Her Billionaire Stocking Stuffers (Cam Show Crush)

1. Ivy

CHAPTER 1

Ivy

C hristmas lights twinkle around the picture window separating the coffee shop from the ice skating rink at the center of town. Snow drifts past on an icy wind while Andy Williams croons about the most wonderful time of the year over our sound system.

What the heck does he know?

Holidays are just another thing for other people to enjoy.

Like family, friends, a cozy place to live, and especially pets.

From the backroom, I double-check no customers entered while I was getting my heart broken. The letter my landlord shoved through the lopsided gap under my drafty front door shakes in my fist. If I don’t get rid of the kitten I found in the dumpster out back during one of my shifts last week, he’ll kick me out. Even if I catch up on the back rent I owe.

Merry effing Christmas and a crappy New Year.

As dilapidated as my apartment is, it’s better than living in a cardboard box. Especially during sub-zero temperatures with yet another in a chain of blizzards predicted for the holidays. “I’ll find a safe place for you, Snowflake. Don’t worry.”

I’m not sure if it’s her or myself I’m trying to convince.

She peeks up at me with those big baby blue eyes that shine through her dandelion-fuzz face. It’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.

How can I send her away?

The bell on the front door of the coffee shop rings.

I stuff the letter in my jeans pocket, lift Snowflake—pausing to kiss her teeny fluffy head, of course—then tuck her into the deep front pouch of my barista apron before whispering to her, “Remember, quiet time. Best behavior when there are customers. They can’t know you’re here.”

Trotting out to the counter, something unwinds deep in my core when I realize who it is.

My three favorite regulars.

They always come in together, wearing impeccable suits and gleaming smiles that widen when they catch sight of me, proving they’re nicer than most of the entitled jerks who dress like them. This trio knows my name and takes the time to say hello. Plus they tip really well.

If I could decide which one of them is most drool-worthy—Gabriel, the tall one with serious eyes who drinks his decaf black, Cole, the bad boy with dark hair who slams espressos like they’re water, or Pax, the really kind one who goes for the sweetest syrups and novelty drinks—I might be able to pick which of them to have the biggest crush on.

As it stands, they’re locked in a three-way tie.

And the highlight of my shifts.

“Hey, Ivy!” Cole struts up to the counter and leans his hip on the live edge wood slab. “I was worried we might have missed you.”

“Nope. Still here.” I sigh, wishing I was at home watching Snowflake trounce her favorite toy—an empty toilet paper roll. “Unfortunately.”

“You okay?” Pax asks, making me aware my attitude sucks.

“Ah, yeah. Sure.” I mean, I will be as long as I can figure out where to stash Snowflake or some other place to live when I don’t have any spare cash for a deposit, never mind catching up on my past-due rent. “Stressful time of year. There was a huge rush earlier.”

“Just a few days until Christmas.” Gabriel joins Cole, taller though less bulky. “What did you ask Santa for?”

“Nothing. That way I’m not disappointed.” Snowflake squirms against my tummy. Okay, fine. I wish I could keep her. But that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.

“Have you been a good girl?” Cole wonders.

I’m sure he doesn’t realize how that sounds but Gabriel must. He smacks his friend in the gut with the back of his hand.

“It’s a tradition! I don’t make the holiday rules.” Cole holds his hands up as if he’s innocent, convincing me to laugh.

Even someone na?ve and inexperienced like me knows that man is anything but.

As if she senses we’re having fun without her, Snowflake pops her head out of my pocket to see where the trio of sexy voices is coming from.

“Is that…a pussy…in your pocket?” Cole teases. “Or are you just happy to see us?”

“Oh!” I wing my stare over my shoulder, but it’s too late.

“Ivy! What the hell is that?” My boss storms out of his office, his sausage finger jabbing straight toward the kitten from across the room.

“I know you said she couldn’t stay but I can’t have her at home, and?—”

“Save it. Get rid of that thing or you’re fired,” my boss snarls. “The health department would shut us down in an instant if they saw it behind the counter.”

I’d love to flip him off and quit.

But I can’t.

I’m not that kind of girl.

Besides, I need this stupid paycheck.

“Mr. Potter, I can’t put her outside. It’s freezing!” I’m horrified.

“Give it here and I’ll drop it back in the trash where it came from.” He lunges for me, but Cole surprises us both when he flies over the counter in some stuntman maneuver. The way he tucks his knees and leaps, skidding across the wide plank on the side of his thigh before landing in front of me without so much as wrinkling his suit, does funny things to my insides.

And when he steps between my boss and me, his thick shoulders becoming a shield, tears well in my eyes.

I can’t remember the last time someone was on my side.

It gives me the courage to try one last time. “Snowflake is not garbage.”

Before my boss can rant some more, Pax clears his throat. “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll take her.”

“You won’t let her go outside, right?” My fingers knead her fluffy fur while she peeks between us with her big blue eyes.

“Promise.” He holds out his hands. “I’ll find her the perfect home. Somewhere warm and safe with lots of treats and toys.”

“Thank you.” It’s not what I want most, but it’s the best I can hope for.

I hand her over, my heart shattering in the process.

“Finish their drinks and close up. I’m getting the hell out of here. My kids are harassing me to put up some lights.” My boss groans as he stretches, then leaves me to the end-of-shift slog.

“Good night.” I quickly add, “Sorry.”

But he only tosses a halfhearted wave in my direction without so much as turning around as he leaves.

At least I can focus on my customers.

“The usual?” I ask them. “On the house.”

I’ll even add extra caramel sauce and whipped cream for Pax.

He nods, but Gabriel is still glowering in the direction my boss went as Cole rounds the counter and takes his place beside his friends as if nothing happened.

