Page 8 of Horns for the Holidays

“Great minds, it seems.” His lips quirked in what might have been a smile. “And call me Kotos, please.”

That was not happening. There needed to be boundaries. Professionalism. And I’d use old-fashioned etiquette on familiarity as a shield while we both showed more skin than covered.

An awkward silence fell between us. I shifted my weight, far too aware of every move I made. Why did he have to look so damn good? It was distracting.

Kotos cleared his throat. “Well, since we’re both here... Perhaps we could use this time to strategize for our meeting with Andreas. That is, if you don’t object to sharing a skiff?”

I blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. “Is that really appropriate? You are my boss, after all.”

He shrugged nonchalantly, but the corners of his mouth fought to stay still. “I could just order you to use the amenities.”

“And I can report you to HR,” I shot back.

A full-blown smirk showed a flash of fang. “IamHR, Ms. Scanlon.”

I opened my mouth to retort, but Kotos held up a hand. He ran it down his face, taking a deep breath. When he spoke again, his tone was softer.

“Look, I wouldn’t have asked for you specifically if I didn’t think you were up to the task. Your work speaks for itself.”

He’d asked for me? Specifically? My chest tightened at the unexpected praise.

“Thank you,” I said softly. Then, deciding to extend my own olive branch, I added, “And thank you for this morning’s delivery. The pastries were delicious.”

The sudden sound of wood scraping the dock drew our attention. An empty skiff bobbed to a stop beside us, its polished hull gleaming in the morning light. Patterns of gold filigree curled across the sides, weaving through elegant carvings of mythological beasts.

I frowned. “Where’s the captain?”

Kotos shrugged, his massive shoulders rolling with the movement. “I believe it’s enchanted. Self-guided.”

“Oh,” I said, surprised. “I guess we’re supposed to just... get in?”

Kotos chuckled, a deep rumble that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. “It appears so. Shall we?”

He held out a hand to help me aboard. I hesitated only briefly before slipping my palm into his. I gingerly stepped onto the skiff, trying not to notice how tiny my hand felt in his enormous grasp.

Kotos followed, his larger frame causing the skiff to dip dangerously low in the water. I held my breath, half-expecting us to capsize before we even left the dock. But the magic seemed to compensate, and we settled into an uneasy equilibrium.

The close quarters of the skiff made it impossible to ignore Kotos’ presence. His scent wrapped around me—a heady mix of sandalwood and something distinctlymale. Heat radiated from his body, and I found myself transfixed by every shift, every breath.

Dammit. This was not good.

As soon as he’d arranged his long legs, the skiff lurched away from the dock. I yelped in surprise, gripping the railing forsupport. Magic carried us away from shore, slicing effortlessly through the waves.

My apprehension disappeared completely as we left the entire cove behind. “Oh, wow.”

The water glowed an impossible shade of turquoise, so clear I could see fish darting beneath the surface. Lush greenery clung to rocky cliffs, punctuated by hidden coves and secluded beaches.

And was that... yes, a group of honest-to-god mermaids sunning themselves on what looked like the partially submerged ruins of an ancient temple.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, momentarily forgetting my discomfort. Magical in the truest sense of the word.

“It is,” Kotos agreed softly.

When I glanced back, I found him watching me instead of the scenery. Something glinted in those dark depths, too fast and fleeting to decipher.

I focused on the shoreline, desperate for any distraction from the living furnace beside me. “So, um, any thoughts on how to approach Andreas about the partnership?”

Kotos’ deep chuckle washed over me. “Straight to business, Ms. Scanlon? And here I thought we were ordered to experience paradise first.”

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