Page 36 of Vixen's Guide to Christmas
Now that I calm myself a bit, I don’t see Kat allowing that to happen either. She’s a smart woman. Quick to pick up on things. And clearly can hold herself in the business world.
Wait…why do I care? I shouldn’t. Sure, I want to make sure their meeting isn’t giving her an unfair advantage in the business sense, but personally, I shouldn’t give two shits.
Except I do. Because as much as I know things could never work between us, I can’t turn off the switch when it comes to this woman.
I shake my head a bit, trying concentrate on anything except the two of them. I get lost in the notes I left for myself on my phone when I hear Kat’s laughter coming toward me.
“Oh! Grayson!” she says cheerily. “When did you get here?”
“Few minutes ago,” I say through gritted teeth. Because apparently I have no other way of talking when the two of them are together. “You two had lunch?”
Declan holds up his hands in surrender. “She was eating alone, and I thought she could use some company. I promise we didn't talk about anything to do with the job. That wouldn't be fair.”
My gut reaction is to believe him. I should be happier about that than I am. “So what did you two talk about?"
My pettiness might be able to take a back seat, but my curiosity can't.
“I was telling him about my trip to St. Lucia for Christmas,” Kat says. “Turns out he’s been there and he was giving me some sights to see. Well, the ones that don’t have me going on an all-day excursion.”
“Do you know this woman isn’t an excursion girl?” he asks. “She’d rather lay on the beach all day then go hike the trails and mountains.”
“I did,” I say, puffing my chest out a little. “I believe she likes to call herself ‘outside-y, not outdoorsy.’”
The smile she gives me hits me square in the chest. Neither of us say anything as we share a knowing look, until Declan breaks the silence.
“I need to get back to the office. See you both shortly.”
I nod. “See you then.”
We both watch Declan walk away, but neither of us go anywhere.
“You remembered.”
I could play it coy, but I chose not to. “I remember everything.”
My words seem to surprise her as our gazes lock. The heat and want and desire that passes through us in this moment is overwhelming. I know she can feel it. I see her eyes swirling with emotion. I imagine it’s how mine look.
We both want each other. But we both know the line in the sand is drawn. We can’t.
And it fucking sucks.
I want to kiss her. I want it more than my next breath. I want to say fuck our jobs, fuck everything that I thought, fuck whatever is holding her back, and just kiss her. Take her in my arms and never let her go. Run off to that beach in St. Lucia and start a life selling rental chairs on a beach.
And I’m about to. I’m this close to taking a step in when the sound of Santa Claus breaks our spell.
“Ho! Ho! Ho!”
Kat and I both turn to see Howard coming through the lobby, Santa suit on, despite it still being three days before Christmas. I’m distracted for just a few seconds, but it’s long enough to give Kat an opening to leave. When I notice, she’s already half way to the elevator, power-walking away like her life depends on it.
I want to run after her. I want to recreate the elevator magic that I know we have.
But I can’t.
I have a job to do.
And for the first time in my professional life, I want to say “fuck the job.”
Nailed it.
