Blazing Hot Christmas: A Blaze Family Romance Collection
Page 4
She shakes her head. “Yeah but, I don’t know. It’s hard to picture that after everything that happened with me and my ex. It’s easy to say things won’t get ugly when we’ve just met.”
“Well, they won’t. Hell, I have nothing to do with the restaurants. I’d never even see you. And when I move back to town I’m going to have a desk job working in the executive offices.”
“I thought you said you were only here for the holiday.”
I swallow, trying to loosen up the tightness in my throat. “I am, I was… but, I could…”
She gets up off the chair and slides onto mine. “You could what?”
“I could move back. They want me to work for them. Live here.” I reach for her hand which is gripping the side of the chair. She laces her fingers through mine.
“They want you to come back…” She inches up onto my lap and kisses me gently.
I nod. “It would make my mom really happy.”
She closes her eyes. “I can’t believe I am doing this.”
“You’re doing this?
“I am.”
Epilogue
KATIE
One Year Later
The town is all decked out for Christmas and the entire Blaze family is in town. They’ve closed The Log Cabin restaurant for the night for a family dinner, and as the newly minted Executive Chef, I am overseeing the whole thing. No pressure, right?
Over the course of the last year I have met a lot of his family. It’s overwhelming when a few of them are together, I can’t imagine forty-six of them in one room. Here. Tonight. Eating my food.
Warmth blossoms through me as I think of all that has come because I took a chance. When Adam told me he’d move back here, my heart raced faster than it had ever done before. Before I could think about it, I’d told him I was in.
Hands down, that has been the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I smile, thinking of just how fantastic this past year has been. Adam is… he is everything.
“Stop,” I mutter. “Focus.”
I race through the kitchen and check the sauces one more time. The line cooks are prepping the grill and the pastry chef is piping the icing on the cake. The menu for the evening has been pre-set, thank god. But there is still a lot of prep and I want to make sure everything goes exactly right.
The hostess steps into the kitchen. “The first few guests have arrived.”
“Thanks Anna.” I wipe my hands and straighten my coat and make my way to the front of the restaurant.
“Katie! Good to see you!” Adam’s mother kisses my cheek and smiles warmly. “Thank you for doing this for us. It’s a lot, I know.” She slips her coat off and hands it to Mr. Blaze, who hangs it on the coat rack by the door. Adam’s brother Charlie and his wife, Violet are here, as well as his cousin Amelia and her husband, Damon.
“It’s my pleasure, Mrs. Blaze. Thank you for coming.” I address the others. “Glad to have you all. I think you’ll like the meal tonight.”
The hostess gathers everyone together. “Would you like to take your seats?”
Everyone files toward the dining room. Mrs. Blaze leans in and says, “Adam just texted; he’s on his way over.”
Mention of his name still makes my belly flutter.
Dinner goes off perfectly. I’ve come out a few times to visit with the family and meet the few Blaze family members who don’t live in town. I feel like I could float away. The night has been perfect, the food was prepared exactly right, the servers were on their game, and most important of all, everyone is happy.
I’m about to head back to the kitchen when Adam grabs my hand and pulls me to him.
I smile at him. “I have to get back. Dessert is coming out.”
He stands and plants a peck on my cheek. “This will only take a minute.”
Adam lifts his wine glass and taps his spoon on the side, ringing the room to attention.
“Everyone, if I could have a moment. I wanted to say thanks to our chef, Katie.”
Applause breaks out and murmurs of thank you and delicious float around the room.
“You don’t have to,” I whisper to Adam.
He ignores my protest. “It really was perfect,” he says. “But that’s not all I wanted to say. I am so happy that you’re all here to meet Katie and see how amazing she is.” He drops to one knee and produces a red velvet box, which he holds in his hand.
“Adam!” I feel my jaw drop open and it’s all I can do to stare at him.
“Katie Mason, you are everything. You’ve made my life more than I ever could have dreamed. In the year since we met, I haven’t gone a moment without feeling grateful for you, and your smile and your heart. It’s been a fantastic year, and I’d like to ask you to give me all the years to come.”
Tears stream down my cheeks. I smile and nod, fighting to get the single word out of my mouth. “Yes.”
The room explodes in cheers and applause as all the Blazes signal their approval and excitement.
Adam scoops me into his arms and kisses me and I feel so loved and supported, so genuinely happy that I could burst.
“I love you, Katie,” Adam whispers into my ear.
I turn and wrap my arms around his neck. “I love you, Adam. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life showing you exactly how much.
His Christmas Wish
Chapter One
BRIAN
I sit at my desk outside my boss’ office, waiting for her to get off the phone. We’ve been preparing the contracts for Blaze Hospitality Corporation to purchase a parcel of land adjacent to the resort. It’s been a complicated process, working with the county on road development planning, easements, mineral rights, and all the licensing that needs to happen in order for this deal to go through. The land purchase would double the size of Blaze resort, adding two new peaks to the property.
