there, staring at them.

      “Jeremy, are you coming with us?” Dawn asked, grinning.

      Jeremy looked directly at Gabi. “I don’t want to intrude.”

      Dawn, for once, stayed quiet. But she quirked a brow toward Gabi.

      “You’re not intruding,” Gabi finally said, sure she’d regret this later. “Please, join us.”

      He stepped into the elevator and silently pushed the button to the lobby, his gaze moving over Dawn’s smiling face before his eyes settled on Gabi. Then he gave her that hesitant little half smile she was beginning to recognize. “Lunch with two lovely women. I think my day just got a whole lot better.”