Chapter 315

“Come out?”
Caitlin paused for a moment, then asked, “You mean, outside my house?”
“That’s right,” Gordon replied.
She wasn’t quite sure what he was up to, but she shrugged on her puffer jacket, slipped on her boots, and headed for the door.
The city had been blanketed in snow for days.
Tonight, though the snowfall had stopped, the yard was still covered in a thick, pristine layer. Each step crunched rhythmically beneath her feet.
She stepped outside.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Just as she pulled out her phone to text Gordon, a shadow suddenly loomed over her, enveloping her completely.
Caitlin looked up and found herself face-to-face with Gordon, his features sharp in the moonlight.
For a second, she was stunned.
“Happy New Year, Miss Kensington,” Gordon said with a small smile.
It wasn’t until he spoke that Caitlin realized she wasn’t dreaming.
This was real.
She stared at him in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
Gordon’s lips curved into a faint grin. “The Sylvester Group headquarters are right here in the city. I had some business to handle, so I thought I’d stop by and wish you an early Happy New Year.”
“Oh, I see. Well, Happy New Year to you too, Mr. Sylvester.”
“Oh, and Catie-” Gordon reached into his bag and pulled out a clear glass jar. “I brought you something.”
Inside the jar, swaddled in cotton and sealed with a wooden cork, was something white.
“What’s this?” Caitlin asked curiously as she took the jar. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ.net
“The season’s first snow in Silverhaven,” Gordon replied. “You told me how you wished you could see Silverhaven’s first snow for yourself. So, I brought it to you.” She realized the jar was cold to the touch. “Thank you! That’s… honestly, that’s so thoughtful.”
She never expected he’d remember something she’d mentioned only in passing.
If Gordon wasn’t so famously uninterested in relationships, Caitlin might have wondered if he was actually trying to woo her.
But no-this was just pure friendship.
“Wait, there’s more.” Gordon took out a small gift box from his bag. “A present.”
“Thank you, Boss Sylvester!” Caitlin took it with both hands and gave him a playful bow. “May the new year bring you lots of wealth, Boss!”
“You don’t have to thank me,” Gordon said quietly. “You saved my life. Without you, I wouldn’t be standing here. Anyway, I’m free this evening-want to go see some fireworks? I looked it up-there’s a place about thirty miles from here where they’re putting on a show.”
“I didn’t buy any fireworks,” Caitlin admitted.
Fireworks weren’t allowed in the city, so she hadn’t bothered.
“No worries. I bought plenty.”
“All right,” she nodded, “let’s go.”
Gordon opened the passenger door for her. “Hop in.”
Caitlin slid into the warm passenger seat.
It was New Year’s Eve.
The roads were busy, full of laughter and excitement.
In high spirits, Caitlin connected her phone to the car’s Bluetooth and queued up her favorite musical soundtrack.
As Gordon drove, he said, “Catie, there are drinks in the glove compartment if you want one.”
“I’m good, thanks. Not thirsty.”
About an hour and a half later, they arrived at the fireworks site.
Though they were out in the suburbs, the place was packed. Everyone was here
to celebrate, and the air buzzed with anticipation.
Gordon had filled the trunk with fireworks.
Big ones. Sparklers. Roman candles.
He hefted out a large firework first. “Catie, let’s start with this one.”
“Sure,” Caitlin grinned. “Did you remember the lighter?”
“I did.”
“Great. Let me do the honors.”
“It’s in my coat pocket,” Gordon said, holding the firework. “Help yourself.” Caitlin didn’t think twice-she reached right into his coat pocket for the lighter.
The moment her hand brushed inside, Gordon could swear he heard his own heartbeat, loud and unsteady.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
He glanced down, catching the delicate lines of Caitlin’s profile.
She looked radiant, almost ethereal.
His heart pounded even harder. It was almost hard to breathe.
It wasn’t until Caitlin suddenly shoved her phone into his hand that he snapped
out of it. “Film this for me? I want to send it to March.”
“Sure,” Gordon managed, still a bit flustered, avoiding her gaze.
Caitlin flicked the lighter. “Ready to film? I’m lighting it now!”
Her phone was already unlocked in his hand, camera at the ready. “Ready when you are.”
She sparked the fuse.
A hiss-the fuse caught.
Caitlin took off running.
Just as she turned back, a dazzling firework exploded behind her, lighting up the
night.