She was still teasing. Sort of. There was a biting edge to her sense of humor.
"I've been swamped all day. A little thing called a port closure has had my attention."
"Yes, I know. I do watch the news from time to time." Her tone softened. "And it's peak. We're all busy. Dad and I are scrambling to get the last-minute travel arrangements made for the teams and put the rugby tournament schedule together.
"I didn't raise a wimp or a quitter. You'll handle it. You always do."
I appreciated her vote of confidence, but I hadn't dealt with a shipping stoppage of this magnitude before. And certainly never during peak.
"I'm sure you don't have much time, so I'll keep this brief," she said. "I need to know your plans for Christmas so I can finalize our travel plans. You'll be here on Christmas Eve after dinner and on Christmas morning, right? Isn't that our allotted time slot?"
It was more a directive than a question. Mom was used to coaching and commanding. She didn't take a backseat to anyone, least of all me. The fact that I was a billionaire didn't impress her much. It would have been better if I'd been a professional athlete.
"I'm glad you called about that," I said, trying to catch her off guard. "I've been meaning to talk to you about Christmas. I may be able to arrange to spend Christmas morning with you, if you'll do something for me."
"Justin." The frown in her voice was deep. "Some things never change. You've been negotiating since you were little." She gave a heavy sigh. "What am I going to have to trade to get a little time with my baby boy on Christmas?"
"For one thing, you can stop calling me your baby boy."
She laughed. "And for another?"
I hesitated. My mom wasn't a girly girl in any sense of the word. She was a complete extroverted tomboy, a girl jock. Which was part of the reason she and I had never understood each other. I was the black sheep of my family—the introverted non-athlete of her trio of boys. The only introvert in the family. She and Dad were both as extroverted as they came. Which explained why they loved team sports so much. If I had been athletic, I would have done an individual sport like track or tennis. Team bonding didn't appeal to me.
Mom was impossible to buy for. She didn't like jewelry, which I could get awesome deals on. Or trendy fashions. And perfume and anything scented gave her a headache. Basically, anything Flashionista carried, except maybe for a few odd housewares, were not my mom's thing.
She also wasn't the type of woman who enjoyed the arts. Give her a rugby, hockey, or football game any day of the week. Just don't make her watch the ballet. I was about to call her bluff. The secret to negotiating was to have something the other person either desperately needed or wanted. I had the upper hand.
"I'll give you your Christmas morning for the pleasure of your company at The Nutcracker on Christmas Eve. With the caveat that you have to convince Dad, Jerod, and Jeremy to come, too."
"You bought tickets to a Christmas ballet for our family? Have you lost your mind?" She laughed.
"Not just ours. Kayla's, too. I went to a lot of trouble to get tickets for both families. So Kay and I could spend Christmas Eve with all the people we love."
"Oh, bleh. Don't make me gag," she said. "You're really laying it on thick, boy-o." There was a shudder in Mom's voice. "Did those Lucases put you up to this?"
"No. Kay loves The Nutcracker. It's a surprise for her." I was taking pleasure in Mom's discomfort. "It's on me. And dinner after. At Dad's favorite steakhouse on the waterfront to make it up to you and the brothers." I grinned. "You can get all dressed up. Behave yourself and I'll buy you a new evening gown."
Another point for me. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen my mom in a dress of any kind. She belonged to the pantsuit set.
"How did I raise such an evil boy?" But she laughed.
Mom's favorite attire was a tracksuit or sweats. When she had to dress up, she wore slacks. I was pushing her hard.
"Make it a pantsuit and I'm in."
Did I call it or what?
"A dressy pantsuit," I said. "With some sparkle to it. And heels. Nothing less than two inches."
"You're pushing your luck," she said.
"Deal?" I had her on the ropes.
"Deal." She paused and broke into her evil winner's cackle. "Sucker! How many times have I told you to do your research, Justin? I've actually been wanting to see this new Nutcracker. See if it lives up to its predecessor.
