I shrug with a smile. “I don’t know, but be warned, when I’m drunk, I sing off-key in a high pitch voice. You’ll probably send your bodyguards to bundle me out of here.”
More laughter erupts from his throat.
With great curiosity, I ask, “Have you ever been drunk?” I don’t see him as they type to get drunk; probably tipsy, but never drunk.
He lifts and drops his shoulders in a careless shrug. “A couple of times.”
“And I bet you were all calm about it. You simply asked your driver to take you home, right?”
He grins. “I never get drunk in public.”
“Lucky you.” Then eyeing him with a twinkle in my eyes, I say, “You trashed your house, didn’t you?”
He chuckles. “No, that would be juvenile. I usually hit the gym, run on the treadmill, or jog outdoors whenever the weather permits. Exercise is not just a means for me to stay healthy, but it also lets me blow off steam,” he replies.
“I agree, sometimes, that’s the best way to let out pent up frustration. It’s like that whenever I do yoga.”
Christian nods, and gives me an enigmatic grin.
Our orders are brought and we eat in relative silence for a while. The food is so delicious, I savor the taste.
“I know this might sound cliché for a first date, but please tell me about yourself.”
I fork salad into my mouth and chew delicately before answering. “What do you want to know?”
He shrugs. “Everything. Your childhood, your past relationships, your life in general.”
“And you’ll return the favor?” I ask. No way will I pour my life out for him and he’ll keep mute about his.
Grinning, he replies, “Sure.”
I tell him about growing up in Cedar Crest. I talk about my late parents and being a close-knit family before their demise. I also mention falling in love with Georgia and the joy I felt at making it my second home. Lastly, I mention Terrance and how we broke up. Telling him about hitting rock bottom before moving back here is emotional for me, but I pull through.
He smiles and throws my question back at me. “What do you want to know?”
"Everything," I answer.
“I’ll try,” he replies and dabs at his lips with the white cloth napkin. “I grew up in Denver. I lost my parents to a fire when I was ten years old.”
My mouth drops open like a fish out of water. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
He shrugs. “It happened a long time ago. They took me into foster care, but it didn’t quite suit me. They’d returned me to the orphanage several times before I had had it with the system. I ran away one day and never looked back. I crawled the streets of Denver until an old couple visiting friends in Denver found me and brought me here. By then, I was fifteen and had lost several school years. Undeterred by the number of years wasted and fueled by the love the Gibsons showed me, I went back to school. When I graduated from high school, I lost my foster dad to colon cancer and they diagnosed my foster mother with Alzheimer’s disease. I had to take care of her and fend for myself. I did odd jobs to see myself through college. My foster mom died after I got a degree in business administration.”
I blink away the tears from my eyes, grateful Christian doesn’t notice them as he’s staring down at his empty plate. I understand the sorrow of losing one’s parents, but losing multiple loved ones?
“It was hard starting my business as I had no capital. I didn’t let that stop me, though. I carried on with doing odd jobs until I had enough money to rent a place and, as they say, the rest is history.”
I look away as I blink rapidly. What an inspiring story.
“Please don’t wet those lovely brown eyes of yours for me, beautiful. I might have started in the pits, but I’m no longer there.”
His words bring a smile to my lips and push back the tears. I’m a little embarrassed at being teary-eyed on a date with this handsome hunk.
“I’m sorry.” I offer him a tentative smile.
He returns the smile. “It’s fine. It shows me a side of you I didn’t know.”
I get flushed and he laughs. After that, as the evening wears on, I enjoy a delightful time with Christian. He talks about himself, mostly his work, and I’m enthralled by his business acumen. I listen in rapt attention as he mentions some places he visited for business deals. He gets me to talk about growing up in a loving family and the escapades I had with Debra.
By the time we have dessert and coffee, I know the beautiful date will soon be over. I want it to last forever, but Christian doesn’t give any hint of whether he wants us to continue it somewhere or have another.
As he escorts me out of the restaurant with his hand on the small of my back and almost all the eyes in the place on us, I’m a little disappointed. He helps me into the Ferrari before strolling to the other side. My thoughts are all over the place as I wonder if this is it. I console myself with the memory of him saying he wants us to take things slowly.
Christian pulls up in front of my family house and helps me again with the car door. What a gentleman he is. He walks me to the front door and I hope Debra isn’t listening at the other side. I wouldn’t put it past her.
"Thanks for a wonderful evening," I say immediately as we reach the sturdy wooden door.
“I had a fantastic time. We’ll do this again soon.”
My heart leaps with joy. I open my mouth to tell him I’ll look forward to it when he steps forward and gently takes me into his arms. With my heart thumping, I wait for the kiss that is bound to leave me feeble in the knees. Christian doesn’t disappoint as he lowers his head and seizes his lips with mine. His mouth explores mine, moving over it like a prized possession. When he finally lifts his head and smiles at me, I cling to him for support. I like that he’s breathing heavily, making me know I’m not the only one affected by the kiss. After standing there, holding each other for what seemed like ages, I pull away and clear my throat.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight. See you at the office on Monday.”
