Christmas Wish

by Jill Sanders

  “If you want, I’ll show you to your desk,” Amy said to him.

  “No.” Laura nudged her brother aside and squared her shoulders. “Since I’ll be working with him, I’ll show him around.”

  Simon noticed a look cross between the siblings before he turned and followed Laura out of the conference room.

  He was greeted and welcomed by a handful of other employees as Laura showed him around the three-story building used by RMR, as everyone was calling the company.

  By the time they walked into Laura’s office, which he would share with her, he could tell that Laura had finally brushed off the initial shock of seeing him.

  The moment the office door shut behind him, she turned on him.

  “I may have to work with you, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. You left me.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You left me,” she repeated.

  “Yes, I did,” he admitted, not wanting to go into his reasons quite yet. “For now, what do you say we focus on the work?”

  Her eyes narrowed slightly. Then, when he didn’t say anything, she waved her hand to the smaller desk near a corner.

  “Your desk.” She turned and almost dismissed him as she moved to sit behind the larger desk near the picture windows.

  “Nice view,” he said, moving over to the windows. “You can almost see Denver from here.”

  “On a clear day, you can.” She booted up her computer, then glanced up at him and waited, as if she was expecting him to say something further.

  “I heard about your uncle retiring,” he said as he leaned against the window frame.

  “What did you say you do at ReVision?” she asked as her eyes ran over him.

  He knew she was taking in the suit. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been dressed in worn jeans and most likely a torn T-shirt. A far cry from the attire he was wearing now, which cost him several thousand.

  Removing his jacket slowly, he laid it over the back of the office chair and sat down. “This and that.” He figured vagueness was necessary until he had time to let her get used to him being around again.

  He smiled slightly when her eyes narrowed and the cute little twitch in her lips started up. He’d missed seeing it. Missed seeing her. How he’d forgotten the cute little hints she gave of her emotions. Currently, the twitch indicated that she was annoyed. For some odd reason, that had his smile growing.

  He’d never liked seeing her that way before. Maybe because she’d never been annoyed with him before now?

  Actually, when he thought about their past, she’d never been annoyed, angry, or upset at him. The entire eight years they had been best friends, sweethearts, and then lovers, she’d never been upset at him.

  He was finding it oddly arousing now. He figured he’d have time enough to explore those feelings since they had the next six weeks to work with each other.

  “Did you do this on purpose?” she asked, leaning back in her chair.

  “What?” He mimicked her move, crossing his arms over his chest.

  He held his breath as her eyes zoned in on the new muscles hiding underneath the grey dress shirt. A flash of desire flooded her eyes, and he saw her cheeks heat slightly before she jerked her chair around and faced her computer screen.

  “Getting my brother to force us to work with each other?” she answered, facing away from him.

  “Something tells me that, as the new owner of RMR, your brother won’t be forced into anything.”

  “Co-owner,” she threw over her shoulder.

  “Right,” he relented, “co-owner. So, what do you think of Amy?”

  Her eyes jerked to his. “I love her. Why?”

  He shrugged. “Just getting a feel for what the dynamics are around here. I always liked Logan. I guess I want to make sure he’s happy.”

  “Very. We all are,” she added, facing away from him. “So, what exactly do you need from me?” She turned back to him.

  “To begin with?” He had the entire plan worked out, but sitting in the same room with her, being this close to the woman he’d dreamed about for the past five years, his carefully laid plans eluded his mind.

  His eyes ran over her as she waited for his response. He’d forgotten how silvery blue her eyes were. How plump those sexy lips of hers were. For a moment, he let his memories of kissing them, of how they’d felt against his own lips, his skin, play in his mind.

  “Well?” Laura asked, her voice breaking him from the trance.

  Swallowing his desire, he shook his head. “I have the details here.” He picked up the briefcase containing his laptop. “I know you probably have a few things of your own to tie up. What do you say we give ourselves an hour, then start on the project?” He thought about all the emails from the weekend that were probably piling up. He normally took care of them first thing Monday morning. “Maybe make that two?” he suggested.

  She shrugged. “It’s your time.” She turned back to her computer and started working.

  Turning away from her and focusing on his own tasks was the hardest thing he’d done in years. Almost as hard as leaving her in the first place five years ago.

  Still, the first email he opened focused his mind on his work and quickly enough he lost himself in the task of catching up.

  The small tingle he felt between his shoulder blades reminded him that she was there behind him. When his inbox was cleared and his Monday morning to-do list was finished, he turned back to watch her work.

  He could see her large monitor clearly from across the room, and he watched her work her magic on designing the interior of a home.

  “You have a talent,” he said, causing her to jump slightly. He’d walked across the room to stand behind her and hadn’t even realized he’d moved from his chair. “Sorry,” he murmured.

  She glanced back at him with renewed annoyance. “Thanks,” she said dryly.

  “I guess it’s why your brother thought we’d be a good fit.” He moved back a step. He watched her save the project and shut down the program.

  “What exactly is the project I’ll be working on? My brother didn’t mention any details in the meeting.”

