Noel.
I FELT TERRIBLE. KANTON bought me a tree. And breakfast. And I basically shitted on the effort like a spoiled brat. So, yeah, I felt awful. It wasn’t that I wasn’t grateful because I was. That was the sweetest thing that anyone had done for me in . . .
Hell, since I couldn’t remember when, which was the problem.
Evan started off just like Kanton. Saying and doing all the right things, and then the real him showed up. He was a selfish asshole who didn’t give a damn about me or what I wanted.
Now, I felt like my life was circling the block again because this infuriating man I was insanely attracted to was slowly crawling beneath my skin. It was no longer just about how sexy the guy was, and he was, indeed, romantic porn in the flesh, but it was now about me actually liking the guy. I’d misjudged him, even if just a little, and now, I felt terrible.
He bought me a tree.
My stomach twisted in disgust as I stared blankly at nothing in particular. After a long moment, my shoulders deflated even more, and I knew I had to fix this. I needed to apologize and properly thank him. Maybe if I wasn’t too late, I could call down to Lewis and have him bring the tree back.
I’m awful.
An awful, ungrateful human.
Closing my eyes briefly, I regrouped and then turned to face my door, gathering the courage to go do the right thing. When I passed the kitchen, I peeked into the living room and found Kanton with a scowl beneath a pair of square-framed glasses that gave him a distinguished look. The computer propped on his thighs and the laser focus added to the appeal, which made me feel even worse. Here I am, lusting after the man to whom I was unnecessarily rude.
Yep, you’re a terrible human,
Where the hell is your Christmas cheer?
I hesitantly moved to the living room and stopped at the edge of the sofa, but Kanton didn’t acknowledge me immediately. When he did, his expression schooled, and damn if that stoic look didn’t make him that much more attractive.
“Did you need something?”
“Yes, actually, I did. I know I’m breaking the ‘stay in my room’ part of the deal again, but maybe you’ll offer me a pass after I say what I have to say.”
“I didn’t expect you would actually spend the entire time I was here cooped up in your room. I’m not that much of an asshole. This is your space, and you’re free to move about however you like.”
“Right . . .” I huffed a sigh, feeling even worse. “Which confirms that you’re not the asshole in this particular situation—however, I reserve the right to adjust my opinion as we navigate the rest of your time here.”
He smiled. Thank goodness.
“You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t leave a little wiggle room to be on the right side of things, now would you?”
“Nope, but I owe you an apology.” He scowled at me, and I added, “About the tree.”
“You don’t owe me anything.” He placed his laptop on the sofa beside him and tugged off the glasses. I took that as a sign of him welcoming the conversation, so I eased onto the massive leather trunk, which doubled as storage and my coffee table, and placed my hands in my lap.
“I do. You got me a tree . . .”
“Made of plastic and metal,” he stated with amusement in his tone that traveled up to his eyes.
“Well, yeah, that part, but it was still very sweet, and considering how I inconvenienced you by being here when I shouldn’t, you really didn’t have to, so thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I also want you to know I’m usually not this much of a Grinch. I’m typically pretty happy-spirited 90 percent of the time, but the past few months have been a bit taxing on me mentally and emotionally. Then I got stuck here for the holidays, and, well, it’s not an excuse, but it’s the truth.”
“Stuck here with me for the holidays.”
My eyes widened, and I smiled softly, shrugging a little. “That part isn’t so bad. You’re kind of nice to look at.”
Being stuck here with Kanton wasn’t bad at all. He was broody and uptight but very easy on the eyes.
“Good to know I’m aesthetically pleasing enough to place a check in the positive column of your pros and cons for this disastrous holiday week.”
I grinned and shrugged again. “I mean, you are all this . . .” I flicked my wrist in his direction. “Which again is easier to ignore than the asshole.”
“I’m back to being an asshole.” He arched a brow, and, well, damn, this man’s face was praiseworthy.
“For now, we share the title, so, yes, but I was thinking I should call the concierge to see if Lewis can send the tree back up.”
“ Or . . .” he added, scooting to the edge of the sofa where he placed his hands on my knees. The warmth of his palms and the gentle squeeze from his very long and nimble fingers through the thin material of my pajama pants had something dangerous swarming in the pit of my stomach.
