“She wasn’t, like, a girlfriend?”
“No, of course not. She was a potential coworker, nothing more. I’ve met her exactly once, and it was at work. They brought her in to test as my co-host for the show. But since it hasn’t aired, again, how do you know about her?”
Given his history, and his propensity for dating gorgeous blondes, it was no wonder she’d jumped to the conclusion. She was just sorry that she hadn’t trusted her instincts enough to meet with him before running away. She’d been too afraid of rejection to allow him to surprise her. What a waste of time, of potential happiness!
She stared at the floor, scuffing one toe against the marble, refusing to meet his eyes. “I saw you with her.”
Michael took her by the shoulders and squeezed. “Come again?”
“I went to the studio, and when I saw you, she was there, so I left.”
He laughed, quick and incredulous. “Wait, are you saying that you flew to California to see me, but then you got scared and ran away at the first opportunity?”
She bit her lip and had to laugh a little herself. She was ridiculous. “Sort of.”
He pulled her into his arms. “There’s nobody but you. Never could be anyone but you.”
Her heart sang when he pressed a kiss to the top of her head and relaxed against her. How had she doubted this? Nothing had ever felt more right. “I’m so glad you came back. I hated it without you.”
“I hated it, too.” He smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear and held her face in his hands, looking deeply into her eyes. “I love your heart and your mind, everything about you. When we’re together, I feel like a better version of myself. Nobody makes me feel like you do, ever.”
“It’s like it’s meant to be.” She was grinning like a fool, but she couldn’t stop. Didn’t want to.
“It is. When you’re gone, I’m not myself. You make me real. We belong together, Carly, I’m sure of it.”
“You’re right. We do.” Sure, it could be scary but it was also absolutely the right decision. “Let’s do it then. The show, the books, the works. I’m all in.”
“Yeah?” Michael’s grin lit up his face.
When she nodded, he scooped her into a bear hug, lifting her feet off the floor. With a sweet kiss to her forehead, he set her down and ran his fingers across her jaw. “It’s going to be amazing. Let’s celebrate after we finish our first job together.”
Hand in hand, they returned to the reception—to celebrate the couple that had inadvertently brought them together not once, but twice—and Carly knew she’d found the man she belonged with.
Epilogue
Carly placed the final sugar rose on the Eiffel Tower cake they’d prepared for the segment and faced the camera. The cameraman counted down from five and pointed to her. “Welcome back to Around the World in Thirteen Cakes with Michael and Carly. We hope you enjoyed joining us on our trip to Paris, and that maybe you’ll try to recreate this cake at home. We’re so sad to say goodbye, not only to this beautiful city, but also to our amazing viewers, until next season. We’ve had a wonderful time and couldn’t have done it without your support.”
Things had moved at lightning speed once she signed on to join Michael on the show. They’d begun shooting immediately, before the season was even completely planned. Layla had taken over the bulk of the daily work at Caketopia, freeing Carly up to travel. They’d visited Las Vegas, New York City, Miami, and Lake Tahoe before taking the show to Toronto and Niagara Falls. Between stops, they created web content, worked on their first joint cookbook, and brainstormed ideas for a product line. It was a wonder they had time for romance, but Michael made sure they did.
“We’ll be back next season, when we’ll bring the fun to America’s best small towns. Be sure to submit your town for consideration on our website. You never know, we might pay you a visit.” Michael put his arm around Carly’s shoulder. “In the meantime, be sure to check out the macaron recipe that Carly posted and let us know how yours turn out. I’d rather buy mine in a Parisian bakery, but lucky for you, Carly has enough patience to work out the perfect recipe.”
Carly looked out at the beautiful city, thrilled and awed that they’d come so far. Besides being head over heels in love with Michael, she was profoundly grateful to him. Grateful for the confidence he inspired in her, and grateful for the partner he’d become. She never would’ve imagined they’d end up working together side by side, building a brand and a business together. Throw in a love so complete some days she couldn’t believe it was real? Bliss.
“Before we sign off, there’s one more thing I need to do.” Michael tapped his chest gently, his signal to Jenny that they were thinking of her while they were on the road. When they weren’t in town, Michael called her every day, and Carly had come to look forward to the connection as well.
Michael cleared his throat and dropped to one knee as a production assistant wheeled the table holding their cake to the side of the makeshift set. The cameraman smiled as he focused the lens on them, clearly ready for the moment. “Carly, you are everything to me, and everything is more fun when you’re there. You’re my partner, my friend, the love of my life, and today I hope you’ll agree to become my wife. Carly Piper, will you marry me?” He produced a velvet box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a sparkling diamond ring.
As she nodded, tears running down her cheeks, Michael placed the ring on her finger and stood. “Come here,” she whispered before his lips met hers in a kiss. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
This edition published by
Crimson Romance
an imprint of F+W Media, Inc.
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200
Blue Ash, Ohio 45242
www.crimsonromance.com
Copyright © 2013 by Monica Tillery, Carolynn Carey, Diana Jean, Angelita Gill
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author's imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.
