'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set

by Maggie Dallen

  “Actually, on that thought, would you like to join me next week, when I go to visit him? Don’t worry about the gas. My treat. We’ll go for burgers after.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not. Jaxson’s going to be in jail during Christmas this year. It sucks.” Jesse tugged his hair back, but it flopped back into place.

  “Hey, thanks for taking me in,” she mumbled, turning him down a notch. Jaxson was a sensitive subject for them, him especially, since they were close. Inviting her to live with him seemed like eons ago. It was a no-brainer. He would donate a kidney for her, for him.

  “Stop, Nessie. You’re my brother’s girlfriend, you’re practically my sister.” He smirked, “One day. I’m sorry I couldn’t get us a lawyer, that he had to be a schmuck, but you’ll have your wedding. I’ll buy him a suit. I’ll pay for the ring if I have to. You’re going to have your wedding dress moment.”

  “Ugh, stop. You’re making me feel like a jerk. I want to deny your kindness, I really do.”

  “Don’t feel guilty. You’re family to me. You will be family. Same thing.”

  “I wish I wasn’t the reason he was behind bars.”

  “He was the idiot who broke the law. It’s not your fault he wanted to give you items he couldn’t afford. We’ve been over this.”

  “Enough about Jaxson.” She swiped the notebook from his hands, “What’s this?”

  “A love letter.”

  “A love... what?” She stared at him from head to toe, inspecting him for loose screws. Yes, she heard him right. “Hmm, Dear Collette. Collette? As in your boss, Collette?”

  “Co-worker. The receptionist, yeah her.” Jesse sucked in his lips, then chuckled, “But not like that. It’s not a real love letter. It’s all pretend.”

  “Isn’t she the one with the hotshot lawyer boyfriend?”

  “The one that had Jaxson sent off to jail for additional time, yeah—that’s the one. The fact remains, she thinks he’s Mr. Fantastic, but not until I prove her wrong with a letter here from Mr. Wright.”

  “Right.” Genesis eyed his illegible penmanship with little hope. “So as payback you’re going to steal his girlfriend. Nice. It’s a little cheeky, but I like it.”

  “What? No!” Jesse widened his eyes, “I’m only messing with her head. Collette’s a sweet girl, I would never use her to get to him. I’m merely proving a point, showing her how stupid and gushy all this romantic stuff is. You don’t get it because you’re not there, Nessie. All day I have to hear her go on and on about the stuck-up jerk.” For good measure, he added, “He has no game.”

  Genesis tsked. “What do you have?”

  “Nada. I don’t want it to sound like me or else that’s weird. I was hoping for something cheesy romantic, not ‘Oh hey Lottie, turns out you work with a creepy stalker.’”

  “Did you tell her she’s pretty?”

  “Give that to me.” Jesse reached over and ripped the notebook from her hand. She sat down beside him and peeked over his shoulder as he wrote.

  “Dearest Collette... How do I start?”

  “Tell her why you’re writing the letter and how you know her.”

  “But Mr. Wright doesn’t exist.”

  “Make it up.”

  Jesse concentrated on the page for a few minutes with his tongue sticking out as he wrote. Something has been bothering me since we first met. For weeks all I could think about is you and how I regret not making my move sooner. How could a glance have such a life-altering affect on my caged heart? I was too scared to ask you out because your beauty intimidated me, made me feel unworthy.

  “Caged heart?” Genesis read out loud, covering a snicker.

  “It will make me sound sexy and mysterious. She’ll eat this up.”

  “You or this pretend guy?”

  “Right,” Jesse answered ambiguously, bringing the pencil to paper ignoring the question. Your hair was up in a ponytail. You brushed your bangs out of your face and our eyes met. You wouldn’t remember, but it took my breath away. I panicked and stumbled on my words. You had to answer the phone so I ducked out quickly.

  “Did that actually happen?” she prodded. Jesse glanced up at her. He was in the middle of something big and she was messing with his creative juju. “Ooh, throw in some more sappy words. Talk about destiny and love at first sight.”

  Jesse rolled his eyes.