Had me thinking about how nimble those fingers were.
“We could go check out the tree they’re holding for you.”
I was not expecting that response, and, well, shit, I quickly shook my head. “No, we don’t have to do that. The one you purchased is just fine, and you have work to do. You didn’t come here to tree shop with your forced roommate.”
He smiled sinfully sweetly. “Is it just fine?”
The tree?
It wasn’t, but . . .
It took me a beat too long to respond, and he apparently read my mind.
“That’s what I thought.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You, no, but your face did, and it screamed that the plastic and metal tree would totally ruin your Christmas.”
“My Christmas is already ruined.”
“And here I was thinking we were making progress. We’re back to you being stuck here with me instead of enjoying a perfect Christmas with your family?” he murmured, and I grinned.
“I thought we agreed being here with you, albeit not expected or my preference, was in the bonus column.”
“For now . . .” he countered.
“Well, yeah, but it’s still a bonus.”
“Listen, you’re right about one thing. I didn’t come here to tree shop, and I do have work I need to get done, but if you can give me a few hours to power through a few things, we can go out later and get you a tree. They close at eight, right?”
My face lit up with the possibility. Not just with the prospect of getting a tree but also with Kanton being a part of the experience. “Eight, yes.”
“Give me a few hours to tackle this, and I’m all yours for the evening.”
The way my stomach flipped with that decree—a promise of spending time with Kanton while he was all mine, surely wasn’t what he meant, but my body still received it as such.
“Oh, okay, perfect. I’ll get out of your way.”
His hands fell from my thighs, and I immediately missed the connection. His hands on me weren’t the explosive sparks and electric jolts that love spoke of. It was more of a naturally organic connection, which also had my stomach in knots.
I was walking back to my room when he called out behind me. “And, Noel?”
“Yeah . . .?” I turned to face him, and those glasses were back on his face, with the computer in his lap. There was something about that bossy, sexy look that really worked for him.
Dear Lord, save me.
“I meant what I said about you being confined to your room. I’m sure we can coexist without you being exiled from your own living space.”
I smiled. “We can, but I think I will binge-watch some Christmas movies until you’re done. I feel a little more Christmassy now, so thanks.”
He nodded his approval and lowered his eyes to the laptop. I almost skipped back to my room, grinning, as I closed the door and leaned against it for a minute to fully absorb what had just happened.
Maybe Simone was right. Perhaps the universe was doing its best to offer me a very Merry Christmas after all.
“You’re wearing that ?”
I looked down at my jeans, duck boots, and bright red sweatshirt that read “ Son of a Nutcracker”.
“Yes, why? You don’t like it?” I said teasingly. Kanton was not a Christmas guy. I could tell from his demeanor when discussing the topic. He was also very conservative. The guy had style, even now, dressed in jeans, a cable knit sweater, and a stylish army green field jacket, so it wasn’t that. He looked like a winter ad for tall, dark, and sexy, but there was nothing Christmas about him at all.
“It’s . . . interesting .”
I rolled my eyes, turned to the coatrack near the door, and grabbed the bright green scarf that I intended to wear, but instead, I lifted onto my toes and draped it around his neck.
With a displeased expression, Kanton lifted the end, reading the printed letters that were weaved into the soft, fuzzy fabric. “ This is as Jolly as I get .” His eyes found mine. “Seriously?”
“It’s fitting, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t, and I’m not wearing this.”
“Yes, you are. You have to embrace the spirit of Christmas to pick the perfect tree, and that will help. As much as I love the sexy, GQ resort look you have going on, you need something Christmassy, or this won’t work.”
He stepped closer and smiled smugly. “You think I’m sexy?”
Yes, yes, I do.
“Your look, not you .”
He chuckled in a way that let me know he read between the lines, and I stepped around him, reaching for the door. Kanton walked up close behind me so that his chest brushed my back. “And for the record, I’m not picking the perfect tree. You are. I don’t know a damn thing about tree selection and have no plans on learning.”
