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I clench my thighs, doing my best to ignore the physical reaction his words have on my body.
“Oh my god, I can’t believe you just said that.” I turn to face the wall. “Goodnight, boss.”
“Goodnight, Presley.” His voice is low. “Sleep tight, beautiful.”
I might have imagined that last part, but I don’t dare ask.
We’ve been in meetings with Mr. Wescott’s team all morning.
I’m having difficulty staying awake though given that I’ve spent the better part of the last two nights tossing and turning. It’s been a while since I’ve shared a bed with a man, and I was petrified my subconscious would take it as a sign to cuddle with Jack in my sleep. Luckily, I’ve woken up to his side of the bed cold and empty both mornings we’ve been here.
“Can you repeat that?” Jack’s grip on his pen is so tight that I expect it to snap at any second.
“We’ve covered all the time-sensitive items,” Mr. Wescott says. “Let’s reschedule the rest of the agenda until after the new year. It’s the Friday before Christmas, and I’m giving my staff the rest of the day off.” He smiles warmly at the camera.
“With all due respect, it's essential that our teams are prepared ahead of time for the changes coming in January.”
“There’s nothing that can’t wait a few days.” Mr. Wescott blatantly dismisses Jack’s concerns. “When you get to be my age, you’ll realize that work isn’t nearly as important as it used to be. Everyone is burned out from the hundreds of hours we’ve spent preparing for this deal. We’ll be much more productive once we’ve had a well-deserved break.”
He has an excellent point.
I don’t miss Jack’s clenched jaw, telling me he doesn’t agree, but it’s obvious Mr. Wescott isn’t going to back down on his stance.
“All right, Mr. Wescott. We’ll do it your way,” Jack releases a heavy sigh. “I’ll have my assistant reschedule for the first week of January.”
“Good. I’m glad we agree. Thanks for your hard work, everyone.” He waves at the camera, and the call cuts off before Jack can get another word in.
“Well, that was a waste of time.” He slams his laptop closed, running his fingers through his hair. “Schedule the jet to pick me up. I’m going back to the city tonight.”
“You can’t leave,” I rush out. “I held up my end of our bargain. It’s not my fault Mr. Wescott cut our work short. You’re the one who had the brilliant idea to tell my mom we’re dating, and she’ll be devastated if you leave before Christmas. Besides, you can’t go until you’ve helped me with my holiday wishlist.”
Why am I trying to convince him to stay? Shouldn’t I be happy that he wants to leave? However, I’m conflicted because something tells me that if he goes back to New York, he’ll be alone over the holidays, which doesn’t sit right with me.
“Fine,” Jack mumbles. “I’ll stay until Christmas, but not a day longer.” He taps his fingers on the desk. “What’s first on your list?”
“Ice skating,” I say enthusiastically. “It’s a family tradition.”
“Why don’t I sit this one out? I have work to catch up on, and something tells me you’ll enjoy yourself far more if I’m not there, especially considering I’ve never been skating before.”
“Don’t be such a grinch. We can go early this afternoon so you can practice before my family gets there. Who knows? You might even end up having a little fun,” I say, making me wonder if Jack even knows how to have a good time.
“Something tells me our definition of fun isn’t the same,” he grumbles.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
5
JACK
DESPITE THE SUN SHINING BRIGHT and the tune of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” playing overhead, I’m not in a very festive mood.
I slowly inch around the outdoor rink, clinging to the wall for support. Presley didn’t mention that ice skating would be so damn difficult. She tried to teach me, but after I snapped at her when I fell flat on my ass for the fifth time in a row, she left me behind, saying she refused to tolerate my surly attitude any longer. I don’t blame her.
Everyone at the office tends to cower with fear when I enter a room, but not Presley. She’s never been intimidated or afraid to call me out when she doesn’t like something I’ve said or done. It’s one of the reasons I consider her my best employee.
So why don’t you start treating her like it?
I glance across the rink to find her gracefully skating across the ice. She’s wearing a white pom-pom hat, her brunette locks falling in waves down her front and her eyes shining with excitement. Fuck, she’s a goddamn vision and has completely consumed my thoughts since we got to Maine. Who am I kidding? She has dominated my thoughts every day for the past three years.