ISBN 10: 1-4405-7478-2
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-7478-8
eISBN 10: 1-4405-7479-0
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-7479-5
Cover art © 123rf.com
Her Secret Santa
Monica Tillery
Contents
Copyright Page Her Secret Santa
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
About the Author
For my fabulous friend, Leslie Kaiser.
You are one of a kind, and such an inspiration to me and everyone around you.
Acknowledgments
As always, nothing in my writing career would be possible without the support of others, especially my wonderful husband, Dave. Without your steadfast belief in me, I doubt I would have had the motivation to actually finish writing these stories, much less the confidence to submit them. You are awesome, and I love you.
Thank you to my wonderful friends, Amy Valentine and Nitza Campos, who are always willing to read manuscripts and provide feedback in the most gentle and helpful way.
I’d especially like to thank Tara Gelsomino. Working with you on this story has been a wonderful experience, and I have learned so much. You are an incredible editor, and I can’t wait to do it again.
Chapter One
Rebecca Sinclair shrugged out of her lab coat and rolled her shoulders, working out the tension of a long day spent hunched over a microscope. She poked her head out the mailroom door and looked around the corner. Seeing nobody coming or going, she sneaked over to her coworker Stephanie’s mail cubby and placed a brightly wrapped gift inside. She was Stephanie’s Secret Santa, and now the first gift was successfully delivered.
Her covert mission complete, Rebecca checked
her mailbox before leaving for the day, and found a small gift of her own. She opened the package, careful not to tear the beautiful paper, and gasped. Secret Santa gifts from coworkers were supposed to be fun or thoughtful little trinkets to celebrate the season. Whoever had drawn her name for Secret Santa was off to a great start. The beautiful bracelet she had unwrapped was exquisite, much too nice. Its baby blue beads matched her dress and caught the light when she twisted her wrist, lifting her spirits. Rebecca’s week had been long and frustrating, and Friday couldn’t have come soon enough. A pint of ice cream and a marathon of romantic comedy DVDs waited for her at home, unless Ben was free to hang out. Just thinking about leaving Morgan Confectioners and her impossible workload behind for the weekend lightened her mood and put a little skip in her step. Rebecca started texting her best friend Ben as she made her way towards his office in the legal department.
As she rounded the corner out of the research and development labs, an alluring scent of citrus and something spicy wound its way into her consciousness and she looked up from her phone. Her text was forgotten as she stared into the clear green eyes and impossibly handsome face of Richard Morgan, the company’s CEO and the subject of Rebecca’s wildly inappropriate crush.
“Oh, Mr. Morgan. I didn’t realize that you’d be on site today.” Rebecca stammered. A blush warmed her cheeks as she stood in front of him, wondering what to do with her hands.
“I was down the hall in legal for a meeting and just thought I’d pop over to see my favorite division. It’s not a formal visit.” His easy smile practically liquefied Rebecca’s bones. Surely, he was aware of the effect he had on women.
“I just locked up the lab for the weekend, but I’d be happy to take you back in if there’s anything you’d like to see.” Her work had been impossible all week, one failed trial after another, but Rebecca warmed to the idea of heading back to her workspace if it meant she’d be alone with the delectable Richard Morgan. His office at Morgan Enterprises’s headquarters was in Philadelphia while hers was in the confections division at Allentown, but his hands-on management approach dictated that he make the hour-long drive several times a month. She wasn’t accustomed to spending unscheduled time with him alone, however, and the prospect both thrilled and terrified her.
“Miss Sinclair, I wouldn’t dream of making you stay late on a Friday. I’ll just wander back to Jeff’s office and see what he can show me. You have a wonderful weekend.”
Jeff was her department head, and he had been none too pleased with her lack of progress lately. Her only hope was that he had either already left for the weekend or had bigger news to share with Mr. Morgan. Right now it would be in her best interest to lay low and try to stay off his radar.
Rebecca had developed the formula for the company’s biggest selling product, an effervescent champagne-flavored lollipop, and it was a disappointment to everyone that she hadn’t managed to come up with anything else that had the same appeal. Nothing she had developed since then had made it to the production line, and her frustration was mounting. Her anxiety levels were becoming a distraction at work. Her department head’s impatience was no secret, and it didn’t help Rebecca’s process to have him breathing down her neck. While it would be heavenly to spend time alone with Richard Morgan in the lab, Rebecca had to admit that she was relieved to be dismissed. He was out of her league, and the last thing she needed was more stress.
“You too, Mr. Morgan. Just let me know if you ever want to discuss candy. You know where to find me.” She gave him a jaunty little wave and headed out of the office. A cool whoosh of air greeted her as she left the quiet, sterile halls of her own department and walked the short distance through the complex to the legal offices to meet Ben.
Rebecca leaned on his doorframe and watched as he shut down his computer. Just the sight of him eased the stress out of her shoulders—wonderful, dependable Ben. Ben, who had been by her side since they met when they lived next door to one another during graduate school at Princeton. Ben, who had seen her through her turbulent early twenties, countless breakups, and professional ups and downs. Ben, whose smile gave her a little jolt when he looked up. Where did that come from?