I threw my head back so that I could grab a peek at his face, and it landed with a thud against his chest. “Nope. Not an option. If you’re doing this, then it will be as a participant . Not a bystander .”
He groaned. “You’re really making me regret my decision to be a part of this.”
“Don’t be a Debbie Downer. You can’t possibly be that much of a Scrooge.”
We stepped out into the hall, and Kanton pressed the code to lock my door. I watched, enjoying the idea of this being a regular thing, and I had to shake away the thought, which I did when he fell in with me, heading toward the elevators.
“I’m not a Scrooge. Christmas just really isn’t my thing.”
“Care to explain why?”
“Not particularly.” His tone was muted, so I assumed there was something he wasn’t willing to discuss, so I left it alone. Instead, I turned to him and changed the subject.
“What’s this big business deal that you have to close while you’re here, and why during Christmas? I thought you corporate types took off the entire month during the holidays.” I smiled teasingly.
“Possibly some corporate types, but as the owner of my company and a minority in the field I’m in, I have to work harder than anyone else, which means me being here during the holdings. My team is off enjoying their families.”
“You actually are a good guy. You’re doing all the heavy lifting while your employees get to spend the holiday with their loved ones. Admirable.”
He leveled his eyes to mine. “Did you assume I wasn’t a good guy?” I smiled inconspicuously before he murmured, “Of course you did.”
“What’s the big business deal, or is it top secret?”
We stepped off the elevator and fell in step again. “It’s not top secret, but also not something I choose to broadcast.”
“You don’t have to tell me then.” I pouted slightly, feeling disappointed.
“I don’t mind. It’s rather boring, though, for most.”
“I love boring,” I said, perking up, and he shot me a “whatever” look before explaining.
“The deal is with Prestige Luxury Brands. They’re family-owned but publicly traded, meaning they have access to a lot of capital. Unfortunately, they’re not doing the best with their brand. The company is hemorrhaging money because of poor management decisions, and I want them to take me on to help restructure how they’re spending to keep them from going bankrupt and to revamp how they’re marketing their brand.”
“That wasn’t so boring.”
He gave me another look that had me smiling wider. “I mean, it wasn’t hang-on-the-edge-of-your-seat excitement, but not exactly boring . When’s your meeting?”
“I don’t have one.”
I paused. “Wait. You don’t have a meeting? How is that going to work?”
“I haven’t figured that part out yet. Not only do I not have a meeting, but he’s already selected the three firms he wants to work with. I’m not one of the three on the list, but he lives in this building, and I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge.”
“That’s why you booked my place and accepted my deal.”
He nodded. “Pretty much.”
“Technically, you need to be here. Maybe I should renegotiate that 25 percent discount.”
He gave me a warning look, and I shrugged. “You can’t blame a girl for trying.”
“Yes, I can.”
“Who’s the guy?” I asked, feeling a need to help if I could. I was familiar with many of the residents who lived here. His determination was impressive and relatable.
“What guy?”
“You said the guy you want to work with lives in this building.”
“Oh, Richard Brighton. I was hoping that maybe Lewis could help me access him.”
I smiled knowingly, stopping to inform him, “Although he would gladly help because that’s just who he is, you don’t need Lewis. I can’t get you a meeting with Brighton, but I can get you in the same room with him.”
“You know Brighton?”
“I do, and I know his wife even better. She invites me to their annual Christmas Eve party every year, but I usually decline because I go home for the holidays. She really loves the gingerbread cookies I bake for her every Christmas, and since I’m here, maybe I’ll go, and you can be my plus-one.”
The way his face did that happy thing had my stomach in knots again.
“You’d do that for me?”
“Sure, why not? You bought me a tree, albeit metal and plastic, but you’re totally making up for that terrible lapse in judgment by agreeing to shop for a real one with me.”
He chuckled and nodded, leaning into me when his lips brushed my ear, and when I felt the warmth of his breath, I froze. “Looks like you might be in the position to renegotiate that 25 percent, after all, Ms. Anderson.”
Before I could fully enjoy the proximity, he was gone, but he extended a hand to me, which I accepted.
“Looks like I’ve got some tree shopping to do.”
He tugged me into his side as we walked through the garage toward my car. It was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.