Page 7 of Christmas with my Three Best Friends

“It would be my pleasure,” he replies, meaning every word. His gallantry only serves to further demolish my defenses at this point. “Come on, let’s get you out of this place. We’ve had enough gym stuff for today.”

“Gym stuff,” I chuckle as I leave the keys for Jax and grab the files from Laura’s extended hand. Unlike Alice, Laura is infinitely more professional and efficient in her reception work. They do manage to balance each other out, though, at least for the time being. “Thank you, Laura.”

We’re almost through the doors when Richard rushes out of his office and catches up with us. “You two! Stop right there!” he barks, prompting Marius and me to sheepishly turn around like kids caught ditching school. “Where are you off to in such a rush?”

I admire Richard’s affinity for tailored suits—it takes an expert to fit any kind of fabric in a flattering manner on a body like his. A former bodybuilder, Richard is stacked like an ox and exceptionally imposing, his Viking frame, red hair, and piercing green eyes softening his presence. The whole of him makes my knees quiver. I’ve spent countless nights imagining him bending me over and taking me six ways from Sunday.

“Marius is taking me home,” I tell Richard. “Jax needs my car.”

“I wanted to talk to you about the holiday hours,” Richard adds. “How are we handling Christmas? I’ve had a couple of people asking.”

“Oh, we’re definitely taking the twenty-fifth through the twenty-seventh off. Then the thirty-firstof December and first of January, as well,” I tell him. “But we could cut the twenty-fourth short, too, if needed? I don’t know, what do you think?”

“I was hoping we wouldn’t close at all,” Richard sighs, sounding somewhat disappointed.

Marius shakes his head. “It won’t make much of a difference, Rick. Day passes don’t even cover our operating costs for the day, especially around the holidays.”

“See, that bothers me. We really need to get more people through the door,” he says.

The words fall heavily on my shoulders because I understand his frustration. Richard put a lot of his money behind this place, and the absence of a return on his investment has put him slightly on edge. If there is one thing I know for certain where he’s concerned, it’s that he never lingers in an investment he doesn’t consider fruitful. I’ve never met anyone as emotionally unattached as Richard in terms of building a company from the ground up.

It scares me, sometimes, but it’s also a good reason for me to stay on my toes and always work toward growing the brand altogether.

“It’ll get better in the new year,” I try to assure him. “Winter is always tough on new businesses, and Christmas and New Year’s celebrations don’t make it any easier. But we survived last year. We’ll survive this year, too.”

“We survived last year because of a hefty cash infusion, not on account of higher sales,” he replies. “We should definitely meet up later this month and put together a strategy for the new year. I honestly can’t afford another quarter like this.”

Marius’s brows furrow deeply with concern. “We’ll sit down and discuss our options, sure. I am already working on something that should boost our revenues.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” Richard claps his hands once, then switches back to his usual, friendlier self as he looks at me. “Shay, we need to talk about that naughty list of yours, too. I’m honestly intrigued.”

“Oh, God,” I mumble, once again flustered and ashamed.

“Oh, no, I definitely plan to speak to Santa about it and see how many of those spicy desires we can tick off the list when Christmas comes around,” he says.

Marius slips a hand around my waist, subtly pulling me closer, while Richard takes a step forward. I feel small and vulnerable yet protected and conquered at the same time as I look up and lose my senses. Richard’s wild green eyes burn brightly, his lips parted slowly as he smiles.

“I’ve already warned her there’s no turning back,” Marius says.

“Absolutely not,” Richard replies, tucking a lock of my blonde hair behind my ear. His touch alone is enough to have me quivering on the inside with anticipation. “I’m particularly determined to make item number one happen. I assume it’s what you desire the most since it’s at the top of your list.”

“I don’t even know what to say to any of this,” I mumble.

“That’s okay. All you need to do is say yes when Santa comes to town,” Richard says. “I’ll make sure he’s got a sack filled with goodies to your heart’s desire.”

Richard has a way of riling me up in every possible way. I’ve never met someone as fluid and as multifaceted, as fiery and as playful as this man. His outward appearance is a reflection of his character and personality. Big, generous, kind, and funny. Dirty-minded and light-hearted. Witty and sharp as a Japanese katana. A charmer and a warrior. Few women are able to resist his advances, but I was never on the receiving end of such attention until now—I am feeble and helpless, fully understanding how easy it is for him to get what he wants. Richard always gets what he wants.

I stand between them like a deer caught in the headlights, unsure what to do or say next. My mind is wandering all over the place, my body betraying me. Every inch of flesh on my bones trembles and aches for their touch, for their kisses and caresses. These wild imaginations of mine may be my undoing, but I cannot bring myself to turn back, to pretend it was just a tasteless joke, a prank of sorts.

It’s not like I didn’t consider chickening out of the whole thing. But who am I kidding? That wish is at the top of my naughty list for a reason. It makes zero sense to back away when the three of them are so clearly responsive and willing.

“Richard, we’ll see you tomorrow,” Marius cuts in, as if picking up on my awkwardness. “Ease a girl in, why don’t you?”

“I’ll see you both tomorrow,” Richard says and plants a quick kiss on my cheek.

It only lasts a split-second, yet it manages to kickstart a wildfire. The blaze ravages through my entire being as I smile and wave goodbye, slowly leaning into Marius as we leave the building behind us. His jeep awaits on the other side of the parking lot, lusciously black under a graying evening sky.

We get in, and for a moment’s worth, silence settles between us. I like it. There’s a sense of calm accompanying it, of peace and balance in the middle of an otherwise stormy day. I never expected my week to start out like this, but here we are, sitting awkwardly and shyly glancing at each other as we both try to figure out what we’re supposed to do next.

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