Your Christmas Love

by Layla Hagen

  “Right. What’s with all the changes? And for how long are you two going to keep that draconian schedule?”

  I opened my mouth to answer before thinking better of it. Wait a second. Wait a second. Was she trying to fish out information from me? Oh my God, she totally was.

  I’d been around the Bennett clan long enough to recognize the tactic. I’d cut my teeth on Jenna, Pippa, and Christopher. Victoria was completely harmless (and usually so obvious that I could easily dodge her questions) by comparison.

  “I don’t know all the details. Why don’t I ask Winston and get back to you?”

  “No need for that,” she said quickly. I smiled to myself. “How is it working with my son, Sienna?”

  I frowned at the change of subject, unsure what to brace myself for.

  “He’s brilliant, and I love working with him.”

  “That’s lovely to hear. We’re always wondering how things are at the office, you know. It’s weird, after forty-six years of going in there daily, now suddenly not being there at all. We’re so happy Winston decided to carry on the legacy.”

  I relaxed in my chair. She just wanted to know how things were in general. No nefarious goal behind it.

  “He’s doing a fabulous job.”

  “My son knows all the tricks. Perhaps if you told me what the big change is, I could help? My husband and I have had some great ideas in our time, you know.”

  I blinked, sitting up straighter again. Holy hell, I’d been close to falling right into her trap. I should have seen this tactic coming. Pippa was a master at it.

  Step one: get the poor unsuspecting soul you’re planning to question to relax—usually by talking about something else.

  Step two: once they’ve lowered their defense, jump in for the kill.

  “I assure you, Winston’s got the hang of things,” I said.

  “Well, then. Have a great day, Sienna.” Something in her voice told me she wasn’t giving up. “It was nice talking to you.”

  “You too.”

  Stathams were forces to be reckoned with. That was true as much for the mother as it was for the son.

  I shook my head, smiling as I hung up. I was fully awake now, no need for a coffee break.

  But I thought I should let Winston know what his mom was up to. So when I saw him in the hallway, I waved at him, motioning for him to come to my office.

  I dropped my voice to a whisper once he was inside.

  “Funny thing, your mom called.”

  “My... mother?”

  “Yup.”

  “Why?” he checked his phone. “I have no missed call from her.”

  “Well, no... I think she was hoping for extra information from another... source.”

  “Should I be afraid?”

  “Yes. She’s onto you.”

  “How did she even have your number?”

  “I’m guessing she’s a resourceful woman. She knew who I was and that I worked closest with you.”

  “What did she ask?”

  “Mainly about your schedule. She was very interested in our late-night project.”

  Winston sighed. “What did you tell her?”

  “That we’re preparing something big. That was a mistake. She became even more suspicious, but I was very evasive after that.”

  “I haven’t told them about the financial issues.”

  I’d suspected that, but hearing him confirm it stirred something in me. He was protecting everyone else, but who was protecting him?

  “Well, she won’t find out from me.”

  His eyes turned soft. “Thanks. By the way, I’ve seen the memo about the Christmas party. It’s earlier than usual.” It was next week.

  I’d waited too long to bring this up to him. No time like the present.

  “Yes. I thought everyone will be more relaxed at the beginning of the month.”

  “I agree.”

  “We’re also playing Secret Santa this year. I think everyone would love it if you participated.”

  “Secret Santa.”

  “Yes. It’s a game where everyone’s name—”

  “I know how it works, Sienna.”

  I perked up.

  “Just making sure. So, can I add you to the list?”

  “On one condition.”

  “What?”

  “You’ll find out on the evening of the party.”

  “You want me to agree to something without knowing what?”

  He didn’t answer, merely pinned me with his gaze. Oh my God. He absolutely did expect that.

  The tips of my ears felt hot. “Your mom was right.”

  “About what?”

  “You knowing all the tricks.”

  “She said that?”

  “Yes. Though I don’t think she meant this kind of trick. But if you keep at them, I might conspire with her.”

  “For what?”

  “Don’t know yet, but I’m sure this isn’t the last I’ll hear from her.”

  Winston had been standing close to the door, but now he walked toward me.

  “Are you blackmailing me, Ms. Hensley?”

  ***

  Winston

  “Of course not. I’m just... setting forward very good terms, Winston.”

  Sienna got up from her desk, walking in front of it. I was close enough to smell her perfume. It was fresh, but also so sensual that I wanted nothing more than to bend her over the table and get her naked.

  I took one step forward, instinctively bringing a hand to her waist.

  “And you think I’ll agree to them... why?” I teased her.

  She winked. “Because they’re very agreeable.”

  I rubbed my thumb an inch or so up and down, watching her react to my touch with a delicious blush.

  “My office. My way, Sienna.”

  She narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

  “I’ll participate in the game.”

  “Perfect. And by the way... how do you feel about having a plant in your office? Like a philodendron?”

  “Why?”

  “I looked up plants that are supposed to help one relax and have clarity of mind—they basically increase the oxygen supply.”