He walks away and I long to invite him up to my room to continue from where we stopped.
I watch until his car is no longer in sight. Suddenly, the front door opens and Debra drags me into the house. Her eyes narrow and her lips twitch.
“So, Clause is the ‘some guy at the office,’ huh?”
I release a sigh. I didn’t want to tell her about Christian because I was afraid she would say it was a bad idea.
Folding her arms across her chest with a twinkle in her eyes, she says, “Tell me all about the date.”
I groan.
Chapter Sixteen
Hope
I arrive at the office on Monday almost late because I don’t want to chance another encounter with Christian in the elevator. Fortunately, he’s already in his office when I walk in. He’s talking to Clara about some files. He coolly greets me, but I read the male appreciation in his eyes. We work as if nothing hot is brewing between us.
A few minutes before my lunch break, Christian tells me I need to sit in on an important lunch meeting with a prospective client. I enjoy the meeting as, once again, I’m reminded of how brilliant Christian is with business. I love the way he pulls back his hair from his forehead when he’s deep in thought and the narrowing of his eyes. I also love the way his suits fit him to perfection, drawing attention to his muscular body and the sheer masculinity that is Christian Clause. The confident way he speaks about the business and the aura of power he exudes send warm flushes through me. I feel his eyes on me during the meeting and he surprises me with a sensual wink. I drop my pen and quickly bend to retrieve it.
After the meeting, Christian walks out with his new business partners while I sit at my desk wondering what gifts to buy for Debra and her family for Christmas. I also wonder if I should get Christian something. We’re not officially dating, but it would be nice to buy him a gift.
I’m on the phone attending to an issue when he walks back into his office
. Clara goes to him when he buzzes for her while I continue with my work. I’m focused on typing my boss’s dictations when someone walks into the large office. I catch a whiff of the person’s perfume before I lift my head. My lips slightly part when I see Katherine standing before me, looking like a million dollars in a silver sequin dress.
“Is Chris in?” she asks without so much as a greeting, staring down her nose at me with cold eyes. I feel a chill from the icy gaze she fixes on me.
I nod. Without even waiting for me to inform him of her presence, she walks toward his office. I don’t make any move to stop her. Why bother? I don’t think Chris will be upset with me for allowing her into his office without prior notice.
Clara comes out of the office a short while later and she leaves for the second floor to attend to something.
Jealousy burns inside me, but I control myself. Christian isn’t dating her. If he was, he wouldn’t be all over me. I’m silently happy that we already had lunch so he won’t take her out on a lunch date.
I struggle to focus on what I’m typing as I don’t like that woman in there with Christian. He might not be my man to the entire world—yet—but I can’t help being protective of him. I force myself to concentrate on my work as it’s what I’m being paid to do, not fantasize about the boss. As I’m typing, I discover a part I don’t understand in the notes I made earlier.
As Clara isn’t in the office, I decide to ask Christian and quickly return to my desk in case a visitor walks in. Hurrying, I raise my hand to knock on Christian’s office door but the door is partially open. I push it open further and walk into the room. My steps grind to a halt when I see Katherine in Christian’s arms. It looks as if they were about to kiss before I came in. My jaw drops and I can’t help the look of betrayal that reflects in my eyes as they pull apart. Christian turns away while Katherine looks at me with fury.
“How dare you barge in here like that? Chris, is this how uncultured your employees are?”
Expecting Christian to defend me, to tell Katherine she’s out of line for accusing me of being without manners, my eyes widen when he looks at me coldly.
“What do you want, Hope?”
I’m shocked at the iciness in his tone.
“Are you deaf?” Katherine asks and draws closer to Christian who had moved away.
I struggle to keep back the angry retort that comes to my mind. My eyes shift from Katherine to Christian. I’m disappointed at the indifferent way he stares back at me. Gone was the way he looked at me that morning and during the meeting.
“Keep whatever brought you here for later,” Christian aloofly says. “I’ll attend to it later. I won’t need you for the rest of the day.”
As it’s obvious he wants to be alone with his mistress, I nod.
“Yes, Mr. Clause.”
Although I’m tearing apart at the seams inside, I lift my chin, turn around and walk regally out of the office. Tears sting my eyes as I stride out of the office. I’m glad they can’t see me tearing up.
Jealousy burns inside me even though I have no right, as Christian hasn’t promised me a future. Heck, he hasn’t even asked me to be his girlfriend or anything. All we’ve done is sneak around smooching.
I walk back to my office, grateful Clara isn’t back. I hastily blink back the tears, angry with myself for caring so much I’m almost shedding tears, which is crazy.
I have allowed myself to get in too deep when Christian didn’t even ask me for a relationship. Anger surges inside me at the way Katherine treated me. Who did she think she was? I hated the possessive way she held on to Christian.
“Are you all right?” Clara asks as she walks back to the office.
Quickly, I school my features and offer her a small smile. “I’m fine, Clara. Just a little tired.”
“Why don’t you take a brief break? I’ll attend to Mr. Clause whenever he needs something.”