  Do you believe in second chances?

  In fate?

  “Okay. Now tell her she’s pretty... but compare her to something. Saying ‘you’re pretty’ is super lame even if she’s cute.”

  Jesse held up the pencil and notebook. “Would you like to do this?”

  “No, it has to be you. I have girly handwriting. You have manly chicken-scratch. It will make this pretend guy all the more irresistible.”

  He sat up straight, his chest feeling lighter, as a smile stretched along his face. “Irresistible, huh? With the Wright words, she could be putty in my hands.” Pencil to paper, he couldn’t write fast enough.

  You’re a hot summer vacation in one glance. Though we’re in the middle of December, visions of you bring me to the white sandy beach. Ocean blue eyes, long hair like rays of sunshine, and I bet your charitable smile tastes like sweet exotic fruit. You work too hard to recognize your romantic getaway. When you need one, baby, I’m here when you want one. You’re skilled and organized, but I’m not writing this to acknowledge your impressive work ethic. No. I want to acknowledge you.

  Don’t be so humble, Collette, you are princess of the office...

  “Don’t call her a princess. That makes her sound spoiled. Call her a queen. That way it sounds like you’re going to spoil her.”

  “Sage advice, Nessie.”

  Collette, you are the queen of the office. Wear that crown, hold your head high, but don’t forget your stable boy. I will show you the chivalry of a knight and rescue you in the midst of danger. Ditch the pretentious prince.

  Be mine.

  “There. Done.” Jesse blew his bangs out of his face. “That wasn’t hard at—”

  Genesis tapped the notebook. “Keep going. Don’t just tell her how much you hate her boyfriend, show her how amazing you’re going to be.”

  “That’s not humble.”

  “Kind, sure. But humble, never. Jesse, woo her.”

  “Fine.”

  If you were mine, I would promise you an unforgettable evening of laughter and entertainment. I would serenade you and you would have to admit, I’m not that bad a singer. I can’t dance, but for you I would try. Your cheeks will flush a dark crimson and, sweetheart, that fire is the heat that permeates in my heart when I think of you. One date wouldn’t be enough. The stars would line the sky and you will wish it would never end. The twenty-four hour clock will slow down just this once for us, because the universe agrees time with you would be worth changing the laws of physics over.

  “There. Happy?”

  “Not yet.” Genesis bit her lip, “Tell her she’s pretty one more time.”

  “You’re impossible, Nessie. Sharing a roof with you is... I think Jaxson is getting the better end of the bargain here. So demanding.”

  “Just tell her she’s pretty in every way and that you want her.”

  Jesse squinted at her. This was his co-worker they were writing for. This fake love letter wasn’t supposed to require this much effort.

  Collette, you are beautiful and it’s not skin deep. What a woman! Thinking of you gives me the warm fuzzies like chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. I pray every day we will cross paths again somehow and you will be more than the girl of my dreams, rather the woman in my arms.

  The holidays are here and my Christmas wish is you.

  Yours truly,

  Damien Wright

  “Fresh cookies?” Genesis snickered, “Minus that, this letter could work on...”

  “Collette can cook, but ‘Damien Wright’ wouldn’t know that.”

  “It sounds like ‘Damien Wrig
ht’ wants more than a date.”

  “Is it too forward? You’re the one who insisted I tell her I want more.”

  “As long as she clues in to how exaggerated everything is, why not push it?” Genesis pressed her lips together. “Take out the part about the office, it might make it too obvious.”

  “That’s the point.” His eyebrow twitched. No wonder guys ditched the love letter act ages ago. Leaving a DM with a winking face was significantly less complicated. “Fine. I’ll pitch it.”

  The graphite tip of his pencil sliced through the flimsy paper as he crossed it out. He handed it off to her to proofread it, gently rewriting it on a fresh page in pen.

  “Can I see it one more time?” she asked, tugging the pen too. Before he had a chance to respond, she scribbled hearts all over and ran off to his room, sprayed the paper with his cologne, and sealed the envelope.

  “That’s a tad excessive.”

