1. Zoey

1

ZOEY

I slam my fist on the horn and mutter some un-ladylike words at the car in front of me.

I’ve been stuck in a traffic jam for the best part of an hour, and now this idiot in front of me has blocked the intersection so I can’t get across on the green light.

I check my watch. 11a.m. His plane will have already landed. I left Maple Springs nearly two hours ago but I wasn’t expecting the pre-Christmas traffic.

I can only hope there’s a long line to get through customs, because if I’m not there to meet him, I’ll probably get fired.

The light turns red and then green again, and this time there’s no one blocking my way. I lurch forward and get in the lane I need for the Portland International Airport.

Ten minutes later, I pull into the short stay parking lot. I grab myself a ticket, tuck my handbag under my arm, and walk briskly to the arrival gate.

I hate being late and I hate being flustered, and right now I’m both of those things.

My mood isn’t helped by how busy the place is.

It’s a week before Christmas, and the airport is heaving. People are rushing everywhere pushing carts loaded with suitcases and bags of Christmas gifts tax free.

A woman shrieks, and I turn to watch her run into the arms of a man. He scoops her up and twirls her around. My heart pings with longing, but I turn away and check the arrivals board.

Hugo’s flight landed thirty minutes ago. He’s probably already out and wandering around somewhere.

I had specific instructions to meet him once he got off the plane and bring him straight back to Maple Springs and the office with no detours. My boss was very clear about that. He put his hands on both my shoulders and looked me in the eye.

“It’s very important, Zoey that you bring Hugo straight back to the office. Don’t let him stop anywhere, or we may lose him.”

As if I’m picking up the family dog and not my boss’s prodigal son.

I take out my phone and bring up the photo I took this morning of the photo on my boss’s desk. Hugo’s in his graduation outfit, with perfect white teeth and short sandy hair, looking every part the Princeton graduate and heir to the Walker Furniture empire.

He’s got a charming smile on him, but it doesn’t quite meet his eyes, as if he’s not as happy about the fact that he’s graduating from Princeton as his beaming father standing next to him is.

I keep the photo close to me as I watch the people coming out of the arrivals gate. Young couples weary from traveling and parents holding sleepy children.

A group of women come out pushing carts full of large suitcases and gift bags. They’re laughing together, suntanned and carefree. I stare after them wistfully. How nice it must be to be returning from a vacation somewhere.

The gate swings open, and a man casually strides through. He doesn’t have a cart or a suitcase, but he carries a large backpack slung over his shoulders.

But it’s the Christmas sweater that gets my attention. It’s a knitted sweater with two Christmas puddings sticking out about where the breasts would be and a reindeer face below with a big red bauble for the nose.

It’s so ridiculous I almost laugh out loud. It’s got to take some balls to put on a sweater like that.

The sleeves are pulled up revealing arm tattoos, which makes the whole thing look kind of hot, especially with his shaggy beard and mop of sandy colored hair.

But it’s the eyes that get me, pale green just like the eyes of my boss’s son. I hold up the picture on my phone again and squint at the man in front of me. He’s looks nothing like the clean cut graduation picture, but I’m sure it’s him.

“Hugo?”

His head jerks around, and he fixes me with a suspicious look.

“Did my father send you?”

His eyes on me make my mouth go dry. “Yeah, I’m here to pick you up.”

He raises an eyebrow at me and I flush, realizing what I’ve just said. “I mean, I’m here to take you to the office.”

He nods slowly. I feel his eyes travel over my sensible black skirt and cream blouse.

“My father has a chauffeur now?”

His eyes are sparkling, and I don’t know if he’s teasing me or not.

“No. I’m his executive assistant.”

I pull myself up taller and stick my chin out. I’m proud of what I do. Mr. Walker may be the CEO, but he couldn’t keep the place running without me.

“He can’t trust me to get to the office by myself.”

He’s irritated, which irritates me. It’s not my fault I’ve been asked to pick him up.

“Didn’t he tell you I was coming?”

“No.”

He gives me a hard look, but I stare right back at him. I’m not going to let some jumped up Princeton graduate boss me around like a spoiled brat, even if he looks like a lumberjack at a bad Christmas party.

He must see something in my face, because his expression softens. “I’m sorry,” he says. “It’s not your fault the old man treats me like a teenager.”

“It’s okay,” I relent. “I forgive you.”

His lips turn up in a smile and damn he’s attractive. “Is there a cafe in this place?” He looks around the airport. “I’m dying for a decent coffee.”

I check my watch. “I was told to bring you straight back Maple Springs.”

“Relax, there’s time for a coffee.” He heads off in the direction of a cafe.

“Hey!” I call after him.

He’s turns around. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even ask you your name.”

I scowl at him. I need to get him back to the office. I have emails to go through, a report to type up, and a Christmas party to plan. But he smiles at me, and all thoughts of work flee my brain.

“I’m Zoey,” I say meekly.

“Zoey.”

He says the name slowly as if savoring it in his mouth. He takes a few steps backwards and I think he’s going to walk into someone, but the way seems to clear for him. “Pleased to meet you, Zoey. I’m Hugo.”

Then he turns around and heads into the crowds toward a cafe, and I have no choice but to follow him.