“Thanks, Clara.” I don’t bother telling her he won’t need any of us in a long time, probably until the close of work.
I have to evaluate things now. This is one of the reasons it isn’t advisable to have anything to do with your boss or coworker. I shouldn’t have forgotten that rule. Knowing Christian is in there with Katherine, doing what I had no idea of, is driving me crazy. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Everything in me wants me to type my resignation, go into Christian’s office and throw it in his face. I control myself. I can’t allow the incident to get to me. I’m a grown woman who can handle anything thrown at me.
With that in mind, I pull myself together. I even manage a professional smile when Katherine walks out of the office plastered to his side about an hour later. I watch him walk her to the elevator and lower my head when Christian returns to his office. I’m a little surprised because I assumed they would leave together to finish what they started in the office.
My heart aches even more since Christian didn’t spare me a second glance. I look at my wristwatch and I grimace because it’s still many hours before the close of work, and I have little work to do to keep me busy.
Later, my heart flips in my chest when Christian requests my presence in his office. I wonder what he wants. To apologize, fire me, or tell me there’ll be no more kissing and dates between us.
Whatever, I’m ready. Smoothing down my black pencil skirt, my heels click on the floor as I walk toward the double wooden doors. I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Chapter Seventeen
Christian
Staring at Hope standing there looking as sexy as ever, I feel the usual warm flush that rushes up my body whenever I see her. Remorse wells up inside me for the way I treated her earlier. I wasn’t angry at her, but at myself for allowing things to go too far with Katherine. One minute she was talking to me and the next, she was trying to kiss me. And of course, Hope chose that unfortunate moment to enter the office. I know she must think something is going on between me and Katherine. Something is going on, but I can’t tell Hope as it’s between me and Katherine. It’s strictly business, but not one Hope should be privy to.
I listen as Hope, without me even saying anything, rattles off my schedule for the following day and the work she has done so far that day.
“You have a meeting with some of your personnel at four.”
“Cancel it,” I say, and rise from my chair.
She nods and lifts her pad to scratch something out. Then she raises her head to wait for further instructions from me. At that moment, something tightens in my chest and I realize once more that I enjoy working with Hope. She’s a hard worker just like me, brilliant, and never complains no matter what I throw at her. Sometimes I make her stay past the close of work to handle issues for me, but I have never once heard her grumble. In fact, she has dedicated herself so much to her job, she understands almost everything about the business in such a short time. Sometimes, she completes my sentences, guessing my train of thoughts regarding what I want her to do.
Smiling, I say, “I think I owe you a raise.”
Her delicately carved brows shoot up. “Oh.”
I nod. “I’ll speak to the accountant as soon as we get back.”
She frowns. “Get back from where?”
“From our trip to Gray Rock.” I shrug into my suit jacket as I explain. “We hold a conference every year in a ski resort for entrepreneurs in Colorado. Do you ski?”
She shakes her head.
A grin spreads across my face. “I look forward to teaching you.”
I expect her to give me that sweet smile of hers, but her face remains impassive.
“When do we leave and return?”
I frown, wondering what’s wrong. “Thursday. We’ll be back on Sunday.”
She nods and slightly turns toward the door. “If that’s all...”
“Hope, please wait,” I call before she opens the door. Crossing the short distance between us, I walk up to her and search her stony face.
“Hope, I’m sorry I wa
s short with you earlier.”
She shrugs. “It doesn’t matter. You’re the boss.”
“No. It matters. I didn’t mean to speak to you curtly. You caught me at a bad moment.”
“Obviously,” she mutters.
Never in my life have I felt the need to explain myself to a woman before. But now, I desperately want Hope to know and believe nothing is going on between me and Katherine.
I place my hands on her shoulders, but she shrugs them off and moves away. Frustrated, I run my fingers through my hair.
“Hope, Katherine is an old friend. I’m helping her with something I can’t tell right now because it’s a matter of confidentiality.”
Hope folds her arms across her chest, which pushes up her breasts, but I don’t think she realizes it as there is still coldness in her eyes I don’t like.
“You don’t have to explain things to me. It’s none of my business.”
I shake my head. “Hope, it is my business when you get upset with me. I hurt you and I’m sorry.”
When she still stares at me, I get desperate. I want her to smile at me and tease me the way she used to. I understand now that Hope is beginning to mean much more to me than I thought. I have never been so worked up about a woman believing me before or desiring her to smile at me. More and more entranced by her by the minute, I throw away my work ethics and say, “Let me make it up to you. Let’s go out. We could go to Denver and have a pleasant time in the city.”
She drops her arms. “I have work to do.”
Grinning, I say, “Didn’t you just say I’m the boss?”
She still doesn’t smile, and I let out a frustrated sigh.
“Fine. I want you to take the day off.”
She nods and turns around. “I’ll get my things and go home.”
I gently place my hand on her arm and whirl her around. “I’m trying to make it up to you, Hope. I have never given a damn whether a woman believes my explanation in the past. Please accept my apology and don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.”
Christian Clause: A BWWM Holiday Romance Page 9
