Page 20 of Midnight & Magic
“You what? Cam! That might ruin you!” Her eyes shot wide, and she patted him on his chest to show him he was making a mistake and to put some distance between them. She wouldn’t be the reason his company folded. Not now, not ever.
He shook his head.
“Nope. It hasn’t, and it won’t. Ever since we broke up, I’ve been doing research. I will not let the stockholders dictate who I allow in my private life. This company is mine, not theirs. I know how to use the press to my advantage—had to learn that quick like you. I first did the leak that we were dating, which was all positive. I followed that up with your ideas for this party, and the press ate that up, too. The market is back on an upswing because of you, Cassidy. I told you before, but I’ll say it again, Cass. Hiring you was the second best thing I ever did.”
Her brows narrowed.
“What’s the first?”
“You’ll find out at the Christmas party.” He said as he closed the distance between the two of them.
“But that’s in two days.” She said with a pout.
He was finally holding her again. Finally, opening up to her, and she didn’t want any secrets between them anymore—even if this was a surprise. Warmth came over her body as he drew her to his waist.
“I’ll give you a hint, then. It’s kinda like shaking the box before you unwrap the gift. Well, sort of.” He said as he cupped her cheek and claimed her lips. His kiss was soft and inviting at first, and then it deepened with a passion she had never felt before.
She let out a soft moan as her arms wrapped around his waist.
“God, Cass,” He whispered over her lips. “I’ve wanted to kiss you again for so long. Please, let’s never break up again. My dead heart can’t handle it.”
She placed her head on his shoulder before answering him.
“My heart can’t handle it, either. But seriously? That hint was far too vague. You suck at hinting.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze before separating from him. “I’ll go with you to the Christmas party.”
“You don’t know how happy that makes me!”
A calming peace intermixed with a sense of euphoria at his words; she only had Ginger to thank.
Thank you, Ginger!
The day of the Christmas party had come, and Cassidy felt like she was the queen of the ball. Rumors did, in fact, turn towards the positive side with Camden and Cassidy, and she couldn’t be any happier. Their couple’s hashtag was Camassidy. She put on her ugly Christmas sweater dress over some white leggings and comfy mid-calf riding boots with only a one-inch heel. The dress wasn’t all that ugly—a royal blue with sequin white snowflakes around the front of the dress. She wouldn’t win a prize for having the ugliest, but her feet would think she won the best Emmy of the evening.
She knew this was a little more dressy than what she initially wanted to do. But since Camden was going to introduce her to the press as his girlfriend, she wanted to look a little more formal while they took pictures.
The orphanage kids loved all their gifts and enjoyed Santa’s cheer. The auction and party festivities went off without a hitch. Even Ginger came to help with bartending the shindig. Cassidy invited her after thanking the elf for the best gift she’d ever gotten in life. It elated Cassidy to thank her personally for her gift of gumption. Ginger merely smiled off the thanks as each of the attendees stuffed her tip jar.
“Ladies, hope you are enjoying all the festivities,” Camden said as he slid an arm around Cassidy in front of Ginger.
“Oh yes! This was the party of the century—that’s for sure.” Ginger said with a wink in Cassidy’s direction. “You must be the Bossman that Cassidy has been talking so kindly about. Pleased to meet you!”
“It’s nice to meet you, too, uh?”
Cassidy was about to say something as Camden fumbled for words. She’d never seen him this way before. As she opened her mouth, Ginger spoke.
“Oh! Where are my manners? My name is Ginger Breading, and my parents weren’t plastered when they named me. However, my mother was still under the influence of some wonderful drugs when she signed my birth certificate one Christmas day. Can I get you anything to drink?” She said as she placed a cocktail napkin in front of him.
“I’d like a bottle of champagne put on ice and two glasses, please. Just in case.” He said to Ginger with a wink.
“Coming right up, Bossman!”
Ginger’s smile brightened from ear to ear as she buzzed around the makeshift bar and placed a bottle of champagne in front of Camden. Cassidy searched Camden’s eyes.
“What’s this about, Cam?”
“Cass, it’s not a secret that I love you. You are my match and my mate in every way. And I can’t let another day go by without telling the world that you are mine.” He said as he slipped a tiny red box out of his jacket pocket. He opened the box, and in it contained an enormous diamond ring in the shape of a snowflake. “Cassidy Cavanagh, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Cassidy put a hand over her mouth to bite back the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. But it did little to dissipate the steady flow. She knew he would give her a gift and make an announcement tonight, but she didn’t think it was this in a million years.
