His Christmas Gift ; Decadent Holiday Pleasures

by Janice Sims

  Everyone at the table stared at Vincente. Lines creased his forehead and his lips curled into a scowl.

  Giovanni worried his dad was going to reject his business proposition, but Vincente slowly nodded, as if he was warming up to the idea.

  “I’ve read about several Fortune 500 companies that have two or three CEOs, and if anyone can do it successfully, it’s my kids. Ingenuity, tenacity and killer instincts are in your DNA, so get out there and make your old man proud.”

  “Outstanding!” Beaming, Constanza cupped Vincente’s face in her hands and kissed his cheek. “That’s the smartest decision you’ve ever made, besides marrying me, of course.”

  Everyone laughed and Giovanni glanced around the table, smiling at his family members.

  “A toast,” Vincente proposed, raising his flute high in the air. “To the dynamic new CEOs of Castillo Enterprises, and to my retirement, effective immediately.”

  “Effective immediately?” Giovanni repeated, confused by his dad’s words. “Last month, you told me you were returning to the club in the new year.”

  A pensive expression covered his face. “I changed my mind. Now that Castillo Enterprises is in good hands, your mother and I can return to Buenos Aires to do all the things we love.”

  Giovanni sat in his chair, drinking his second glass of champagne, but his mind was on Elise. He couldn’t think of anything but her. He had to see her again, had to apologize for hurting her feelings and lashing out at her in anger. In his heart, Elise was “the one” and he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life wondering what could have been. The biggest obstacle between them had been his fear of getting hurt again, but she’d gained his trust by being honest, sincere and transparent, and he wanted to be with her more than anything. Elise was his soul mate, the best thing that had ever happened to him, and Giovanni didn’t want to lose her.

  Taking a moment to consider his options, he leaned back in his chair and stroked the length of his jaw. Giovanni was tired of feeling sorry for himself and was ready to do something about it. A thought came to mind, one so brazen it could explode in his face, but he was willing to take the risk. If he didn’t, he could lose Elise forever, and he couldn’t imagine a worse fate than living the rest of his life without the woman he loved.

  After dinner, he’d tell his family he was leaving, drive to the airport and catch the red-eye to New York. He knew he’d hurt Elise, but Giovanni hoped she’d give him the best Christmas gift ever—her forgiveness.

  Chapter 18

  “Girl, you really outdid yourself,” Paige proclaimed, popping a coconut-rum ball into her open mouth. “I’ve eaten so many appetizers and desserts, the button on my skinny jeans popped off!”

  Laughing, Elise rubbed her girlfriend’s shoulder, then gestured to the elaborate spread on the breakfast bar with a nod. “Don’t sweat it, Paige. What’s the point of attending an ugly sweater Christmas party if you can’t indulge a little bit?”

  “You mean indulge a lot!” Paige picked a chocolate-peppermint cupcake up off the glass tray and took a bite. “It’s no biggie. I’ll work off the calories later with Konstantin.”

  Spare me the details, Elise thought with a heavy sigh. She returned to the stove, stirred the pot of mulled wine with a metal spoon, then added a cup of brandy to the recipe.

  “Konstantin is such a passionate, attentive lover. I think he might be the one...”

  I know what that’s like. I felt the same way about Giovanni, after our first night together, too.

  Overwhelmed by a wave of sadness, Elise choked back tears. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Giovanni since they’d argued at the polo club on Friday night, but he’d dominated her thoughts for the past five days. Elise wished she could go back in time. She should have walked away when Esteban grabbed her instead of slapping him. In the heat of the moment, she’d lost her temper, embarrassing herself and the club, and she felt horrible about it.

  Elise opened the cupboard, grabbed the bottle of cinnamon and poured some into the pot. Images of Giovanni popped into her head, but she dismissed them. All week, she’d struggled to focus. To keep her mind off of him, she’d baked Christmas gifts, cleaned and decorated her town house, and packed for her trip to Charlotte. During the day it was easy to keep herself busy, between working at the club and teaching cooking classes, but at night she couldn’t escape her thoughts and replayed her argument with Giovanni countless times.

