Page 49 of Christmas With the Jerk

Woodley steps closer, giving me a once-over. “Well, at least we’re finally here. We made it.”

I grin, reaching out to brush a small smudge off her cheek. “Yeah. We’re going to kill it.”

She smiles up at me, and without thinking, I smooth my thumb across her skin, making sure she’s absolutely flawless. “There,” I say softly. “Perfect.”

Woodley chuckles, reaching for my tie. “You know, for someone who’s so rich and confident, I wouldn’t have expected you to have this crooked tie the whole time.”

She adjusts it, her fingers brushing lightly against my chest as she fixes the knot, and for a second, everything feels still. There’s something about this moment—the two of us standing here, side by side, looking our best after everything we’ve been through—that makes me realize just how far we’ve come.

“Ready?” she asks, stepping back and giving me an appraising look.

I nod. “Ready.”

We lock eyes for a beat, both of us knowing how much this pitch means. It’s not just about the account anymore—it’s about everything we’ve overcome to get here.

“Let’s kick ass,” I say, grinning.

She nods, determination flashing in her eyes. “Let’s do it.”

And then, without thinking, I step forward and kiss her. It’s not rushed or frantic like it’s been before. It’s calm, sure, like we’ve both found our balance. When I pull back, she’s smiling softly at me, and for once, I feel steady.

We grab our briefcases, and as we walk out the hotel room door toward the elevator, there’s a sense of finality in the air. This is what we came here for, and after everything we’ve been through, we’re more than ready.

ValorTech Offices

500 Boylston Street, Boston

5:36 pm

Woodleyand I stand to leave. I reach out my hand to shake hands with Thom Vicary, who stands to meet me with an approving grin. The room is still filled with the energy from our presentation, and I can feel the adrenaline buzzing in my veins. We did it.

And I’m pretty sure we nailed it.

“Well,” Thom says, his eyes twinkling as he looks between us, “I’ll need to discuss things with the rest of the team, but I have to say, your dedication to getting here, and the pitch itself, tells me everything I need to know. You both showed up despite all the obstacles. That speaks volumes.”

Woodley smiles, the glow of excitement lighting up her face. “We appreciate that, Thom. We’re just glad we were able to make it happen.”

Thom stands and extends his hand toward Woodley and says, “You two knocked it out of the park.”

“Thank you. We’re looking forward to working with you,” she says as she shakes his hand firmly and makes that strong eye contact she does so naturally. I love her closing, alluding to the fact that we will work together, no waiting on the word from him.

Woodley and I gather our materials, offering final thanks before heading out of the office. As the door closes behind us, we exchange a glance, one full of shared excitement and a sense of accomplishment. We walk down the hall toward the elevators, both trying to keep our cool, but the second the doors close behind us, we can’t contain our excitement.

I can’t resist anymore. I turn to Woodley, cup her face, and pull her in for a deep, passionate kiss. I’ve been wanting to do that ever since we walked into the conference room, watching her command the room. “We nailed it,” I say with a grin, letting her go. I hold up my fist for a bump.

She grins back, bumping her fist against mine. “We fucking killed it, Thorne. You’re sexy as hell when you’re in your element.”

The rush of everything hits at once—the pitch, the tension of the last few days, and now, this overwhelming sense of success. I lean back against the elevator wall, feeling lighter than I’ve felt in days. “There’s no way we don’t get this account.”

The Grand MeridianHotel

6:12 pm

The high fromthe meeting hasn’t worn off. Woodley and I are sitting in the hotel lobby, the warmth of the fire flickering nearby, surrounded by Christmas lights and holiday decorations. It feels like the perfect moment, celebrating a win that just a few days ago seemed impossible.

I lean back in my chair, feeling more relaxed than I’ve been in a long time. Everything is falling into place—professionally, personally. I take a sip of my drink.

The vibration of my phone in my pocket pulls me out of my reverie. I pull it out, glancing at the notification on the screen. It’s my flight confirmation. It’s finally rescheduled after all the changes and road blocks. I’m leaving tomorrow at 11 AM and heading back to D.C.

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