Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
I think she even hides out in the bathroom to avoid me. It'd be cute if it weren't infuriating. And it's not even the biggest problem—though it's driving me up the fucking wall.
The biggest issue is the fact that she's scared of her own shadow and a complete disaster as an intern. I'm pretty sure that's my fault. She's hiding behind her sister's name for a reason, and I tried to force her to confess. I didn't offer her any assurance that her secret is safe with me or that she wouldn't be tossed out of here on her ass.
I have it on good authority that I'm an idiot. But I have a plan to fix it, starting with the Christmas party tonight. She's going with me. She just doesn't know it yet.
"Do you ever actually work?" Blaze asks, stomping into my office with a garment bag in his hands and a scowl on his face.
"Nope." I catch the stress ball I was throwing at the ceiling before launching it into the air again. I haven't gotten a fucking thing done because I've been obsessing about December. "You won't let me see the pictures of Georgia, so I'm on strike."
Blaze growls a wordless warning. He's been staring at the new photos of her since they landed on his desk, but he won't let anyone else see them. I'm guessing that means she looks great, and he's mad as hell about it.
"Jealous bastard." I flash him a shit-eating grin, my gaze sliding toward the suit in his hands. "What the fuck is that?"
"Georgia sent it. Apparently, she thinks I'm playing Santa at the party tonight."
"You're serious?" I sit forward in my chair so fast my legs fall off the desk, thumping against the floor. The ball lands beside my chair with a soft thud as a crack of laughter escapes my lips. "Oh, this is fucking great! I was planning to skip out early, but now I'm definitely staying for the whole shit show."
"I'm not playing Santa," Blaze growls.
"Yeah, you are." I grin, amused for the first time in four damn days. "As soon as she smiles at you, you're going to cave like a sandcastle, bro. I can't wait to see this shit."
"I'm not playing Santa."
I only laugh harder. We both know he's playing Santa tonight. He can't tell Georgia no. He's completely incapable of it.
"I hate you," he mutters.
I laugh again, pounding on my desk.
He turns and storms out, muttering under his breath.
I chuckle again and then pull up the cameras to figure out where the hell December is in the building. To my surprise, I find her right outside my office doors, talking to Ruby. I watch her like a fucking creep for a long moment, my dick lengthening in my pants. She looks beautiful in her black slacks and frilly red top, her hair in two buns on top of her head. She isn't a scared little lamb as she chats with Ruby. She's the same sweet angel I've never been able to forget. Only she's more. So fucking much more.
I know she remembers me. It drives me crazy that she won't admit it. Especially after what happened in my office the other morning. She felt what was between us. I know she did.
I shove my chair back and hop up, striding across my office.
"I've dreamed about coming to work here for the last six years," December says softly, her back to me. "I never thought I'd get the opportunity. Now, I'm messing it all up."
"Nonsense, dear," Ruby says, patting her hand. "You may have had a rough start, but that's not the end of the world. You're doing great with the designers, and you've still got plenty of time to win Blaze over to your side."
"I nearly took his finger off with his boots," December whispers, mortified.
"He has too many fingers anyway," I say.
December stiffens, spinning to face me. Her big blue eyes and pink-stained cheeks bowl me over. Goddamn, she's ravishing. Has she really been dreaming about coming to work here for six years? Because of me? In this unguarded moment, I see the truth painted across her gorgeous face and know that's exactly why. She's here because of me. She never forgot me either.
So why is she running? Why is she hiding behind her sister's name?
"Alaric James," Ruby chides. "Don't tease the poor girl. She's had a rough morning."
"I heard," I say, crossing the outer office toward the two of them, my gaze locked on December. The pulse in her throat jumps before speeding away from her. "Is my brother giving you trouble, angel?"
"No, of course not," she hurries to assure me. Her blush deepens to a rosy red. "I, um, I accidentally hit him with his boots when I tried to hand them to him." She swallows hard. "He makes me nervous."