"That I had you pegged all wrong. When I met you, I thought you were sexy, but ruthless."
He chuckled. "Why would you think that?"
"Because you took my job."
"Hmmm," he made the noise and pressed a kiss to her head. "I never meant to."
"But I didn't know that. And now, here we are, only a few weeks later. We're getting married and sleeping in the bed we just made love in, while Christmas lights twinkle outside the window."
"That sounds like a Christmas fairy tale."
"It does, doesn't it?" Chloe propped herself up on her elbow. "I'm afraid that once midnight strikes on New Year's it'll all go away. Just like Cinderella's gown and carriage."
"Would you like to wait to get married?" he offered.
Chloe let out a breath and settled back in next to him, nuzzling her cheek to his chest. "No. I don't even want to wait one more day."
"It'll be worth it. I promise. And then, we'll start our own empire, right here in Aubrey Heights."
"You'll stay here? Live here? For real?"
"Chloe, haven't you figured it out yet? I love you and you're all I need. Besides, imagine bringing your clients here to stay at the Inn. Wouldn't this wow them too?"
"More than a suite at the Plaza?"
"Way more. So much more personal."
“I’m worried that I won’t get clients.”
He shifted to look at her. “You already have the two biggest clients you brought to the firm. What more do you need?”
Chloe laughed. “This is the part that you don’t understand about me yet, because you haven’t really seen me work. I’m always looking for the next client. I want a team, Jason. I want to run all the advertising campaigns in the world.”
Jason laughed, and rolled Chloe atop of him. “You have vision.”
“I worked hard for it.”
“You did, and you’ll be as big as Mason Arts if not bigger.”
The thought thrilled her and gave her hope. But then she thought of Byron being pushed out by his own son. “I’m sad for Byron Mason though. I truly don’t think he would have wanted to lose us over this.”
“It’s not personal, Chloe. It was all a business decision. You can’t expect him to not side with his son.”
“And you’ll be my partner?”
Jason caressed her face with his hand. “Forever.”
With her heart filled with love for the man, she pressed a kiss to the scar over his eye, and then one to his lips. "I love you, Mr. Mitchell."
"I love you, too, soon-to-be Mrs. Mitchell."
Chapter 32
Chloe woke to the aroma of coffee and food being cooked in the restaurant of the Inn. It was delightful.
When she rolled over, the bed was empty and Jason’s side cold. The door to the bathroom was open and the light was off. She sat up and looked around. Jason was gone.
Certainly he hadn't left for good, the thought crossed her mind as her eyes darted toward the armoire where his suitcase rested on the shelf and his shirts hung. No, he hadn't left for good.
Her heart settled. She supposed until they were married for a while, she’d wonder if there would be a time when he would disappear in the middle of the night—forever. Did people who had known each other for years before marriage have that fear too?
A moment later the door opened, and Jason hurried in with a cup of coffee in each hand. He was showered and dressed as if he were going to a business meeting.
"Where were you?" Chloe asked as she sat up in bed and pulled the sheet to cover herself from anyone who might walk by.
Jason kicked the door closed with his foot. "I had a text message this morning, early. I'm going back downstairs. Take your shower and get dressed and meet me down there," he demanded.
Panic surged through her. "What's going on?"
Jason set one of the coffee mugs on the nightstand and then let out a long breath. "Just hurry." With his free hand he raked his fingers through his hair. "Yeah, just hurry."
He turned, still holding his own cup of coffee in his hand and walked out the door.
Chloe sat there for another long moment wondering what had stirred him up. Had she gotten into his head about the wedding and her nerves? What if he bailed on marrying her? What if he changed his mind?
Seriously, she needed to stop thinking like that. What kind of marriage started with doubt like that?
Chloe hurried through her shower, tied her hair back in a tail, and threw on the dress she'd brought with her so they could eat in town.
With a swipe of the mascara wand and a touch of lipstick, she was ready to face her fiancé and whatever had made him so manic.
* * *
Jason sat at the table tapping his spoon against the bottom of his coffee cup. Byron Mason chuckled from across the table as he sipped from his own cup. Tyler watched him carefully, and that too made him nervous.
He could sense her before she even walked through the door. Jason lifted his head to see his bride-to-be hurry into the restaurant and stop when she saw the company he was keeping. Before she could even speak, Gloria floated in through the front door in an obnoxious fur coat and scooped her up in a hug.
“It’s not real fur,” he heard her say to Chloe. “But I couldn’t pass it up. This town is so freaking cute.”
Both women turned their attention back to the table where Jason sat with the other men.
“Oh, good. You’re all here,” Gloria said as she took Chloe’s arm and led her toward the table.
Jason stood, kissed Chloe on the cheek, and pulled a chair out for her as Byron did the same for Gloria.
“What’s all this?” Chloe asked as the waitress brought two cups of coffee over for the women who had joined the table. “Byron, it’s nice to see you.”
Byron reached across the table for Chloe’s hand, and patted it with his other. “Sweetheart, it’s good to see you too. You look happy. You’re glowing.”
