“I don’t mind, of course, but I’m afraid Angie’s out of the loop, Mr. Austin. As of yesterday, she’s home on medical leave. Her obstetrician wants her in bed for the next few months.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Is it serious?”
“Well, not so serious that she’s in the hospital, but serious enough that she’ll be out for the duration of her pregnancy.”
“You’ll let me know if there’s anything the company can do for her, won’t you? I don’t want her to lack for good care.”
“Thank you, Mr. Austin. I’ll let her know. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.”
“But that means we need someone else to work with David on this project.”
“She left me with a contact for the caterer, and I talked to him this morning.” Hannah shrugged, as if it was nothing, but looked as if she was fighting a frown.
Simon Austin must have picked up the same vibe. “Does that add too much to what you already have to do for the holidays? I don’t want you to feel like you’ve been asked to take on more than you’re comfortable doing.”
“It’s all good, Mr. Austin. Don’t worry about it. I can manage, even if it’s not the store’s usual Christmas party.”
“No, it’s a party for all my people, plus all of yours,” David said. “I apologize for making your job harder. Whatever I can do to help, I’ll do. It must be a circus, working retail during the holidays.”
“Circus. Zoo. Mosh pit. War zone. Take your pick. It’s any of those things on any given day.”
“But you love it, don’t you, Hannah?” Austin said. “We all do. Christmas is such a happy time of year. Everyone is in a giving mood.”
David thought she seemed reluctant to say what she really felt. Interesting, he thought. She’s obviously one of Simon’s best employees, but she’s trying to hide something. Not letting him see something she’s sure he won’t like. Is it about his store? Or something else?
“I’m always happy to see the sales figures from this time of year, Mr. Austin, that’s for sure. It’s the best thing about the season.”
“Well, this year, the best thing will be what we’re able to do for David’s program. I’ll let him tell you what he needs and what I’ve agreed to provide for him, then I’ll answer any questions you have. I want to make sure we’re on the same page before we go into the meeting today to announce the program to the rest of your staff.”
• • •
Hannah listened, trying to take in what David Shay was saying. It wasn’t easy. Part of her brain screamed in protest at having to plan an event for two hundred people when she already had plenty of other things to handle. Another part of her—perhaps not so much her mind—drooled over the man she would get to work with on a close and personal basis.
As he went on describing his program, her protesting brain pointed out that, no matter how hot he was, he was a work colleague. He was not a candidate for any attention she or her hormones wanted to give him. Besides, she was already up to her ears in alligators—or teacup poodles, depending on the day—all without her assistant manager and down two sales associates. There was no time for the distraction of wayward hormones.
Crap. David had stopped talking. He and Mr. Austin were looking at her as if they expected her to say something. She had no idea what they wanted. “Sorry, I got sidetracked while you were talking. It was rude of me. Can you repeat what you said?”
David smiled. “All of it, or just the part where I asked how you wanted to handle the kids’ Santa letters?”
“Just that part will be fine. I heard the rest, but was so busy thinking of ways to set up the giving tree my mind wandered.” She hoped the little white lie would pass without comment, but the look on David’s face pretty much told her he knew what she was really thinking about. “Do the kids write out the letters by hand?”
“Yes, or the moms do for the littler ones.”
“If you could get me the originals, I’d like that. I was thinking maybe I’d put the letter—or a copy of it—in an envelope on the giving tree. Put the name, age, and sex of the child on the envelope and let people pick who they want.” She turned to David again. “Are the letters simply a list?”
“Sometimes. But often there’s something else, maybe a bit about the child writing it. Sometimes a request for something for a sibling or a parent instead of for themselves. It varies.”
“That’s what I was hoping. The more information there is, the more my staff will feel connected. It’ll spark their interest, get them involved.”
“Sounds great. I’ll deliver the letters to you as soon as I get them,” David said.
Mr. Austin grinned and smacked the desk twice with the flat of his hand. “I told you we’d get behind this, David. I was counting on Angie, but it’s even better with Hannah in charge. She’s got her finger on the pulse of the holiday season. It’ll be a great event.” He rose from the chair. “On to the staff meeting. Let’s get it over with so we can all get back to work.” Without waiting for a response, he headed for the door. David Shay followed.
“I’ll be along in two minutes, Mr. Austin. I have one more thing to do here,” Hannah said.
Which was, as soon as her office door closed, to put her head down on the desk and moan. It was a Tale of Two Cities moment—the best of times, the worst of times. She would be working with the cutest guy she’d met in years, which put him on the no-date list, and this project was just one more thing she would have to fake her way through in the holiday season she had come to dislike.
Fate had one hell of a sense of humor.
• • •
After Mr. Austin opened the meeting and David had given a brief description of his program, Hannah took over. David admired the professional and enthusiastic way she handled her part. By the time she’d outlined her ideas for the giving tree and what they might do for the party, she had a forest of hands raised, eager to help. She motivated her staff as naturally and easily as most people ordered coffee.
