Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 18896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 94(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 94(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
Brandy Bloom plans to seduce the man of her dreams at an office Christmas party but finds herself kissing his twin, instead. One night only is her plan but Max Corbin has other ideas. The sexy elf who kissed him under the pretend mistletoe is a special woman he has no plans of letting go.
*A stand-alone novella
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter One
Brandy Bloom finished up her work for the day. The office Christmas party was in a few hours and she had to prepare. The event was a week before the actual holiday so everyone could go home to be with their families. Those who had families, that is.
Brandy had an invitation to join Samantha and her husband, Dex, at whichever large family event they were attending. Last she’d heard, they were going to the Sterlings on Christmas Eve and the Dares later on Christmas Day. Brandy doubted she’d attend. Big family events weren’t her thing. Samantha might be Brandy’s chosen family but that didn’t mean she was comfortable at a big family get together like hers.
Before she could stand up and unzip her costume that was hanging on the door, a knock sounded.
“Come in!”
“Merry Christmas!” Her boss and friend, Samantha Dare-now-Sterling walked in with a card in one hand, and took a seat across from Brandy’s desk.
“A little early, but Merry Christmas to you, too.”
“I come bearing gifts.” Samantha placed the card on Brandy’s desk. “This is your office present.”
“And here’s yours.” Reaching into her bag, Brandy pulled out a small box and they exchanged items to be opened later.
Samantha tucked hers into her shoulder bag. “Listen, I got you something special and didn’t want to give you your gift in front of everyone else.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Brandy said, though she, too, had bought her friend a more personal present.
Samantha waved a hand in dismissal. “I didn’t have to, I wanted to. Brandy, you’re more than the office manager and my PA. You’re family.”
Family. She’d always told herself she didn’t have any but Samantha was different, she thought, a lump rising in her throat.
That lump remained and all Brandy could do was nod. “You also have Dex as family and the Sterlings. You two are so good together.” She smiled at her friend.
“And I want that same thing for you.”
Brandy shook her head. “You know I don’t do relationships.”
“Umm… what do you think this is?” Samantha asked, gesturing between them. “It’s a relationship.” She spoke before Brandy could reply. “And you’re really good at it. The way you stayed by me in the hospital after everything with Jeremy meant the world.”
Samantha had overheard her almost-groom plotting to steal her fortune and the business she’d built. She’d run from her wedding in tears, right into Dex, who’d saved her by offering a quick getaway. “Brandy, I’m so grateful to have you in my life.”
Brandy managed a smile. “I’m grateful for you, too.” Samantha was different. Brandy trusted her. She knew her strengths and weaknesses. She could manage Samantha’s workload and keep the office running. She loved the life she’d built for herself. She wasn’t good at forming attachments beyond friendship.
“Can I stop by tomorrow morning and drop off my gift?” Samantha asked.
Brandy nodded. “Of course, and thank you. I have something at home for you, too.”
“Are you ready to play Santa’s elf at the party?” Samantha glanced around the office, her gaze landing on the garment bag hanging on the door. When she turned back, she had an amused smile on her face. “Looks like you are!”
Brandy laughed. “I enjoy it,” she admitted. And she had a plan her friend knew nothing about.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it. See you at the party.” Samantha rose and walked out of the office, closing the door behind her.
Brandy blew out a breath, her stomach bouncing with nerves. Not for playing elf, that was something she did every year, but for her plan to seduce Stephan Corbin, an associate partner at Samantha’s PR firm and the object of Brandy’s desire.
A little while later, her office door locked, Brandy fastened the white fur anklet adorned with three silver bells and a green velvet bow, closing the accessory around her ankle with a single snap.
From her phone on the edge of her desk, a traditional Christmas carol ended and the Bruce Springsteen version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” now reverberated through her small office. Pulling her hat over her head and securing it with bobby pins, she hummed her own off-key rendition of her favorite Christmas tune. She twirled once, pleased with the jingling accompaniment to the gruff voice of The Boss.
If Santa was coming to town, he wasn’t going to find Brandy being a good girl. Not this year. Not this night. Tonight, she was a woman on a mission. A mission to seduce the man she’d been attracted to for too long. She hoped to act on their obvious physical attraction and indulge in a safe interlude she could easily walk away from when their time together was through. Something Stephan, the firm’s confirmed self-proclaimed bachelor, would appreciate and understand.
Because they’d been working closely together for a few years, acting on her desire had been impossible until now—but today had been her last day of work before the long holiday vacation. Samantha was a generous boss and gave them all a long holiday break. When she returned after the new year, she’d be in the new suburban offices of Dare PR. Samantha and Dex had bought a house on Long Island. She’d decided to open a satellite office and Brandy was only too happy to leave Manhattan and join her.