“Oh,” she sighed and shifted a glance to Jason, before turning her attention back to Byron Mason. “Thank you.”
Byron sat back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. “I didn’t even think you two liked each other.” Jason chuckled and Chloe shifted a horrified glance his way. “It was quite a shock to find out you were getting married. Nearly as much of a shock to find out you didn’t resign, but that my son had pushed you out of my company.”
Chloe had lifted her cup to take a sip, but stopped. “Mr. Mason,” she began, but Byron held up his hand to stop her.
“We all make mistakes, darling. Mine was hiring my son. He’s manipulative and vindictive. He did bring in Jason, and that seems to have panned out for you, but I had never intended on losing you. That position was yours, and I let him undermine my decision on that. For that I’m truly sorry.”
Jason took Chloe’s hand. “Mr. Mason has come here to discuss business with you.” He shifted his glance to the others at the table. “With all of you.”
Gloria threw up her hands. “I said I wouldn’t work with your company after what you did to Chloe.”
“I don’t blame you,” Mason agreed, resting a hand on Gloria’s. “That’s why I’m here.” He shifted his gaze back to Chloe. “I fired my son and that woman he brought in from that other agency. He didn’t have my best interest in mind, or anyone else's. Instead, I came here to talk business with you. Only I find that Jason is here, you’re getting married, and two of the biggest clients you brought to the firm are here too. I’ve come to ask you to come back. I’d like to make you a partner at the agency and someday sell it to you.”
Chloe’s mouth opened, but words never surfaced.
Jason gave her hand a squeeze. “Before you came down, I told him we’d like to buy his company outright. He deserves a retirement.” He smiled at the woman he loved who seemed to be at a loss for words.
“I can’t afford that,” she said softly. “Mr. Mason, that’s very generous, but…”
“I’ll pitch in,” Tyler said, sitting up in hi
s chair and leaning in toward the table. “Business is good, and that has a lot to do with you, sweetheart. You’re genius at what you do.”
“I’m in,” Gloria chimed in with a raise of her hand, a pointed fingernail painted bright pink making a statement. “Girl, you know your business, and I want you working with me. I’d go with you solo or in a big firm. But you deserve this. What they did to you was wrong. And this makes it all feel right.”
Chloe pressed her hand to her mouth and leaned in toward Jason. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes, to all of it. We can have a staff here and one in the city. Best of both worlds, sweetheart.”
Tyler propped his elbows on the table to get closer to Chloe. “I have it under good authority that the coffee house will be upgraded.”
“Why?”
“I bought it,” he informed her, grinning widely as he sat back and picked up his coffee cup. “My wife has fallen in love with this town and wants to stay here too.”
Chloe rubbed her temples with the tips of her fingers. “Oh, this is a lot to take in.”
Byron picked up his cup and sipped. “You have all the time you need to decide. I know you’re getting married tomorrow, so if you…”
“I’ll do it.” She let out a breath, turning to Jason. “You’ll be here with me?”
“As promised.”
“You’ll all help me finance this? I mean I have savings, but…”
Jason pulled in her in close, taking in the scent of her hair, the feel of her against him, the smile she’d flashed as she took the offer. “The world is yours, Ms. Richardson. The firm is what it is because of you. It should be yours, and I can’t wait to be your partner.”
Chapter 33
In Aubrey Heights, there was a magic that buzzed on Christmas Day. The snow shimmered a bit more, the air was crisper, and Chloe Richardson woke in her childhood bed with the same excitement she’d once felt knowing Santa had come and left her the very best toys under the tree. Only this morning, that excitement was for Jason—and the vows they were about to share.
She’d decided to be a little traditional and stay at her parents’ house the night before the wedding. With the Inn full of guests, Jason’s mother had opted to stay with him and give her room to Byron Mason, who had accepted their invitation to stay for the wedding.
Chloe climbed from bed and moved swiftly to the window. She noticed the shimmer from the snow, and then realized just how much snow there was.
At least two more feet of snow had fallen since she’d rested her head on the pillow.
When her bedroom door opened, her mother stood there. Her hair in hot rollers, and her hand pressed to her chest. “I don’t know how we’re going to get to town. The roads are all closed.”
“This can’t be happening,” Chloe turned back to the window. “Not on my wedding day.”
Her mother moved in behind her and wrapped her arm around Chloe’s shoulders. “Dad’s trying to figure something out. Everyone else is in one location. So even if we’re late, they’re all there.”
It made sense, she decided. She took a long, deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. She would still be married to the man she loved on Christmas, perhaps it just wouldn’t be at noon.
* * *
Jason stood on the front porch of the Inn with Byron Mason on one side of him and Tyler Ashby on the other. In all of his life, he’d never seen so much snow.
Byron rested his hand on Jason’s shoulder. “It’s Christmas Day. Miracles of all sorts happen today.”
Jason nodded slowly, just not sure he believed it.
“She’ll be here,” Tyler offered his perspective as he sipped his coffee. “She wants to marry you more than anything.”
“I hope so,” Jason replied and both men laughed.
