Page 59 of Stranded for Christmas with my Boss

She’s right. We better make it count! Even if it has already been more than eventful.

I walk over to Alyssa and sit down next to her, my fingers twining with hers. “Having a good Christmas so far?”

Alyssa laughs and shakes her head at me. “A good Christmas is a huge understatement. This is thebestChristmas ever.”

I share a warm smile with her as she leans her arm against mine, our bodies automatically gravitating closer. This is all I want. Us together with the people we care about the most on the best holiday of the year.

I kiss the back of her hand, feeling relieved that I don’t have to hide my affection toward her any longer. No more kissing behind closed doors. No more whispering sweet words so that no one else can hear.

No more pretending that we don’t mean anything to each other.

As “The Christmas Song” starts playing over Holly’s Bluetooth speaker, I get to my feet and hold my hand out to Alyssa. “Dance with me.”

Alyssa’s eyes widen for a second in surprise, but she isn’t one to back down from a challenge. She grabs my hand, letting me pull her to her feet.

I give her a playful spin as I coax her closer to the Christmas tree and my living room windows that peer out at the snow-covered city. My other hand finds the small of her back, holding her body against mine as we start to sway to the music.

Alyssa tilts her head back to gaze up at me, the golden glow of the Christmas tree lights gleaming in her beautiful eyes. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Thankyou,” I insist as we slowly turn on the spot, moving in sync as the world around us fades, leaving behind the gentle lull of the music and the heavy thumping of my heart. “You’ve made me happier this month than I’ve felt in years. Maybe ever.”

A look of awe fills her face. “I…I think next year is going to be even better.”

A soft laugh drifts from me as I nod, my hand following the gentle sway of her hips. “I just want you by my side. That’s all I want.”

Alyssa moves her hands to wrap her arms around my neck, the front of her body pressing against mine. “I’m not going anywhere.”

That’s the promise that I want to hear the most. She has changed so much for me, exposing a side of me that I didn’t even know existed because it was buried so deeply under years of disappointment and anger toward my parents and what they did to Holly and me.

I thought I was going to spend this Christmas just as bitter, lonely, and lost as ever, but she’s the brightest light in my life, the biggest hope in my heart, and the greatest love I’ve ever known.

There is no bigger Christmas miracle than her coming into my life. I hold her a little tighter, savoring the feeling of her body against mine, the warmth of her touch, the way she fits so perfectly in my arms. This is where I belong—right here, with her. I’ve spent so long searching for something to fill the void inside me, to make sense of the chaos that’s been my life, and now, I’ve found it.

Alyssa is my anchor, my light, my everything. And I’m never letting her go.

Chapter twenty-seven

Alyssa

The air in the conference room thickens as the minutes tick on, getting closer and closer to ten o’clock when Jensen and I have our meeting with Mila.

Having our small Christmas break was exactly what we needed to refresh and hit the ground running for these last few days before the update goes live. A few loose ends need to be tied up on the marketing side of things, but overall, the update is ready to go.

Everyone will get to witness and enjoy Soul Flames’ newest, greatest version ever, and our reach will go further than ever before, thanks to the exposure our contracted influencers will give us. If we can add Mila to the mix, we’ll go even further.

“She should be coming any minute now,” Jensen murmurs as he sits next to me at the conference table.

I nod, but my heart is pounding, and I’m not sure if it’s from excitement or nerves—or maybe both. This is the kind of meeting that can change everything. A deal with Mila could elevate our app’s profile to a whole new level, and with it, solidify my position in the marketing department.

And that’s where the conflict creeps in. I love this company, this job, but I’ve always been Jensen’s assistant first. Will the others see me as just that—the assistant who got promoted because she’s sleeping with the boss? I push the thought away, forcing myself to focus. I’ve earned this. I know I have.

I take a deep breath, glancing at Jensen. He gives me a reassuring smile, and I feel a little steadier. With him beside me, maybe I really can do anything.

“We can do this,” I assure him as I pass him an encouraging look. “We can do anything, remember?”

Jensen chuckles and nods, the sound evaporating in his throat the moment Mila strides into the conference room with a stylish, leather bag hanging on her shoulder. He stands at the same time as me. “Jensen Riley. Thank you for rescheduling with us.”

“That storm was crazy, right? It came out of nowhere!” Mila replies as she shakes our hands before sitting across from us. She takes out a tablet from her bag and hovers her digital pen over the screen. “Let’s get started.”

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