  She’d looked that up... especially for me. I wanted to kiss this woman and just not let go. Did she know how much that meant to me?

  “You just... looked that up?” I asked.

  “If you don’t like that idea, tell me what would help you relax, and I’ll make it happen.”

  That need to kiss her gripped me completely. I wanted to feel closer to her in every way possible.

  I smiled, moving my hand up to cup her cheek.

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Yes.”

  She must have realized that what I had in mind wouldn’t exactly be HR approved, because she averted her gaze, taking in a deep breath. I should have stayed put, but I just couldn’t.

  “You in my office. That would help. You want more details?”

  “Winston, I’m serious.”

  “So am I.”

  I moved my thumb over her lips, felt her shiver. When I dropped my hand to her neck, she licked her lips. I leaned closer, bringing my mouth to the corner of hers, placing a small kiss there. Sienna moaned softly, and I knew I couldn’t kiss this woman here, in the office, because I wouldn’t be satisfied with a simple kiss. I wanted to lock us in the room and throw the key away. Keep her there, claim every inch of her.

  “I’d kiss every inch of your body, Sienna.”

  Her cheeks turned red.

  “Winston, don’t!”

  “You don’t want me to kiss you?”

  Sienna sighed, dropping her head in her hands. “I’m just... I don’t know.”

  Damn, she was cute. I was close to throwing her over my shoulder and leaving, just get out of the building with her, but clearly things were moving too fast for her. She probably had no idea what to make of this. Hell, I didn’t know what this was. But I was going to find out.

  “
I see. I’ll give you some space to figure it out, then.”

  “Okay.”

  Blushing, she nodded, biting her lip. I stepped back, allowing some distance between us. Ever since I’d told her about the store’s precarious situation, I felt lighter, as if the simple fact that I told her had liberated some of that pressure.

  Her perspective on life in general was refreshing. She could focus on the big picture without allowing working for her goals to take over her life. Since finding out about the store’s finances, I made space for little else in my life. I’d been working tirelessly to get us out of this mess at the expense of everything else, including my parents, and that wasn’t okay. I could learn a thing or two from Sienna. Something told me that everything was better next to her.

  “I’ll get back to work,” I said.

  “Great idea.”

  “Afraid to be too close to me?”

  She grinned. “Don’t want to give you a chance to change your mind.”

  “We can’t run that risk, can we?”

  Chapter Twelve

  Winston

  That evening, I went out to meet some friends I hadn’t seen since college. The day after that, I took my parents out to afternoon tea at the Fairmont hotel in Nob Hill.

  “This is a pleasant surprise,” Mom commented.

  “Mom, it’s tradition for us to go out for holiday high tea,” I said as we sat at a round table. We’d come to Laurel Court, the hotel’s restaurant, for years. I took in the circular room with Ionic columns and murals. The plush leather seats and light blue carpet were just as I remembered them. The restaurant was full, but the tables were spaced out enough that the atmosphere was intimate.

  “Well, yes, but lately, you’re so lost in your own head. Didn’t expect you to take us out this week.” I’d chosen this week because Dad had informed me that Mom had been working tirelessly on Thanksgiving preparations and needed a break. She refused to give in to him, but she wouldn’t tell me no.

  “My phone call helped, right?” she asked after the waitress brought us an assortment of scones and pastries.

  “Mom...”

  “What? Sienna wasn’t very talkative, but I still think it helped.”

  I looked at Dad. “Feel free to jump in at any time.”

  He held his hands up. “Trust me, I tried.”

  Mom elbowed him. “And I hope that was the last time you did. If I want to hover around my son, I damn well will. I only have one.”

  I shook my head, laughing. I thought about what Sienna said about every old company going through cycles and different crisis. She made sense, of course. I remembered tense periods from my childhood, when my parents were working until late.

  I almost asked them about those crisis periods, then decided not to. They’d catch on, and besides, the whole point of taking them to dinner was to stop thinking about the stores and just enjoy life.

  “See, son, this is how things are after forty years of marriage.”

  “Whose side are you on?” Mom asked in an accusatory tone.

  “Yours, of course.”

  I chuckled. Man, I’d almost forgotten my parents’ dynamic.

  Few of my married friends were as lucky as my parents. Most were semihappy, but some swore they were the luckiest bastards alive.

  I agreed with them. Luck played a huge role in finding the person you’re supposed to be with.

  I’d had several relationships that fizzled out. I’d never envisioned myself with someone for the long term. I’d been in a relationship for about a year when I first realized the stores would implode if I didn’t take drastic measures. I barely had time to breathe after that, and things between us fell apart a month later, when Diane said she just couldn’t live with the constant pressure I was under.

  It’s easy to make a relationship work when everything runs smoothly, but when things get rocky, that’s when you know if you have what it takes for the long term.

  “Mom, I’ll make you a deal.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “You stop pestering my employees, and I’ll tell you what you want.”

  “Pester? That’s dramatic, don’t you think?”

  “You called five employees—I checked—until one of them gave you Sienna’s number.”