  “Just write the address and I’ll mail it off for you.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “I’m heading out anyways.” Genesis slung her purse over her shoulder, glanced back at him, and swallowed slowly.

  Jesse pressed his lips together, irritated. He chucked a scarf at her. “Dress warmer, there’s snow outside.” Jaxson would be jealous if he found out she dressed like that in front of other men.

  “Don’t worry about me.”

  Monday morning, Jesse had his delivery truck loaded and ready for the country golf club twenty minutes away. Tables, chairs, chair covers, table cloths, everything necessary for an extravagant winter wedding. He was risking losing his tip, lurking in the corner of Collette’s office. Weddings were like that, brides paying extra for this and that because they wanted to follow some bizarre etiquette they found in a bridal magazine. His job paid the bills, but not the lawyer, so it was a bonus he couldn’t refuse.

  Except if he left now, he would miss her reaction.

  Sophia Price entered the building. She worked across town running the books for various small businesses including Price Event Rentals, but on occasion, when checking up on her husband’s business, she would act like it was hers. Sophia’s hair was shorter than her husband’s, sleek and silver. Her clothes were black and, on occasion, white or beige, but she often sported a vibrant shade of lipstick. Today it was navy, matching her nails. Sophia wouldn’t allow age to diminish her love for fashion.

  “Jesse? Are you looking for something to do?” she asked passing by him unfazed.

  “Nope.” Jesse held a guilty expression, brushing her off quickly with a charming smile. “I had a question for Collette.” He didn’t but he had his fingers crossed behind his back she wouldn’t interrogate him so he had to make one up on the fly.

  The clock above them ticked louder than usual.

  “Oh, I just saw her. She should be here any moment. I like what you did with your hair.” He tilted his head, puzzled, as she greeted her husband with a pat on the shoulder and a soft kiss to his wrinkly cheek. When he showered this morning, his hair curled less than usual, is that what she was referring to?

  “Let’s look into January’s budget.”

  Rowan Price, the official owner of Price Event Rentals, lifted his brow at Jesse then closed the door.

  The front door swung open. Jesse’s heart raced. He reached for Collette, jabbing a finger in both sides. As her body lurched into the air, she screeched, dumping the thick stack of envelopes out from her hand.

  “Jesse!” she cursed his name and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Crouching in a manner to remain modest in her black skirt, she stacked the mail into a pile onto her desk. “Did you go to the West—”

  “I thought it was north,” he teased, but Collette was in a more sour mood than usual, threatening him with a murderous scowl. Yikes, he offered his hand to help her up, but one wrong misstep and he suspected she would impale him with her shoe. Why she wore heels in this weather baffled him. Actually why winter boots with heels existed was a mystery to him. Sure she was short, but it was a cute short that made her extra feisty when he held or placed objects intentionally out of her reach. “The golf course is north from here, isn’t it?”

  “I don’t know. You’re the one driving the truck,” she griped, clearly not in the mood to play games—all the more to push her buttons. Taking the seat by her desk, she ripped the envelopes one by one with such force, she almost sliced into Jesse’s spleen. He took a safe step back, distancing himself an extra yard to avoid death.

  “No. I’m going shortly. I had to... pick up more pens.” He stepped around the back of her chair, reaching over her for the glass jar full of promotional pens. A perfect dozen—tips down—stood in the clear jar. Collette whacked his hand, still holding the letter opener.

  “Yeeouch!”

  “Those are for the customers.”

  Why do you think I keep running out of them? He kept his snarky attitude to himself. After she read the contents of the crimson envelope, she would surely murder him.

  “Here. You get one pen. You lose this, you bring your own. I have to use these office supplies too, you know.”

  “I don’t know.” Jesse grinned. Collette rolled her eyes to the next envelope on the stack, pinching her brows as she read the address.

  “Weird.”

  “Weird, what?” Jesse mocked his surprise.

  “It’s addressed to me.” Jesse leaned in, instinctively wrapping his arm around the back of her desk chair for a closer look, but she sneered at him. “Personal space, Jesse.”