  Her thoughts returned to that afternoon. She’d found pictures online of the polo charity match with the Argentine Polo Association, and seeing Giovanni surrounded by a famous female pop band had made her jealous. Had Giovanni replaced her already? Had he found someone else to keep him warm at night? Was he romantically interested in one of the singers?

  Giving her head a shake to clear her mind, Elise glanced around the main floor of her cozy three-bedroom condo. Guests were nibbling on appetizers, admiring the resplendent white Christmas tree she’d decorated weeks earlier, snapping selfies in front of the ornament-covered wreath and dancing to the music on the stereo system. They’d played holiday-themed party games, crowned Paige’s elf hoodie the winner of the ugly sweater contest and exchanged Secret Santa gifts. Hanging out with her girlfriends was the perfect stress reliever, and even though hosting a party on Christmas Eve was an enormous amount of work, Elise was glad her closest, dearest friends were at her condo.

  Turning off the stove, Elise listened to Paige gush about her new boyfriend and their red-hot relationship. She thought of asking her for advice about Giovanni, but decided against it and filled the mini ceramic cups to the brim. She’d made the recipe for Giovanni weeks earlier, and he’d finished the entire pot of mulled wine during their romantic seafood dinner.

  Deep down, Elise knew she had no business dating him, and not just because he was her boss. His polo career was up in the air, he was at odds with his dad about the family business, and his ex-wife had soured his views on marriage. Elise missed Giovanni and hated being without him, but she didn’t want to date him long-term only to realize marriage wasn’t in the cards for them. Still, she longed to be back in his arms. For years, she’d been focused on her dreams of becoming an executive chef—and nothing else—but meeting Giovanni had changed her mind-set. She didn’t have to choose between her career and her personal life; she could have it all, and one day she would.

  An idea popped into Elise’s mind and she gave considerable thought to it. When Giovanni returned from Argentina, she’d call him and ask if they could meet. Just because they weren’t a couple anymore didn’t mean they had to be enemies. Elise loved Giovanni, and wanted the best for him, and she didn’t want them to end up hating each other one day.

  Giovanni could never hate you, insisted her inner voice. He respected you, spoiled you, and gave you foot rubs and massages at the end of a long day. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is!

  “Gather around, ladies. The mulled wine is ready,” Elise shouted, beckoning to her guests with her hands. “And there’s still tons of food left, so eat up. ’Tis the season to be merry!”

  Her friends swarmed the breakfast bar, grabbing mugs and desserts. Sariah gave Elise a hug, and her spirits soared. She didn’t have Giovanni in her life anymore, but she still had her girlfriends, and they meant the world to her. The night she’d ended things with Giovanni, she’d found solace and understanding in their arms, and Elise appreciated their support.

  “I need to ask you guys something,” Sariah said, clasping Paige’s right hand. She led her friends over to the front window then released a deep breath. “Aamir and I have officially started the adoption process, and we wanted to know if you’d be our character references for the application.”

  “I’d love to.” Elise lowered her voice to a whisper. “Are you sure you guys are done with IVF?”

  “Yes, but just because I can’t physically give birth doesn’t mean I can’t be a mother
.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.” Beaming, Paige nodded as she rubbed Sariah’s shoulders. “And I’m going to be the best auntie ever. Just watch me!”

  The women hugged and laughed for so long, Elise momentarily forgot her problems. In the morning, she was catching a flight to Charlotte, and her friends wanted to know if she was worried about returning to her hometown. She was, but Elise refused to dwell on her fears. Losing her parents had changed her forever, and she wanted to honor them by being the strong, fearless woman they had raised her to be. “I’m nervous about the trip, but I’m going to make the most of the holiday season and support my family members the best I can.”

  “And you will,” Sariah insisted. “But if you need me, just call and I’ll be there.”