  She sighed. “Well, I had to do what I had to do. But it brought you here. Am I forgiven?”

  I laughed, shaking my head. How could I say no?

  “Let’s ask for another round of scones,” I suggested.

  Dad nodded. “And it’s time for champagne.”

  As a kid, they’d first brought me here because I was crazy about the gingerbread house in the lobby. Then we started attending high tea. When I turned twenty-one, we changed the traditional tea for champagne. I managed to push some worries to the back of my mind that evening, even though Thanksgiving was in two days, and Black Friday just after that. It was the biggest shopping day, and it had to exceed expectations for the board to be satisfied. But the holiday atmosphere at the Fairmont was relaxing me. Sienna was already rubbing off on me.

  ***

  Next morning, I arrived late at the store. I walked through the main entrance as usual. I liked to feel the store’s pulse, to check for details.

  We’d officially kicked off our Christmas shopping weeks. That meant that all the shop attendants were wearing Santa caps. In addition, one person on every floor wore a full-on elf costume. They handed out sweets to kids and informed adults of the special Christmas sales. To some it might seem like trying too hard, but we ran surveys, and our customers had stated they like the additional Christmas spirit the elves brought.

  I nearly did a double take when I reached the second floor. The “elf” there looked very familiar. Sienna. She noticed me too and quickly looked away. She was blushing.

  And what was she wearing? Her costume was a different shade of green than anyone else’s. Seemed to be made of another type of fabric too—a stretchier one. It showcased every dip and curve. I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and not allow anyone else to see her wearing that.

  “Ms. Hensley.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Statham.” She emphasized my name with a wink.

  “You can’t be doing a second job. I’ll talk to HR about a raise.”

  “The student in charge of this floor bailed. I requested someone else at the agency, but she can’t be here for another two hours. I’m filling in until then.”

  “Have someone else fill in. I need you upstairs.”

  I held her gaze. She drew in a deep breath.

  “No, you have a phone conference starting in ten minutes. It’ll last about three hours. You won’t even know I’m gone.”

  I didn’t back down. “It’s not your responsibility to fill in this role.”

  “Well, no, but I like it. Pity I don’t have an actual costume. I had to improvise with leggings and a sports shirt.”

  That explained the stretchy fabric.

  “You look so damn sexy dressed up like this.” My voice was practically a growl.

  Her eyes widened. She looked around. “No, I’m not. I haven’t even gotten one hot look until you came. It’s your own fault for thinking about inappropriate things.”

  “Sienna—”

  “Winston.”

  I had to stop; I just didn’t know how. I knew I was being unreasonable. I didn’t even have a claim on her.

  “I’m just proving my commitment to the company.” She pulled at the top of the cap, then twirled once. I had to jet my hand into my pocket to keep from reaching out. I didn’t think I could touch her and not pull her into a kiss. She was a little flushed when she stopped twirling. Her smile was so wide, it lit up her entire face. Scratch that. It lit me up.

  “I should be rewarded, not scolded,” she went on.

  I stepped closer. I didn’t trust myself to touch her, but I wanted to claim every bit of her that was out in the open... like her personal space.

  “Come into my office when you’re done, Ms. H
ensley, and I’ll reward you.”

  My attention span was nonexistent during the phone call. Every time I attempted to focus on the conversation, all I could see was Sienna in those clothes, acting as if it was the greatest honor to wear them. She hadn’t been acting though. She’d had pure joy written all over her face, and I wanted to know the story behind that. I wanted to know everything she wanted to tell me and lure out her secrets. What else did she love? What else made her happy?

  “Winston, are you listening?” the business partner at the other end of the line asked.

  “Sure.”

  I finally managed to focus on the conversation, even though part of my mind was still on Sienna.

  She knocked at the door of my office an hour later.

  “Come in.”

  She stopped just in front of my desk. She was carrying a plant.

  “This was just delivered. You never told me yes or no, so I bought it. If it annoys you, throw it away. If you like it... you can add it to the list of things you need to reward me for.”

  Even though she was wearing regular clothes, the sight of her wearing those stretchy pants was branded in my brain.

  “Thanks, Sienna. I really appreciate it. This is very considerate of you.”

  She blushed. I held her gaze until she looked away, tugging with her hands at the hem of her shirt. I relished the fact that I affected her just as much as she affected me.

  I rose from behind my desk, rounding it, feeling a visceral need to be closer to her.

  “Took longer than I thought,” she said. “The replacement took her sweet time. We really need to come up with a better alternative than students. They’re cheap, but you can’t count on them.”

  She spoke very quickly, still looking away.

  “I mean, I know it’s not fun for many to stand for hours on end, but it’s a job.”

  “It’s fun for you. Why?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I just like how playful it all is. And it’s useful in gauging customers’ experiences, watching them react to certain items and prices. Also, I had an idea... Just putting it out there, but what if we’d rotate management employees in that role? Not for an entire shift, but maybe just a few hours? And then we could exchange impressions about our customers’ experiences.”

  I smiled at her. “That’s brilliant, but not many would be as excited as you are about it.”