Page 18 of Vixen's Guide to Christmas
“I’d like that.”
Relief washes through me as I lean down and kiss her forehead. “Then it’s a date.”
I seal it with a kiss on her lips before she quickly pulls away and makes a face. “Shit—don’t be mad at me.”
“Kat. Unless you’re going to tell me you’re married, or worse, a dating a professional hockey player who could kick my ass, I don’t see how I could be mad at you.”
That makes her laugh. “It’s nothing like that. It’s just that I have to go out of town for work this weekend. Plus, I know the holidays are coming up, which always makes things weird. I just…if I can’t meet with you right away, I hope you don’t think it’s because I’m not interested. Because I am.”
I roll her over, giving me another look into her brown eyes. The ones I got lost in too many times last night. The ones I know I’m going to get lost in many times over in the future.
Because yes, I see a future with this woman. I wasn’t lying last night when I told her that if I didn’t see a relationship going somewhere, I was quick to cut it. If I didn’t feel anything thismorning, I would’ve treated this like a one-night stand. Neither are true. I want to see where this goes, which I hope is far.
“If you think because of some scheduling issues that I’m going to lose interest, then I don’t think you realize how determined and stubborn I can be.”
This makes her smile again as she starts playing with the hair at the nape of my neck. “Well, that’s good. But so am I. How do you think this is going to work?”
I lean down, my cock that’s been semi-hard all morning now fully erect as it rubs against her. “I’m not sure. But I’m sure we’ll figure out a way.”
Kat’s hand moves down between us, slowly stroking me. “I think we can. And I think we should start now.”
I roll her on top of me, her giggles filling the room as we become tangled in each other one more time. “I thought you were a mood killer?”
She shakes her head and adds a devilish smile. “My moods change often. You ready for that?”
I pull her closer to me, our lips inches away. “I’m ready for it all.”
On any given Friday, most people in an office are smiling—especially when it’s the Friday before your company is giving you the last two weeks of the year off for the holidays. The only thing on the office’s agenda is our holiday party, featuring a massive dessert table, catered lunch, and our white elephant gift exchange, or as they apparently call it in the south, Dirty Santa.
If that was the only thing on the agenda today, I’d still be smiling like the kid who got exactly what he wanted for Christmas. But considering I still have the vivid memory of Kat'snaked body lying on top of me, and the shower we took together this morning before leaving the hotel room, this smile is here for the long haul.
“He’s arrived.” I look up from my desk to see my boss, Melinda, walking into my office. “How'd last night go?”
I know she's asking me about the speed dating event, and if it swayed Hazel in our direction. But the aforementioned smile plastered on my face likely gives away that I’m grinning about a lot more than an account.
“It went really well.” And it did. No lies there. “Was a really good event. I think we could do some great things with their company.”
“I’m just happy you got in the door,” she says as she takes a seat across from me. “Hazel has kept everything in house for years. The fact that she's venturing out was an opportunity I’m glad we could take advantage of.”
“Absolutely,” I say as I flick on my computer. “She didn't give me a timetable for when she's making her decision. I’m going to guess, if she’s like most other companies, I’m not going to hear back until after the first of the year.”
“Good to know if anyone asks,” Melinda says. “Now you can take the rest of the year off and come back ready to work hard in January.”
I shake my head. “Nope. What’s next?”
Melinda narrows her eyes at me, giving me a stern mom stare. Which I guess fits. Her son is older than me, and I’ve seen her go off on some interns who didn’t follow directions.
“Grayson, it’s the Friday before a two-week vacation. Look out into the bullpen. Not a single person in this office is working today. I’m barely working. Why not fall into peer pressure and slack off today, instead of asking me who the next whale is that you're trying to bag?”
“What can I say? The work never stops.”
“It does. And you need it to,” she says. “I can’t afford for you to burn out. You’re my best publicist. I need you to take it easy these next two weeks.”
She’s probably right, though I hate admitting it out loud. I’ve been going nonstop all year. The smart thing for my mental and physical health should be unwinding and resting. Binging a show. Going home to visit my family for a few days. Maybe sneaking in a few dates with Kat when she’s back in town.
But the thought of completely pumping the brakes right now isn’t going to happen. I won’t work all the time. But between the binging and the eating and the dating, I’m going to be doing my research. Making my game plans. Because next year is going to be the year that I climb the ladder and finally have the title of Senior Account Executive.
When I get the promotion—because it’s not if, but when—I’ll be the youngest senior account executive, at the ripe old age of thirty-four. And while it's not completely unheard of for somebody my age to get promoted to that level, it would be a first for Sterling Strategies.