  Then again, he didn’t have to read over her shoulder because he knew exactly what it said, he wrote it. Stepping back, he watched her eyes shift left to right rapidly, down the page, then up again, taking in the letter more closely.

  Why was she re-reading it? Wasn’t it obvious? Jesse stood back, cleared his throat, shook out his broad shoulders then gave her his signature grin—but Collette ignored him completely, biting her lip. She’s not falling for it is she?

  “Who’s that from?” he asked as his grin faltered.

  “I... I’m not sure.” Her cheeks were a dead giveaway, turning a fresh shade of rose. She folded the paper, tucking it back into the envelope.

  “Well, where did it come from?”

  “There isn’t a return address.” She inspected it thoroughly, but she was correct.

  “Huh, what a coincidence.” Jesse twirled the work keys around his finger. “Man of your dreams pours out his heart and forgets a crucial piece of information. Mm-hmm, he’s a dreamboat. Too good to be true, huh?”

  “Yeah... convenient.”

  He caught the keys at her comment. Convenient? How so? No. Was she listening to him? What happened to hotshot lawyer? This was too good. She was really falling for this Mr. Wright guy. Ha! Jesse gripped the door handle, knowing he should blurt out the truth for the thrilling sensation of watching the blood drain from her face then fill right back with a fury, demanding revenge. Except as he peeked over his shoulder at her small smile, he sensed in his heart this wasn’t the best time. Her appearance was dishevelled. She wore her same office attire, but she wasn’t the same person. No makeup. Her ponytail was sliding out. It wasn’t centered to begin with and she had dark bags under her eyes. Perhaps if he stewed on this longer, letting her feel the joys of what being romanced was supposed to be like, it would pull her out of this funk.

  A stranger’s letter shouldn’t affect her like this, not if she was in a serious relationship with Bryson Duong, attorney at no-one-cares—unless she was playing him. Collette may have fallen for many of Jesse’s pranks, but she was a worthy target. Sharp enough to play with his puns yet easygoing enough to threaten his life instead of taking it, Collette was the yin to his yang. She swore revenge many days, but never followed through, but what if this was it? What if Collette was going to spin this prank back on him?

  She had more than enough reasons to.

  Like flipping the pens upside down in the jar last Thursday.

  It wouldn’t sur
prise him if she kept a list of all the times he wronged her for the instant thrill. The idea of her twisting his clever plan against him drove Jesse crazy. Two could play at this game and, having a competitive spirit, he would take greater risks in order to win.

  “Hey! Did you read over my shoulder?” she folds the letter shut. “What did I tell you about personal space? Boundaries, Jesse! My goodness, you’re like a wild animal.”

  Jesse bit onto his smirk. Why correct her?

  “Actually, I guessed since you know... the hearts and that your face is downright adorable. I didn’t realize a face could literally glow. Huh, you learn something new every day. Maybe one of us should tell...” he cleared his throat, cooking up a new nickname for the rat-faced boyfriend, but drawing a blank. Normally she fumed anytime he called her adorable, but today she seemed melancholy, like she brought her own personal raincloud to work.

  “No,” she mumbled, creasing the fold tenderly, “no one is telling anyone anything.”

  The warehouse below Collette was silent, or as quiet as it could be. The fluorescent bulbs hummed, and something buzzed. She picked the darkest corner in the company storage loft not daring to guess the years of dust around her. She picked at the quinoa in her salad, pushing it in circles not hungry yet craving a calorie-rich slice of chocolate cake. Perhaps after work, she would pull a Christmas baking all-nighter.

  After all, she had the time.

  It’s not like she had anything better to do.

  Or anyone special to hang out with.

  Call or text.

  Bryson Duong was a waste of time. The truth ached in her heart as she thought about her weekend, how one moment she was riding cloud nine, to the next being rained on with a heavy dose of reality.

  She couldn’t hold back the first tear. All morning she had been fighting the need to grieve, but sitting alone in the corner of the storage loft, she could let it all out. A tissue box hit her shoulder. Normally she would hiss at Jesse for tossing something at her, but the waterworks were out of control.

  “Thanks.”