Page 2 of Knot My Secret Santa

Not even Nathaniel, who was by far the most sexy Alpha I’d ever seen.

And he was my boss.Myboss!

I just had to keep reminding myself of that fact and everything would be fine. Absolutely wonderful.

CHAPTER TWO – Nathaniel

It was past five on a Friday, and Avery was still sitting at her desk working. Long locks of hair as rich and silky as liquid caramel had come out of her bun as she fiddled with the tiny details of her design. Her lips pursed, pushed slightly to one side, and I could not fucking stop myself from staring.

A few of my colleagues had called her cute, and maybe she came off that way with her high necked sweaters and the stuffed toy on her desk. But none of them looked at her closer than that. Her dedication, creativity, and sweet thoughtfulness. None of them saw the incredible beauty behind the first glance.

I shouldn’t be looking either. Nor should my Alpha urge to take possession of her even come into play. Avery was one of my employees. I would never cross that line. Yet time and time again, I found myself watching her.

The door to the meeting room swung open and Eli entered. His tie was askew and he had his puffy coat on. He didn’t take a seat but remained by the door with a tight and wary smile. “Hey Nate. You wanted to see me?”

I stood, standing half a foot taller than him, and slid a file across the table to him. “Yeah, the Delaney house. Trent needs you down there to oversee some of the construction. It could be a week, maybe up to three.” I didn’t miss his flinch, no matter how he tried to hide it. Eli may not want to go, but he was damn well going. “That work for you?”

Eli was one of my senior architects and had headed the Delaney design, a massive nineteen room manor. It was our best project design of the year. He nervously wet his lips. “Sure. Just as long as I’m home for Christmas, or my wife will kill me. Her whole family is coming this year and we’ve got a full house.”

No thanks. All that forced family togetherness and gaudy holiday celebration was not for me. But I knew how to coax my employees to do what I wanted with enthusiasm. “You go, and if you’re done in a week or two, you can have the rest of December off to help prepare for your guests. Sound good?”

His smile grew wide and genuine. “That would be fantastic. Molly won’t like me going to Florida so close to Christmas, but if she knows I can get time off, she’ll be ecstatic. Thanks, boss.”

“You’ve earned it. The Delaney project was the biggest one of the year, and he is no easy man to work with, but you nailed it.” I nodded, unable to stop my own smile at his happiness. “Flight’s out tomorrow morning. Ticket’s under the company name, as usual. Get out of Washington before the first snow hits on Sunday.”

“I won’t miss that mess.” Eli laughed and turned to go, but hesitated and twisted to face me again. He pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket and held it out to me. “Can you give that to Noelle with my apologies? It was my Secret Santa pick, but since I’m not going to be here for the rest of the month, it’s unfair to her niece as I got her name. If everyone else has a name already, tell Noelle to get some nice chocolates and something cute, and I’ll pay her back in the new year.”

Taking the paper, I gazed down at the name printed on it:Avery. “I’ll let her know.”

“Thanks again, Nate. I’ll be in touch.” Eli was gone from the meeting room before I could say anything else.

It didn’t matter. I could only think that I held Avery’s name in my hand. I’d never had any interest in office social events. Noelle had been with the company when I started it up seven years ago, and she was more than happy to deal with all that crap. My focus was on building our reputation, and if the silly Santa games made the employees happy, then I never said a word about it.

I glanced at Avery whose attention was still on her screen. I rubbed the thick paper between my fingers. Nice chocolates and something cute? My Alpha instincts purred. No, this gorgeous Omega deserved so much more. Ever since she started working for me, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. Yet I held myself under a strict policy that I would never date anyone from the firm.

I didn’t know exactly how the Secret Santa game worked. Was it a gift each day up to Christmas? It was the fifth of December today, which meant twenty gifts? I immediately thought of a hundred presents I could give her. Small things and big ones, all drawing that delicious smile out of her. A smile that I would bring to her pretty face.

My mind whirled as I fingered the paper. I’d never date an employee. I wouldn’t dare break any of my own rules. I ran a tight ship, but maybe for the sake of this one beautiful Omega….

The key to it all was that it was anonymous. No one in the office would find out since they all knew I didn’t participate. No one would suspect it was me who was giving Avery the gifts. My reputation and that of Donner Designs would not suffer any for it. Surely this game would tame the desire that had been simmering within me for the past few months.

My cell phone buzzed on the table with a text. Picking it up, I read the message from my friend, Landon. He rambled on, reminding me about his holiday party tonight, and that his new wife had a sister, an Omega, they wanted me to meet.She was a beaut, he promised.

Rolling my eyes, I slipped the phone into my pocket without replying. I’d be there, and I would have no choice in meeting the sister. I’d dated Omegas in the past, but I’d never been compatible with one. Any initial attraction would quickly fizzle out, and we would both move on. Maybe one day I’d meet an Omega who was right for me, but I wasn’t holding my breath. Family only brought pain and drama. It was better just to let work consume me and leave a legacy of great architecture for future generations to marvel at.

Noelle had bustled over her niece’s desk, and they laughed at something as Avery shut down her computer and gathered her things. Avery’s laughter eased the tension in my shoulders I hadn’t realized was there. They walked out of the office as they chatted about the Secret Santa game, relaxed in each other’s company.

I had two hours until I was due to arrive at Landon’s party. Plenty of time to start shopping for my beautiful little intern. Each gift had to be spectacular. More so, they had to be special.

CHAPTER THREE – Avery

The weekend had been a flurry of activity. Of shopping with Mom, knitting for Ruby, and the first snowfall of the season. I’d planned on being at work a little earlier than usual, but my car didn’t want to start and the roads were slick.

When Noelle and I walked in, most of our co-workers were already there. I slipped by Ruby’s desk, who was getting her morning coffee from the break room and put her first gift—a red mohair scarf—on the corner. I’d made a hat and mittens to match, but they would be presents for other days. Usually it took a coffee to make me peppy on Monday mornings, but giving gifts made me giddy. I couldn’t wait to see Ruby’s face when she opened hers.

My aunt giggled with me and made no comment when we stopped by her desk that there wasn’t a gift on it. Jessalyn usually arrived at the last minute, so I didn’t expect her to have one waiting. Yet Noelle grinned as she put the tin with the cookies she baked on another architect’s desk. “This is so much fun. I wonder who got your name. I know some of the people’s Secret Santas, but not yours. Maybe it’s Deanna. She crafts the most beautiful handmade tree ornaments.”

“That would be lovely.” A girl could never have too many ornaments. My little tree at home didn’t agree, but that didn’t stop me when something caught my eye at a craft fair or a shop.

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