His Christmas List Read Online T.L. Swan

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Novella Tags Authors: T.L. Swan Advertisement1

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I smile sadly. "The best." I feel a lump in my throat, and I know our time is over. We helped each other through a rough patch. A light in the darkness.

But our worlds are different, and it would never work between us. Michelle was right, I couldn’t live here, and he couldn’t live in New York.

"Let's go to bed, baby," he whispers.

I nod and stand, and as he walks inside, the screen door bangs hard again.

I stare out over the view, fog puffs into the air as I breathe out. The air is so still.

And it's not just Jack that I'm going to miss. It’s the peace that being here brings me.

"Holly," he calls.

With one long last look, I smile sadly and walk inside, the door bangs hard again. "Can you fix that damn door?" I sigh.

"Yeah, yeah," he mutters under his breath. "Quit nagging me, woman."

"Last call for flight 103 to New York City,” the voice sounds over the speaker.

I stare at the man in front of me. Jack has my two hands in his.

We are both quiet, not sure what to say.

"I should…" I go to pull out of his grip.

"Holly." His eyes search mine. "Stay…"

I frown.

"I know I don’t… ” he pauses as if searching for the right words. "I don’t have a lot to offer."

"You have everything to offer," I whisper.

"We met for a reason; I truly believe that," he squeezes my hands in his.

My face falls.

"We can try."

My eyes well with tears. "Jack…"

He stares at me for a moment and then drops his head, already knowing my answer.

"I'll call you when I get there." I fake a smile.

He steps back from me as he drops my hands.

My heart sinks.

"Thanks for having me," I say.

His eyes hold mine, but he doesn’t say anything. I lean up onto my tippy toes and go to kiss him and he turns his cheek.

Ouch.

I kiss his face and then turn, and without looking back I walk through the gates.

He didn’t want to kiss me goodbye.

With a heavy heart, I get onto the plane and take my seat and buckle up my seatbelt.

"Can I get you anything?" The stewardess smiles.

"Alcohol," I reply flatly as my gaze turns to look out the window. "All of the alcohol."

One week later.

I sit at the restaurant table and stare at the people on the sidewalk.

It's Christmas Eve.

Thousands of people are all rushing to get to their destination, the jovial energy swirling around and around is a confused mess.

I feel lost. Like a stranger from the outside, looking in. I've been walking around in a detached daze since I got back from Alaska.

Something inside of me has changed, and I don’t know what it is.

I'm heartsick.

I'm pining for him like a love-struck teenager.

"What's wrong with you?" Gabriel asks.

My eyes flick back to my boss, Gabriel Ferrara. He's always been so good to me and we are close friends.

I shrug. "I met someone."

"This is good." He smiles excitedly.

Gabriel was there for me when I went through my divorce. More than anyone, he knows what I went through.

"In Alaska," I sigh sadly.

His face falls. "Oh."

"And he wanted me to stay and saying no… " I inhale. I can't even say it out loud.

"Was hard,” he finishes my sentence.

I nod. "He's… incredible."

"Then go back."

My eyes search his.

"Holly, you can do your job from anywhere."

I frown.

"You don’t need to be here full-time. You can work from wherever you want in the world."

"What?"

"I think you and me both know what a sad existence it is to live your life around work. We've both suffered the consequences of such an existence."

"It's Alaska, Gabriel."

"You'll never know if you don’t try," he says.

I frown as a million thoughts run through my mind. "What if it doesn’t work out?"

He takes my hand across the table. "Then you come back and move on with your life with no regrets."

I feel hope for the first time in a week. "When can I leave?"

"You're not leaving me, Holly, you are working remotely. Remember that. Ferrara needs you."

I smile.

"You can transfer whenever you want to."

I bite my lip to hide my smile, "I'll finish up in two weeks." We eat our lunch and make our way back to the office, and as we walk through the Ferrara building foyer a security guard approaches us. "Holly, you have a visitor."

"Oh, who is it?"

He points to the corner and I look over to see Jack standing there.

He's wearing a gray T-shirt and blue jeans. He has a small duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He looks so out of place and he looks up and smiles softly as he sees me.

My heart somersaults in my chest and I nearly run to him. "Jack," I whisper. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to bring you home."

He came for me.

"It won't be Christmas without you."


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