Chapter 7
Seven
GARRETT
Ten Days until Christmas
Nat follows me into my office. Jonah is right behind her, but she waves him off. After my announcement, work stopped, and now most of my employees are hovering outside my office.
She closes the door. “You’re taking time off?”
Not by choice. But I don’t mention that as I sit behind my desk. “I’ll be available by phone, Nat.”
She steps around the TARDIS and stands in front of me with a frown. “You never take time off during the holidays. Actually, you never take time off at all.”
Is Nat worried about me or the wedding this weekend? “If this is about the Whovian wedding—”
“It isn’t.”
I shrug off her concerns. “Then what’s the problem. You’re always telling me I work too much. You should be happy.”
“No, boss. You’re the one who should be happy. But you’re not.”
I straighten things on my desk. Not that they’re messy, but I need to do something with my hands. “I’m…” But saying the words aloud makes it too real. “My parents are in town. So, we’re having a family Christmas at my house. I need to get ready.”
Her eyes widen. “You’re hosting Christmas? In your ‘sanctuary?’” she asks, using air quotes.
I ignore her. And shuffle papers that don’t need shuffling while clicking on my keyboard for no goddamn reason.
It’ll take the better part of the morning to get things done before I can leave for two weeks.
The thought of not being here is enough to make me panic all over again, so I focus on other things. Breathing. And Nat’s calculating look.
“Who’s all going to be there?” She sits in the chair, and I groan.
“None of your business. Go away.”
“Don’t be like that.” The concerned look in her eyes is gone. Replaced with amusement. That might be worse. “Will the yummy prince and his Daddy be there?”
I stare at her. “What?”
She grins. “Oops. I mean Isaac. And cute little Simon.”
“What? Are you—” I shake my head. Not going there. “None of that is true.”
“Simon isn’t cute?”
I ignore her as I jab at my keyboard. The words I’m typing don’t make sense, but I can rewrite the email before I send it.
“Fine,” she says with a laugh. “Ignore me. But Isaac is a Daddy. I’ve seen them at Christy’s—a girl has to eat, you know. And speaking of Christy’s and yummy men…” Her voice trails off with a wistful sigh.
My head snaps up. “What?”
Her brow crinkles in confusion. Is it the startled look on my face? Or the possessiveness in my voice? “Come on, boss. You can’t tell me you haven’t checked out that stellar ass at least once. But sadly, I think he’s taken.”
My hand jerks, and Email Sent pops up on the screen. Shit. I’ll need to email them back and explain—not sure how, but I’ll add it to my list of things to do.
What does Nat know? Or thinks she knows?
She bites her lip and smiles. It’s like I’m not even there. “But I’m not giving up. One day, he will be mine. Or at the very least, Ramon will notice me.”
Wait. “Ramon?”
Her gaze meets mine and she blinks. “Who did you think I meant?” And then she’s thinking about the possibilities, and that’s the last thing I need.
“Nat—”
“I mean, Christy’s cute in a growly ginger bear sort of way, but he’s like twice my age, right?”
I stand. Outraged for Christy and me. “Christy isn’t much older than me.”
“Oh, really?” she asks innocently as she gets to her feet. Too innocently.
I glare so she knows she’s not funny. “We’re nowhere close to fifty.”
“Closer than me.”
I return to my seat. “Go away.”
She places her hands on the back of the chair. “Will Christy be there?”
“Yes. If you must know. And if it will end this conversation, along with my parents, Isaac, Simon, and Adrian, and Zye and Miles. And my sister Jane and her new boyfriend.”
“It’s hardly new. She’s been dating Chad for the last year.”
“How do you know so much about my family?” And more than me?
“Small town. And I love going to the library.”
Damn Mrs. Weppler.
“I’m just worried about you, boss. You don’t do the whole Christmas thing. Or the family thing. And now you’re going to be surrounded by family at a holiday event you despise?”
I close my eyes, so I can’t see the pity in her eyes and to keep a lid on everything else: memories of my last family Christmas, my emotions jumping all over the place, my apprehension about all of this.
“Can I come?”
My eyes pop open. “You just begged for Christmas off to spend with your family.”
She shrugs. “Your family is more exciting. We don’t have princes or Vegas stars.” Her eyes light up. “Is Roz going to be there?”
“Why are you still here?”
“And,” she says, ignoring my question, “I was making sure my employees get time off since we work for Christmas-hating McScrooge.”
I try to ignore that. And fail. “I’m not a Scrooge.”
She juts her hip and grins. “Tell me more.”
I shake my head no. But the words won’t stay in. “If anything, I’m a Grinch. According to Aidyn.”
“That actually tracks. McGrinch it is. I’ll have to thank Christy next time I see him.”
And that’s when I stop listening altogether.
