Page 26 of Her Holiday Heartthrobs

Is she not as fascinated with Jake as she seems to be with Henry? Or Eli for that matter?

“He’s not what I’m worried about. I can handle him.”

Her brow quirks up.

“Let’s just say, I’m used to handling assholes.” And Jake very much wants to beg himself as one, even though I think it’s a facade. Or maybe, he’s just not one to me because I won’t take his shit.

“Go get ’em.” And she swings the door open with a whoosh and pushes me out into the hall.

After a few stumbling steps, I right myself and channel my inner goddess.

I’ve got this. The babysitter is staying late until Jackie gets home. He’s promised to put Paxton to bed with an extra bedtime story, and I’ve promised to fill him in on every detail when I get home.

Stomping my way back to the office where all three men wait, I blaze with heat the moment they spot me. It’s like they all look over at the same time, and the primal thrum in the air fuels my confidence.

I stop in front of them, and no one speaks.

Raising a brow, I ask, “Ready to go? Or was all of this a waste?”

Jake starts, stepping forward to take a jacket from Sabrina and offering to help me into it. I turn and let him, refusing to shiver under the light brushes of his skin against mine. Then, he offers me his elbow, and I can’t help the loud laugh that escapes me.

“It’s nice to see chivalry isn’t dead. Let’s go woo the purse holders into offering up what’s in their coffers.” I take his arm and wave at Henry and Eli on the way out to the elevator.

Once we’re closed inside though, a new tension builds, like water slowly filling up the car with the threat to drown us both. I give his arm a squeeze with both hands.

“It’ll be fine.”

He nods, jaw set, eyes forward, but he’s looking at me in the reflection of the door.

“Come on. It can’t be that bad.”

A grunt. Great. Is that all the contribution I’ll get from him tonight?

Before we reach the ground level, I pull my hand from his arm and face him. “You haven’t even mentioned how lovely thisdress looks on me. If I’m going to be arm candy, the least you could do is give me a boost of confidence.”

“I didn’t think you needed anything to be confident.”

“I don’t, but it would still be nice of you to offer it.”

Finally, he looks at me, and I’m not really prepared for the full brunt of his attention this way. “I’m not nice.”

“No. You’re really not.” I turn back toward the door, arms folded under my chest.

The elevator dings, and the doors open. He moves forward to block the way before I can step out. “You look lovely tonight.”

We linger in the open elevator doorway as we stare at each other. Instinct is screaming for me to take the extra step that would close the distance between us, but my rational brain keeps me from it.

“Thank you, Mr. Young. That’s very kind of you.” I bat my lashes at him and do a little mock curtsy.

He rolls his eyes and gets us moving, taking my elbow to steady me as we walk to his waiting car.

The driver opens the door for us, and Jake helps me into the back. Less oppressive than it was the last time I sat in these seats. Or mostly in them. I was half on Henry and Jake’s lap for most of the ride home, but really, I can’t be thinking about that right now.

Once the car pulls into traffic, I turn in my seat to look at Jake again. He’s dressed up in a finer suit than before. Hair brushed and styled. Watch glinting on his wrist. Shiny shoes. None of it undoes the absolute misery in his grumpy features.

“So, tell me more about my role here. Do I just hang on your arm? Should I keep my mouth shut? Is this a sit down dinner or a place where we walk around eating tiny portions of food until we’re so full of champagne that they’re really hoping we all get drunk and forget about business?”

Jake snorts. “The second. And you can speak, Paige. I would never tell you otherwise.”

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