Nevertheless, when she wasn’t “on,” when she wasn’t doing her part of the presentation, David thought he could see an expression on her face that looked somewhat less than enthusiastic about the assignment she’d just been handed. He decided it might be a good idea to see what was going on. At least, that was the reason he gave himself for hanging back to talk with her.
He turned down Mr. Austin’s offer of coffee, and instead loitered around the meeting room, staring intently at his phone as if reading his emails and messages—although he wasn’t doing either. Finally Austin left, and Hannah finished a conversation with one of her staff. As soon as she made for the door, he followed her.
“Hannah, wait up for a minute, will you?” he called. He was relieved to see her stop immediately.
“Is there something else I can do for you, David?” she asked, her eyes glued to her phone, which he was sure, unlike his own, was actually turned on.
“Yes, you can grab a cup of coffee with me. I want to ask you something.”
She looked up, then consulted her phone again. “I don’t have a lot of time today. Can you just ask it now?”
“Okay. If that’s what you’d rather.” He rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. “I’m not sure how to say this without offending you, but I get the feeling your heart’s not really in the idea of working with my program. Am I wrong?”
She laughed. “Yes, you’re wrong. I’m impressed with what I just heard and happy we can do something to help.”
“Then what was with the look on your face when Simon talked about ‘helping out in the holiday spirit’? You looked like it was the last thing on earth you wanted to do.”
He thought he saw a flash of surprise cross her face, but it was gone so quickly he was almost convinced he’d imagined it.
“No, it’s nothing like that.” She turned to go.
He put his hand on her forearm to detain her. The warmth of her skin seeping through the sleeve of her jacket almost sidetracked him. “Wait. Plea
se. I didn’t imagine the look on your face when Simon was talking. If it’s not that you don’t want to work with my program, what is it?”
She stared at the ground for a moment. When she turned to face him, she wore the same professional expression on her face he’d seen when he and Simon Austin had first invaded her office.
“It’s nothing that will keep me from doing a great job on the party or the giving tree. Your kids and their parents will have a perfect holiday. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried about them. I’m wondering about you.”
She closed her eyes and sighed. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Nope. It’s my most annoying habit. So you might as well just answer the question.”
She seemed to be biting back a smile. “Well, at least if I’m going to work with you, I now know your worst habit.”
“I didn’t say it was my worst habit. I said it was my most annoying one. And you still haven’t told me what I want to know.”
The smile broke through for a few moments before the serious look returned. “Okay. If you must know, I don’t like Christmas. And listening to all that talk of how happy everyone is during the season turned me off.”
“Really? What’s not to like about an excuse to get presents and eat cookies?”
She didn’t laugh at his attempt to lighten the conversation. “Cookies and presents are great. But the season also brings out the worst in people. They’re nasty and unpleasant to deal with. They’re rude. They yell. They act like barbarians. No one seems happy, no matter how many gifts and goodies they have. If I could go to sleep after Thanksgiving dinner and wake up on New Year’s Day, I’d be a happy camper.”
“Wow. That must make it hard to do what you do for a living. Although you seem good at covering it up. You could have fooled me with that speech you gave in there.”
“That had nothing to do with Christmas. That had everything to do with making this work for your kids. It’s important for them. And that’s important to Mr. Austin. I’m not about to let him—or you—down.”
“So, when you’re not trying to please your boss, you’re, what, like Scrooge? I don’t remember him being quite as beautiful as you are.”
The color rising on her cheeks was the only indication she’d registered his compliment. “I’m afraid I’m very close to sharing Ebenezer’s original opinion of the holidays, although I don’t believe I’ve ever uttered the words ‘bah, humbug’ until just this moment. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a to-do list that won’t quit and need to get back to my office. Just let me know when you have those Santa letters, will you please?”
“I will. And let me know what I can do to make this easier on you. I’m willing to help with whatever you need.”
She nodded, her attention back on her smartphone.
David watched her walk away and smiled. There was nothing he liked more than a challenge. And, whether she knew it or not, Ms. Hannah Jenkins had just handed him one. All he had to do was figure out how to deal with it.
Chapter 3
“Mandy, isn’t it? I don’t know if you remember me. I was here a week ago with Mr. Austin. I’m David Shay, the—”
“Of course I remember you. I never forget a cute guy.” Mandy winked at him. “What can I do for you?”
David had been afraid Mandy would be overprotective of her boss. But now it sounded like it might be easier than he thought to pump her for information. “First, you can tell me if Hannah’s around and also if she has plans for lunch.”
“That’s first and second, isn’t it? But never mind. Yes, she’s here. She’s holed up in her office working on some report or other. And there’s nothing on her calendar. You want me to pencil you in and pretend the appointment’s been there for days and she’s forgotten?”