  The doorbell chimed, drawing Elise’s gaze to the foyer, and she frowned. Everyone she’d invited to her party was inside her town house except the Harris sisters, and she wasn’t expecting them to put in an appearance at midnight. Demi had given birth to her twin daughters yesterday, and she was still in the hospital recuperating from her emergency caesarean section.

  “Finally!” Paige trilled, clapping her hands. “The entertainment is here. Let’s do this!”

  Squealing, she tore out of the living room and down the hallway before Elise could stop her. She loved Paige and couldn’t imagine her life without her, but she was the most hardheaded person Elise had ever met, and she didn’t appreciate Paige disregarding her wishes. Fuming, but not wanting to make a scene, she returned to the kitchen, poured herself cup of mulled wine and tasted the warm, sweet-smelling drink.

  “You have to give me the recipe for your brownies. They’re scrumptious.”

  Elise smiled at Sariah’s cousin Mishka, then nodded. “I’ll email it to you.”

  “Guess who I found on your doorstep? A gorgeous polo star who wants to apologize.”

  At the sound of Paige’s voice, Elise glanced up from her cup and stared at her best friend. A gasp shot out of her mouth. The earth shook under her feet and her knees buckled. Elise couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Giovanni was standing in the hallway, wearing a slim-fitted black suit, and an earnest expression on his face. His cologne wafted through the air and smelling his fragrance instantly calmed her nerves.

  A hush fell over the room as someone turned off the music. The lump in her throat was the size of a baseball and when Elise tried to speak, her voice failed.

  “Elise, I apologize for barging into your party like this, but I had to talk to you tonight and it couldn’t wait.” Stepping forward, Giovanni smiled as he smoothed a hand over the front of his suit jacket. “Can we go somewhere private?”

  Her friends shouted no in unison and Elise swallowed a laugh. She put down her empty cup and came around the breakfast bar, hoping her legs didn’t give away her nerves. “Giovanni, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Argentina celebrating the holidays with your family.”

  “The only place I want to be is right here with you.”

  “Save it,” she said, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. “Five days ago you called me a liar, so forgive me for not jumping into your arms. I thought you cared about me, that you trusted me, but if you did, you would have believed me, not picked apart my story about one of the worst moments of my life.”

  “Elise, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disrespect you. I was in shock, and I didn’t know what to think. My gut reaction was to defend my cousin, but I know now that that was a big mistake.”

  Holding her breath, she wanted to hear more. What was Giovanni saying? Did he believe her account of what happened on the Fourth of July? Had Esteban finally admitted the truth?

  “I spoke to Esteban yesterday, and although he doesn’t remember meeting you on the Fourth of July, he admitted he was out of line on Friday night at the club. He agreed to get treatment for his alcohol addiction, and I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

  Unsure of what to say in response, Elise wore a blank expression on her face. She hoped Esteban got the help he needed, but the next time she saw the flashy businessman at the polo club, she was avoiding him at all costs.

  “It’s a good thing your cousin didn’t grab me,” Paige said, shaking a fist in the air. “I would have poked his eyes out, stomped on his feet, then kicked him where the sun don’t shine, twice!”

  Snickers and giggles filled the room, lightening the tense mood in the town house.

  “Giovanni, why are you here?” Elise asked, wringing her hands like a damp washcloth.

  “To tell you I love you and miss you and can’t live without you.”

  Guests cheered, and Sariah shrieked.

  “You love her?” Sariah repeated in a high-pitched tone, happiness shimmering in her eyes. “I knew it! How wonderful! See, Elise, Giovanni loves you, too!”

  Elise inclined her head and crossed her arms. “Actions speak louder than words.”

  “I agree. That’s why I’m here. I believe in being open and transparent, so let me prove to you, right here, right now, how much you mean to me so there’s never any doubt in your mind.”

  Giovanni unbuttoned his suit jacket, reached inside the inner pocket and retrieved a velvet ring box. Lowering himself to one knee, he cleared his throat and adjusted his tie.

