Page 68 of Falling for Mr. Wright

Sarah thought back to that moment. “Ryan came over and sat down next to me. Right here.” She patted the empty seat beside her. “He could tell I was terrified, I guess. He offered me a malt ball, saying it would calm my nerves.” She sighed. “It did. I feel like he looked after me that day, and I’m starting to realize he’s never stopped.” She glanced up at her boss. “Do you know why he’s always doing that?”

Logan gave her a warm smile. “Yes, and I think you do, too. Merry Christmas, Sarah. Open your gift.”

A rush of excitement ran through her. Was Ryan her Secret Santa? Was this from him?

Logan reached out and squeezed her shoulder. “While you do that, I’ve got a perfectly good box of Cocoa Puffs that I need to retrieve so that I can have breakfast tomorrow. I’ll see you at Rockefeller Center.”

“See you.” She turned in her seat and watched as her boss left the room. Once alone, she untied the bow and opened the lid. A laugh escaped her lips as she pulled out a bag of malt balls. “Boy, do I need you these days.” She chuckled and began to tear open the bag.

“Stop. Don’t do that.”

She spun around, surprised to see the recipient of her Secret Santa gift strolling toward her. Paul walked down the aisle, sporting the cozy tan slippers she’d given him. “Merry Christmas, Sarah.”

“Merry Christmas, Paul,” she said back. “I see you’ve opened your present.”

He met her at the front of the room. “Thank you so much for these. I had to put them on immediately.”

She smiled. “Don’t wear them on your commute home tonight, okay?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

He held out a familiar white business card box.

“Is this for me?”

He squinted his eyes as if trying to think. “Yes, but there’s something I’m supposed to do.” He snapped his fingers. “I need to take your gift in exchange.”

“You need my candy?”

“Yes.” He stood in place.

“For the business card box?”

“Yes. One bag of candy for one box.” He waved it in the air.

“Okay, here you go,” she said more than a bit curious what her Secret Santa was up to. She put the candy back in her box and handed it to him.

“Thank you.”

“Can I open it now?” she asked. Who knew if there were any more instructions that she needed to follow?

Paul nodded. “You can now open it.”

“All righty.” She lifted the top, peering in. “What the…” She pulled out a single malt ball and held it up in the air feeling slightly gypped that she’d traded in her entire bag for one measly ball. “Do you know where my Secret Santa is?”

Paul shook his head. “But I do know where you’re supposed to go now. Right this way.”

Sarah followed Paul out of the conference room and down the hall. As they passed by Ryan’s office, she peeked in, her heart full of hope that Paul was dropping her off here.

Empty.

Where are you, Ryan?

Moving through the NPH Designs lobby, Paul stopped in front of Nancy’s desk.

“I was wondering when you’d bring her by.” Nancy sprung out of her seat, Sarah’s ivory wool coat and red hat in hand.

“Where am I going?” Sarah asked as Nancy came over to the other side of her desk and held the coat out for Sarah to put it on.

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