Page 56 of Holding Out For A Holiday Hero

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Perry shot to attention when he saw them approaching the condo. He bounded forward, waving his hands. “Boss, I didn’t get to finish! I have the tree inside, but no decorations yet! You aren’t supposed to be here so soon! You texted and said you were going to the museum and that I’d have more time.”

Yeah, and he’d also just texted to say he was five minutes away. Thus, the reason Perry was outside of the condo, waiting for them. As to the rest of what his assistant had just revealed…Jake let out a long-suffering sigh. “It was a surprise, Perry.”

“You coming back early was a surprise? Then why’d you text me?”

Patience. Have patience. “The Christmas tree. It was a surprise.”

“But…you asked for it.” A furrow appeared between Perry’s brows. “How could it be a surprise?”

Jake stepped to the side but kept his grip on the large box—and the broken computer inside the box. When he sidestepped, True waved at his assistant.

“Hi, ma’am,” Perry greeted her.

“The surprise was for her,” Jake explained.

“Oh.”

“Right. Oh.”

Perry winced. “Didn’t think it made sense that you’d want a tree. You hate Christmas.”

True lightly touched Jake’s arm. Cold air swirled around them. He swore he could smell the faintest hint of snow. They were due for another downpour. She inched closer.

Snow and strawberries.

“Jake, you got a tree?” True appeared stunned. “For me?”

“Uh, ma’am, technically, I got the tree,” Perry informed her. “But it doesn’t have decorations. There are a few boxes of lights inside that I left near the tree, but I didn’t have time for anything else.” He took a quick hop forward. “I was running more background checks on the museum staff. Wanted to let you know that no one is living beyond their means. No one seems to have hit the lottery with a new bank deposit. The financials are all coming back clean.” He poked at the box Jake held. “Why are you carrying a broken computer?”

“Because something very important is on the computer.”

Perry’s mouth kicked up in a half-smile. “You mean something very important was on the computer.”

Yeah, that was what he meant.

Perry didn’t just poke at the box. He started poking around inside the box. “The exterior doesn’t matter. All this plastic? Big metal chunks? Dump them.” More poking. “It’s the hard drive that matters most.” He tugged something out. “Ugh. Poor baby was beat to hell and back.” He pulled the box from Jake’s arms. “But I’ll see what I can do.”

“Hold up.” Jake squinted at the kid. “You think you can actually retrieve data?” He’d been bullshitting with Robert. Just trying to make the guy slip up.

“We’ll see. Maybe I’ll give you a Christmas miracle. Those happen, you know.” Perry bobbed his head toward True. “Ma’am. You stay safe tonight.” He began to walk back down the small sidewalk.

Jake grabbed his arm.

Perry’s eyes widened. “Something wrong?”

Yeah. Me. “I’m an asshole boss.”

“No, you’re not.” An adamant denial. “You’re the best boss I’ve ever had.”

“I’m the only boss you ever had.” And he was too tough on the kid. Dammit.

But Perry shook his head. “I’ve worked at diners. Car washes. Factories. Been employed by people who didn’t give a damn about me.” His chin lifted. “Nobody gave a damn, not until you.”

Oh, hell, the kid had better not bring up the time he’d?—

“You stopped my stepdad from beating the hell out of me.”

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