Liza sighed, watching the fire rage in Devon’s bedroom as they had tea. “Don’t you decorate for Christmas?”
“You mean the holidays,” Erika corrected her.
“We don’t decorate,” Devon said flatly.
“What?! Everyone decorates for Christmas,” Liza complained.
“We never decorate for anything . . . Holidays or Christmas.”
Liza snorted, obviously perturbed.

“Well, I think we need to do something about that,” Erika replied, winking at Devon and twisting a lock of her hair. “I think a bit of mistletoe and a nice pine tree would lighten the mood around here.”

“Who needs a lightened mood?” Devon said, dropping his gaze on Erika. “I think the mood around here is just fine. Dark and quiet. I like that.”

“More like pitch black and brooding,” Liza murmured under her breath, casting a glare Devon’s way.

“Well, when was the last time your house was decorated?” Erika continued. “Some candles would be nice, and maybe a wreath on the front door. . . .” She paused in thought while Devon roared with laughter.

“A wreath on the door? Egad, woman, are you trying to ruin my reputation?!”

“Nooo,” Erika drawled, “but I think you’re trying to ruin mine.”

Devon smiled and winked. “You’re too agreeable to disagree with, Erika. If you want decorations, go for it. However, I will point out that I won’t tolerate too much gaiety and green and gold junk around my house."

"Yes! Fantastic!" She jumped up from the floor. "I'll have to go shopping right away. There are only two weeks until Christmas!"

"You mean 'the holidays,'" Liza corrected, rolling her eyes.

Erika ignored her comment and walked quickly toward Devon's bedroom door. "It's long past time for this place to have a holiday overhaul! And maybe--just maybe--Devon Bennett, you'll decide that dull and drab isn't what you like after all!"

He looked at Liza and rolled his eyes as Liza chuckled. In Erika's excitement, the door slammed behind her.

"Well, you've gotta give her credit; when she does something, she never does it halfway!"

"That's true," Devon groaned, making his way over to the fireplace. "I'm not so sure that all this gaiety will tickle my fancy though."

Liza shook her head, holding back a burst of laughter. "I don't guess it would, Devon, but I think a bit out of the ordinary is good for everyone."

He raised his eyebrows, watching as she made her way closer to him. "Ordinary? There's nothing ordinary about green holiday junk all over town."

"You know what I mean. Maybe she's right. Maybe you'll find out it's not so bad after all," she smiled.

"Or maybe I'll decide it's every bit as ridiculous as I always thought it all was," he winked. 

Devon's cell phone rang and he grabbed it and answered, walking to the other side of the room. "Bennett here." There was a short pause and Devon turned around to see if Liza was watching; she was. "I'm not sure what I can do for you, Willard. I've given you the best lawyer on this planet, and if he can't help you, then-" There was another brief pause. "Ok, I'll be there as soon as I can get out of the house." Then he ended the call and walked toward Liza, who was watching.

"Looks like you've got business to take care of," she observed.

Devon nodded, sighing. "Willard's going to court today. He thinks I can somehow help him. But, Liza, his case is cut and dry. The evidence is stacked against him, and I can't work miracles."

"I think you should've cut ties with him long ago. I have a feeling he's going to try to lay blame on you," Liza said cautiously.

Devon folded his arms behind his head and stretched. "He'll try, no doubt about it. But there's hardly anything he can peg on me because I'm innocent," Devon smiled.

Liza grinned easily, but doubt remained. He was, of course, Devon Bennett, ring leader of the most evil presence in the country.

"Anyway, Liza, I've got to leave and I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. It may be a day or it might be a week. So I've got to rely on you to hold the fort down and make sure my finances don't plummet."

Liza nodded, her business face tacked on. "You can trust me."

Devon's smile disappeared. "I can, right?"

Liza's heart began to pick up pace. Had he picked up on her distrust? "Of course."

Devon's eyes pierced hers as if he was trying to find something there. "Why do I sense things have changed? In the last month, you've separated yourself from me more. What's going on, Liza? Have you changed your mind about working for me?"

"Not at all. I guess I've just been wanting to focus on business. My feelings don't matter."

Devon's brows met in confusion. "What? What on earth are you talking about?"

"Nothing, Devon." She glanced at her watch. "I'll get back to work," she said, pasting on her smile again. "Have a safe trip."

Devon watched her leave his bedroom. That woman never ceases to confuse me. I must find out what's going on with her. Devon walked up the stairs and knocked on Tessa and Erika's bedroom door. Tessa opened her bedroom door and stepped out into the hallway. At the sight of his conflicted expression, Tessa knew his mind was burning about something.