Page 8 of Stranded for Christmas with my Boss

Holly and I look up as Austin walks through the doorway that connects the kitchen and foyer with an apple pie he picked up from the store. We always have to eat pie for dessert when we have our bi-weekly dinners.

“Uncle Austin!” Oliver gasps as he darts across the living room toward him.

Austin sets the pie down on the kitchen counter before picking Oliver up and playfully draping him over his shoulder. Melting snowflakes cover his hair and the top of his other shoulder. “The favorite uncle.”

I pitch him a pointed look. “Yeah, right.”

Holly puts her hands up. “No fighting. You’re both amazing uncles.”

Austin and I share a smirk with each other. He may not be related to us by blood, but he’s family through and through. We met during our freshmen year of college as roommates, and we never parted ways after that.

He was a computer science major, while I was a business major. Despite having different classes and going to different places on campus, we hung out a lot after school and always had each other’s backs, whether it was through school stress, break-ups, or whatever the hell else was bothering us.

He was my brother, and there is no other person I would want to run a company with. What’s a better pair than a business expert and a technology whiz?

Austin sets Oliver down so that he can go back to playing. “I’m starving. Your brother is killing me with all of this damn work.”

Holly laughs and nudges me. “What are you doing to these poor people?”

“Do I have to remind you that he runs the company too?” I roll my eyes in a joking manner. “We’re only a few weeks away from the big update, and Christmas is right around the corner too. We have to keep on track.”

Holly sighs, placing her hand against her cheek. “I’ve been promising Oliver that we’ll decorate the house soon, but I’ve been so swamped at the hospital.”

“He’s a happy kid, Holly. I’m sure he’s not upset with you,” Austin replies as he glances in Oliver’s direction.

“Maybe I can come by this weekend and help you,” I offer. Typically, I do some work on the weekend, but the family that I do care about is my main priority.

A look of pure gratitude fills Holly’s face as she squeezes my arm. “Really? That would be amazing!”

It’s important for me to make as many good memories as I can when it comes to family. Truly, I can’t cover up the damage and darkness done in the past, but all the good that happens now at least blocks out some of that noise.

There is nothing worse to go through as a kid than your parents’ nasty divorce. I suppose death can be worse, but it still felt like we lost our parents in the midst of their hatredtoward each other. Things were never the same, and our family dwindled down to just me and Holly.

Now, it’s me, Holly, Oliver, and Austin, and I’m perfectly fine with that.

“I’d do anything for you guys.” I share a warm smile with her before she heads to the fridge. A yawn breaks from me as I stretch my arms, exhaustion starting to weigh down on me. November was already hectic when we planned out the update. December is going to be ten times worse as we actually work to implement it.

As Holly fixes the side salad, she glances over at Austin and me. “So, is there anything new going on at work besides the update? You guys do seem a lot more tired than usual.”

“Jensen got a new executive assistant.”

I have to keep myself from glaring at Austin. He has no idea that I slept with Alyssa on her first day, and I plan on keeping him in the dark because it shouldn’t happen again. I don’t know what came over me that day.

Alyssa and I haven’t brought up what happened in the elevator or in my office. Honestly, I keep her so busy that there isn’t any time for chit-chat, and it’s probably best that I treat her strictly professionally.

No checking her out. No flirting. No touching.

But there is undeniable energy in the air when we’re in the same room. It’s impossible to fully ignore, but I do my best to focus on my job because this update is the biggest move Soul Flames has made since its initial launch.

Screwing up now could be detrimental.

Holly perks up with an intrigued look. “Oh, yeah? Better than the last one?”

“This one is like a workhorse,” Austin replies with a faint laugh. “She gets stuff done.”

I can’t argue that. It didn’t take me long to see why Alyssa was hired over all the others. No matter how many tasks I give her, she gets them all done quickly and effectively. She’s a damn powerhouse.

But she’s not afraid to show me some attitude every once in a while.

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