Christmas Box Set

by Nella Tyler

  “You’ve made a decision?” my father asked, his eyebrows raising with wonderment.

  “Actually, no. I haven’t,” I answered. “I was hoping to talk to you about it.”

  “Sure,” my father answered, “What would you like to know?”

  “I just…I feel like I need some advice. This might sound weird, but I’m not even sure what to ask.”

  “Well, I’m confident you know the company. Even if you were afraid you didn’t know it, I am certain you would be able to figure it out, naturally. So, why don’t I tell you a little bit about the differences between your job and my job? A few things you might not realize you will be getting yourself into.”

  “Sure, that might help,” I answered, feeling more confident about this conversation.

  So, my father explained, for nearly a half an hour the positive aspects of his job, things he really enjoyed, and the negative aspects of it. He told me he was trying to impart the most unbiased wisdom he could so that he wouldn’t have too much influence on my decision.

  “After all,” he admitted, “I started this company. I put everything I had into it and, sometimes even what I didn’t have. So, while I know you appreciate what Brent and I have built, I can’t expect you to have such an undying love for it as I do.”

  “What will you do if I don’t want to take over the business?”

  “I’m not sure,” my father replied in a contemplative manner, “Please don’t take this into consideration for your decision but honestly, if you don’t want the business, I will have to go back to square one. I will have to reevaluate everyone and decide who is best qualified since I always assumed you would. However, I certainly don’t want you to take it over as pity,” he chuckled before letting out a deep breath. “I suppose, the only bit of advice, guidance I have left is, if you do take it over, you will have one of the best partners in the business. Brent is dedicated, knowledgeable, and easy to get along with, but whatever you decide, Son, I want you to know that I will be proud of you.”

  As it turned out, that was all I needed to hear.

  Epilogue

  I awoke to the familiar scent of Dexter’s musk and the feel of his comforting warmth next to me. I was pleased to see that he was not only still in bed, but also still asleep, with his strong arms wrapped tightly and protectively around me.

  Although I knew that I should wake him, I reveled in the feeling of our closeness. I grinned, trying not to move too much, while still managing to get as close as I could to him.

  Instinctively, his arms tightened around me as he pulled my back against his chest.

  Leaning my head back, I realized that I was so close to him, I could hear the sound of his soft breathing in my ear and feel the light ebb and flow of air against my heated skin.

  Closing my eyes, I continued to lay there for a moment, taking in the wonder of what I was feeling and the need that he culminated inside of me each and every time we were together.

  I swallowed hard, drew in a long breath, and let it go, slowly, savoring the exhale until my lungs were parched for air.

  After relishing in the moment for as long as I could, I turned to face him without disentangling myself from his embrace.

  Before I touched him, I paused to appreciate how peaceful he appeared. Within his slumber, the worry lines that etched his brow were completely flat and his usually clean-shaven appearance was tainted by morning stubble. The relaxed nature of his appearance was inspiring.

  After all, so much had changed in the past few months, and sometimes it was hard to imagine how he kept it all together.

  Remembering that the alarm was probably going to chime any moment, which would cause him to be up and out in a flash, I ran my hand down the side of his face, feeling roughness of his unshaven cheek against my fingers and hearing the small sound my nails made coursing against it.

  It didn’t take him long for his eyes to start fluttering behind his eyelids. It took a moment for him to open his eyes, though, but when he did, he grinned.

  “Good morning,” Dexter exclaimed in a gravelly voice.

  “Good morning,” I giggled as I watched his eyes focus on me, “How’d you sleep?”

  “About as good as I always do,” he shrugged as he sat up, kissing me midway through his movements.

  Again, I felt my hand press against his cheek as I drew his face near to mine and deepened the kiss.

  I felt more than heard a roaring chuckle erupt in the back of his throat, that hastily turned into a seductive growl as his arms surrounded me.

  I yelled out playfully as he pulled me into him and down on the bed and we both laughed.

  When we stopped to catch our breath after wrestling around for a moment, I gazed up deep into his eyes and listened to the sound of his panting. In peripheral vision, I caught sight of the taught rope of muscle that wound around to make up his chest puffing in and out with the heavy cadence of his breaths.

  He was still chuckling slightly, and his expression was bright, playful. Yet, when he noticed the intensity with which I was watching him, he seemed to grow slightly self-conscious.

  “What?” he asked as his eyes narrowed slightly and his head cocked to the side with a sense of insecurity.

  “You’re so handsome,” I mused, feeling giddy but lamenting the fact that we didn’t have the time to pursue our excitement.

  Giving a now overly-confident wink, he slid off the bed and started toward the bathroom to get ready.

  “Are we still going to dinner?” I asked, trying not to be disappointed if something came up and we couldn’t go. I knew how much stress he was already under and thus, I tried my best to not cause any more aggravation.

  “Of course!” he answered as I heard the shower start. After a moment, he popped his head out, “Why wouldn’t we be?”

  “Oh, no reason. I was just making sure,” I answered earnestly as he returned to his morning routine as he continued to speak, “I have to go to work first, though but I’ll try to figure out how to get out a little early.”

  “Don’t worry too much, sweetie,” I answered, entering the bathroom as he turned to look in my direction. “I’m just happy we’re able to do something together, just the two of us.”

  “Thanks. I’m still gonna try, though, but you know, there’s a lot to do as a partial owner,” he added with a wink.

  The idea that we were finally going to get some time to ourselves was what enabled me to get through the day.

  The waiting was unbearable, but it was all leading towards a happy end, so I knew it would be worth it.

  I spent a few hours prepping for the evening while trying to pretend I was already taking part in the festivity itself.

  It didn’t work all that well, but I couldn’t say I didn’t enjoy myself.