  Gasps and chatter filled the air, and Elise couldn’t think straight. She suddenly felt dizzy and out of sorts. The room was hotter than a campfire, and her pulse was pounding in her ears like a steel drum. The miniature gold bells on her red, fuzzy sweater jingled every time she moved, and her legs were shaking so hard Elise feared they’d give way and she’d drop to the floor.

  “Giovanni, what are you doing?” she asked, her voice quavering. “Please stand up.”

  “Not until you accept my proposal.”

  Someone pushed her forward, directly in front of him, and Giovanni took her left hand in his. He squeezed it, and his touch alleviated the tension in her body.

  This can’t be happening... This can’t be real... God, I hope I don’t cry, or worse, faint!

  “I never thought in a million years I’d find love again, but I did in you, and I’m deeply grateful to have you in my life,” he began. “You’re smart, talented, thoughtful and beautiful, and your cooking is outstanding—”

  “Let the church say amen!” Paige quipped, snapping her fingers in the air.

  “Elise, I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’m deeply sorry and, going forward, I promise to always put you first, no matter what.”

  “We can’t get married,” she blurted out, doubts streaming from her mouth. “Your family will never accept me... I’m not Argentinian... They won’t think I’m good enough...”

  “You’re wrong. They just want me to be happy, and since I’m the best version of myself when I’m with you, I know they’ll support our relationship wholeheartedly.”

  Sniffling, Elise stared at Giovanni in disbelief, willing the tears in her eyes not to fall. She loved him deeply, madly, with everything she had, and regretted arguing with him on that Friday night. There was nothing sexier than a sensitive, vulnerable man who spoke from the heart, and his words touched her soul.

  “I adore you, Elise, and I couldn’t have asked for a better girlfriend. When I fall asleep at night, I see your beautiful face staring back at me, and it’s the greatest feeling in the world.”

  Elise beamed. In her peripheral vision, she saw her guests dabbing at their eyes, fanning their faces and snapping pictures with their cell phones. Sariah smiled at her, Paige gave her a thumbs-up and Mishka waved her hands wildly in the air.

  “I want you in my life for the rest of my life, and I vow to love and honor you always.”

  Angling her body toward him, Elise met his gaze.

  “I want to travel the world with you, exploring exotic lands and fine cuisine, and enjoying thrilling adventures,” he continued. “I als
o want to beat you at ax throwing, because I think you cheated the last time we played at Extreme Sports Dome. You’re sneaky like that.”

  Elise giggled. “Any time you want a rematch, just say the word.”

  “I also want to visit your hometown with you. I want to see where you were born, where you grew up and all the places you went with your parents, so I can have a greater understanding of who you are as a woman and love you the way you deserve.”

  “Giovanni, I leave for Charlotte in a few hours. I’m spending Christmas with my family.”

  “Can I come?” he asked quietly. “I’d love to be your plus-one.”

  Elise reached out and cupped his chin. “I love you.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that, because I feel the same way. You’re my everything, Elise.”

  “As I should be.” A saucy smile curled her lips. “I’m fabulous!”

  “Does that mean you’ll marry me? That you’ll become Mrs. Giovanni Castillo?”

  “Do rich people like Dom Pérignon?” Elise quipped, with a laugh. “Yes, I’ll marry you. You’re the man of my dreams, my one true love and the greatest Christmas gift ever!”

  Giovanni took the ring out of the box, clasped her left hand and slid the stunning three-carat diamond onto her fourth finger. Elise stared at the pear-shaped jewel for a long moment, admiring the unique design. It was a gorgeous ring and she loved the flawless diamond almost as much as she loved her new fiancé.

  Guests gathered around them, offering hugs and well wishes. The outpouring of love and support from her girlfriends moved Elise, and she burst into tears. It was the most wonderful and romantic moment of her life, and she’d remember Giovanni’s surprise proposal for the rest of her life.

  Cupping his face in her hands, Elise pressed her body flat against his and kissed his lips. She cherished the moment, reveling in his love and his commitment to her. Their relationship was new and fresh and exciting, and Elise was confident their future would be bright. Snuggling against him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his chin. “You know this is crazy, right? No one gets engaged after a couple months of dating.”