Page 34 of Mr. Right Under the Mistletoe

“Nick! How’d you know where to find me?”

“I talked to my mom.”

“Oh.” She blinked, brushed a stray piece of hair out of her eyes.

“I told her the whole story, Syd. She knows the truth now.”

“I’m sorry, Nick. I didn’t mean for this all to come crashing down, on Christmas Eve no less.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she swiped at her face. I stepped forward, brushing them away, then taking her hands and locking eyes with her. “It’s not your fault, Syd. I got you into this mess. And my mom’s not mad at all. And even if she were, it wouldn’t be at you, so don’t worry about that for a second.”

She nodded. “I appreciate that, Nick, but it wasn’t all you. I went along with the plan, even though I knew better. And I’m going to accept whatever HR decides to do. Even if I get fired.”

“What?” I asked, frowning. “Why? Your job means everything to you, you can’t just give it up like that.”

Sydney shook her head. “No, it doesn’t.” She kicked at the sand with her shoe, then met my gaze. “You mean more to me than this job. I’m going to resign on Monday and look for another job. So we can be together. I mean—if that’s what you still want.”

I swallowed hard over the giant lump in my throat. “Sydney. I don’t want you to give up your career for me.”

“Well, it’s not my career, exactly. It’s a job. There are more out there, but there’s only one you.” She smiled up at me, her cheeks flushing a soft pink.

“I mean, that part is true. There is only one me. But I can’t let you do that. If HR won’t relax the co-worker clause, we can hold off on us for now. I only signed a two-year contract. Sure, it seems like forever right at this moment, but I’ll wait for you. You’re worth it.”

Sydney smiled again, and this time it reached all the way to her glittering eyes. “Thanks, Nick. But after being apart while you were in Arizona, there is absolutely no way I’m making it two more years. The last few months were some of the loneliest, worst months of my life and I don’t want to be without you again. Even if it means losing my job.”

I bent down, taking Sydney’s face in my hands, and pressed my lips to hers in a soft, slow kiss. “I love you,” I murmured against her lips.

“I love you, too.”

We kissed on the beach until both of us were shivering. “I have your coffee in the car,” I said, wrapping my arms around her petite frame, trying to keep her warm. “It might still be lukewarm.”

She laughed. “Okay. What about the bike?”

“I can fit it in the back. C’mon, let’s get home and see if we can work something out with HR. Then let’s celebrate Christmas.”

“Sounds good.” Sydney stood on her tiptoes, placing a kiss on my lips, and I knew I’d just received the best Christmas gift ever.

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