All this work isn’t what has me agitated. I am jumping out of my skin because I have finally made a decision. After watching Adam propose to his girlfriend at the end of our family’s holiday dinner last night, I haven’t been the same. I’ve never seen anyone get engaged first hand. They were so excited. Clearly they are totally in love. It was fantastic to see.
I celebrated with the family and then I closed my eyes and made a wish for myself.
I wished for the courage to tell her how I feel. It’s only been about twenty-four hours since then, and it’s all I can do to get through the rest of the night. When my boss asked us to stay late, it felt like the perfect opportunity. This project has been almost a year in the making, and we’re almost ready to sign off on the final contracts before the end of the month.
I’ve stumbled and fumbled through awkward conversations with her for this whole time, and now that we’re both here working late, it feels like my chance. I feel like time is running out, but we’ve been so wrapped up in actual work tonight, I haven’t had a second to even speak to her.
My boss hangs up her phone and writes something down on her notepad. I grab a folder and walk to her door, standing there, waiting for her attention.
She finishes her note and smiles up at me. “Yes, Brian?”
“I have the latest draft of Appendix D and E for you to look over.”
She rubs her eyes and blinks a few times. It’s been a long few weeks in the office trying to get all of this done by Christmas. “I’m in the weeds on the parks and rec provision. Why don’t you go over it with Riley?”
Mention of her name makes my mouth go dry. Riley Huntington and I started working here on the same day four years ago. We met in new-hire orientation and since we both share the same land use and development law specialty, we have been paired together on many projects through the years.
She’s petite and has the face of an angel. She’s like a blonde version of Audrey Hepburn with a soft southern accent and her hair pulled back in a low ponytail. She always wears dark red lipstick. A few times she’s worn a scarf tied around her neck that really accentuates the Audrey likeness.
I tap on the edge of her cubicle and wait for her to look up. My hands feel clammy and I curse myself for being so afraid. She isn’t going to bite. So what the hell am I afraid of?
She looks up at me and smiles. “Hi, Brian. What’s up?”
I clear my throat. “Kim wants us to review the appendices. I have D and E here, for the road planning.”
“Oh good.” She stands up and digs in her stack of folders, rifling through the tabs for the one she needs. “Here they are. I have A, B, and C ready. A and B should probably be joined into one, since they are both for the eastern set of easements, but at this late stage, I don’t want to mess with anything, you know?”
“Yeah. Probably a good idea,” I croak and clear my throat again. Damn it I feel like a fool whenever I am with her.
In her heels, she doesn’t even reach my chin. Our eyes meet and she grins again, her blue irises catching the light. She stands there staring and I realize I am blocking her exit.
“Oh. Sorry.” I feel my face get hot and curse myself for being such a loser.
“Conference room?” she asks, grinning sweetly at me.
I nod and follow.
Chapter Two
RILEY
Oh my goodness, Brian Blaze is so tall and handsome and when he looks at me it sends a little pulse of happiness right between my legs. If we weren’t working, I would giggle every time because it’s part tickle and part rush, and one-hundred percent fabulous. But, we’re always working. So there is no giggle, only a tiny rush and all in all it’s just one big flop.
He’s so shy that it’s painful to watch, and to be honest, he’s so awkward around me that I can’t tell if it’s because he likes me or hates me. He’s one of those guys who has no idea of the effect he has on people. Heck, he probably doesn’t think of himself as a sex god at all. But that’s all right, because I have him securely tapped for the imaginary role, just about every night in my bed.
I swear, I’ve fantasized about all the things I want to do to him so often, I have to remind myself that none of it is real. When we stand together, I imagine touching him. I’m so short and he’s so tall, I would have to get on my tip toes just to bite his nipple. And believe me when I say that I’ve checked—so I know it to be true.
He’s also a brilliant lawyer, and he doesn’t use his name to get ahead. Most people working for their family would not be schlumping down here with the peons like me. They’d demand a corner office and a team of assistants to boot. But not him. He just does his job and pays his dues like the rest of us. Come to think of it, none of the Blaze family that I’ve met behave like they’re owed anything. They all seem to work hard and are good at what they do. It gives me pride in my job. I like working for Blaze Hospitality.
I feel Brian behind me as we walk down the carpeted hall to the conference room. I add a tiny swagger to my hips as we go, hoping that he’s looking. Poor Brian. If only he’d give me a sign that he’s thinking what I’m thinking, I’d take over in a jiffy.
Chapter Three
BRIAN
We work until almost one in the morning, both of us give up trying to conceal our yawns. Kim ordered pizza delivery when she left sometime around nine, and the last couple of pieces of pepperoni sit in the box like forgotten things.
I stretch out my arms and roll my shoulders, working out the stiffness from sitting all night. I need a massage, and a hot tub, and a long vacation someplace warm.
