Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Irritated that he was being so uptight about the whole thing, I gave him a brief nod and then whirled around to face the line of kids again. As I talked with a shy little boy, I eventually felt the heat of Reid’s stare disappear. When I turned back around toward Santa, my boss was, thankfully, gone.
“Is it true Mr. Shaw is unhappy about this?” Kelly hurried toward me as I walked through the atrium in my costume, drawing stares from customers.
As promised, I was on my way to deal with Reid during my break. I waved Kelly off as she walked along with me. “It’s fine. I should have asked him before I agreed to do it. He obviously needed me for something and is annoyed I wasn’t there for him. Which is fair enough.”
“Oh God, I feel awful for getting you in trouble.”
I shrugged. “How much trouble can I really get into? I’m leaving, remember.”
“Right.” Kelly frowned. The announcement I was leaving confused most of the staff. When asked why I was moving on, I lied and said I needed a new challenge. I knew they weren’t buying it. Who needed a new challenge after only working in a job for nine months?
Oh well.
Let them gossip about it.
I left Kelly standing in the beauty department and made my way to the elevators. Swiping my ID card across the screen below the buttons for the customer floors, I unlocked the staff floor buttons. With a shaking hand, I pressed for the top floor.
Why I was so nervous, I had no idea.
I couldn’t possibly still care what Reid thought of me.
Yes, I could.
Ugh!
By the time I reached his office door, my heart hammered against my rib cage. I knocked softly.
“Come in.”
My belly fluttered at the sound of his voice.
Damn him.
I stepped inside and found him walking around his desk to lean against it. He crossed his arms over his chest and his right ankle over his left.
His dark eyes gleamed with something that could have been anger or lust. Maybe even both.
That look made my palms sweat.
Reid’s gaze lowered down my body and back up again.
I shifted uncomfortably, feeling a deep, low, needful tug in my belly.
While earlier he’d said the costume was ridiculous, I got the very distinct feeling he was imagining ripping me out of it.
Oh boy.
“You wanted to see me?”
His eyes returned to mine. “Didn’t you think it appropriate to ask me first before you played Santa’s Little Helper for the day?”
“Probably. But we had paying customers waiting to meet Santa. They needed me.”
“I needed you. We were supposed to go over the applications for your replacement today.”
My replacement.
I hated how much that word stung.
“I assumed you could do that on your own.”
“You assume too much.” Reid abruptly pushed up off the desk and strode toward me.
I braced myself, my breathing grew shallow.
The air between us crackled. There was a dark intent in Reid’s eyes.
To my confusion, he brushed past me. I glanced over my shoulder, wondering where he was going.
He looked back at me as he stopped at the door and then very deliberately locked it.
Oh. My. God.
“Reid?” I could barely hear over the rushing of blood in my ears. The damn elf costume was suddenly way too hot. The stockings chafing.
“It doesn’t matter,” Reid said.
“What doesn’t?”
“The applications. I’ve already chosen your replacement.”
That damn hurt shoved its way through, confusing me all the more. Why was he saying that when he looked like he was ready to devour me?”
“Oh?” I frowned.
He nodded and prowled across the room to me. I sucked in a breath as he cupped my hips in his hands and began pushing me backward. I stumbled a little at first, but then dazedly allowed him to move me across the room, my silly elf shoes jingling all the way.
Until my arse hit his desk.
I was panting now at the unadulterated desire in his eyes.
“I’ve decided to replace Evan Munro with Santa’s Little Helper.” He smirked, bending his head toward mine.
Wait!
What was happening here?
Yanking myself out of the sexual fog he so easily cast over me, I pushed against his chest, stopping his descent. His brow furrowed, his eyes questioning.
“Don’t,” I said, almost pleading and hating myself for it. “I can’t be just a casual fuck to you.”
Reid’s expression hardened with anger. He wrapped his hand around my nape, a possessive, territorial, claiming gesture that secretly bloody thrilled me. “Is that what you think of me?”
Trying to control my breathing and failing, I whispered, “You said I was too young. That we couldn’t because of Patrick.”
“I was a damn fool,” he said hoarsely, his lips almost brushing mine. “I can’t let you go. I can’t stop thinking about you.” His gaze moved from my mouth to meet mine, and his grip on my nape tightened. “You’re all I think about, Evan. You’ve driven me to goddamn distraction. If I don’t get inside you soon, I’m going to lose my mind.”