His Stand-In Holiday Girlfriend (Christmas in the City Book 1)

by Kasey Stockton

  Perhaps Monica had just gone upstairs. She started toward the elevators and was no more than ten feet from their doors when she heard a small ding and the doors opened.

  And then Ellie had a perfect view of Brady and Monica, wrapped in an embrace and kissing with the light of the elevator creating a heavenly halo around them.

  She stood rooted to the spot, frozen by disgust and hurt.

  Mechanically, Ellie spun away from the scene and began walking toward the exit.

  They could have each other, and this gala too. Sneaking into the coat check, she grabbed her coat and purse and made it to the door.

  A moment’s hesitation caused Ellie to pause, considering the little cottage ornament she had left on the tree. She was tempted to turn back for it, but tears had already begun to gather in her eyes.

  Brady’s voice called out, “Ellie, wait!”

  But she couldn’t. She didn’t want to hear his excuses. She’d heard so many times how difficult it was for him to resist Monica. And in the stunning red dress Monica was wearing this evening, Ellie really wasn’t surprised he’d caved.

  Ellie crossed the distance to the doors and pushed them open. Of course it would be raining now.

  Groaning loudly, she pulled on her coat and stepped down the stairs toward the street, getting out her phone to call for a ride.

  The closest one was five minutes away. Of course.

  “Ellie, wait,” Brady said, running down the stairs as he opened an umbrella. He held it over her, stepping close enough to be covered as well.

  She stepped out into the rain.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Ellie. Obviously I can explain that.” He stepped closer again and she stepped from the umbrella once more. She was being ridiculous, but she didn’t care. She didn’t want to breathe the same air as Brady, much less listen to his explanation.

  As far as she was concerned, things between them were over.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Fine, you stay under the umbrella and I’ll stand in the rain,” Brady said, exasperated by her refusal to speak more than her constant stepping back. He held the umbrella over Ellie’s head by extending his arm and she stayed put.

  But it was growing difficult to see with the deluge pouring down his face. He slicked the water away with one hand long enough to see Ellie’s frustrated glare. But then he felt her hand push the umbrella back over his head as she stepped closer. She was so close he could see the fire in her eyes. And he didn’t blame her.

  He’d hate himself too if their roles were reversed.

  “It was mistletoe,” he began. Stupidly, apparently, for Ellie merely lifted her eyebrows, her frown growing more pronounced.

  “So you just kiss anyone who happens to stand under the mistletoe beside you?”

  “No. I mean, yes, it seems that way, but I didn’t kiss her, Ellie—”

  “I watched it happen, Brady. And it wasn’t a short kiss!”

  He shook his head. “I know. But it wasn’t my fault. Monica took me upstairs to get the boxes of umbrellas she’d ordered in case of rain. On our way back down, she mentioned the mistletoe and then the next thing I knew she was kissing me. I panicked. I didn’t even realize what was happening. And as soon as I broke the kiss, she smiled at me so slyly, I realized how she had orchestrated the situation.”

  Ellie merely shook her head. “I don’t know if I can believe you, Brady. You’ve been telling me for weeks that you don’t know how to refuse her. How can I believe you ended it?”

  “Trust me,” he said with as much fire as he possessed. “I don’t have feelings for her anymore. They’ve all been snuffed out by a new fire in my heart and it belongs to you.”

  Ellie looked down at the ground and he wanted to pull her into his arms, but he could see she was hesitant.

  “You finish the gala and the ceremony and everything,” she said. “I’ll see you at work.”

  But then he wouldn’t be able to give her the ornament. Or dance with her in the museum. Or stare at her in that exquisite dress.

  “Please don’t go, Ellie.”

  She laughed, but the sound was without humor and it wrecked him. “I’m not going back in there looking like a drowned cat.” Her phone buzzed and she glanced down at it. “My ride’s here. I’ve got to go.”

  Brady watched her leave. When her car pulled onto the street and out of view, he dropped his head, scrubbing the water from his face.

  He didn’t know how he was going to manage it, but he needed to figure out a way to make things right.

  When Ellie got home, she slipped out of the dress and into the shower, allowing the hot water to wash away the extra makeup and hairspray she’d worn.

  Turning on White Christmas, Ellie shut off all the lights in the apartment except for the Christmas tree and donned her warmest pajamas and fuzzy socks. Popping a bag of popcorn, she snuggled onto the sofa and watched her favorite Christmas movie, doing her best not to feel sad about the evening’s turn of events.