"The last time I went was before you were born. With my grandma the year before she died. Fond memories. Fond memories. Your dad has refused to take me again all these years. He'll have to cave now, won't he?"
"How do you know I didn't do my research, Ma?" I paused for emphasis. But, of course, I hadn't. "How do you know I'm not just trying to please you, too?"
"Nice try!"
I pictured Mom shaking her head.
"One more thing. This is a surprise for Kay. I haven't told her about it yet. Just make sure she doesn't hear about it until she hears it from me."
Kayla
I knocked on Justin's office door and poked my head in without waiting for his reply. "Jus?"
He was just finishing up a call. Was it my imagination, or did he pale and look like I'd caught him in the middle of some clandestine act? I looked around the room, suspiciously, then back to him.
He recovered quickly. "Kay!" His face lit up.
He set the phone down and jumped up to greet me as I struggled to wheel his suitcase in and balanced the box of cookies and his lunch, with his pillow pressed beneath my arm.
I managed to get in the door by the time he reached me.
He took in the suitcase and pillow and frowned as he took the box of cookies from me. "Are you sure you're not throwing me out?" His eyes sparkled like he was teasing. But there was just enough doubt in his voice to be completely sweet and adorable.
Jus still didn't realize how hot and attractive he was. Which made him even hotter.
"And softening the blow with a box of sugar cookies?" I laughed. "Should I be? Throwing you out? I already promised I wouldn't."
I tossed the pillow on his sofa, let go of his suitcase, and threw my arms around him, almost knocking him over with my passion and the element of surprise. The cookie box tipped precariously. He recovered just in time to save it.
I pulled him into an embrace while he balanced the cookies with one hand and caressed my belly with the other. I always missed him. Being in his arms now reminded me just how much I loved him.
"How's my baby?" he said to my bump.
I tipped his chin up. "I thought I was your baby."
"It's an all-encompassing term these days." He set the cookies down, put his hands on either side of my baby bump, jostling it while he distracted me again with a deep, sensual kiss.
"Hey!" I said, pulling away. "I know this trick. You're trying to wake her up so you can feel her kick."
"I miss her." He grinned and squeezed me tight to make a point. And get the response he wanted. The baby kicked. Hard.
Jus grinned. "I felt that! There's my girl."
"I think your girl is going to be a rugby player. Which will make your mom happy. Baby girl kicks like your brothers."
Jus shrugged and kissed me again. "It runs in the family."
I smacked my lips and looked upward, trying to place the taste of him. "Your kiss on my lips tastes like an energy drink." I pulled away to study him. "Have you had anything else to eat or drink since you left home?"
He made an exaggerated point of thinking my question over, like it was rocket science or something. "That would be no. Don't need it. One case of energy drinks a day and I'm golden."
I grabbed his arm. "Hold your hand out."
"Looking for a tremble, are you, my suspicious babe?" He held his hand out. It was steadier than mine.
"That's scary," I said. "You've built up an inhuman tolerance for sugar and caffeine."
He laughed again.
"I miss you," I said, as my heart squeezed
with want. "Promise me you'll come home at least once before Christmas. Otherwise, I'll feel neglected. And I might have to take a lover."
His gaze fell to my bump and he raised one eyebrow.
I laughed. "Some guys find this hot."
"You mean me?" His grin was adorable. He leaned in and whispered in my ear. "I'll be home soon. My need for sex is about to overwhelm my sense of duty. I wish I didn't have a meeting to go to in a few minutes."
"That's all I am to you, now, is it?" I teased. "A roly-poly sex object?"
"And a baby machine. Don't forget that part. A billionaire like me needs an heir."
I punched him playfully.
He looked at the pillow and suitcase. "So what is this?"
"Making you comfortable. I figured you'd want an extra change of clothes." I held up the bag with his meaty pastry. "And this is lunch. Or dinner. For whenever you finally remember to eat. Put it in your fridge."