Riley sighs and rubs her hand over her neck. “I think I’m done for the night. I’m going to head home.”
“Yeah. It’s late. And we have the Broadmore meeting tomorrow afternoon, so we shouldn’t pull an all-nighter.”
“Oh, I’m not going to be here tomorrow. I’m supposed to fly home for Christmas in the morning.”
“Oh. I didn’t know.” The depth of my disappointment surprises me. Fuck. I gather up my papers and notes and push myself out of my chair. “Let me get my stuff and I’ll walk out with you.”
“That would be great. Thank you, Brian.” Her smile is sweet and lovely and her lips are so red. “I’ll meet you by the door.”
We ride the elevator in silence. I have about a hundred things I want to say to her, but I get one whiff of her perfume as the doors close and my mind goes on lockdown. I grip the strap of my briefcase, digging my nails into the leather to vent some of the frustration that threatens to eat me alive. I am such a coward. I need to fight this or I am going to go crazy.
The first few chords of a Christmas song play through the speaker and Riley laughs. “Well, I guess we have both succumbed to this year’s Whamageddon.”
I shake my head and smile. “That’s probably a record for people who are subjected to elevator music on a regular basis.”
“Truly, especially considering it’s already the twentieth of December. I swear, it seems to go by faster every year.”
“Yeah.”
I open the door and we step outside. Riley gasps as her face lights up. “Oh my goodness, I just love the snow! If I had known I would have made us come outside for a break and some play time!” She looks up at the sky and sticks her tongue out to catch some flakes.
The idea of playing in the snow with Riley takes over my imagination as I walk with her, down the stairs and through the parking lot, not really thinking about anything but instead getting lost in my mind. I imagine her throwing snowballs at me while we slide on the ice, her pink tongue tracing the line of my jaw…
“This is me,” she says as she pulls her keys out of her bag. “Thanks for walking me, Brian.”
I love the sound of my name on her lips. I wonder what it would sound like whispered into my ear. “You’re welcome.” I hold the door to her SUV open while she climbs inside. “Buckle up,” I say and feel like an idiot.
“Yes, sir!” She smiles and clicks her seatbelt into the lock then drops her hands onto her lap and smiles. “Merry Christmas, Brian. I hope you get everything on your list.”
“Merry Christmas, Riley. You too.”
Chapter Four
RILEY
Kiss me, Brian. Kiss me. Just do it!
I send my thoughts to him using my powers of telepathy, but they don’t seem to be working at the moment. I drop my hands in my lap and smile at him, wishing he would just wake up and smell the pheromones wafting off me.
“Merry Christmas, Brian. I hope you get everything on your list,” I say, wishing with all my might that I was sitting right there at the top of his list.
“Merry Christmas, Riley. You too.” He closes my door and then brushes the snow off my windshield with his arm and cleans my mirrors and side windows too.
I watch him walk around my SUV and a part of me just aches to make him mine. I can’t risk making a move if he isn’t interested. That would be devastating for both of us, but for him above all else. I can’t imagine it’s possible to get things to be any more awkward between us, but I dare say that an unwelcome pass made by me would certainly be the thing that could send that train right off the rails into a fiery mess.
I drive away, slipping and sliding through the parking lot, my wipers doing double time to keep up with the snow and frost. It’s not windy, but it is cold, and it’s very late. I follow the curve of the drive that leads down to the road and when I tap the brakes at the crest of the hill, the back wheels fishtail and I start sliding.
For the first time ever, I am glad my job is so insane that we keep these wacky hours. Thank goodness it’s one in the morning which means there isn’t anyone here for me to endanger except for myself. My SUV picks up speed as it descends the small hill. I guess it doesn’t take much to get going.
&
nbsp; My driver’s side front wheel bumps the curb and sends me spinning the rest of the way down the hill. When I finally stop moving, I’m sideways in a ditch, and it feels like I’m going to flip over.
“Well, shit.”
Chapter Five
BRIAN
“Merry Christmas, Riley. You too.” I mock myself and my stupidity. “Brian you’re a fucking coward.” I can’t believe I am so goddamn lame. I was so sure of myself when I woke up this morning only to see my resolve fade away with each interaction I had with Riley.
I slam my hand against the steering wheel, wishing I could go back over to her car and fling the door open and take her into my arms. But, that’s not me. I am not the one to go rushing in, throwing caution away and going for it. I wasn’t made that way and I’m just going to have to deal with it.
I will never be able to do the things that my brothers and my cousins can do. They all have balls of steel—even my female cousins… And here I sit wishing and hoping like a fool.
“Argh!” I grip the wheel and just let out a roar. I can’t stand this. And now she’s heading home for the holiday and there’s nothing I can do until she gets back. Who am I kidding… I am not going to do anything when she gets back. I have never done anything for four fucking years, what makes next week, two weeks from now, next month any different? I know… it’s easy to feel brave when it’s not happening right now.