  Brady made a valid point, and Ellie could see how Monica would have pushed him into exactly that scenario. It was probably icing on Monica’s cake that Ellie had been standing in front of the elevator right when the doors opened.

  But she had to let it go. When she had stepped close to Brady under the umbrella, she had seen the sincerity in his eyes and could feel that he’d been telling her the truth.

  But there was still no way she was returning to the gala soaked through.

  It would be easier to approach him at work after Christmas with some distance and time between them, where she could treat him like a coworker and not like her fake boyfriend anymore.

  Ding dong.

  The doorbell caused her to jump, and she turned to face it. Normally she would expect it to be her mother, but since that had already happened a few hours before, she had no idea who it could be.

  It certainly wasn’t Brady, as much as her rebellious heart wished that was the case. There was no way the gala was over yet.

  Plodding to the door, she peeked through the hole and drew a sharp intake of breath. Opening the door slowly, she asked, “Why are you here?”

  Brady’s contrite smile made her heart melt at once.

  “I found your ornament on the tree,” he said, dipping his head slightly. His eyes implored her with their sincerity. “The moment I saw it, I realized how I felt about you.”

  Ellie watched as he fished it out of his pocket and raised the small cottage on a string.

  “Ellie, I realize how angry you must be and I will respect that and give you space for as long as you need it. But please, please tell me you will forgive me. Please say we can begin again.”

  “I think you just mean begin.”

  His eyebrows drew together and she couldn’t help but reach for the ornament.

  He pulled his hands back. “I chose this one. I’m keeping it.”

  “What about me?”

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny pair of white ice skates. “They made me think of you. I wanted to hold your hand so badly that whole evening, but I knew we had to keep our distance and it nearly killed me.”

  He stepped closer, placing the ice skate ornament in her palm. Lowering his voice, he asked, “Please?”

  She held his gaze. “I don’t want any more secrets.”

  “Me neither,” he agreed. “Monday morning, we can go straight to HR and sign one of those inner-office relationship forms. We probably won’t be able to head up projects together, but that’s just a small disadvantage.”

  “And what are the advantages?” Ellie asked.

  The small smile which curled on Brady’s lips was delicious, and she realized that kissing him would certainly be one of them.

  “Well, for one,” he said, reaching for her hand, “I’ll be able to hold your hand whenever I want.”

  Leveling her with a look, he lowered his voice. “What do you say?”

  Ellie sighed, feigning irritation. “Fine, Brady. I’ll forgive you.
But don’t let me ever catch you kissing Monica again.”

  His smile grew. “Funny story, actually. Right before we went on stage to start the ceremony, I told her how I felt about you and how angry I was that she had used me like that, and she actually apologized.”

  Ellie didn’t know whether to believe him or not.

  “I know, it was crazy. And she’ll probably act like it never happened. But she did say she was sorry.”

  “Oh, how I would have paid good money to hear that.”

  Brady lowered his voice. “How about you let me in, and I can recount the story for you play by play?”

  She glanced over her shoulder at the idyllic Christmas Eve she was enjoying. “I’m watching White Christmas,” she said in a warning tone.

  “Bring it on,” he answered with a laugh.

  Ellie pulled him inside by the hand and shut the door behind him. His eyes grew dark and serious, and his voice low. “Ellie, I promise that if you take me back, I will never make you regret it.”

  “Impossible.”

  He pulled back. “Why?”

  “Because I can’t take you back. Just like we can’t begin again. That relationship was fake. If we do this, it’ll be real.”

  “Then let’s do this for real.” He slid his hands around her neck and pulled her close, kissing her with warmth and determination.

  When Ellie finally pulled away, she was dazed and content. “I guess this means you’ll drive me up to Beverly’s house on New Year's Day to take down her Christmas decorations?”

  He looked at her, uncertainty in his eyes. “Yeah, of course.”

  Ellie moved over to the sofa and dropped on the couch. “Phew. I’ve been wondering how I was going to get there.”

  Epilogue

  One Year Later

  The entire family was gathering in the dining room as Shelby brought out trays of Italian food and Sharon carried in her version of cranberry sauce. Despite all the time Brady’s mom had spent watching the Food Network, it still hadn’t turned out exactly like it had when she’d watched it on TV. But she chose to put it on the table anyway, just in case anyone wanted to try it. Plain.

