Page 29 of Stranded for Christmas with my Boss

“Jensen.”

“Hm?”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Alyssa replies as she flashes me a pointed look.

Behave.

“We need Christmas-themed photos for social media posts and promo,” I explain, refocusing on the task at hand. “I want us to oversee the shoot. Make sure the right vision is being captured.”

Alyssa raises her eyebrows, seeming intrigued. It’s not just another day in the office, and technically, things like this are below my pay grade and usual responsibilities, but this company is my baby. I even want to be involved in the little things.

“Are we going to a studio or something?” Alyssa asks, matching my pace as I stride out of the elevator and through the lobby. The upbeat jingle of Christmas music echoes throughout the open space.

“It’s a surprise,” I reply as I glance at her over my shoulder, my tone making the words sound like teasing. Honestly, I think she’ll find this outing to be pretty enjoyable. Even I’m looking forward to it.

“You’re killing me.”

I’m not in the mood to deal with New York City traffic today, so I have one of the company drivers meet us out front in a sleek, black SUV. I pull open the back door and hold my arm out to Alyssa, helping her crawl inside. “Bryant Park, Jacobs.”

“Yes, sir,” the driver says, pulling away from the curb as soon as I get in and shut the door.

“Bryant Park…ice skating?” Alyssa asks as her eyes grow wide.

“It’s kind of romantic, right?”

Alyssa smiles and nods. “Of course. Have you watched pair skating? The way they hold each other and trust each other.”

I swear she has stars in her eyes. The sight makes the side of my mouth curl up. “Well, let’s make our fake couple portray that magic.”

Her eagerness radiates off of her throughout the entire drive as she shifts in her seat and peers out of the side window, watching the skaters glide across the ice as we approach the rink. When we get out of the car, she beats me to the set of the shoot, which is just a reserved section of the rink where our couple and our photographer are working.

“Mr. Riley! Good to see you,” the photographer says as Alyssa and I approach the outer edge of the rink. He stretches his hand over the rail and shakes my hand. “We’re just about to get started. Do you have any last-minute suggestions?”

I nod to the young, fake couple we hired for the shoot before shaking my head at Vince. “Nope. Work your magic. I’ll let you know if I have any notes.”

Vince gives me a thumbs-up before grabbing the camera hanging around his neck and getting in position. “All right, you two. Loosen up. Bright smiles. We’re selling love!”

I hear Alyssa stifle a laugh, making me cock an eyebrow at her. “What?”

“Selling love? Is that what we’re doing?” Alyssa asks me in a hushed voice, so as not to disturb the shoot as the flash starts going off.

I shrug as I look back at the couple, watching them hold hands, touch foreheads, and smile at one another like they’re actually enamored with each other. Their matching red winter coats and white beanies certainly paint a supporting picture.

“In a way. We’re helping people find love,” I reply. “Or lust if that’s what they’re after.”

Alyssa pulls her black coat around her tighter, her brow briefly creasing in thought. What’s going on in that head of hers? “What an interesting business to go into.”

I wonder what she means by that. It’s certainly not unethical, but I suppose it’s a bit ironic since I’m single and have been for a while now. How does the guy who made a bestselling dating app not have a lover? So many people have joked with me and told me to use my own app to find love.

But they don’t know the reality of how I see love. How I’ve experienced love.

My first introduction to it was watching my parents scream at each other, telling each other how love isn’t enough. How love is toxic. How love hurts.

That’s what I know about love.

“Perfect! Hailey, tilt your head up just a little. Xavier, put your right hand on her waist,” Vince directs them before snapping a few more photos.

When I snap out of my thoughts and look over at Alyssa, I realize that she’s not paying much attention to the photo shoot. She’s looking at the ice-skating rink with sheer longing in her eyes. It seems like someone likes to skate.

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