Page 5 of Secret Santa

“You’re my new assistant?” he asked, his voice breathless. My mouth opened and closed, but I couldn’t get any sound out, not even a breath. He shook his head, then took a step closer.

“She was late,” the woman repeated.

“I heard you the first time, Monica,” he snapped. My spine stiffened at his tone, but I didn’t look at her. “Come with me, Dani.”

“You know her?” I felt her disapproving glare stab into the side of my head, but I couldn’t tear my gaze from his.

“Yes,” he ground out, then held his hand out for me. “Please, come with me.” She sputtered and shot to her feet, eyes darting frantically between us.

“But—but she was late!” She threw her arm at me, and Aiden’s shocked face shifted into something tense as he turned to look at her.

“I heard you the first time. Drop it,” he warned in a low voice. Goosebumps rippled over my skin. When he looked at me again, his face softened. “Please, Dani?”

I stared at his outstretched hand before slowly sliding my palm into his. He felt like I remembered–hard and hot and rough. My knees shook, practically knocked together, as I got to my feet, but he didn’t let go. His hand found its place on my lower back, and he silently ushered me toward the door behind Monica’s desk.

“But—”

“Enough, Monica.” My eyes widened. “I don’t care that she was late.” She inhaled sharply at his admonishment, but I didn’t dare look at her. I didn’t need to see her face to know she was fuming. He quickly unlocked the door and waved me inside.

It was a small room with a desk on one end and a large, floor-to-ceiling window on the other. “This is your office,” he said gruffly as he moved to a door beside my desk. “You can decorate however you’d like. My office is through here.”

I couldn’t find my voice.

His hands shook as he slid a key into the lock. He pushed the door open wide, flipped the light on, and held his arm out, letting me enter first. Our eyes met again, and I was lost, the memories of that night flashing through my mind, him pressed hard against me.

I shook head slightly and forced myself to move past him.

My shoulder brushed against his chest, and he took a sharp breath. I ignored the spark that shot through my body, coiling hot and tight in my core, and hurried to the other side of the office.

It wasn’t what I’d thought it would be. I didn’t know exactly what I’d been expecting, but cozy wasn’t quite it. Everything was dark-colored wood and deep leather. I stood awkwardly against the wall as he pulled a curtain back, bathing the room in the winter-morning light.

“You were late?” he asked as he brushed past me, his eyes on the floor. His cologne swirled around me, thicker than it had been at the wedding. Warm and musky, not sweet. Just intense, like him.

“My car had a flat,” I said, my voice shaky. “I had to change the tire.” He lifted his eyes to me, his gaze hard and scorching.

“You changed a flat tire before work,” he repeated, not a question, just a shocked statement. I shifted uncomfortably.

“Yes.” I looked around the office again, trying not to spiral. He took a deep breath but didn’t say anything. Then, he cleared his throat, and I finally looked at him.

“I didn’t realize your name was Danica,” he said. “I don’t really pay attention to the new hires; I leave that to Morgan. I didn’t think Dani was short for Danica.” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking awkward. “Anyway, I didn’t think you were interested—”

“I didn’t know this was your company,” I blurted out. “I didn’t apply because of you. It was just a good job with good pay.”

His mouth tightened. “Right.”

“I mean, I was interested, but I never heard from you—”

“Because you ran off,” he bit out, a little too sharply. I chewed on the inside of my cheek, wincing when I ripped the skin open.

“My mom can be a difficult woman,” I mumbled. He stared at me, waiting for more of an explanation, but that’s all I could give him. “Did you find another dance partner?” I laughed awkwardly as I wrung my hands together.

“No,” he gritted out. “The one I wanted left without giving me an actual way to contact her.” My smile fell, and I looked down at my feet. “I’m sorry,” I said, and again, he stayed silent. I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “If you don’t want me working for you, I understand. Sorry to waste your time.” I walked toward the door. When I got to it and wrapped my hand around the doorknob, his hand landed heavily on the wood.

“Where are you going?” he breathed, his chest brushing against my back. I stared at the dark wood door, my breath lost in my lungs. “I don’t want you working for anyone else. I want you here, with me. Don’t run away again. Please.” My hand tightened around the doorknob until my knuckles were white.

“Okay,” I whispered. He let out a breathy laugh, his warm, minty breath kissing my neck.

“Okay? That’s it?” I let go of the doorknob and turned to face him. My back pressed against the door as I tipped my head back. His hand stayed pressed against it, his other joining it on the other side of my head, caging me in. “You’ll stay?”

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