Page 12 of Sleigh Rides With St. Nick

"Ah, you're fae."

I nodded, not disclosing any further.I didn't really have anything against him knowing I was an elf, especially when it couldn't be hidden the moment anyone saw my ears."So, Mrs Claus?"

He chuckled, leaning in slightly."Checking that I'm single?"

I shrugged."You could be in an open relationship with her.

"There's no Mrs Claus," he assured me."There never has been."

"Good, good," I said absentmindedly as I processed his answer.

His lips curled up into an amused smile."Is there a reason you're so interested in my marital status?"

"We are supposed to be going on a date on Thursday," I reminded him, picking up my latte."Unless you don't mix business with pleasure."I took a sip, enjoying the sweetly festive taste.It really was a good way to get into the festive spirit.

He ran his hand across his short beard, looking at me with dark eyes."I've never had a reason to before."

"And now you do?"

"If it doesn't break the rules of the contract you have with your company, then I'd still like to go for dinner."His voice was low and inviting, only drawing attention to how close together we were somehow standing.We were lucky there was no one else in the room.

I closed my eyes and groaned."How could I forget the contract?"

"Ah, so no fraternising with clients?"The disappointment in his voice echoed deep within me.

I shook my head."I'm sorry."

"Don't be.I understand.We've only just met and your job is important.We can postpone the date until after you've completed your contract with us."

"Maybe you'll be fed up with me by then," I responded.

"Oh, I don't think that's going to be possible, Ivy."The way he said my name made my pulse race and my whole body go kind of warm and fuzzy.Which was a verybadreaction for me to have when my contract forbade anything with clients.And it wasn't as if I was going to pass up on an opportunity to have my own client just because I found Nick attractive.

"We'll see," I said."So, the office?"I stepped back, putting some well-needed distance between us.Hopefully, I'd find some reason that he was less attractive to me so I could get those feelings under control, but even after barely an hour in the Cringle offices, I was starting to think that wasn't going to be possible at all.

Chapter6

IVY

Snow drifted through the air, which was surprising for it still being early in December, but I liked the way it looked when it fell to the ground.There was something peaceful about it.Though there was going to be nothing peaceful about the day ahead.Whether we liked it or not, the Cringle marketing assets were in dire shape, and I needed to make sure that anything I suggested would help combat that.It didn't help that my boss had scheduled a meeting later to ask for an update on the account, and I wasn't sure she was going to like what I had to say.

I pushed the thought aside and juggled the folders in my arm so I could open the door that let me into the building.Somehow, I managed to drop my pass and I cursed even as I tried to work out how to get it.

"Let me get that for you," a familiar voice said.

I turned to see Nick approaching, the snow landing on the shoulders of his suit and making him look even more dashing than usual.With his silver-grey hair, he almost looked more like Jack Frost than the images I was used to of Father Christmas, though I knew from what he said that wasn't true.

He crouched down and picked up my pass, handing it back to me.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."He pulled out his own and swiped it through the card reader on the outside of the door.Once it clicked, he pushed it open and let me through.

"Thanks."I flashed him what I hoped was a grateful smile."I should have brought a bigger bag."

"Maybe, but then I'd have had no reason to hold the door open for you."

"Ah, no wonder that's why you had non-automatic doors put in."

---