Page 16 of All I Want for Christmas is You

“Then it’s settled,” he announces, helping me up after we’ve both cleaned up with napkins.

“I should warn you though,” I try to caution him, but he’s not having any of it.

Pulling me close, he whispers how perfect I am before kissing the top of my head again. Right on that magic spot.

“Then let’s get you home,” he says quietly, not letting go of me until we reach the ground floor.

But I already am home.Chapter TwelveJackI’ve got a car waiting, and avoiding the office altogether, I feel nothing but relief once we’re inside and on our way to her place.

“I lifted your address from your employee file,” I confess, drawing her closer once we start moving.

I feel her tense up, and have a fair idea why. New boss, new man. Doesn’t want me to see her place.

Embarrassed.

“I don’t have to come in,” I assure her, reminding her I really am just dropping her home, giving her all the space she needs.

But there’s no way I’m leaving the street if she doesn’t want me up there. I’ll keep the car there all night if I have to, call a security team to watch her building too.

Like I said, I’m in deep with Avery, whether she knows it or not.

I know the city’s real estate, own a fair chunk of it myself. So I know where we’re headed isn’t the high end of town.

But I have to say, I feel for Avery more and more, each second we draw closer to her building. I can just feel the shame pouring off her as we pull up.

Something that I know she’ll never have to feel ever again soon if I have my way.

It’s a dark building, even in the failing light.

In a neighborhood, I wouldn’t walk alone in, let alone have Avery anywhere near, given the chance.

“Here we are,” she says, sucking a breath between her cheeks.

I move my hand to touch hers, but she’s already halfway out the car door.

Not needing to motion the driver to wait, I go after her.

I have to.

“The elevator doesn’t work,” she mumbles, leading me instead to a dank stairwell.

“Only one floor up,” she adds.

It’s a mess the building I mean. But I can’t help but study her shape as she walks up those stairs ahead of me, feeling my own heat and thickness rise again with each of her steps.

“It’s not so bad,” I lie once we come up to her floor.

I’ve already decided she’s only staying here long enough to pack a bag.

Before I even see inside her place, which is nice enough given the situation once we get in, I feel guilty that any one of my employees, let alone Avery lives in a place like this.

“This is me,” she announces, holding out her hands as I stoop a little to squeeze into the small space.

“Is it?” I ask her, holding out both hands.

“Oh, Jack. I know it isn’t much, but this is who I am, it’s where I live at least,” she tells me, almost pleading with her eyes.

Knowing I won’t have her in this place one more night.

One more damned minute.

“Do you want a coffee, or maybe something stronger?” I hear her chime, setting her keys down, and trying to act natural.

I take her in my arms again, shaking my head. I don’t want her here one more second.

“You’ll pack a bag, whatever you need. And we leave, now,” I tell her.

I’m not asking.

I’m telling.

“From today, right now Avery, you’re mine. I won’t let you out of my sight again, and I sure as hell won’t see you in this place again.”

Her jaw drops a little, and then a flash of fire is in her eyes.

But her hands gripping mine tells me I’m right.

“You haven’t done wrong, Avery. I just want to take you away from this. Forever,” I tell her.

“But this is me. It’s who I am,” she says defiantly.

“I know it is, Avery. But that’s the old you. I want to show you a new life if you’ll let me?” I suggest, feeling her hurt.

I’m not judging her, just wanting the very best for her.

Turning quickly, she brings her hands to her chest.

“I suppose you’d rather have me in one of your towers, like some maiden you call on whenever you feel like it?” she murmurs.

I feel her shiver as my hands grip her shoulders, turning her to face me.

“I want you with me, all the time, Avery. No towers, no prisons. Just here,” I tell her, pulling her hands over my heart.

“Then why can’t you accept me if I’m here, in my own place?” she asks, her voice breaking.

“Because I know you deserve better, a thousand times more. I can give you-”

But she’s looked away.

I’ve done it again. Said too much too soon, or just the wrong thing.

“Everything I have, Jack. Where I am. I got myself here. All by myself. I don’t need someone to wave a magic wand to fix any of it,” she says calmly, her hands dropping from mine.

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