Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry, too,” Tucker says. “I should’ve talked to you about dating her first, and proposing on the following Christmas was a low blow.”
The apologies hang in the air, accepted and appreciated, but I can only stare at Lauren.
I’m not the slightest bit sorry about threatening to give her a black eye for harassing me earlier, and she doesn’t look remorseful about anything she said to me, either.
A slow smile crosses her face, and a laugh escapes my lips.
Good enough.
“The slopes are prettier at night,” I say. “You two should spend the afternoon on the train tour instead.”
“All the night tickets are reserved,” Lauren says.
“My cousin is the manager,” I say. “I’m sure she can work something out, and we’ll join you.”
“Sounds good.”
“We’ll meet you later.” James hugs his brother before leading me down the hall.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Taryn?” he asks,
“Like what?”
“Like you’re in a daze.”
“I thought you’d left without saying goodbye,” I say.
“Why would you ever think that?”
“You took all your stuff out of my suite.”
“No, Georgia bribed me with free dry cleaning and luggage steaming when she saw what I’d gotten you for Christmas. She demanded to test it out for herself or threaten to ruin the surprise.”
“That doesn’t sound like—” I pause; it sounds precisely like Georgia.
“What about the note on the fridge?” I say.
“You said you wanted me to start acknowledging the holidays more, regardless of whether I liked them or not.” He smiles. “That’s me trying.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh.” He laughs.
“About all the stuff you said a few minutes ago, can we go somewhere private and discuss that over lunch?”
“Sure.” He pulls me against his chest and presses his lips against mine. “After we go back up to our suite for a while…”
TWENTY-ONE
TARYN
A few nights later
My family is beyond smitten with James, so much so that tonight is the first night we’re returning to the room before midnight. They’ve been keeping us awake until the wee morning hours with our endless traditions and estate tours, but he hasn’t complained at all.
“Can I ask you something, James?” I follow him onto the balcony.
“Anything.”
“Were you planning on giving me a promotion for Christmas?”
“After you blatantly disregarded my demand about coming to work?” He shakes his head. “Hell no, and we’ll talk about your future at Magnolia Marketing later.”
“Sounds like you’re threatening to fire me.”
“Quite the contrary, Miss Stone.” He kisses my forehead. Then he pulls a shiny sage box from his pocket. “Merry Christmas.”
“I can't accept it yet.” I shake my head. “I didn't get you anything.”
“You gave me a reason to never fall asleep when you’re driving.”
“I’m not that bad.” I push his shoulder. “Can you give me a week to find something for you and then we’ll exchange?”
“No. Open it now.”
Pulling the black string, I lift the top.
“Keys?”
“To your much needed new car.” He smiles and presses the button.
A beautiful dark grey Mercedes chirps from right below our balcony.
Too stunned to say a word, I stand on my toes to kiss him, and he wraps his arms around my waist.
“You have an appointment with a specialist in the morning,” he says. “He’s going to personally show you all the features.”
“Does it come with camping gear?”
“No, but I tucked a bottle of bear spray in the glove compartment just for you.”
I laugh. "What about the back seat? Does it fold over in case I’ll ever need to stay in it overnight?”
“I believe so.” He traces a finger against my lips. “We should test it out to see if it works.”
“For sleeping?”
“Sure.” He grips my waist. “After we test it out with sex…”
EPILOGUE I
THE FOLLOWING CHRISTMAS
Dear Fellow Overstressed Coworkers,
Tis the season for a much-needed break!
It seems like yesterday when our “beloved” CEO decided to make his girlfriend his creative co-partner in crime, and we’ve somehow managed to survive.
Barely.
Between the two of them finishing each other’s sentences, not-so-subtly slipping out of private meetings minutes apart, and kissing each other during late-night work sessions, I can’t be the only one who truly misses when they hated each other…
Does anyone want to take a bet on how long it’ll take them to get married?
Sandra Ericson
Your favorite secretary,
Magnolia Marketing
EPILOGUE II
THE FOLLOWING CHRISTMAS
TARYN
Four Days before Christmas
“Today’s high is a very generous fifteen degrees, with a low of seven degrees…” The weatherman drones via the radio as James places our bags into the trunk.
There’s no snowstorm this year, and the skies are clear for anyone who needs to take a flight home. For James and I, though, we’ve decided to make our road trip an official tradition.
With a few necessary changes.
We’re taking an electric car this time, and we’ve stocked the car with enough snacks and coffee so we won’t have to stop anywhere for the first few hours. We have updated camping gear—well, “glamping” gear, and the Nutcracker Suite is waiting for us at The Grace Estate.