Page 39 of Knot My Secret Santa

“I don’t think you need to worry so much.” Nathaniel squeezed my hand. “Everyone in the office will be distracted by the big blue tree and the fact it’s the last day at work before the holidays. I have meetings most of the day in the conference room, so few people will even see my office if any at all. Then there’s dinner at Carmine’s tonight—”

“I don’t want to go.” I slapped both hands over my mouth as soon as I said the words. What the hell? I loved Carmine’s. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. This was getting ridiculous. “That sounds fine. I can do it.” My stomach did several flips in disagreement. “As long as I know we’re coming back here afterward, I’ll be alright.”

Nathaniel studied me for a moment and then stood, bending over and kissing my forehead. “How about this, beautiful? We move the dinner to the office. Have a whole Christmas office party. Since we have a reservation at Carmine’s, they’ll already be prepping food for fifty people. I’ll have them deliver. Maybe order some wine as well.”

An office party! All my twisted anxiety fled. I hugged him and kissed him, tasting the cinnamon on his lips and mine. “I love it!” Another kiss. “You know how to make everything just right. Have I told you how awesome you are yet today?”

“I think you said it well enough when you were screaming my name as my cock filled you this morning.” He smirked that infuriatingly gorgeous smile.

No one said anything to me if they noticed I was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Nathaniel had been correct when he said they’d be too distracted by the decorations. My aunt literally shrieked with delight when she saw the tree. And when Nathaniel sent out a message to everyone in the office that the annual holiday dinner would be right there, there was a cheer.

After our morning meeting, I watched Ruby open her final Secret Santa gift from me. I had hand-painted a big front porch welcome sign that looked like a holiday gift tag with her family name on it. She came right up to me and hugged me.

“Thank you, Avery. It’s beautiful. I love all the gifts you gave me.” When I was going to protest it was Santa, not me, she stopped me with a shake of her head. “I know it’s you. I’ve seen the things you’ve knitted for Noelle before. You’ve made this the best Secret Santa year ever.”

My heart swelled and we hugged again. “You’re welcome. I love doing stuff like this.”

“I can tell your heart is in it all.” Ruby patted my cheek and went to show off her sign to our co-workers.

Noelle took her place and squeezed me with her embrace. “I love you, kid. You’re the best. I even think I saw Ruby wipe away a few tears, she was so happy and surprised.”

“It’s because I have the holly-jolly gene.” I giggled and walked back to my desk with her.

“Damn right you do.” Noelle smiled. “I have a few meetings today. Is there anything you need me to look over before those get started?”

“No, I’m good. Really, I don’t even have to be at work today, but I’m glad I came in to see everyone and the fabulous blue tree. I’m just finishing up a few things, and of course I’ll be around for the big party.”

“That tree is spectacular.” My aunt agreed and then clapped her hands excitedly. “Look! Your last Secret Santa gift came. Open it!”

“Okay.” I plucked the ribbon off the small package. It was beautifully wrapped in silver paper, and when I finally opened the box, I pulled out a dollar bill sized slip of paper. “Oh wow! A horseshoeing tour of Crystal Mountain with three friends. I’ve never been horseshoeing before.”

I sat on the edge of my chair. The cost of this one gift alone was astonishing, but all of the presents had been expensive. What was Kris thinking? I appreciated these things, but it didn’t take such extravagant gifts to impress me.

“And look at this!” Noelle nabbed something else from the box. “What a gorgeous little snowshoe charm for your coat zipper. Let me put it on for you.”

“Is that a real diamond?” Jessalyn leaned over from her desk.

“No, it couldn’t be.” I shook my head and hoped that Kris truly didn’t get me something with a real diamond in it. What would Nathaniel think? And why was my first thought what he felt about it?

“I think it might be.” Noelle peered at it closely and then affixed it to my coat. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed how distracted you’ve been lately, hon. And absolutely glowing. You and Kris will make a gorgeous couple.”

“Aunt Noelle,” I groaned, my stomach suddenly churning. I didn’t want to have this conversation for several reasons. Yet what could I say?

“Kris? The junior architect with the glasses and blond hair?” Jessalyn asked and my aunt nodded with a smirk. “Is he your Secret Santa that’s been giving you all these expensive gifts?”

“Yes, most certainly.” Noelle rubbed her hands together. “And they’re going to see The Nutcracker tomorrow night together. A perfect Christmas date.” Someone called her name by the meeting room, and she gave us a little wave. “Meeting time.”

Once my aunt was gone, Jessalyn came over and leaned on my desk beside me, keeping her voice low. “You know that Kris is a Beta, right? Though I suppose it doesn’t hurt to date them, but you’re an Omega. We need so much more than what Betas could give us.”

I gritted my teeth. I’d had several conversations like this over the years at St. Anne’s and afterward. “A person’s heart will love someone not because they’re an Alpha, Beta, or Omega. I’m not saying that I’m in love with Kris or anything,” I quickly added. “I just don’t want to eliminate the possibility of someone wonderful being in my life because of their biology.”

“Biology is vital.” Jessalyn wouldn’t hear any argument otherwise, same as always. “I mean, if you have a Beta husband, would he be okay with you having sex and getting knotted by an Alpha when you’re in heat? And that Alpha would most likely impregnate you too.”

“If there’s trust and understanding, it could work. I’ve read about cases like that.” Very few and far between cases.

“You’re not going to feel that way when you go into heat.” Jessalyn leaned down and smirked. “Trust me, I know.”

I clutched my hands together, squeezing so hard my nails bit into my palms. Anger surged through me. She better not say a thing about Nathaniel. I would damn well have her hanging by her hair from a window like a Christmas stocking. “You do?”

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