Nat laughs. And I can still hear her laughter after she shuts the door.
As I focus on answering emails, writing invoices, and ordering inventory, I’m too busy to stress about Christmas, Aidyn, or my family.
A knock startles me. I stare at the door because Nat rarely knocks. There’s another knock, but still no one enters. “Come in.”
The door swings open and Nat is standing there grinning at me. “Hey, boss. You have a visitor.”
I don’t normally get visitors. Usually, only irate clients—mamas of the bride—but not visitors. I stand and walk around my desk. “A visitor?”
She steps into the room, and Aidyn follows her, looking gorgeous in an argyle sweater that matches his green eyes. He gives me a little wave, and my heart does this tumbling thing. How can I still be falling for this man?
“Aidyn, um…hi. What are you doing here?”
His smile seems shy, but Aidyn is never shy. Is he worried I’ll be upset?
“You said you’d be done working by eleven, and we’re past that. Figured I’d need to drag you out.”
“You’re not wrong.” Nat smirks.
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
“Nope. Hey, Christy, boss man says the entire clan will be at his house for Christmas. Does that include Ramon?”
I give her a look. “Nat—”
“I’m just asking.”
Aidyn watches us with a line of confusion on his forehead. “Ramon spends Christmas with his mom and sisters. He gets enough of my grumpiness at work.”
“Right. Of course.” Nat nods along. “So, no girlfriend?”
“Nat,” I say in a sharp tone. “Stop pestering him. If you want to know about Ramon, go talk to the man.”
“Got it.” She taps on her phone while mumbling, “Go after what you want.”
Why can’t I fire her again?
“Go away.”
She laughs, waves to Aidyn, and walks out, leaving the door wide open.
If I blushed, my face would be red. Not just because of Nat and her lack of respect for boundaries or privacy or authority, but because having Aidyn here in my space, at my work, makes me feel…so much. I gesture to the door, and he closes it.
His grin widens. “Nice office.”
“Thanks.” I shake my head. “You see what I have to put up with?”
“I do.” Still grinning, he walks over to the TARDIS. “Doing some time traveling?”
“I wish.” But my words stop me. If I could time-travel, would I change anything? Giving up Aidyn without a fight? Emily dying? That’s the hardest one. Would I save Emily, knowing I’d lose Aidyn?”
His eyes soften. “It was a joke, love.”
“I know.” I slip my hand in his and pull him closer. No way am I going to bring Aidyn down or add to his stress. “I’m looking forward to this.”
“Liar.”
I laugh. “Not the Christmas stuff. But this.” I hold up our hands and rest my cheek against the back of his hand. “Spending time with you.”
He kisses my other cheek, and his mouth is right there.
“I miss you,” he says softly, and then we’re kissing.
I grip the back of Aidyn’s head, needing him closer.
His tongue twists with mine, and I want to climb his body, wrap myself around him, and never let go.
Never mind that we are close to the same height. Aidyn is stocky with all his muscles.
Someone laughs right outside my door, and we jerk away from each other. “Shit. We can’t do this here.”
“Sorry—”
“No. Don’t apologize.”
“Can we lock the door?”
I shake my head. “That would definitely get Nat’s attention.”
“Okay, well…” He shrugs.
“What?” It’s the look on his face more than anything. A slight blush on his cheeks.
His cheeks darken. “I’ve always wanted to make out in your office. Maybe more.”
My body likes that more than it should. “What kind of more?”
“Never mind.” He tries to pull his hand back, but I don’t let go. Now I have to know.
“Tell me.”
His hand moves to my ass. “I imagine fucking you over your desk.”
Holy Jesus. “You want that?”
His gaze reaches mine. His eyes burn with desire. And shit, now it’s all I can think about. “Aidyn, we can’t.”
“I still owe you a kiss from your Advent calendar. How about a trip through time?” He nods at the TARDIS.
He knocks on the side and grins. It’s sturdy.”
“It’s a photo booth,” I say stupidly.
“Kinky.” And for some reason, I let Aidyn and my dick lead me into the small structure.
“It’s a tight fit.”
“But not tight enough.” Aidyn grabs my ass and pulls me closer. “Only ten days until Christmas, love.”
The kiss is sweet but soon grows more insistent.
Against the onslaught of Aidyn’s lips on my neck and his hands on my ass and my insistent dick, I give in.
Our cocks brush against each other, and even through several layers of clothes, the pleasure is intense.
I groan, wishing like hell we were somewhere else. And naked.
“Aidyn, baby, we can’t.”
He pulls back and my body tries to follow, not getting the memo from my brain that this can’t happen. He chuckles. “Soon, love. I promise,” he says, squeezing my cock.
“Maybe we can sneak to your house for a quickie.”
He rests his forehead against mine. “You’re trying to distract me, but it won’t work.”