Byron shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat. “She’s smitten, and she has been since she met you.”
Jason looked at the older man to his left. “And that’s why I have a scar over my eye.”
“Ah, that just built character.”
Jason chuckled. Had it not been for that stapler, they’d never have had that time together to get to know one another. When he thought about it, he’d been smitten too, right from the start.
Now, he was going to marry the woman of his dreams, the one he stole a job from, and yet, Mother Nature was taking charge.
He was dressed and ready to get married, but his bride was nowhere to be seen.
Gwendolyn and Gloria walked out onto the porch and joined them. They all stood silently, bundled in their winter coats, dressed in suits and dresses beneath.
Gwendolyn took Tyler’s arm. “No sign of them?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. But no one is in any hurry. They’ll get married when they can get the roads open.”
Jason agreed with a nod, but in his heart, he didn’t believe what Tyler had said. He was in a hurry. He wanted to get married and start the new adventure of his life with Chloe. It was meant to be, and he wanted it now.
“Listen,” Gloria said as she walked toward the steps of the Inn. “I hear sleigh bells. Dear Lord. Do I hear Santa?”
The rest of them followed her down the shoveled steps and shoveled walk to the street. A warmth that Jason had never known, filled him, and he thought perhaps his heart would burst.
Coming down the street, in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, was in fact Santa, with Jason’s bride-to-be seated next to him. Behind them, a large snowplow with her entire family piled into the cab of the truck.
Jason moved past the rest of the group, and stood in the snowbank, as the sleigh came to a stop in front of the Inn.
“You sure know how to make an entrance, don’t you?” Laughter filled his voice as he looked up at his bride, wrapped in quilts and scarves, her wedding dress peeking through. Her cheeks were a bright pink, but her smile could have melted all the snow in Aubrey Heights.
“Ho-ho-ho,” Santa bellowed. “Here is your bride, son. You must have been a very good boy this year.”
“I don’t know about that, Santa. I think I’m just a very lucky boy.”
He took Chloe’s hand and helped her down from the sleigh, and right into his waiting arms.
She kissed him with cold lips. “I didn’t want to wait this out. I wanted to marry you. I want to be with you forever, starting right now.”
“And that is exactly what I wished for this Christmas,” he promised as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs, and into the Inn.
The sitting room was draped in white, with chairs of all kinds lined in little rows. Flowers had been brought from the flower shop and arranged in beautiful sprays. Melanie had found some unique crystal glasses in her store for the bride and groom to celebrate from.
Jason stood at the front of the room, Tyler standing in as his best man. The woman staying in room 210 played the Bridal March on the old—and out of tune—upright piano, and Jason watched as his beautiful bride descended the stairs with her father.
At that moment Jason wasn’t sure he could remember his own name. His entire mind had turned to mush when he saw Chloe walk toward him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her mother hand his mother a tissue. Yes, this was absolutely the most perfect venue and time to marry the woman of his dreams.
The man who owned the Inn stood next to him, a Bible in his hand, ready to officiate the wedding.
When she and her father reached Jason, the music stopped. Her father kissed Chloe on the cheek, and then shook Jason’s hand before sitting next to his wife.
“You’re stunning,” he said to Chloe, whose cheeks were now only pink because she was smiling so widely.
“And as always, you’re very handsome.”
“From this moment on,” he promised.
“Forever and ever,” she agreed as they turned to the man with the Bible and promised themselves to one another for eternity.
Epilogue
Chloe looked out of her office window an
d took in the sight of the fresh snow. She dangled the Tiffany bracelet in front of her, enjoying the thoughtful gift her husband had given her when they landed their newest client.
The sound of bells from a corner Santa brought a smile to her face, and she thought of her magical ride on his sleigh. What a wonderful day that had been.
Her attention was drawn back to her work when there was a tapping at her door. Standing there in a grey suit that accentuated those stunning blue eyes, stood her husband leaning against the doorjamb.
“You don’t look like you’re getting much done,” he offered with a grin.
“I can’t think straight after Thanksgiving. You know that.”
“Oh, I know,” he teased as he walked into her office and closed the door behind him.
They’d been married now for two years, and he was a quick study of her favorite things, she thought as he rounded her desk and sat down on it right in front of her.
“Give me your feet.”
Chloe laughed a hearty laugh as she tried to hoist a foot in his direction.
Jason pulled off her slipper and began to massage. “You should have stayed home,” he said as he rubbed her aching arch.
“There’s too much to do. Tyler just sent me the contracts back for his new chain of coffee houses, and Gloria…”
“Can all wait until after the new year. You’re in no condition to be working.”
Chloe let out a grunt and placed her hands on her enormous belly. “Mom says the house is all decorated in Aubrey Heights.”
“I know. She called me to see what time we would be arriving.”
“Do you think we really should go? I mean, look at me.” She rested her hand on her stomach as the two babies inside fought for space.
“I’ve never seen you look more beautiful. The roads are fine, and if we leave here right after work, we’ll be safe. Then you will be forced to take it easy.”
Corporate Christmas Page 14