  “I can email you all of the details,” he offered. She nodded quickly, so he walked over and hit send on the draft email he’d compiled a few minutes earlier.

  He moved back to stand beside her as she opened the file that he’d emailed from his other, basic email account. It wasn’t as if he was trying to hide who he was and what he was to the project, he just wanted her to get excited about the project for what it was. An exciting new development that would help hundreds of children and families.

  A project that would, hopefully, undo all the terrible things he’d witnessed in his lifetime.

  Chapter 3

  Laura was slightly shocked when she opened the project file. From what she could tell, there was an extremely large old building that was being broken down into what appeared to be smaller dorm rooms. Each floor had a large kitchen, living spaces, and offices or… she zoomed in on the space.

  “Are these classrooms?” she asked as she glanced back at him.

  “Yes. There will be a large library, kitchen, and cafeteria on the main floor, as well as family visiting areas on the second floor. Plenty of outdoor space as well, including walking and bike pathways,” he answered with a smile as his eyes ran over the screen.

  She was momentarily distracted at watching the eagerness and excitement behind his eyes.

  “What exactly is this project?” She turned back to the screen and tried to get a better idea of why any business would turn such a massive building into a school.

  He handed her a folder. She opened it and ran her eyes over the proposed building. There was a name on the top.

  “ReNewed Foster Care Facility?” She turned to him. “A foster home?” He nodded slowly and watched her. “And your employer is building it?”

  “No, ReVision is funding it. The building currently exists. The old Coors warehouse just outside of town. Den
ver Urban Development has done all the architectural work. Construction is almost complete. That’s where you come in.”

  “What do you need me for?” she asked, and when his eyes ran over her slowly, she felt her entire body heat. “What do you need RMR for? We do real estate. Are you looking to sell it once it’s done?”

  “No, you guys helped us purchase it over a year ago. Normally Kristen at Urban Development would be doing this part of the job, but she’s currently out on maternity leave.”

  “Yes, she’s best friends with Amy.” Laura smiled. “I attended Kristen’s baby shower last month.” She remembered visiting the family just a few weeks back. Their new little girl, Jade, was just as perfect as her bigger brother, Camden.

  She’d wondered when her brother and sister-in-law would start their own family, since they’d been married a little over two years now. Not that she was pushing them to have kids before they were ready. She didn’t even know if they wanted kids, but she did love the idea of a niece or a nephew.

  “Right.” He sighed. “So, after asking around for another interior designer that would be able to finish my vision, I was told that you are one of the best in town to help me make the inside of the facility as comfortable and functional as possible.”

  It didn’t get past her that he’d said I and me, instead of we or the business. She thought about doing a project this big. Of finally getting behind something that she could be excited about.

  She remembered that Simon had grown up in the foster care system. For the first few years they’d been friends, he’d bounced between a couple homes until he’d finally settled at a facility not far from the school. Settled without a family of his own.

  She touched his hand, which rested on the edge of her desk.

  “How far along are they on the construction?” she asked.

  “They’re just finishing up.” He sighed. “I’d hoped the facility would be ready to open by Christmas but without your help...” He sat on the edge of her desk and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Christmas? That’s only…” She calculated how much time was left before the holiday. “Seven weeks away.”

  “Can you do it?” he almost challenged.

  She found it difficult to keep her eyes away from the way the material stretched over the impressive muscles that he hadn’t had the last time they’d been together. Her hands itched to reach out and explore them, but her mind continued to scream and remind her that this was the man who had hurt her more than anyone in her life.

  She turned back to the screen and ran her mind over the importance of such a project. Of giving the kids a new home for the holidays. Her heart ached at the thought.

  Not that she didn’t love working for her brother, but in the few months since she’d gotten her bachelor’s degree, she’d been dreaming of going off on her own. Of getting projects that she would be passionate about.

  She didn’t mind doing the designs for RMR. But moving around furniture to sell a home wasn’t the work she desired the most. What she wanted to be doing was something important, something amazing, something worthy. Here was her chance. The fact that Simon Berg was the one bringing it to her table stung, but as she ran her eyes over the screen and the drawings of the facility, she figured she could get past all that. If it meant she would be making a mark on a project so worthy, then she could overlook the pain.

  “Well?” he said after a moment. “Do you think you could have the place ready for kids to move in by then?”

  She swiveled her chair and ran her eyes over him once more. His brown eyes held a hint of excitement behind them.

  “Something tells me you already know the answer to that question.”

  His smile was quick and sexy as hell. If she’d been standing, she feared he would have knocked her on her butt with his expression. Damn.

  He held out his hand for hers. She hesitated for a split second, then shook it. She hadn’t counted on him holding onto it and then lifting it to his lips and kissing her knuckles.

  “I meant what I said earlier,” he said, his voice going lower.

  “Hm?” She didn’t trust her voice and wished for a glass of water to clear the knot in her throat.

  “I’ll be forever sorry for how I left things.” His eyes searched hers.

