Chapter 10
A FERAL TRASH PANDA IN A SANTA SUIT
DECLAN
“No one is going to believe that I saved you from getting attacked by a rabid raccoon,” I said, truly shocked that I had to say it out loud.
“Come on! It has big tough hero written all over it. We can say he had a Santa hat on. It’s festive.” Claire laughed as she stood at the stove, stirring a frying pan.
“Everyone here knows that if I saw a feral trash panda in a Santa suit, I’d let you get eaten.” I shrugged as I started twisting a corkscrew into a fresh bottle of red wine.
After we got a drink at the ski lodge, we did a few more runs on the mountain before taking the cable car back to the resort.
My body was screaming from the number of falls I took going down the mountain so the moment I got back, I took the hottest shower of my life before meeting Claire on the top floor.
She’d changed into a pair of simple leggings, an oversized t-shirt, and thick wool socks. At the office, I’d never let myself really look at Claire in a way that wasn’t professional. Now, I couldn't help when my eyes lingered on the way her leggings perfectly hugged her ass.
We debated going to the restaurant in town for dinner tonight, but we both agreed that our bodies were exhausted and the last thing we wanted to do was get dressed up to socialize. Instead, we walked to the general store where Claire gathered a basket full of groceries that she refused to show me.
The kitchen smelled amazing and Claire looked relaxed as soft Christmas music drifted from her portable speaker—her choice, obviously. I’d started to learn that she really liked the holiday and all of the cheesy traditions that came with it.
Claire placed the wooden spoon she was holding gently on the counter before turning to me in a way that reminded me of a possessed demon in a horror movie. Her smile looked so sweet it was evil.
“You’d let me get eaten? Do you want a divorce before we even get married?” She asked, crossing her arms and leaning a hip against the cool granite countertop.
“Our relationship has been rocky lately. I’m not sure there is another option.” I blew out a breath and placed my hands on my hips, shaking my head to show real distress.
“Fine,” she groaned as if this news was inevitable. “But I’m getting Squid in our separation.”
“Squid?” I was trying so hard to hold in my laugh.
“Our adorably fluffy but perpetually angry grey cat. Wow, you don’t even know our own child.” She threw her hands in the air before turning back to the frying pan.
I rubbed my lips together as I poured two glasses of wine. Claire peeked over her shoulder, her eyes full of mischief, and burst into laughter. I joined her as I slid one of the glasses across the counter.
“You’re funny,” I admitted. “I wouldn’t have guessed that.”
She took a sip from her glass before continuing her work at the stove. Before she turned away from me, I saw her face fall.
“Why? Because I’m too boring?” She mumbled under breath. I was pretty sure she meant for that self deprecating comment to be only for her, but I heard it.
I rounded the counter and leaned against it, standing directly behind her.
“You are literally the furthest thing from boring. What makes you say that?”
Claire was organized and a little neurotic about her calendar, but boring? No chance.
She didn’t look back at me, stirring the risotto she was making in a perfectly timed rhythm.
“Everyone thinks so. I used to be fun, but then life happened. God forbid a girl takes her job seriously and doesn’t want to party every night. Just because I like things organized and structured doesn’t mean I can’t let loose.”
I suddenly felt like an asshole for some of the light comments I’d made in the last few days about her relaxing and living a little. I wasn’t trying to hurt her feelings, but I fear I might’ve picked at an old wound.
“For what it’s worth, I appreciate that you take your job seriously.”
She smiled over her shoulder. “Thank you, Boss Man.” Her smile fell. “Too bad I won’t work for you anymore when you move to Denver.”
“If I move to Denver,” I said, picking up my glass and swirling it a few times just to have something to do with my hands.
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Tom could easily beat me out for this promotion.”
She snorted. “Not if I can help it.”
“He’s dating Paul Driscoff’s daughter.”
“And so did you.” She pointed the wooden spoon at me.
I shrugged. “I have to make sure I show Paul that I hold the same mindset that the company values.”
“That’s what I’m for.” Claire waved a hand down her body.
“I think the way to really impress him would be to not try to impress him. Have fun. He puts this whole ridiculous trip together every year to thank his employees and celebrate the holiday with their families. That is what he values. That is what you need to show him.”