“Hey, are you about ready to go?” She walked in and watched as he packed his bag and tidied up his desk. He had always been so much neater than her. The only thing keeping Rebecca’s workspace free from clutter was the sterile lab’s strict cleanliness standards.
“Yep. I had a meeting run a bit later than expected, but now I’m good to go.” He slung his bag over his shoulder and made his way around the desk to Rebecca. He dropped a chaste peck on her cheek, and she inhaled his warm, familiar scent, ignoring the tiny shiver that skittered down her back. The stress and frustration of the workday faded as she allowed herself to relax and look forward to the weekend.
“Was your meeting with my secret boyfriend?” She asked.
Ben laughed indulgently and guided her out of his office and into the hallway. “Yes, Richard Morgan was here. How did you guess?”
“I ran into him as I was leaving the lab. I tried to lure him back to my office, but he was going in to see Jeff.” She sighed dramatically, and Ben rolled his eyes playfully.
“You wouldn’t know what to do with him if you got him alone,” he teased.
She punched him on the shoulder. “Hey! I’m sure I could think of a few things. He’s so dreamy. You never know, maybe he’s The One.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s engaged,” Ben said, dryly.
“Keep your reality out of my fantasies. Just let me have a moment to imagine the possibilities.”
“Yeah, we all know how dreamy the amazing Mr. Morgan is,” Ben joked. “Can we please just leave? I think a happy hour is in order after the week we’ve had.”
“Are you buying?” She bumped her hip against his and fluttered her eyelashes.
Ben smiled down at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and placed a hand on the small of her back. He guided her through the doors leading out of Morgan Confectioners’ offices towards his waiting car. “Of course. First round is always on me. I want to go home and change, and then I want to park myself in a booth with a cold beer.”
“Lead the way, Mr. Redding.”
Chapter Two
Ben stood in the lobby of their apartment building, humming along with the instrumental Christmas music that was pumped through the room’s speakers as he waited for Rebecca. He could picture her in the bedroom of her fifth floor apartment, five floors below his own, trying on and discarding accessories instead of realizing that she already looked perfect. Throughout their entire friendship, she had always kept him waiting, and he had never minded. Families and couples bustled in and out of the building; each time the door opened, a cold gust of air would whoosh into the building. Snow drifted softly through the air just outside the window, and foot traffic was picking up as the workday ended. It seemed that every person who passed was weighted down with shopping bags or stacks of festively wrapped gifts.
The elevators opened, and Rebecca came out with the crowd of residents. She caught his eyes and a smile lit up her face, giving his heart a squeeze at the sight of her. She wore a matching violet coat and hat, and bundled up for the snowy weather outside, she looked adorable. Ben strode towards her and met her halfway, careful to appear casual.
“Sorry it took me so long to get ready. I couldn’t find my scarf.” She apologized.
“No worries. You look great.” Ben offered his arm and she took it with a gloved hand. She squeezed his bicep as cool air hit their faces, and he looked down at her. She was beautiful, positively radiant.
They headed out of the building, both gasping as the cold air hit their faces, and walked the short distance to their favorite neighborhood bar, O’Reilly’s. Snowflakes melted on Rebecca’s hair and on the tips of her eyelashes as they shed their coats and settled into the warmth of a booth. Ben ordered a pitcher of beer for them and allowed himself a long look at Rebecca while she busied herself wit
h taking off her gloves and scarf. Flushed from the cold, she looked vibrant and alive…and absolutely gorgeous. Her clear, cornflower blue eyes met his and she smiled, her full lips distracting him for a moment. She ran a hand through her long auburn hair and cringed.
“Yuck. How could so much snow get in my hair in such a short walk? I must look like a drowned rat.” She ran her fingers through her hair, combing it.
“Don’t be silly. You look beautiful, as usual.” Ben said softly. “Ah, thank you,” he said to the waitress who brought their drinks. He gave her a bright smile, glad for the distraction.
Rebecca took the glass he offered and enjoyed a long pull from her beer. “God, I needed that. This has been the week from hell.”
“Do you want to talk about it or shall we try to take your mind off your candy conundrums?”
“Please, no more talk about candy. I’ll take anything, even the Eagles.” She joked. He was a diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan, and she had always hated football.
“Oh, I wouldn’t do that to you. You’ve suffered enough.” He could think of several ways to comfort Rebecca, but for now, he settled for alcohol and light conversation.
“Speaking of the Eagles, I have a little something for you.” She fished an envelope out of her handbag and passed it to him.
He pulled out a pair of tickets to an upcoming Eagles game. “Wow, thanks! I didn’t think I’d get to go to a game this season.”
“You’re welcome. I hope you can get away. Jeff was selling them, so I grabbed them for you. Thought it might be nice to get you a little something, since you legal eagles don’t do Secret Santa in your department. Maybe you could stay with your parents or get a hotel in Philly?”
“Oh sure, I’ll bet I can get my dad to go with me if they’re in town. This is really cool, Becks. Thanks.”
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