Christmas Collection

Chapter one

Pulling up at the restaurant I take a deep breath before turning the ignition off and check myself in the rear-view mirror. Fuck it. I look good no matter what I do.

Climbing out of my Audi, I close the door, lock it, and walk towards the restaurant, the snow crunching beneath my feet. Reaching for the brass handle the cold stings my already cold hands.

The heat and the smell from inside hit my senses, making my stomach growl, reminding me that I missed lunch today, thanks to the stupid arse that decided he wanted to go over his new contract today rather them next week because the lucky fucker is flying to Hawaii for the Christmas period.

Walking towards the hostess's table, I see the very hot blonde smile at me, I smirk at her watching as her cheeks flush.

"Good evening, Mr. Smith, your party are already seated. Let me show you to the table," she gives me a seductive smile. Well, I know who I am going home with tonight if this blind date is a bust.

My brother Thomas set me up on this stupid arse date, with a girl that his wife Rebecca works with. Don’t get me wrong, I love my brother and his wife but they need to stay out of my love life. I do not need my big brother setting me up because I can get any woman I want when I want her.

Not cocky just confident.

It has been years since I have been in a relationship, but my company needed me so it got all of my attention, and women only got me for as long as it took us to get off. They knew the deal.

I follow behind the blonde admiring her pert little arse in that tight black skirt she is wearing. Damn, I bet it feels nice and tight. I pull my gaze away from the hostess, and I see my brother Tom grinning with a knowing look. Bastard knows what I am thinking. He stands and walks to greet me.

“About bloody time you got here. Bec’s didn't think you would turn up,” he says, taking me in a crushing hug. I pull back and smile at my big brother. We look alike with dark hair, tall with broad shoulders. There are only 19 months between us.

“Sorry. mate. I got caught at the office, and I needed to take the call.” I say. Turning to the table, I smile at my sister-in-law. “Bec’s, how are you sweetheart?” I ask, bending down and kissing the top of her head.

“Well, I am good except for the fact that I am bloody starving, and we had to wait for you to arrive before we order.” She grins at me. “So let me introduce you to my friend so we can order food,” she states.

I finally look at the other person sitting at the table. Taking in her face and my breath gets caught in my lungs.

Holy shit.

“Erin?” Her name came out breathy.

“Theo? Oh my god.” Erin says standing up, stepping over to me.

While she does that, I take in her forest green dress that hugs her body like a glove. The wrap dress showing off her breasts that look perfect. She looks beautiful; she always did.

“Wow. Look at you, beautiful as ever, Erin,” I say as I take her in a big hug.

Holding onto her just a little longer than I normally would, so I can take in her scent.

Cinnamon.

Sweet and addictive at this time of year.

Pulling back slightly, she smiles at me and shit if it doesn’t make my heart skip a beat. “Handsome as ever, Theo. You have aged well,” she smiles sweetly at me.

“Wait. Hold up, you two know each other?” Tom asks, looking confused.

“Yes. We went to school together. Erin started in our school the year you left.” I tell him and guide Erin back to her chair.

“Wait, you mean this is that Erin Willows, as in the Erin Willows?” his eyes wide with his question.

“Yeah, mate. The one and the same.” He mutters ‘damn’ under his breath.

He knew I had a huge crush on Erin in school, but he never saw her or met her. After taking the seat next to Erin, we all make small talk about old times and what we have been up to over the years.

After I explain that I own my own company, and what we do. She looks at me with big doe eyes that are shining with pride and that makes my heart swell and my dick, at the thought of me fucking her over the desk in my office.

I learn that after school, Erin moved away and started college in Northern Ireland because her father got a promotion in his job. She is now a teacher and teaches year seven in a high school. What did shock me, is that she has a nine-year-old daughter.

“Wow, well look at you, being a mum. I bet your daughter is just like you. Sweet, caring, and beautiful.” I wink. “What’s her name?”

I am genuinely interested as I love kids; I have just never had the time to settle down and start my own family. Thomas and Rebecca have two kids. Anja, who is four, and Olivia, who is two. My two darling nieces.

“Her name is Lauren. And yes, she is a mini-me. My mum always says that I was exactly like Lauren when I was her age,” she smiles proudly.

“If you are here on a blind date with me, I can only assume that you are not with her father.” I edge.

Erin smiles at me as she tucks some of her thick dark hair behind her ear. I return her smile, admiring how truly stunning she is. She was always pretty in that natural way, unlike some of the girls in our school, trying to look older with their faces caked with makeup.

“Her dad is not in the picture. He left as soon as I told him I was pregnant and the last I heard he was in Scotland somewhere. She knows about him but she is a strong little girl, and she knows that she does not need a father to be herself. We did try to contact him once, but she was refused, so after that, we never tried again.”

“Strong and beautiful like her mother.”

“Thank you, Theo,” she says, a slight blush tinting her cheeks.

Tom clears his throat, drawing my gaze from the beautiful woman sitting next to me.

“How about we order food, I’m starved.” We all laugh at him.

“Fine. Flag down a waiter so we can order. You are always hungry, man.” I say making the women giggle.

I wink at Erin and she smiles back.

We all order our meals and the drinks start flowing along with the conversation again.

I explain how my life has been since we left school, how my company was growing, then I lost a big arse contract that blew the shit out of the water.

We discuss how good things come to those who wait, but also have worked hard, because of that of loss, I got my hands on my shipping company which is now one of the largest in Europe.

I have never been married or even engaged; I have had a handful of girlfriends but nothing serious and no kids. But seeing Erin again had brought more than a few desires to the surface.

Over the years I have thrown myself into work, never really looking to settle down, or truly finding the time. My company has always been my baby, and that is something that I will never regret.

But sitting here is making me rethink my future.