Page 68 of His Christmas Wife

Not ten minutes after he authorized and sent that letter, his phone rang.Brigette.News certainly traveled fast.

After staring at the screen for a moment, he swiped the red X to reject the call.

Midafternoon, a woman he didn’t know entered the anteroom, bearing a tray of cupcakes.

With a cheery hello, Kaylee went out to greet her. Shamelessly Frost eavesdropped on the conversation.

“It’s my mom’s birthday tomorrow,” she explained to Kaylee. “Her friends are hosting a tea for her, and it means the world that I get to be there as well.”

“That sounds like so much fun. Scones and everything?”

“With clotted cream.”

“Oh my God. I’m envious. I hope it’s a wonderful experience.”

“I know you; this was all your doing.”

Right away, Kaylee corrected her “Actually it was Mr. Frost.”

The woman laughed. “If you say so.”

“I promise you; the idea was all his.”

He appreciated the note of loyalty in her voice—something he’d thought he’d never earn.

“Anyway, Kaylee, the cupcakes are for you. My way of saying thanks.”

“That’s so kind. Enjoy your time away. And happy birthday to your mom.”

“She’ll appreciate that. Then after Christmas, I’m going to sleep for a week.”

Kaylee’s phone rang. After excusing herself, she returned to her office and closed the door.

About ten minutes later, he’d had enough of her remoteness.

He pushed back from his desk and strode to her office, knocked once, then turned the knob.

She was standing near the window, still on her cell. As she looked at him, her face paled. “I’ll need to call you back later. My boss just walked in.”

An unspoken word hung between them:Uninvited.

“I’ll be sure to let you know. And merry Christmas.” After ending the conversation, she crossed to the desk and slid the device onto the top, face down.

Interesting.

He didn’t have a right to ask who she’d been talking to. But that didn’t slow him down. “Everything okay?”

She gave him a fake, sunny smile. “Fine.”

Her cheeks turned red, and her expression faltered. Her response was a lie, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

But she offered no further explanation. “Did you need something?”

To spank her until she became the yielding woman who’d given him everything for two days. “Dinner.” Anything to spend time together.

Kaylee shook her head. “I was planning to bake tonight. I’m in charge of bringing desserts to Christmas dinner. And I didn’t have the time I expected over the weekend to finish up my shopping. I still need a gift for my mother.”

“You were anticipating working tomorrow,” he reminded her.