I thought about it for a second. I was so pressed on finding the perfect way to show Paul that I was better for this than Tom, but really it was right in front of my face.
Paul looked so happy earlier today when he saw Claire and I just being ourselves on the slopes.
Maybe that was something we had that Tom didn’t—the ability to enjoy each other’s company.
“I think you’re brilliant,” I said with a smile.
“I’m not going to argue with you.” Claire winked.
She finished cooking and scooped some risotto onto two plates, topping them with cheese and shrimp. I grabbed the wine and glasses as she led us to the dining room table. The moment I forked some risotto into my mouth, my head fell back on a groan.
“You can cook, too?” I asked, scooping up more like I was emaciated and this was my first meal.
She giggled as she pushed food around on her plate. “I dabble.”
“I would say this more than dabbling.”
She shrugged. “Anyway, tell me why you want this promotion so badly. You don’t like Austin?”
I thought about my answer for a moment. It wasn’t that I was miserable where I was or that I was bored or not busy enough, it just felt like the natural next step.
“What’s the point if you’re not climbing the ladder? I’ve been in my position for five years, now I move on. Eventually my hope is to be on the board and then I’ll have more control.”
“Control over what?”
“The company. Decisions. Marketing. Everything.”
“And you want that?” She asked, no judgement in her tone.
I nodded. “Why wouldn’t I?”
She hummed but didn’t say anything as she resumed eating her meal.
“What?” I asked. “I can see the thoughts ready to burst out of you.”
Her eyes flicked to mine as she hesitated.
“I’m not your boss here. You can be honest,” I pushed, desperate to hear what she was thinking.
She placed her fork down and sat back in her seat.
“I hear what you’re saying, but I don’t understand it.
You want this promotion because it’s what you should do.
But what do you want? What is your dream life?
You talk about power and control, but when you say it your face doesn’t light up like it’s a dream. ”
Dreams weren’t realistic. At one point in my life, I dreamed of raising a family.
At another point, I dreamed of becoming CEO.
But, those dreams weren’t in the cards for me.
To have a family, you had to have the time.
To lead a company, you had to have commitment.
One didn’t go well with the other––hell, I couldn’t even hold a regular leadership position and keep a relationship.
“My face stopped lighting up years ago.”
“Not true.” She shook her head. “I saw you light up today when you thought no one was watching.”
I shifted in my seat as my eyes stayed locked with hers. I didn’t like being under a microscope and Claire was too introspective. I wanted to move up the chain because it was what I planned. That’s it. Clean, cut, and dry.
“Enough about me. What about you? Did you grow up in Texas?”
She pulled her knees to her chest and grabbed her wine glass. “I did. I grew up about an hour from Austin in Drufton Hills. I actually still live there.”
My brow shot up. “You drive over an hour into the city everyday?”
She nodded. “I could move into my own place but the rent is astronomical and I don’t want to live alone.”
“So you still live with your parents. Do your siblings live there too?”
She shook her head. “I have one younger sister and she actually lives in Colorado.”
I pointed at her. “That’s perfect. You can still work for me and be near your sister.”
She barked out a laugh. “Warner’s husband is in the military. I doubt they’ll be in Colorado two years from now.”
“Do you miss her?”
Claire hugged her knees tighter and rested her chin there. “Everyday. We talk on the phone a lot, but it’s not the same. She’s actually the reason I’m even here.”
“How so?” I asked, bringing my glass to my lips.
“She wasn’t coming home for Christmas and I didn’t want to spend Christmas alone with my parents. She told me I needed an adventure, so here I am.”
“It had nothing to do with you losing your job if you declined?” I asked, wincing at the fact that I had actually threatened that.
She snorted. “You wouldn't fire me. Your calendar would go up in flames.”
I threw my head back on a laugh. “I wouldn’t survive without you.”
Claire’s eyes softened as they met mine. Something between us was shifting but I couldn't put my finger on it. I was comfortable talking to her. I didn’t think she was judging me and I enjoyed being around her. We were actually becoming friends in a weird twist of events.
This was the first time in years that I wasn’t dreading the itinerary of this trip because I was learning that with Claire, it might actually be fun.