Page 34 of Holiday Hook-Up
Snow drifted in thick flakes. The kind that stuck to your jacket and hung on for a few minutes, leaving you wet and soggy. As pretty as the snow looked out my window the last few days, driving and walking around in it was another story.
Christmas lights and wreaths still decorated campus and I admired them as I walked the path toward my advisor’s office.
She greeted me in the waiting area with a warm grin. “Hello Emmy, come on in. Is Mr. Woods not joining us?” She peeked behind me as if Gary would appear out of thin air.
“No, unfortunately he won’t be making it today.”Be cheery, Emmy.This could still work.
I followed behind her and took a seat in a comfortable chair opposite her desk. Her space was warm and bright which helped my mood a touch.
She pulled up my file on her screen and took a moment to glance at it before turning to me. “So, Emmy, I see here I haven’t received the signed form from Mr. Woods either. We’d need that for you to earn credit for your internship. Is there some kind of mistake?”
I cleared my throat, willing myself not to cry. “See, there was a bit of a-”
“Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt.”
I knew that voice. Deep and clear, a voice that could command a room. Logan. I turned slowly, not believing my ears, to see him standing in the doorframe looking as handsome as ever. My pulse pounded and I found it hard to take in a full breath. Why was he here?
“Can I help you sir?” Mrs. O’ Donnell asked.
I watched Logan step forward with my mouth hanging open. It was as if this was a movie playing in front of me.
He shook her hand. “Logan Connor. Sorry I’m late. I’m the CEO of Connor Industries. My company owns the hotel where Ms. Handler works.” He glanced at me, eyes full of emotion.
“Oh, wonderful. I was expecting Gary Woods, but I’m sure we can make this work. Would you mind signing some forms for me? Once that’s set we can conduct the interview.”
“Absolutely,” Logan said.
I watched both of them, unsure what to say. Was he here to vouch for me? And if so, why now? It would have been nice if he’d called me first and given me a heads up.
I shook my knee, expelling nervous energy while Logan signed off on my internship. He answered every question Mrs. O’ Donnell asked about my performance and duties at The Ridge and he brought up how I personally assisted a VIP guest. He’d said all the right things while I nodded in agreement, stunned.
“Emmy, I’m so proud of you,” Mrs. O’ Donnell said. “With these glowing recommendations, I see no reason why you wouldn’t get chosen to finish your degree working at Resorts Worldwide.”
I beamed while nervous butterflies fluttered in my stomach. This didn’t feel right, but I didn’t have it in me to tell Mrs. O’ Donnell the truth. I’d just have to make sure I worked extra hard at RW and kept my head down. No hookups for me. I was officially celibate. Logan’s spicy scent wafted toward me and I thought, I didn’t want anyone else anyway, so a life of celibacy would be easy. The only man I wanted was sitting right beside me.
We shook hands with Mrs. O’ Donnell and she promised she’d be in touch. That I should enjoy a few weeks off and I would know by the fifteenth or so where I’ll be headed next.
Logan and I walked quietly outside. I’d never seen campus this calm. Then again, I rarely physically came in. I’d done most of my work online. I kept my eyes trained on my feet, watching snowflakes stick to my black heels and fiddled with my phone in my palm.
“Emerald…” Logan started, as I dropped my phone against the wet sidewalk. We both bent at the same time to pick it up and suddenly I was eye to eye with him again. Just like the first time we’d seen each other.
His dark eyes captured mine with a pleading look. I couldn’t break my gaze from his. With my pulse pounding and stomach turning, I stood back up and tentatively stepped closer to him.
He trailed his hand across my cheek, so gently, a shudder rolled through me. I wanted to press my face into his palm but then I remembered who I was and what I was doing there. “Logan, I should go.” I stepped away and turned my back on him. “Thank you for coming. I really appreciate what you did in there.”
His palm grazed my shoulder as a cold breeze blew his scent toward me. God, why did he have to smell so good? I steeled myself. It would be hard to walk away, but I knew what I needed to do.
“Can we talk please? I’m so sorry. I’m a royal asshole, Emerald. I know I don’t deserve a chance but I’d like to explain.” Emotion clogged his throat and I couldn’t help myself. I turned to face him again.
“It’s fine, Logan. I accept your apology. But this?” I gestured between us. “We can’t work. I may not be your employee now but it wouldn’t work. I know it.”
“Baby, please,” he pleaded. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. It wouldn’t matter if you were my employee, not anymore. I went to the board. I told them about us. I told them I was falling in love with an employee and that we needed to update company policy. I’m the CEO. I was holding myself in a prison of my own making. I’ve been a stupid asshole, thinking that if I put myself out there, found someone to share my life with, I’d end up like him. So I hid away. It was easier than taking a risk.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m falling for you, Emerald. I meant it when I said you were mine. I needed to get over my own issues and in the process, I hurt you. I’m so sorry. Please, let me make it up to you. Come to New York and stay with me for a while. We can figure this out. I want to be with you.”
He was falling for me? I didn’t know what to say or how to feel. No one had ever told me they cared for me this way. My brain said one thing and my heart said another. I looked into his eyes again and knew I was done for.
