Chapter Seven

December

"Oh, wow," I whisper, coming to a dead stop as Alaric leads me off the elevator. The showroom at Daphne Parrish & Co has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Large snowflakes dangle from the ceiling on invisible wire, sparkling in the lights. One entire side of the room is now Santa's workshop. Blaze sits on an opulent throne with Georgia standing beside him. They're the most fashionable Santa and elf I've ever seen.

A massive Christmas tree shoots toward the ceiling in the center of the room, the sheer size of it overwhelming. Gorgeous red and black ornaments with the Daphne Parrish & Co logo on them glitter from the branches between twinkling lights and fluffy tinsel. The fresh scent of pine fills the room, making it truly feel like Christmas, perhaps for the first time all year.

"It's so beautiful," I whisper to Alaric.

He turns that sexy smile on me, his eyes light with satisfaction as if he's the one who found release upstairs. I know he didn't, though. We had to wait fifteen minutes before we could come down because he was still hard.

"Ma always loved a good Christmas party," he says, placing his hand on my back. "She went all out every year. We made sure to keep the tradition alive."

"Everyone loves it," I say, placing my hand over his as something flickers through his expression, some concern I can't quite read but understand on instinct. He wants to honor her memory and do right by their employees. He's a good man. He genuinely cares for the people who work here. "They’ve been excited about it all day."

"Have they?" He smiles, his dark eyes crinkling as he nods toward Blaze. "Perhaps that's what they've been excited to see. It's not every day you get the Grinch in a Santa suit."

"Blaze is a grinch?"

"Nah." Alaric winks at me. "But he's wild about Georgia, and her contract ends a few days after Christmas. It's pissing him off."

"Oh." My gaze drifts toward the two of them. They move around each other like magnets. Blaze never really takes his eyes off the curvy blonde, not even when he's talking to one of the children in line to meet Santa. And Georgia stares at him unabashedly whenever he isn't looking, and sometimes even when he is. If he's wild about her, I think the feeling is mutual.

"Tell me, sweet December," Alaric says, leading me through the crowd as a Mariah Carey song floats from the speakers. "What do you want for Christmas?"

"Are you playing Santa now?" I ask, smiling up at him.

"Only for you." He pauses to say hello to two of the designers— Sariah and Claudia. I don't know Claudia very well, but I really like Sariah. She's the youngest designer here. She's also feisty and a lot of fun.

If they're surprised to see us together, they don't comment on it. Sariah just winks at me when Alaric isn't looking. I think she knows he's part of the reason I decided to intern here. I've been asking her questions about him for the last four days straight.

I ponder his question as they make small talk, not sure how to answer it when the one thing I want is him. I'm falling in love with him. I think maybe I've always been a little bit in love with him, but it's bigger than that now. I can feel myself slipping further down the path the more time I spend with him.

"Will you be here tomorrow, Jillian?"

Alaric nudges me.

I turn a frown on him, only to realize that Sariah and Claudia are both watching me, obviously waiting for me to say something.

Crap. Jillian. I'm supposed to be Jillian.

"Tomorrow?" I squeak, literally squeak. I clear my throat and try again, my cheeks burning. "I'm sorry. What about tomorrow?"

"Clean up," Sariah says with a little pout. "Alaric and Blaze take all the fun out of celebrating and make us come in to clean up."

"We do not," Alaric protests, turning those onyx eyes on me. "They volunteer to clean up, and we pay overtime for it. Plus, we help too."

"Uh, no. You bring lunch and complain until Blaze sends you on an imaginary errand to get you out of his hair." Sariah laughs. "And then he complains because you aren't here to help."

Alaric smirks, nodding at his brother. "Don't think he'll be putting in an appearance tomorrow."

"It's about time," Claudia sighs dramatically, making Sariah laugh.

"Oh. Olive is here." Sariah waves at me and Alaric and then she and Claudia disappear into the crowd, leaving us alone.

"You don't have to help out," Alaric murmurs, steering me deeper into the room. "You're here to learn, not clean."

"I can do both."

He smirks again, slipping an arm around my waist. His fingertips trail across my hip bone, sending a frisson of heat through me. "I'm not sure how I feel about you in this dress, sweet December." His lips brush my earlobe. "Every man here is looking at what belongs to me."

I moan softly, twisting my fingers all up in his suit jacket.

"It'd look a helluva lot better on my bedroom floor."

"Alaric," I whisper, my knees trembling. How does he make me feel so much so quickly? He sets my head to spinning like a top. It's disorienting, but I don’t hate it. I think I might like it a little bit too much.

I think I might like him a little too much. I have to tell him the truth, every embarrassing bit of it. It's the right thing to do. I should have come clean already. Actually, I never should have pretended to be Jillian in the first place.

But I don't care what Cory thinks about me anymore. I don't care if I'll only ever be a hassle to him. Lying to Alaric and everyone here to avoid pissing him off just isn't worth it anymore.

"Alaric, I…"

"You never told me what you want for Christmas," he says at the same time.

"You." It's the truth. All I want for Christmas is him. And maybe the spanking he promised me that first day. The thought of this man punishing me makes me ache to know what it feels like.

"Come home with me," he whispers in my ear. "I'll endorse your father if that's what it takes to get you in my bed. I'll give you whatever you want. Just come home with me, angel."

I freeze, barely even breathing as my heart clenches. Is that what he thinks of me? That I need to be bribed into his bed? That I'm only here because I want something from him?

"Let me go," I whisper.

"December, what…?"

"Let me go," I growl, jerking away from him. My heart pounds against my ribcage, tears welling in my eyes as I lift my gaze to his.

"December, angel." His eyes widen in distress as he takes a step toward me.

I throw up a hand, halting him. "I didn't do any of this for an endorsement, Alaric. I'm not with you tonight because I want something from you. I'm here because of you."

He reaches for me, but I take a step back. And then another and another. His eyes narrow, a soft growl rumbling from his lips. "Don't run from me, angel."

"I'm going home. Alone."

"I will spank you," he growls.

I'm pretty sure the couple walking a few feet away hears him because they both turn to look in our direction.

I don't heed his warning though. I turn and plunge headlong into the crowd. He curses and charges after me, but for once in my life, fate is smiling down on me.

A photographer materializes from the crowd, calling his name. I risk a glance over my shoulder to see the photographer stopping in front of him. He stands completely still, hellfire burning in his eyes as he stares after me.

I shiver, ripping my gaze from his. And for the second time since I started here, I flee.