Page 13 of His Off-Limits Christmas Gift

His interest distracted me, short-circuiting my brain as I fumbled the moment and tried to think of how to not look like an idiot. TDH’s opinions mattered—in the office—but otherwise? I just wanted to get out of this situation.

What do I say?

How do you reject someone professionally but not cruelly?

And what is your name again?

“Um.”

Behind him, I saw Nate and Julie lingering. They seemed to be waiting on something from the HR woman who had presented at this meeting. But she was busy scribbling something down, oblivious to my humiliating moment over here.Theyboth looked too intrigued about how I would respond to this offer of a date from TDH. Nate glanced at me more than once, his green eyes sharp and observant. Julie did too. She peeked at me and struggled not to laugh. Or smile.

God. What am I supposed to say? Or do?

“No thanks.” It came out as a rushed blurt. It wasn’t censored or even thought-out. I relied on instinct, and that was to tell TDH I didn’t want a wine and acid-reflux-inducing meal.

“Okay.” TDH didn’t seem too bothered. He smiled and dipped his chin once in acknowledgement, like he could roll with the punches. The man was too damn hot to be rejected often. It had me wondering if he was too smooth to show disappointment. Or perhaps he was so practiced at this that he’d simply try again another time, determined to get what he wanted.

It was all too much to analyze and consider on the fly like this. I’d never been approached like this, and it showed.

With grace, he said goodbye and turned to leave. After him, the HR woman exited.

Nate and Julie didn’t wait to pounce.

“Oh, my God.” I covered my face. “He was asking me out!”

Julie patted my back. “Well, yeah.”

I whipped my face up to look at her. “You could tell?”

She nodded.

I slumped into the seat I’d vacated.

“Couldn’t you?” she asked with a hint of laughter. She wasn’t laughing at me. I knew that. She wasn’t mean like that.

“Not soon enough!”

Nate walked over slowly. He shoved his hands in his pockets and tilted his head as he peered at me. “Are you… interested in Eric?”

“Oh.” I blinked. “That’s his name?”

Julie lost the battle with laughter. “Lordy. He hadnochance, did he?”

“Are you?” Nate asked.

I shook my head but halted midway through the action.

Wait.Shouldn’t I be? TDH—no,Eric—was just that. Tall, dark, and handsome, and clearlynotgay and therefore interested in me. It was a novel experience. A man interested inme.

I hurried to nod.

“You’re interested in Eric?” Nate asked.

I shrugged, looking between them. “I should be. Maybe this is just what I need to move on from my ex. From Kyle.” I settled my gaze on Julie. I’d told her that my boyfriend had dumped me before starting at the office.

She nodded, jutting her chin out. “Hey, that’s the spirit.”

Nate frowned at her. “What?”

---