Page 48 of Pining for Christmas

“Truth, then, I guess.” I pretend to think about it, tapping on my chin, then pluck up my courage. “Why didn’t you call me last night?”

Reid blinks out at the road. A truck rumbles past, going way too fast and rocking our car. Reid curses and slows even more.

“Because it was after work hours,” he says at last.

And… bleurgh. Was I expecting a real answer there? Honestly?

“You’ve gone quiet.” Reid’s voice is hushed too, like he senses this conversation is delicate, and his jaw clenches when I shrug. He’s probably pissed that I’m being such a baby, making things awkward, and that’s fair… but I can’t help it.

Three years, I’ve longed for this man, and he doesn’t think of me. Only sees me as an assistant. Bet he’d swap me out for Siri if he could, because he’s always rolling his eyes at my bright clothes, the tunes I sing, and the cute lunch bags I pack myself.

He’s the best part of my day, and I’m an irritation for him to suffer through.

“Your turn.” Reid’s thumb taps against the steering wheel, impatient.

“Dare.” As if I’d ever pick truth now.Please. I’d rather poke out my own eyeballs than confess anything to this man.

“I dare you to tell me what’s bothering you.”

Ugh! That is such bullshit!

“Stop loopholing me. You are such a lawyer—”

“Tell me, Noelle.”

Neck tight, I peer around the car, but my boss is too freaking tidy. There’s nothing loose to throw at his head.

“Tell me,” he says again. Always so stern. Always sobossy.And usually I love that, I love his pinched eyebrows and hard jaw and piercing eyes, but right now, I’d happily commando roll out of the window onto the snowy highway to avoid him.

“Noelle. Tell me.”

Fine! Whatever! I throw up my hands.

“I’m hurt, okay? I wanted you to call.” My throat is tight, and this moment couldn’t be more humiliating if it tried. I hate Reid for forcing this out of me. “I forgot that you don’t like people, Reid. That you don’t likeme. Sometimes I forget, and the reminder… it sucks.”

Reid is quiet for a long, long time. As the snow falls thicker, he flicks on the wipers.

Then he turns on the radio, and we listen to Christmas music all the way to Aspen Ridge.

Reid

This town is revolting.

It’s like someone took a postcard-perfect small town, complete with a small cinema and kooky shops and a bustling diner, and vomited holiday decorations all over it. If they hang one more string light in Aspen Ridge, surely there will be a national power shortage. Wondering where all the pine trees have gone? They’re here, being whored out for the holidays.

“Stop scowling, Reid. You look like you just ate a bug.”

Noelle strides alongside me, businesslike, all trace of her earlier outburst gone. She’s dressed smartly for today’s meeting in a short green dress and black leggings, bundled against the chill in a thick gray coat. Her leather boots crunch through the snow.

Yes, even thesnowhere is picture-perfect. Ugh. Fluffy and white and crisp, nothing like the brown slush we get in the city. I miss puddles.

“I can scowl if I like. They’re hiring me to win a case, not to make friends.”

“Just as well.”

Glancing down at the top of Noelle’s blonde head, I wince. She has every right to be frustrated with me—I know that. But I won’t pretend it doesn’t make my insides ache.

I’d give anything not to disappoint this woman. Anything to be the kind of man she wants and needs. Someonenormal,who can make nice with strangers and who feels emotions at an appropriate level. Not someone who feels dead inside most of the time, then like he’ll explode after a single glimpse of his assistant.

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