I hugged him, making a point of feeling him up. "You're getting too skinny," I said, imitating Mrs. Claus.
"So, did I interrupt something important?" I kissed him lightly again. "You look guilty."
"You're mistaking surprise and happiness for guilt. Did you really come all the way downtown to bring me my pillow?"
"And lunch. Don't forget lunch." I kissed him lightly again and let him go, reluctantly. "Actually, I have a meeting with the merch buyers in a few minutes to discuss the sample sale. You're not the only one with a busy schedule."
"So you squeezed me in." His look was penetrating and sexy.
"Yeah. I guess I did."
"And you brought me a whole box of cookies? Are these supposed to last the entire season?"
I shook my head. "Hands off! Those are for the merch department. There's one for you in the bag with your lunch."
His admin poked her head in his office. "Justin? There's a representative from the port here to meet with you."
"That's okay," I said to Jus. "I have to run anyway or I'll be late, too."
I kissed him once more and we were both off to our respective meetings. Walking through the building, I thought how fun it would be eventually to work here, too. The charity work and the pregnancy were keeping me busy. For now. But I had big ideas for Flash, too.
The Flashionista offices were a dream come true to anyone who loved retail, photography, or fashion. They shot their daily online catalogue onsite. And even though they had already blown past Christmas and were shooting January spots, Christmas props were still strewn everywhere. There were racks and racks of clothes, neatly organized for the fashion shoots, makeup artists, hair stylists, artist, models, and flashing lights.
Every desk in the merch department was decorated for the owner's holiday of choice—Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah, or just plain winter. There was clearly a competition going on. The transportation, legal, and supplier management departments were definitely losing, as far as decorating went.
I grabbed the holiday wish box on my way in to the conference room. Britt and Sarah were already waiting for me.
"Look at you, baby mama!" Britt jumped to her feet to hug me.
Sarah squealed, too.
They'd been sitting at a conference table, drinking coffee. Britt hugged me so enthusiastically, I almost lost my cookies. The holiday cookies I was holding. Those cookies had a death wish. Suicide by tumbling and crumbling seemed to be their main agenda.
"Can I feel it? Can I feel it? Can I feel it?" Britt put her hands on my baby bump, mimicking the people who came up to me thinking they had a right to a feel.
There was something about a pregnant belly that made people ignore personal space and social niceties and boundaries. And feel that your body was public property.
I rolled my eyes and laughed. She knew how much I hated it when complete strangers came up and put their hands on my body like we were intimates.
"She's not moving." Britt bounced my belly. "And a little round belly that shook when she laughed like a bowl full of—"
The baby stretched and moved. I winced. "Now you did it! You woke her up." But I said it jovially. "You and Jus, you're terrible."
I grabbed Britt's hand and put it on the spot a tiny baby foot was moving across my stomach.
Sarah took the cookies and wish box from me and set them on the table.
"FYI, this is way better than a bowl full of jelly," Britt said.
She finally let me go so I could hug Sarah.
"Where's Marla?" I asked, looking around for the head of the merchandise department.
"She's in another meeting," Britt said. "One of the thousands regarding the port strike. She'll be late. She said to start without her."
We all took a seat. Britt grabbed a cookie while I opened the wish box. It was packed.
"Oh boy," I said as I opened it and began handing them out for us to sort and catalogue. "Maybe we should have made this digital."
"We still can from here on out," Britt said.
Sarah put her mouth to one side. "Wow! The requests have suddenly started pouring it since Thanksgiving. We pretty much had all the items people wanted up through the last time we looked before break. Getting all this"—she pointed to the pile of requests—"is going to be a problem. And a time suck. Since this port closure, everyone is trying to keep their head above water dealing with our suppliers."
Britt frowned. "And it's still three weeks until Christmas."
"We'll think of something," I said. "I'll talk to Jus about hiring a temp to sort through everything and match the samples with the wishes."
"That would be awesome!" Sarah said.
