Page 13 of The Santa Swap

“I didn’t know I was working for you at the time.”

Luke walked over to the desk and pulled out a chair. “You say that, but we had fun. In fact, it was one of the best dates I’ve been on in a long time.”

Olivia’s cheeks flushed with an adorable pink. “Me too, but that doesn’t change anything.”

He leaned on her desk, his clasped in front of him. “The end of the night didn’t end so badly either.”

Olivia placed her hand over his. “Luke, I had a great time. In fact, I thought I’d found someone worth giving a second date to.”

“So why do you keep saying no?”

Olivia pushed her chair back to the wall and stood up, her brow wrinkling with frustration. “Are you really that dense?”

“What do you mean?” He leaned back in the chair, unsure of where the anger was stemming from.

“Look. I have tried to set clear boundaries. I am not going to ruin my reputation by dating you. I have worked too hard to get to where I am in my career. Dating you wouldn’t help.”

“I see that, a little bit, but plenty of successful couples got their starts working together at the same company.”

“Uh huh. You’re saying we’re a couple now?”

“I’m saying that there is no rule against dating the boss. Especially not when it is two people who could be perfect together.”

Olivia was staring out the window. Luke walked to her side, reaching for her arm to turn her around. “Can you give me a chance?”

He was standing so close to her it would be easy to close the gap with a kiss, but he knew she wouldn’t accept it.

Time passed, but Luke didn’t move. He wasn’t going to break the silence until Olivia gave him an answer. When she finally turned, the look in her eyes broke his heart.

She placed a hand on his chest and his pulse sped up. “Luke,” she said. “I am going to say this once, and I need you to hear my words.”

That didn’t sound like an answer he wanted to hear.

“I genuinely enjoyed our date the day we met. I haven’t felt so alive in a long time. I wish, more than anything, that we weren’t working together, but we are. I know you don’t understand why I won’t go out with you. You’re a man, and the gossip around the office looks different for a man. For me, I’ve spent my entire life working hard to get respect. I can’t risk my reputation for a relationship that started on a lie.”

She paused to take a breath, but her words were sinking in. It came back to that stupid lie. If Luke had told her who he was from the beginning, maybe he’d have a chance. Somehow, though, he knew it probably wouldn’t have made a difference. She wasn’t just upset about the date.

“You’re right. I don’t understand where you are coming from, but I’d like to try.” Luke placed his hand over Olivia’s, realizing it would probably be the last time he’d get to be close to her.

“Thank you,” Olivia said. “We can’t date, but if it’s okay, I’d still like to be friends.”

That was the gut punch. No guy wanted to be friend-zoned, but Luke had to accept it if he wanted things to be less awkward. “One more hug?” he asked.

She nodded.

Luke pulled Olivia towards his chest, taking his time to memorize every detail about her, from the way her hair smelled like strawberries to the way his chin could rest comfortably on the top of her head. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before he released her.

“Okay. From now on, we’re friends.” Luke stepped back and turned to leave. He had his hand on the door knob when he turned to face Olivia. “Oh, and friend?”

Olivia looked up. “Yeah?”

“That means I get to talk to you now without you avoiding me, right?”

Luke watched the faint blush rise on her cheeks as she nodded. It confirmed his suspicions that she had been avoiding him.

* * *

Luke was sittingin his office when he got a text from an unknown number. There was a blurry photo attached of Luke holding someone in his arms, taken from the parking lot. It didn’t take much to realize that Olivia was the only person in the office with that same curly red hair.

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