Newly engaged, Chantal and Monty have been hired as caterers for Layton Industries’ annual Christmas party held at the Layton’s penthouse apartment. Unfortunately, with their plane grounded by a snowstorm, Steve and Alexa Layton aren’t going to make it home for the party.
Both couples struggle with the current phase of their relationships. Chantal and Monty strive to find a balance between work and home, in a new business, and upcoming marriage. With big dreams and very little money, they’re living on love.
Having grown apart during their marriage, Steve and Alexa are finding it difficult to reconnect. Although financially secure, their pursuit of financial freedom, along with the accompanying responsibilities have caused their relationship and sex life to fizzle. Steve wants to start a family, but Alexa isn’t so sure they’re ready.
Chantal and Monty’s obvious love and post-dinner cleanup sex are captured on the Layton’s online security camera. Will watching them be the wake-up call Steve and Alexa need to repair their own marriage?
“I just want to check on the party,” he said.
She swooped in close to him, close to the computer screen. “You can do that?”
Her hot breath beat against his neck, and the short hairs stood on end in response. The scent of her expensive perfume snaked a path to his brain.
“Yeah. It’s that new security system we installed after the neighbor’s break-in last month.”
Alexa groaned. She made no secret of her disdain for the alarm she routinely set off by accident.
Despite a doorman, an on-duty security guard 24/7, and cameras on every floor, a neighbor had been robbed, and with Steve gone so much, that scared him. He pressed a key and the screen filled with an image of the penthouse elevator.
Pointing, he said, “There’s Mallory Dunlop from accounting. I think that’s her boyfriend.” He waved hello at the screen like a jackass.
Laughing, she swatted his arm. Her laugh lightened the weight he always carried. The burden to stay on top, to make another buck. All he really wanted was to make her happy.
He pushed a button. An image of their living room, the gas fireplace ablaze for holiday ambiance, replaced the elevator scene. The giant Noble fir by the picture window, decorated with gold balls and matching bows, lit with white lights. Very elegant. So classy and stylish. Terribly boring. Nothing like his childhood holidays with handmade ornaments and blinking multi-colored lights. Tasteless, Alexa had said. He surrendered to her on all things decoration-related. Furniture, art, window treatments. Hell, she even picked out his clothes so he wouldn’t come off looking on the outside like the nerd he was on the inside.
All fell into her field of expertise. She’d created visual magic even when they’d been penniless newlyweds. Back when she still smiled at him, laughed with him, and talked to him.
People mulled around their apartment, chatting, mingling, and nibbling on catered food in their absence.
“The food looks magnificent,” she said.
Better than what they’d likely get in the hotel restaurant. “A good time will no doubt be had by all. With or without us.”
“I feel like a voyeur.” Her voice jingled with giddiness.
He shrugged and clicked to their master bedroom. “Our place. Our party.”
Dan Schnelling from sales had his tongue down the throat of an administrative assistant as they rolled across the king-size bed. One of Dan’s hands snaked up the gal’s blouse, the other up her skirt. Knowing Dan, if he had a third hand, it would be in his own pants. The guy was a womanizer and hedonist. Deep inside, Steve sort of envied him his debauchery, while simultaneously condemning his actions and his constant bragging about his conquests. Steve never regretted committing to one woman. Alexa. If he had it all to do over, he’d marry her again, but doubted she’d sign on if given the choice.
“Ew!” Her face puckered up in disgust as the couple grappled and groped in their private space.
Whipping out his electro-gadget-thingamajig, as she called it, he scrolled to Dan’s number and cleared his throat. “Hey, Dan,” he said when Dan found his buzzing phone under the woman’s butt. “Get off my bed and out of my bedroom.” He hung up.
Alexa laughed as she watched Dan on the screen, flustered as all hell. “Too fun.”
Steve grinned, satisfied he could make her laugh again like he had in college and in the early days of their marriage before he’d switched to making money. “Still hungry, honey?”
“Yeah.” She planted her hands on his shoulders, which surprised him a little. “But I want to go to our virtual party instead. We could order room service.”