  “Hey,” Brady said, whispering into Ellie’s ear before she could take a seat. “Come here a second. I want to show you something.”

  Her took her by the hand and led her from the dining room and into the small family room. They’d showed up at Beverly’s house earlier in the day to have all of her Christmas decorations set up. And with just the lights on the tree and the village lit, the room felt magical.

  “Did you bring something to add to the village?” Ellie asked, wondering why Brady was staring at it for so long. “Maybe we can get a miniature Bear Mobile building to honor Zane’s project. I can’t believe how stunning it turned out.”

  He finally turned his attention back to her. “Yeah, that’s exactly what Grandmother wants in her village.” Taking her hand in both of his, his eyes grew serious and he dropped to one knee. Butterflies hummed inside her body as she realized what was happening.

  “It was in this house, exactly one year ago that I realized how amazing and thoughtful you are. I knew in that moment that my life was changing for the better, and I have you to thank. My darling Ellie, would you please do me the honor of agreeing to be my wife?”

  Tears slipped down her cheeks as she gazed at the man who loved her unconditionally. Nodding, because she could not open her mouth to speak, she accepted his proposal.

  Brady opened the ring box in his pocket and pulled out a beautiful diamond ring, sliding it onto her finger. “I don’t know how I was ever so blessed to have you in my life.”

  “You were trying to escape the clutches of your crazy ex-girlfriend, remember?” she said through tears and laughter.

  Brady shook his head, the smile growing on his lips. He rose and kissed her. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  “The pleasure is mine.” Ellie wiped the tears from her face. Examining her ring, she said, “You know my mom is going to want to plan this whole thing now.”

  “Maybe we should just elope,” he said. And Ellie was pretty sure he meant it.

  “I’ve been pretty good at setting boundaries, lately. I think we can come to a healthy compromise. She should be involved in the wedding, and what’s weird is that I want her to be.”

  Brady lifted her hand to look at the ring, his countenance positively glowing. “I’m glad. Can we go tell everyone now?”

  “Wait,” Ellie said. “Let me do one thing first.”

  She led the way out of the room and into the dining room where the family was still trying to get dinner situated and everyone into their seats. Moving to the end of the table where Beverly patiently sat, Ellie took the older woman’s hand in her own and squeezed. “Merry Christmas, Beverly.”

  It only took a moment for Beverly to feel the difference on her finger, and her eyes glistened suspiciously. “It is a Merry Christmas, indeed.”

  Next in the Christmas in the City series

  Snowed In on Main Street

  She's trying to manage a hotel; he's trying to manage his fans. They’re both snowed in with an ex.

  With Mia’s boss away for the holidays, she finally has a chance to prove herself worthy for the position of manager of the rustic Powder Peaks Lodge. But as a blizzard rolls into Hidden Hollow, the small town just outside of Park City, Utah, Mia is given far more than she bargains for in running the hotel—and avoiding her only VIP guest and ex boyfriend, Elliot James.

  When TV star Elliot shows up to the hotel for his family’s annual Christmas ski vacation, he beats the incoming storm by mere hours—and his family by days. Cut off from the world, Elliot determines to help Mia deal with the stranded guests and effects of the blizzard—even if she wants nothing to do with him.

  As Mia and Elliot put aside their past and work together to care for the inhabitants of Powder Peaks Lodge, will sparks fly under the mistletoe?

  Also by Kasey Stockton

  Contemporary Romance

  Snowflake Wishes, A Holly Springs Romance

  Snowed In on Main Street, Christmas in the City 2

  Historical Romance

  A Duke for Lady Eve, Belles of Christmas Book 5

  To Be Loved By the Earl

  Women of Worth Series

  Love in the Bargain, Book 1

  Love for the Spinster, Book 2

  Love at the House Party, Book 3

  Love in the Wager, Book 4

  Love in the Ballroom, Book 5

  About the Author

  Kasey Stockton is a staunch lover of all things romantic. She doesn't discriminate between genres and enjoys a wide variety of happily ever afters. Drawn to the Regency period at a young age when gifted a copy of Sense and Sensibility by her grandmother, Kasey initially began writing Regency romances. She has since written in a variety of genres, but all of her titles fall under sweet romance. A native of northern California, she now resides in Texas with her own prince charming and their three children. When not reading, writing, or binge-watching sappy chick flicks, she enjoys running, cutting hair, and anything chocolate.