  When I was finished, with painted nails, a comfortably fancy up-do that I did myself, and a sparkly black dress that hugged my curves in all the right places, I felt spectacular.

  Once I was finished, though, every second felt like an hour, waiting for him to come home.

  True to his word, though, Dexter was early coming home and was already dressed for the occasion.

  I opened the door for him, and he stopped immediately to take in the efforts to make tonight special.

  “Wow…” Dexter exclaimed, his eyes growing wide, “You look magnificent.”

  Before I knew it, he was already taking me into his arms and pressing his lips against mine.

  I grinned behind his lips as my arms slid around his neck, pulling myself closer to him.

  “Damn, girl…I thought you wanted to go out, and then you dress like that,” he growled in my ear in a seductive manner. “How the hell do you expect me to even make it to the car?”

  I laughed, “I’m sure you’ll manage.”

  After a snorted chortle, he kissed me again before turning his attention back to the car

  “Come on, let’s get out of here before I change my mind,” he leered.

  “Later, baby; I
’m starving!” I insisted in agreement.

  Despite the sophistication of our dress, however, I still found myself surprised when we pulled into an extremely swanky restaurant.

  I felt myself giggle nervously, as Dexter knew this wasn’t exactly my scene, but his expression was knowing and he spoke before I could say anything.

  “This is a special night, Mazie. We don’t get to do this often, and I thought you deserved to be spoiled a little. Let me do this, for you?”

  I simpered and put my hand over his.

  “Of course,” I expressed. “Thank you.”

  After opening my door for me and taking my arm, helping me through the parking lot so that I didn’t ruin our night before it started by falling over my own feet in these heels, Dexter strutted up to the maitre d’ and confidently explained that we had a reservation.

  “Yes, of course, Mr. Myers. Please, follow me,” the comely hostess expressed in a bubbly manner as she grabbed two menus and led us through the restaurant with a small smirk.

  I caught the look but didn’t dwell on it, assured that I was simply seeing things.

  However, after a few moments of walking, the hostess led us to an elevator in the back of the restaurant, toward the kitchen.

  Feeling slightly uneasy, I grabbed Dexter’s hand and pulled him back.

  “Where are we going?” I whispered as he turned with a teasing grin.

  “I told you, we have a reservation,” he offered as the elevator dinged.

  “Yes, we have a private room for reservation. It is only open seasonally, and it is usually reserved for extremely special occasions,” the hostess assured me.

  This caused me to become far more curious than suspicious, especially because of what Dexter had said earlier about it being a special night.

  I didn’t dare think that this was a completely unintentional slip of the tongue, even if that’s what he wanted me to believe.

  I liked to think that I knew Dex well enough by now to be certain he didn’t say anything without having some kind of motive behind it. If he had something to say, he said it, but he was completely comfortable with silence, even when others weren’t, if there was nothing he had to add.

  His patience was part of what made him such a great negotiator and businessman. He always kept cool under pressure and never seemed to be overly bothered by anything; not even to me.

  However, tonight, I could tell something was definitely off, though I wouldn’t dare venture to guess what it could be.

  After all, with the way Dexter tried to separate his work and his personal life, he might never reveal the issue anyway.

  Therefore, I decided it was probably best for both of us if I allowed the night to play out and see what came of it.

  When the elevator doors opened, I realized that we were not on another floor of the building, but rather, on top of the building.

  The summer sky was brilliant, with the lights of the city seeming to glow for miles.

  Lit only by candlelight that surrounded a table set for two, the mood was soft, inviting, and relaxing.

  Although I was exponentially pleased by his efforts, I stared at Dexter suspiciously.

  However, in lieu of an explanation, he simply guided me, with a firm hand pressed against the small of my back, toward the table.

  Dexter pulled the chair out for me, and I sat down as the hostess told us that our waiter would be coming up to greet us shortly.

  Dexter thanked her, and she was off, leaving us alone.

  “Beautiful night,” Dex offered, and when I looked at him, I could’ve sworn he seemed uneasy. Though, he quickly went to great lengths to hide his insecurity.

  “It’s wonderful,” I offered, genuinely awed by his efforts, “It’s the best of both worlds.”

  “I hoped you’d say that,” he simpered.

  I narrowed my eyes at him and was about to ask about his weird reaction when the waiter arrived, and the conversation shifted.

  Dinner was fantastic, and during the meal, Dexter seemed to relax, so I started to doubt what I had seen in the first place.

  Still, I kept it in the back of my mind, convinced I knew him better than that.

  However, as dinner drew to a close, Dexter started acting strange again. He shifted, ever so slightly but nonetheless noticeably, in his seat and seemed to have news that he only partially wanted to divulge.

  “You know, Mazie,” Dexter expressed, grabbing my hand almost immediately after our dinner plates were taken away, “You have always been important to me. And over the last year, you have become the most important person in my life.”

  I grinned and attempted to speak, but he didn’t allow me to get a word in edgewise.

  “Before you and I started dating, I didn’t even want a relationship. I was comfortable being a bachelor,” he chuckled, “I thought it was easier and it was…but, you made me want to put forth the effort. You made me see why it’s so worth it. You have given me a new, better perspective on my entire life. Even kids,” he offered earnestly, which was surprising, because he was always so against it due to his father’s attempt at raising him. I didn’t have anything to say to this though and so, he continued, “The point I’m trying to make, I guess, is that now, I couldn’t imagine waking up without you. I never want to imagine it.” As he spoke, he slid off the chair, onto his knee, while the eye contact he was holding with me only intensified. “Mazie, will you marry me?”

  “Oh my God!” I exclaimed, instantly in tears as he produced a ring. “Yes. A million times, yes!” I told him, sinking down to his level, throwing my arms around him and kissing him passionately.

  I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my new, wonderful life.

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