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“Here, let me help you,” Harry offers. I nod and hand him my coat while turning.
I slowly slip one arm down one sleeve and the other arm down the other sleeve. When Harry places his hands on my shoulders to smooth out the fabric, a tingling sensation washes over me. A small vibration under my skin warmed every part of me.
When I turn back, Harry is grinning mischievously. For the first time, I want to reach up and kiss him. The thought is shocking but pleasant. It’s so strong that I look away and shove my hands into my pockets so I can keep my hands off of him.
The elevator dings and the doors open. I take a deep breath and step inside with Harry. I’m so full of the jitters I stand in the corner of the elevator and keep my eyes down. He pushes the button for the first floor. I figure my lapse in judgement is related to the permanent headache under the skin of my scalp. I undo my tight bun and run my hands through my hair.
I hear a gasp from my left and turn to see Harry staring straight ahead.
Did I hear him gasp? Why did he do that?
I push my elastic band into my purse and wait for the doors to open again.
By the time the doors open, Harry’s scent has invaded my nose and my body is buzzing. I think about that gasp when I was undoing my hair.
Is Harry reacting to me? Is there a chance he feels something for me?
I feel like a damn teenager with a crush. I walk out and head to my car. As we’re walking, at some point, Harry waves goodbye and heads the other way. When I get to my car, I take a deep breath and watch Harry pull out of the parking lot.
I sit in my car and take a deep breath. I must be tired. That’s what’s going on. There is nothing between Harry and me. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Chapter 3: Harry
Today’smaintaskisChristmas shopping with Ayaka. It’s not a typical job requirement of an assistant, but Ayaka is shit with gifts. Before me, if she gave a gift, it was usually a gift card. And yes, gift cards have their place. But at Christmas it’d be nice to put more effort and thought than that.
After seeing how she did things I had to ask her—beg—her to let me help.
I never knew why she was bad at giving gifts or getting into the holiday spirit until she told me about her childhood. She didn’t celebrate Christmas growing up. Christmas isn’t a big thing in Japan. She moved to Canada when she was sixteen and Santa’s ship had sailed.
4 years ago
“So, what are you going to do for Christmas this year?” I ask while handing my boss today's mail.
“Um, nothing,” she says, her eyes still on the computer.
Ayaka sticks her hand out waiting for me to put the mail into her hand.
“Nothing? But it’s Christmas. Time for joy, celebration, and stuff.”
“Not for me. I’ve never done Christmas. In Japan it’s more of a couple’s thing. Then when I came over at sixteen it was way past the time someone could convince me to believe in Santa. Anyway, do you have my schedule for today?”
Just like that our conversation returns to work stuff.
I know what happened, but it doesn’t explain why she acts like she hates Christmas. As we walk through the Eden Center, she rolls her eyes at the enormous holiday decorations scattered around the mall. On the drive here she turned off the Christmas music in favour of the traffic report.
“Okay, where are we going?” she asks while looking at her phone.
“Well, first,” I pluck her phone out of her hand and ignore her cute look of contempt as I put it in my pocket. “You need to get off your phone and focus. These presents need to come from the heart.Assuming you have one,” I mutter, and Ayaka narrows her eyes at me.
First, I take her to Harry Rosen and we look for a present for her doorman. I’ve got all the names on a notepad and Julian Andrews is at the top of the list.
“Okay, so for Julian it would be nice if you got something to match the new shoes he got.”
“Julian got new shoes?”
I roll my eyes.
“Yes, he even showed them to you.”
