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Her spike heel caught and rolled on something beneath her. The room tilted, and her ears rang as she pinwheeled her arms frantically to catch her balance.
A solid grip anchored her elbow, and she felt the sear of five fingertips through satin spanning her waist. Instinct had her clutching the biceps of the only guy in the room wearing a full suit, other than her boss. And Santa.
“Ope!Close call.” His murmur had humor and a hint of vodka lacing it. “You okay?”
So much for not mingling with the B&T crowd. She was practically tangoing with this one. Her traitorous heels still only brought her view to the guy’s chin, carefully cultivated stubble and all. He was either hiding a dimple or a smirk under there, and Nora couldn’t decide if that irked or intrigued her.
“No need to call OSHA. I’m fine.”
He was still literally palming her ribcage. Adrenaline sent heat through her limbs and up to her hairline, and she considered hiding behind the tabletop poinsettias for the rest of the evening. Perfect camouflage.
“Ruben’s a tough cookie,” Hedstrom slurred. “Leave it to our HR trailblazer!” He turned to the small group that had gathered. “I’ve never had to sign an accident report form during a company Christmas — er-um,holidayparty.”
Nora cringed inwardly. The politically-correct afterthought was worse than the original oversight, in her opinion. And unnecessary. She’d lived her twenty-six years keenly aware that her holiday was minor in comparison to the big C.
Her tango partner looked like he shared her sentiment. His thick brow knit in a quizzical, apologetic way, and his warm dark eyes channeled… something. Sympathy? He dropped his hands when their eyes met, and Nora felt the absence. She hadn’t pegged him as shy, but his gaze was now aimed at the carpet.
With a shaky breath, she smiled at her co-workers and regained her composure. Now that the commotion had subsided, they were back to getting their drink on. Whatever Hedstrom’s earlier mission had been, he had aborted it in favor of the shrimp cocktail tower and talking to the IT guys with his mouth full.
“Ah, your nemesis.” Her rescuer had deftly dropped to a knee and scooped something up, but now rose again to his full height. He rolled the shiny object between his finger and thumb before offering it to her.
Not shy, she noted.Observant.
“That would’ve made for an interesting work comp case –disabled by jingle bell.”
So it hadn’t been her ears ringing, after all. All this holiday stuff was hazardous to her health.
“Thanks for the quick save. I’m Nora.”
“Beck. My pleasure.”
A clanging ensued from the far side of the room. “You guys know what to do!”
Fran from Marketing had left her mule station, despite the line, and was banging two empty copper cups together to get everyone’s attention for some reason.
“Come on, don’t be shy!” She sing-songed, as those around murmured in agreement.
“Any idea what’s going on?”
Beck gave a baffled grin, shaking his head. “Not a clue.”
Moses Almighty, he was cute. There was definitely a dimple under his scruff. Looking up at that smile was like basking in the sun. She could just close her eyes and –
Wait. Was that mistletoe above his head?
Nora had never paid attention to the stuff before. Not her circus, not her monkeys.
But now?
Now, a huge bunch was tied with a red ribbon to the Edison bulbs merrily strung haphazardly across the room. And the two of them just happened to be standing right under it.
“Jewish, remember?” Nora called to her co-workers. “Impervious to your Kryptonite.”
Booing ensued.
“That’s got to be a fire hazard,” Beck murmured, glancing up at the sprigs of green.
Fran stared disapprovingly over her Mrs. Claus glasses at them.