We dug in and began reading through the pile of wants. We had just finished cataloguing the employee wants and were discussing what items would be left to give to the families at the hospital with Marla walked in. She looked harried and tired.
"Sorry I'm late." She took a seat and grabbed a cookie. "What did I miss?"
"We were just about to discuss how we're going to deliver the presents to the children's hospital," I said. "I was thinking we'd hire a delivery service to truck them over. And someone to play Santa Claus and hand them out on Christmas Eve afternoon. The kids will like that."
Marla shook her head. "No. That won't work. Justin always delivers the presents after the employee party on Christmas Eve. He loves it. He wouldn't miss it for the world. It's tradition. The children expect him. And it's fabulous PR for Flash. The media eats it up. He reads the kids 'The Night Before Christmas' and brings them cookies and milk." She turned to me. "I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned it to you."
Chapter Seven
Kayla
Of course he delivered the presents! Why was I not surprised by this latest roadblock? Once again my special gift to Jus was going to make me look like a great big Christmas-spirit-killing bitch.
And as for tradition—how traditional could Jus handing out the presents be? Flashionista was only, like, four years old to begin with. I mean, Jus had just turned twenty-two last summer. It wasn't like there had been a lot of time to establish timeworn traditions.
Marla's adamant attitude irritated me, too. It was so superior and knowing.
Because it was the Christmas season, it was my duty to spread good cheer. Which meant I had to be the bigger person.
"No, I didn't know! But that's just like Jus." I beamed, genuinely proud of him and his generous spirit. "He's always thinking of others. And working hard. Especially with this port strike."
I leaned toward Marla, making her my confidante. "This is just between those of us here. I've already planned something special for Jus on Christmas Eve. I'm sorry I didn't know about Jus delivering gifts to the children at the hospital. I really am.
"But my plans are made now. And can't be undone. If I'd known earlier about the children's hospital…
"But that's beside the point now. I hope you'll help me out." He and me and baby-to-be were a family. And soon we'd be a real, legal family.
I was beginning to feel a lot like the Velveteen Rab
bit, wanting to be a real wife. Wasn't that a Christmas story, too? My mom used to read it to me at Christmas when I was little.
Marla lifted an eyebrow, but she looked suddenly sentimental and apologetic. "Yes, how could you know?" she said more kindly. "He's been so consumed with running things, it probably slipped his mind."
I nodded. "He's barely even been home since Thanksgiving. How about Riggins?" I said, trying to find a solution. "Riggins is totally charming. Everyone loves him. He might like a turn—"
Marla laughed. "You obviously don't know Riggins well enough. The hospital has always been Justin's thing. I think children actually scare Riggins."
"He doesn't like them?" I was surprised.
Marla shrugged. "He's not comfortable around them. Let's leave it at that."
Sarah and Britt had gone surprisingly quiet while they watched the show between Marla and me. I almost asked them if they'd like popcorn with their show. Britt had only hired on to Flash last summer and Sarah had only been with Flash slightly longer. Neither had a dog in this fight.
"I love the children at the hospital, too." I took a deep breath. "We all want the best for them and their families. We still have time. We'll work something out. I still think hiring a topnotch Santa might be the thing."
After my meeting, I stopped by Justin's office to say goodbye. He was deep in concentration, doing something on his computer.
"I'm heading out," I said.
"Do I get a goodbye kiss?" He came to me and pulled me into his arms.
"Jus?" I bit my lip. "About Christmas—"
"Yes?"
"What do you want for Christmas this year?" It had occurred to me that I really hadn't asked him. I wasn't really having second thoughts or backing down. But I didn't want to ram my will through and deprive him of something that gave him joy. Like delivering presents to the children. If there was something Jus wanted more…
"You." His answer was quick and his grin positively lecherous.
"I'm serious." I sighed. "This is our first year together. I want it to be special."
"So do I." He got that look on his face that made me think he was up to something.
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