Page 22 of His Off-Limits Christmas Gift

“Yes. It’ll be here before you know it. Oh. That reminds me. Will you be on your own at the cabin this year?”

I looked at the clear blue sky, considering her question. It’d become a habit for me to have the family cabin on my own. We’d all go to the big Malley, Inc. holiday party, and then I’d drive to the cabin. Sometimes, they joined me. Or Brandon would come by. But they always deferred to me and knew it was “my” turn at the cabin, hence her question. The little structure really was an idyllic location for peace and quiet.

“Because Dad and I might drive up and stay a night.”

“Hmm. I’m not sure, Mom. Maybe I’ll bring a guest.”

She shrieked, likely startling everyone else in the waiting room at the medical facility she was waiting in for Dad. “Aguest? You mean a woman?”

Laughing, I lowered my gaze and walked in a return route to the office building. “Jeez. You sound so eager.”

“You know how impatient I am. How much Dad and I both can’t wait for you to find someone.” She sighed. “It’s been six years, Nate.”

Six long years. That first year, I thought that sleeping around a bit might help my mood. It hadn’t. Two one-night stands proved that I just wasn’t ready.

But I am now.

I didn’t have to think twice about starting something—anything—with Rachel. Even something as undefined as being her mentor for finding a man.

Huh. That’s interesting.

Of all people, it’d be her to spark a little desire in life.

“Who is she? Do we know her? We have met her?” She drew in a quick breath to reload for another litany of questions.

“Asking if you know her and if you’ve met her mean the same thing, don’t they?”

“Semantics,” she retorted. “Who is she, Nate?”

“Right now, she’s my plus-one.” I smiled, loving the promise of not having to face the holiday party solo.

“Okay. So we’ll see her at the party?” She squealed, unable to contain her excitement.

“Yes.”

“And then you’ll take her to the cabin?” she asked. “Oh, this sounds serious.”

Hardly.Rachel and I weren’t even technically together.

After a little more of a chat, where I mostly tried to steer her away from blasting me with more questions about my “mystery woman”, I disconnected the call and went right back to work.

It should’ve taunted me, knowing that Rachel was just down the hall, within reach, but the workload I wanted to get through had me focused. At least, it did until the very end of the day.

A text from Brandon jarred me. For the first time, I saw his name and didn’t immediately think of him as my friend. Isaw his caller ID and thought of him as Rachel’s brother. As a connection to her.

Brandon:Want to go out tomorrow night?

Brandon:We can find you a date to the big Malley party.

I winced, knowing I’d already accomplished that feat—with his sister. Brandon would be at this party. He typically made plans to come, being a family friend.

How will he react?I hadn’t considered his seeing me with Rachel there. While it could look believable that I’d asked her to be my date for the sake of not being alone, it could also appear that I was truly curious about her. That I was interested in her.

I refused to be a hypocrite like that. I’d just told him last week that I understood she was off-limits, yet here I was, proposing a naughty deal with her.

I’ll cross that bridge when the time comes.

Nate:Nah. I’m not interested. Maybe another time.

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