Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Rory: Trust me…I’m not one to judge. I have to go…call me later, okay? Good luck tonight!
One look at the clock on my office wall, and I decided I was going to leave work early. It was a Friday after all, and the day before Christmas Eve. I deserved to leave early.
I finished up what I was working on, shut down my computer, and grabbed my coat and purse. I wished everyone a happy holiday as I made my way down to the lobby. A light snow had started to fall, and I pulled the hood up on my coat.
“Happy holidays, Jess!” I called out as I walked by the receptionist’s desk.
“You, too, Clare!”
For the first time in two weeks, I had a smile on my face as I walked home while snow fell, turning the city I loved so much into a winter wonderland. Grinning, I dared to let myself think something amazing was going to happen this evening.
• • •
When the taxi pulled up to Wes’s apartment I drew in a deep breath and stared at the building.
“Miss? Are we at the right location?” the driver asked.
I jerked my gaze from the front door to the taxi driver. “Yes, I’m sorry. Thank you.”
“Thank you. Happy holidays!”
Opening the door, I looked back at him. “Happy holidays.”
The door to the building opened, and I smiled at the familiar doorman as I made my way in. My heart started to beat faster the closer I got to Wes’s floor. By the time I stood in front of his door, I felt like I couldn’t pull any air into my lungs.
I closed my eyes, drew in a deep breath, then pushed it all out as I reached up and knocked.
The door opened and my knees went weak at the sight before me. Wes stood in jeans, a black long-sleeve shirt, and a Santa hat. He looked both adorable and hot as hell at the same damn time. He had also shaved, but I could see a five o’clock shadow appearing. My fingers itched to touch his face.
Moving the door open wider, he motioned for me to come in. “Thank you for coming, I’m so glad you’re here, Clare.”
When I walked by him, I had to fight the urge to draw in his fresh clean scent. Then I was hit with a delicious smell.
“What is that heavenly smell?” I asked.
“Roast. I put it in the crockpot earlier today,” he said as he reached up and helped take my coat off.
“You made a roast?” I asked with a smile.
He winked and my heart tumbled over itself. “I did, with a little help from my mom.”
I watched as Wes hung up my coat. I had already pulled off my gloves and hat and tucked them into my coat pocket.
Glancing around the room, my breath caught in my throat at what I saw.
“You have a Christmas tree?”
He chuckled. “Can’t have a decorating party without one. What do you think about the spot? I thought that corner was a good place for it.”
Making my way to the tree, I stared down at the boxes of decorations. “Where did you get all of the decorations?”
Wes walked over to where I was standing, a dish towel now over his shoulder. Lord, he looked so freaking handsome.
“While I was trying to find a tree, which let me tell you wasn’t easy two days before Christmas, I enlisted some help from Joe to get decorations.”
“Joe?” I asked, turning to look directly at him. “The doorman?”
Wes laughed. “Yes! He had today off, but when I offered to pay him handsomely for his time, he turned into a Christmas Elf pretty damn fast. He just kept bringing in bags of decorations.”
My hand came up to my mouth to keep from laughing.
“Do you like the tree?”
“It’s a beautiful tree, Wes.”
He beamed. “The roast still has about thirty minutes. How about we get this decoration party started?”
I nodded and reached down to pick up a box of blue bulbs. “Blue and white?”
Wes blushed and looked at the tree as he spoke. “You said once you always wanted to decorate a tree in your favorite color.”
“How did you know blue was my favorite color?” I asked.
Winking, he replied, “I paid attention to the things you’ve said.”
I tried to remember if or when we ever had a conversation about my favorite color, and nothing came to mind.
“Do you have hooks for the bulbs?”
Wes handed me a box and I opened it and started to put hooks on the bulbs.
Handing me a beer, Wes sat down on the floor and grabbed some of the white ornaments. It was then I noticed this was the first time I’d ever truly seen him so relaxed.
I softly cleared my throat and said, “I’m sorry I just left and didn’t let you explain anything.”