Page 58 of His Off-Limits Christmas Gift

“I guess this will do,” he said as he filled me. “You can be as loud as you want here.”

He was right. I could scream, shout, and moan.

And I did, making us both that much later for getting to the office, but happily so.

“I don’t understand why anyone is even coming into the office today,” I commented. Everyone was either already off, traveling, or preparing for the party.

“Just a few things here and there,” he said. “Butyouwon’t be staying long.”

I grinned, loving that heated look in his eyes as he gave me a once-over.

“Send me pictures of the dresses you try on,” he said.

“I will do no such thing,” I said saucily, even though I likely came off as a brat. He was paying for my gown, after all. “I want you to be surprised.”

He smiled, that sweet, slow, and soft one that he gave only me. Those expressions tugged at my heart, convincing me that he had dismissed this mentoring crap. That he wanted me for himself.

“I’ll meet you at the venue,” he said, “and no matter what dress you pick, you’ll be the most beautiful woman there.”

I snuck a quick kiss before he could turn down the hallway.

“You’ll have enough time?” He checked his watch. “You’ll leave at noon, have time to find a dress, and get there with the traffic?”

I nodded. “And hair.” I smiled. “Your booking everything for me saved me time.”

“Okay. Good.”

I furrowed my brow, considering another detail of the night. “This feels like getting ready for prom or something.”

“I think you’ll be impressed,” he said with a chuckle.

“I meant that as in the last time I got a formal gown was for prom.”With Kyle.At the thought of my ex, I was reminded that my mom would be at the holiday party too. It had gotten easier with time to avoid her nagging calls, texts, and so forth. But I would have to face her tonight. Even though she didn’t have any more time to hound me to be peppy and involved with holiday events, with Christmas so soon, she’d be on me to explain the breakup. She would come as an invited guest, with Dad, but she wouldn’t hesitate to interrogate me.

“Hey.”

I glanced up at Nate watching me. “Hmm?”

“Are you ready to face your mom?”

I huffed a laugh. “How can you know what I’m thinking?”

“I can read you pretty well, sweet girl.”

I blushed, checking that no one was near in the hallway to overhear that endearment.

“And Brandon, too. He’ll see both of us there.”

“He’ll adjust,” I replied.

“You think so?”

I nodded. My brother couldn’t be that much of an ass. Besides, it was Christmastime. They couldn’t end up at odds or fighting now.

“But your mom…”

I dismissed him with a wave, faking an indifference I didn’t feel. “I’ll be too busy to talk with her much. Right? I’ll be glued to your side.”

He smiled, that special one just for me. “And as soon as I give the usual speech and toast, we can leave and carry on a party of two. You and me.”

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