AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The rest of the week was so busy that I barely had time to breathe. Everyone was in a rush to get everything ready for Black Friday. Winston had put our evening meetings on hold because there was so much going on. On Thursday evening, I was so tired that I could barely keep my eyes open.
Thanksgiving at Jenna and Richard’s house was just as fun and loud as usual. The whole house smelled like sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. The turkey was roasted to perfection. I especially loved the signature blend of cranberry and orange stuffing. Usually, delicious food and being surrounded by my favorite people was a recipe for relaxing, but tonight I was on edge. Everyone at the table had tomorrow free, but I didn’t, since it was the biggest day of the year for everyone working in retail. Winston had instead given us the Friday after that free...well, my colleagues had the day off. Winston and I were flying to Burlington.
I returned home early from dinner but was so pumped about the next day, running numbers in my head, that I could barely sleep. When I woke up, I felt a little groggy. The day was as wild as Black Friday could be, and we hit record sales, not just at the San Francisco store but all Statham branches.
As the next week rolled in, the Christmas office party and my trip with Winston were consuming my thoughts. On the morning of the party, I arrived at the store with pep in my step. I’d come before everyone else, once again, mostly because I wanted to get a head start on my tasks. I knew that once the afternoon rolled in, my focus would drop. I’d probably walk around giddy until the party. I’d bought a present for Wanda from accounting. I knew Wanda pretty well, but I’d slyly interrogated her after I found out she was the one I was buying a gift for. Grinning, I plugged in earbuds, listening to my favorite remix of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” and filling the spreadsheet I’d promised Winston would be ready by the end of the week. It was Thursday today, but I wanted to send it to him early. He was giving me a huge opportunity by inviting me to present alongside him, and I wanted to prove that I was worthy of that chance.
I liked to exceed expectations, not only those of others but my own. Which meant drastic measures were necessary. I took a small hourglass out of the top drawer of my desk. It only had enough sand for twenty minutes, so I turned it upside down periodically, allowing myself a five-minute break every hour so I wouldn’t get a stiff back.
I was so focused on the spreadsheet that I didn’t realize I wasn’t alone until Winston said, “Good morning.”
I startled in my chair, looking up to find him standing right in front of my desk. My heart rate immediately accelerated, as it usually did around him.
“Winston, you scared me. I thought I was the only one here.”
He smiled. Good Lord. Why did he have to look so damn sinful and sexy?
“I have something for you.”
“Oh?”
He placed a small gift bag in front of me.
“What is this?”
“It’s Secret Santa day, right?”
“Yes. Wow. You drew my name?”
“No.”
I frowned. “I don’t understand. Oh, no. You misunderstood the rules. You have to buy a present for the person whose name you picked. And you can’t let them know it’s from you.”
I regretfully looked at the bag. I already thought about it as my present. But Winston had bought it for me, so... technically it was mine, right?
I mean... it probably wouldn’t be a good fit for just anyone.
“It’s yours, Sienna. I’ve bought a present for the person I’ve been paired with, but this... this is for you.”
I looked up at him, my heart beating at lightning speed now.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Open it.” His voice was low, commanding. Heat coiled through me. Licking my lips, I grabbed the bag, setting it in front of me. My breath caught. I focused on the bag again. It was easier that way, even though the energy between us wasn’t lessening in intensity. If anything, it increased.
I felt Winston round the table, coming nearer to me. The skin on the back of my neck prickled as I pulled at the bow that kept the handles together.
Inside it was a gorgeous hairpin with a butterfly on it.
“Winston, this is stunning.” My voice wasn’t quite right.
“I saw this and imagined how it would look on you. I wanted you to have it. I knew you’d love it. You always wear these things in your hair.”
The fact that he’d paid so much attention got to me in an unexpected way.
“And I’d love to see it on you. Let me put it on.”
My breath caught. I made the mistake of tilting my head, looking up at him. The ferocity in his green eyes made it impossible to do anything but cave to whatever
