Page 32 of His Off-Limits Christmas Gift

I furrowed my brow, getting another look at this stranger who wasn’t unfamiliar with my boss at all. Taking my time, I checked her out to see what the vixen who’d broken his heart could look like. Howshecould have ever dared to hurt this charmer, this usually happy man.

Straight brown hair fell to her shoulders, so styled yet magically looking soft and glossy that it defied the laws of physics and didn’t flutter with the breeze. Her sharp blue eyes were clear and full of mirth as she stared at her ex. The rest of her, on the outside, was just as perfect.

If Yasmin wasn’t a supermodel, she’d missed her calling. Tall, slender, with high cheekbones, huge boobs, a tiny waist?—

Wait.

Her waist was tiny, but her belly was large. A baby bump swelled out, and somehow, that made her look even more beautiful. She wasgorgeous. Drop-dead gorgeous and stunning with that glow expectant mothers had.

Damn.

“Funny running into you,” she said. “My mother was just asking if I’d heard any news about you lately.”

“Oh?” Nate’s reply didn’t invite a follow-up. Dull. Monotone. Like he didn’t want to face her at all.

My heart broke all over again. Whatever he saw in her, he’d bet on it. He’d spent years dating her, all to be dumped and cheated on publicly.

“We figured the same old. That you’d be alone, busy working and pretending this is the happiest time of the year.”

“It should be the happiest time of the year,” I blurted out, stepping forward to insert myself into this awful confrontation. Yasmin clearly was a spiteful woman, but I’d be damned if she tried to insult Nate any further.

“In fact, any time of the year is a happy one with him.” I lifted our joined hands. The hurried gesture was a bit jerky, but I’d only done it to emphasize that he wasn’t alone. I was here, dammit. I wouldn’t be ignored. Even if I was lying through my teeth. Nate lunged forward with my control over our hands. If anything, it proved how unpracticed we were with holding each other’s hand. He was so tall. I was so short. We needed to meet in the middle somehow. Despite the awkwardness, he didn’t let go of me, bumping into my side.

“And who are you?” she asked, arching one thin brow at me.

“His girlfriend,” I lied, jumping at the first idea I had to dispel her thought that Nate was alone and miserable.

He was. He’d proclaimed that he’d stay alone because of her. But she didn’t need to know that.

“And trust me, he’s not too busy to make time for me.” I turned, pivoting ungracefully to face Nate. One reach up to the front of his jacket gave me the grip I needed to pull him down.

The second he lowered, tilting with an expression of confusion on his face, I took my shot and kissed him.

I kissed my boss, trying to convince myself that this was only to save face and show Yasmin what she was missing.

12

NATE

Seeing Yasmin was a shocker. But I didn’t dwell on it for long.

Realizing that Rachel intended to kiss me stunned me stupid.

I grunted at the force of her lips smashing up to mine. She missed, landing near the corner of my mouth instead.

It didn’t matter.

I was down for it.

Down for anything she wanted to give me.

I should’ve hated the desperation that filled me where she was concerned, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t. With her face near mine, her fingers on my jacket to pull me toward her, I couldn’t imagine backing up.

Rachel kissed me.Kissedme. Just like that, boom, her lips were on mine.

Sort of.

As quickly as she pulled off that feat, tugging me low to meet her in the middle with a kiss that came out of the blue, she dropped back down from her tiptoes and stared at me.

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