David laughed. “That sounds like something my assistant would do. I can see I should never let the two of you get together and plot.”
“Too late. We’ve already been talking about the party. And who knows where that will lead.”
“How long have you worked for Hannah?”
“She inherited me when she was promoted. I’ve been the administrative assistant to every manager in this store for twenty years.”
“Twenty years? Did you start working when you were in kindergarten?”
“Don’t you know better than to flirt with women old enough to be your mother? It’s a strain on our old hearts.”
David glanced around the office as if hoping for reinforcements. “This is a tough room to play, isn’t it?”
“If you think this is a tough room, wait until you get in there.” Mandy motioned toward the closed door to what David knew was Hannah’s office.
“Are you trying to scare me off?”
“No, just warning you what might happen.” Mandy paused for a moment, as if thinking about how to say something. “Look, I shouldn’t, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. Hannah’s not as tough as she pretends to be. If you’re patient, she’ll eventually show you how to find the door in the wall she’s built up around her.”
“I’m grateful for the heads-up, but curious why you’re willing to tell me this.”
“Mr. Austin thinks the world of you. And I’ve never known him to be wrong in his assessment of a person. If he trusts you that much, you might be the man who can get past the façade Hannah’s put up ever since ... ” She shook off the end of the sentence. “Anyway, I thought from the sparks I saw between the two of you last week, I might give you a little help. I’m more than her guardian at the gate. I’m her friend, too.”
David was definitely curious about what Mandy wasn’t telling him, but smart enough not to push. “From what I can see, you do both things well. So, I’ll impose for one more question—would you tell me what her favorite lunch restaurant is?”
“She hardly ever leaves the building for lunch, but on the rare occasions she does, she likes Thai food.”
“Nice to know. Thanks.” He started toward the closed door. “I know a good Thai restaurant not far from here.”
“Good luck getting her to go with you.” Mandy bolted from her chair and headed him off. “Wait. Let me announce you.”
“She doesn’t like surprise visitors?”
A huge grin broke out on Mandy’s face. “No, she’s fine with surprises. I want to see her face when she sees you’re here.”
• • •
Hannah was up to her ears in a sales report when Mandy knocked on her office door and peeked in to say, “My lady, you have a visitor.”
“Oh, crap. Did I get so wound up in this stuff I forgot about an appointment?”
“No, you don’t have an appointment. You have ... ”
“An unexpected guest,” David Shay said as he came into the office.
Mandy had a goofy grin on her face as she popped back to her side of the door and closed it.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” David said.
Hannah resisted the temptation to make sure her hair was neat and her shirt unwrinkled. “No, you’re not. To what do I owe this ... ?” She stopped, not wanting to reveal that it was a pleasure to see him standing at her office door. “This ... visit,” she finished.
David perched on the edge of her desk not two feet away from her, the smile he aimed at her seeming to indicate he knew how the sentence was originally supposed to end. “Well, the ostensible reason was to bring you the Santa letters you asked for last week. But hidden behind that was the hope I could talk you into having lunch with me. And, since you can see from my empty hands that I forgot the letters, I’m forced to confess upfront my real reason for being here, not the one I was faking.” He put out his hands, palms up, as if to show her how empty they were.
“So, if you are really the amazing woman Simon Austin thinks you are, you’ll take pity on me, overlook my intention of using the Christmas hopes of innocent children as an excuse to ask you to lunch, and just say yes, even though I failed to bring you what you asked for.”
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As hard as she tried, Hannah couldn’t help laughing. “That was the most pathetic invitation to lunch I’ve ever heard.”
“It was, wasn’t it?”
“You say that so proudly.”
“I’m proud that I got you to laugh. Did it get me lunch with you?”
Hannah wasn’t sure if he was flirting or merely making nice because Mr. Austin was being so generous to SafePlace. And she was even less sure whether spending any time with him was a good idea. Although he was as tempting as a pan of brownies just out of the oven—sweet, dark, hot.
Stop. Just stop. However attractive he was, she had to work with him. Which meant it broke her no-personal-contact-with-colleagues rule to consider him as anything but a business associate. But she couldn’t be rude, either.
“I really don’t have time for lunch in a restaurant someplace” she said. “But maybe we could grab a quick sandwich and swing by your office so I can get those letters. I need to see your common area where we’ll be having the party anyway. Your building isn’t far from here, is it?”
David hopped off the desk and extended his hand to her to help her out of her chair. “Nope. And there’s a food truck parked nearby that makes great gyros.”
She pointedly ignored the proffered hand. “One of my favorite sandwiches. Let’s go.” Preceding him out of her office, she waved at her assistant as she walked past. “I’ll be back in an hour, Mandy. And I have my phone if you need me.” She swore she saw David give Mandy a thumbs-up.
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