Gabriel asks, “You have to clean the whole place by yourself?”

I busy myself making their orders to still the loss and longing roiling in my belly.

“Looks like it. That’s fine. I’d rather be alone than have him hovering over me, yelling all night.” I wince. “I’m lucky he didn’t let me go.”

“I’m not sure I agree.” Cole’s hackles are still up, reminding me of Snowflake when she gets spooked by a shadow. Prickly.

He’s a bit more dangerous than her, though.

Pax pets the kitten with one single finger, which takes up the whole space between her pointy little ears. He’s so gentle with her that it eases some of my grief at losing her.

They talk amongst themselves as I finish their drinks and write their names on the festive cups out of habit before handing them over. After wiping my hands on my apron, I come out from behind the counter to start stacking the chairs upside down on the tables.

Without asking, Cole starts at the other end of the room, finishing most of it before I’ve gotten two tables done. And when I fill a bucket with warm, soapy water and haul it toward the main shop area, Gabriel plucks it from my grasp before I can tell him that’s not necessary.

“Here, let me help you with that.” He carries it like it doesn’t weigh any more than his coffee, which he sets down so he can snag the mop from my other hand.

Cole snorts. “Do you even know how to use one of those?”

“I’m not a slob like you.” He stops just short of rolling his eyes, which has me smiling into my sleeve so as not to upset either one of them.

Pax steps between them, the peacemaker as always. “You’re both spoiled by our housekeeper. Jill will be proud to see you’ve learned something from her.”

“You live together?” I shouldn’t have asked. The question popped out before I could think better of it.

“Yeah.” Pax glances at me as if that would change how I think of them.

It doesn’t. Though it’s clear this isn’t a situation where they’re roomies to save money or afford the rent like so many people rely on these days. They’re far too successful for that.

It’s a choice. One that has my imagination running wild as I count the cash in my drawer.

With their help, I’m done with closing duties in record time.

While I’m saying my final goodbyes to Snowflake with one last boop on her perfect pink nose, Cole pops a tip into the jar. They always take good care of me but he says, “A little something extra for the holidays. Treat yourself to a nice present.”

“Really, you don’t have to do that.”

“We want to.” Gabriel’s tone brooks no arguments.

On their way to the door, he asks Pax low enough that he probably thinks I can’t hear, though his sexy voice travels, “What the hell are we going to do with a kitten?”

“Call shelters to see if anyone has room? And until then pet it? Play with it? Feed it? Spoil it?” Pax holds Snowflake up to his friend. She looks even smaller in his big, strong hands than she did curled up on my pillow the past few nights. Her stumpy little legs stick out as she squirms in an attempt to curl up against his chest again. No dummy, that one. “Look how cute she is.”

It breathes to life the slightest tingle of holiday cheer in my heart when he unwinds his scarf then uses it to make sure Snowflake is transformed into a nice and toasty purrito before securing her inside his coat.

Am I actually jealous of a kitten?

Yup.

Sure am.

“I love you!” I squeak as they reach the door.

Gabriel whips around, his gaze lingering on mine for a few seconds before he clears his throat.

“Snowflake, I mean.” My cheeks flush as if I’ve been sitting in front of a cozy fire.

“Ah, you had my hopes up for a second there,” Cole teases, letting me off the hook.

“Make sure you lock the door behind us.” Gabriel taps his finger on the deadbolt.

“Do you want us to escort you to your car?” Cole stands taller.

“Thank you, but no.” I shake my head. “I walk to work.”

“What?” Gabriel tips his head.

“It only takes me like thirty minutes, tops.” I shrug as if I have a choice. Who can afford a car payment and insurance on these wages?

“Not in the dark and with this weather.” Gabriel crosses his arms.

“We’ll drive you.” Cole makes it sound less like an invitation and more like a mandate.

I shake my head. No way am I going to let them see my Home Crap Home.

“Guys, I wouldn’t advise her to take a ride from three strangers. She doesn’t know us that well.” Pax cuddles Snowflake as he misunderstands my refusal. “Besides, we’ve got a… meeting to get ready for.”

“You’re right.” Gabriel already has his phone out. “In that case, I’m calling you a cab.”

“Please don’t.”

“Too late.” Cole insists as Gabriel waves me off.

Will the tip they left be enough to cover the fare? It would be a relief to stay warm and be a little less exhausted by the time I crawl into bed.

I scoop the money out of the jar and smoosh it into my pocket without looking. I’ll count it quick when they leave and cancel if I need to. “Can you ask what the fare is to 48 Holly Lane?”

Instead, Gabriel rattles off a credit card number he must have memorized and tells them to charge it to him.

What must it be like to pay for things without even knowing how much they cost?

Pax notices my expression. “Don’t worry, Ivy. We’ve got this.”

“What’s your number?” Gabriel prepares to relay it to the cabbie. “He’ll call you when he’s pulling up.”

“I don’t have a phone.” That’s a luxury I definitely can’t justify.

Gabriel glowers then tells the person on the other end of the line. “She’ll meet you on the corner by the ice skating rink in ten minutes. Do whatever you need to get there by then and I’ll pay double.”

He hangs up.

Cole dares me to argue with eyes that are even bluer than Snowflake’s.

When I don’t protest, he flashes a tight smile. “Good girl.”

“I promise we’ll take care of Snowflake.” Pax hugs her to him beneath his thick coat.

I don’t doubt it for a second since they’ve done the same for me tonight.

“Have a nice night.” Gabriel leaves first. Cole winks before the three of them head into the winter evening, taking all the warmth and joy in my life—plus my kitten—with them.