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That possibility makes me grin. And grimace as my still-sore cock twitches.
“So you must have big plans for the holidays I say.” I cringe inwardly. I suck at small talk.
“Actually my sisters will be gone this year.” She gives a tight-lipped smile. “It’ll just be me.”
Now I feel like even more of a dick. “Sorry.”
She lifts a shoulder and turns to my dad. “Was there something I can help you with, Mr. Noble?”
“Actually, I was hoping you might let my boy here shadow you the next couple of days. Show him around. Introduce him to people.” He gives me a stern look that still has the power to make me feel thirteen years old instead of thirty-three. “Don’t be afraid to put him to work with the holiday party.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary.” She tightens her hold on the phone gripped in her hands. “Everything is pretty much ready to go.”
“We both know you’re going to stay late the night before the party to decorate and transform this place into Santa’s workshop. You always do.” Dad chuckles. “Have Jonas help you with some of the heavy lifting. Send him on errands.”
“Well...”
“It’s okay,” I say. “You can put me to work. I’m glad to help.”
Glad might be a stretch, but I wouldn’t say no to spending a little more time with this woman. Something about her… She’s striking in every sense of the word.
“Alright, I appreciate your help.” She glances at the door. “Was there anything else I can help you with?”
“That’ll be all Holly,” Dad says.
“I’ll see you around.”
She gives a short nod in response to me and leaves, pulling the door closed behind her.
“Her mom passed away earlier this year,” Dad says. “It was unexpected.”
“Oh.” I stare at the closed door, feeling like shit about bringing up the fact that she’ll be alone this Christmas. “It’s hard to lose a parent.”
An experience I, unfortunately, know too well.
“Is her dad—”
“He’s not in the picture. She’s a good girl, though, and won’t complain.” Dad gives me a hard look. “She knows how important it is to appreciate the family you have.”
I sigh and rub my forehead. “Dad, it was never about—”
“I know, I know.” He holds up his hands. “You needed space to be your own man.” He shoves his hands in his pocket. “I really hope you’ll take what I’ve said under consideration. There’s been a Noble running the company since your great-grandfather founded it.”
Though we hadn’t been in the outerwear business then.
“I will think about it.” There’s one thing giving me real pause right now. It’s not the years I’ve been away. I’ve spent that time getting an MBA and salvaging three companies that were about to go under with my accounting skills. “What about Holly?”
“What do you mean?”
“As your second in command these past few years, don’t you think she’ll be expecting the job?”
“I’ve never promised her anything. She’ll understand it’s a family matter.”
I’m not so sure he’s right about that. Not if the fire she showed in her eyes earlier was any indication.
“Listen.” Dad clears his throat. “Joyce is hoping you’ll come over for dinner on Christmas.”
Joyce. My dad’s personal secretary. His very personal secretary. The woman he started dating mere months after my mom passed away. The woman he plans to marry after his retirement.
