Page 20 of A Grinchmas Delight

“Sounds great. I’ll send you the list of names and you can send them their invitation to apply.”

“I’ll have it done before I leave the office today if you get it to me in the next ten minutes,” I say with a forced smile.

“You’re the man,” Mark says on the way out of my office.

I don’t feel very much likethe mantoday. I send out the emails to each individual candidate with their invitation to apply for the position, detailing the interview process and when it will begin. I get a few responses before I leave my desk to participate in the Christmas party. Besides, Mark needs me present as we hand out bonuses for the year.

I’m conflicted on how to conduct myself around Dayra. She’s distant, almost cold toward me today. I don’t know how to proceed. I ponder it for a moment then decide I will actaccordingly, pretending that nothing transpired between the two of us yesterday.

I enter the lounge where all of the office is gathered. The chatter is loud and there is Christmas everywhere I look. Even mark is wearing a Christmas sweater. I scan the room, unable to stop myself from searching for Dayra. She’s the only one who didn’t respond to the email about the new position and I want to know why.

I scan the room, skipping right over her at first. When I saw her this morning she was wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. I find her standing next to Jade, one of the other women in her department, wearing a green, sequin embellished cardigan with a solid white shirt tucked into her light-wash blue jeans. Her hair is down and in perfect ringlet curls. The green cardigan makes her equally green eyes pop, stopping me in my tracks.

How have I never noticed how beautiful she is before? I’ve always found her to be pretty, but she’s fucking stunning. Her jeans hug her wide hips, tapering up her smaller waist. Her curves are accentuated perfectly and I find myself imagining running my hands over them. I want to see her bared, fully naked beneath me. I need to know what color her nipples are and how they feel under the caress of my fingertips.

Dayra looks up at me, as if she can hear my thoughts about her across the room. Her cheeks redden beneath my stare and she quickly looks away, back to her conversation with Jade but not before Jade sees the exchange between the two of us.

Trying to redirect my focus, I walk over to the table with theGrinchmas Punchand scoop some into a small red solo cup. I try not to roll my eyes at the absurdity of the Christmas spirit. I take a sip and nearly spit it out. I wasn’t prepared for this to have alcohol in it. It’s surprisingly delicious and I hate it even more now.

“How fitting. The Grinch is drinking the Grinchmas Punch,” Dayra says, appearing beside me.

I glance down at her over my right shoulder and watch as she fixes herself a glass. I refrain from telling her that it’s spiked and watch on in amusement as she takes a sip. She coughs as she swallows it and I can see the surprise on her face. Okay, so she wasn’t the one that spiked it. I somehow find that even more entertaining.

I snicker at her reaction and she offers me a death glare.

“You did that?” she accuses.

“I would never. But somebody did and I should be concerned but I find it quite entertaining. Somebody finally decided to make this lame party a little more lively.”

Dayra rolls her eyes and tries not to smile, but I can see the amusement written all over her face.

“Anyway, who are you calling Grinch seeing as you’re the one in green?” I tease.

“Green is my favorite color, if you must know,” she chides, taking a sip of the lime green liquid in her cup.

“Better be careful with that punch or I’ll end up having to drive you home again.”

It’s my turn for an eye roll. “One time. I drink too much one time and you nor my mom will let me live it down.”

She laughs, a full-on hearty laugh. “Your mom is awesome. I have no idea how she gave birth to such an asshole.”

I feign injury at her words, dramatically placing my hand over my heart. “Oh, you hurt me with your sharp words, a dagger into my bleeding heart.”

“Okay, Shakespeare. Grinch Shakespeare. I guess that’s better than the nickname I have for you.”

“You have a nickname for me?” I ask, cocking a brow at her.

“Yeah, one that you never get to hear.”

“NowI’m intrigued.”

She grins at me and then saunters away, back to her conversation with Jade. Perfect timing because here comes Mark.

“Ready to give out the bonuses?” he asks, removing an envelope from his inside jacket pocket.

“Ready,” I say.

We stand at the front of the lounger and Mark taps a spoon on a rocks glass to garner the attention of the employees in the room. The chatter fades until there is silence aside from Rocking Around the Christmas Tree playing softly throughout the room.

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