  She tensed and felt her heart drop. She had to be careful around him. Yes, she loved the idea of the project but hated the idea of working so closely with Simon. If she wasn’t careful, between the looks and his smooth way of doing things, she would fall for him all over again, opening an opportunity for him to hurt her once more.

  Tensing, she pulled her hand free and glanced at the screen. “I’ll work the project, but anything that was between us is gone. It died when you left.” She lifted her chin slightly. “I’m not the same naive girl you left behind.”

  “No.” He smiled and stood up. “I can tell you aren’t the same girl.”

  “As far as this goes”—she motioned between them— “we have a working relationship, nothing more. Agreed?”

  He ran his hands over hers and instead of answering, nodded once.

  “Good.” She turned back towards her computer. “Now, I’ll need to contact someone at Denver Urban Development to get access to their updates, then I’ll want to tour the facility myself.”

  “Aiden has set up a login for the project.” He opened the folder and then rummaged through the papers he’d given her and came up with the information.

  She logged into Urban Development’s servers and opened the project page.

  “These are great,” she admitted after looking through them. “I should be able to start after lunch today.”

  He nodded. “How about grabbing some lunch together? We can discuss…”

  She stopped him by swiveling around and giving him a look.

  “I already have plans,” she lied. There was no way she was going to let him get too close. Besides, she couldn’t allow herself to fall into those deep eyes of his. They were her kryptonite.

  His eyes searched hers, and she knew the moment he realized she was lying to him. As he leaned closer to her, a slow smile spreading on his lips, she held her breath and held her will against him.

  Just then, there was a quick knock on the office door and Logan walked in.

  “Hey,” he said, taking in the scene quickly. “Amy wanted me to remind you about your lunch today with her. She’ll meet you downstairs in ten.” She was a little surprised at the news that she had a planned lunch with her sister-in-law. Then her brother’s eyes moved to Simon, and she understood that Amy was playing her savior. He said to Simon, “I thought since it was your first day here, we could grab some lunch and catch up, maybe talk about some more specifics?”

  Simon leaned back and nodded in agreement quickly.

  “Good.” Logan smiled. “I’m heading out now.” He paused and glanced back at her.

  Laura’s eyes narrowed. No matter how much she loved her brother, she was going to have a hard time forgiving him for springing this mess on her.

  She watched concern and fear cross Logan’s eyes and couldn’t help but smile. Good. There was one thing she’d always made clear to her older brother. She could be vicious when it came to paybacks.

  “Have a good lunch,” she said sweetly and turned back to her computer to lock it so she could go find Amy.

  “What was my brother thinking?” she asked when she climbed into her sister-in-law’s car a few minutes later.

  “I know.” Amy groaned. “I figured I’d save you but was afraid Simon would see through my lies about having a scheduled lunch with you.”

  She touched Amy’s arm. “Thanks for saving me all the same.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “But I am thoroughly pissed at your husband.”

  “I don’t blame you,” Amy said as she pulled out of the parking lot. “I figured we’d head over and have tacos since Logan’s taking Simon to Main Street Grill for lunch.”

  “Anything sounds good at this point.
I missed breakfast.” She felt her stomach growl at the thought of food.

  “So.” Amy glanced over at her. “Your brother has only vaguely mentioned Simon. You and he dated in school? How long did you two know each other?”

  Laura leaned her head back and watched the snow fall outside the car window.

  “Seven years. We were best friends, first then… started dating when we were fifteen,” Laura answered.

  “Wow.” Amy shook her head. “That’s a long time. What ended it?”

  Laura laughed. “My brother didn’t tell you that part?”

  “No, I just found out this morning by watching your face when you saw Simon that you and he… had a past. I asked Logan after the meeting and he mumbled something. I think he realized how deep he had stepped in it with you after your little… display. His words, not mine,” Amy added quickly.

  “Yeah.” She sighed and tried to clear the pain. “He left a week before graduation. No word, no note, no explanation of why or where he’d gone.”

  Amy frowned over at her as she parked in front of the restaurant. “You haven’t seen him since? Until today?”

  “Nope.” She shook her head.

  “What about his family? What did they say?” Amy asked, shutting off the car.

  “He lived in a foster home.” She glanced over at Amy. “They had no clue where he’d gone, but since he’d turned eighteen a month before…” She shrugged. “Since it was clear that he’d taken his belongings, they figured he’d gone it on his own.”

  “How terrible.” Amy shook her head. “To grow up without a family.”

  There was something in her sister-in-law’s eyes that had Laura shifting. When she watched a tear roll down her face, Laura reached for her hand.

  “Hey, is everything okay?” she asked her.

  “I’m sorry.” Amy covered her face. “It’s just… we’ve been trying…” She dropped off.

  “Trying?” Laura asked.

  “I… I think it’s my fault. The doctors…” Amy shook her head and sniffled. “It’s just… after Kristen became pregnant with Jade… And we still hadn’t conceived.” She glanced at her. “We started trying and here it is ten months later with no luck. We’ve talked about adoption… if…”