All I Want for Christmas

Chapter Five

"Please turn that music down,” Erin begged Jason the next morning. He'd brought in a CD player and had Christmas songs playing at full volume. Her head pounded, her eyes hurt, and her stomach felt a little iffy.

"Someone had a bit too much to drink last night,” he teased, but he lowered the volume a notch. That silly red plush Santa hat perched on his head again.

"And someone was getting very friendly with the director of finance last night,” Cheryl added with a sly smile.

"Not as friendly as that couple in the ladies’ room,” Melissa put in. “I'm dying to know who that was."

"You and everyone else,” Cheryl agreed with a laugh.

"Does everyone know about that?” Erin asked with a frown. She took a big gulp of the Grande Starbuck's coffee and scalded her lips.

"Are you kidding? Of course! Now that is juicy gossip.” Melissa looked at her speculatively. “Hey. Maybe it was Erin and Mr. Mitchell."

Erin's brain pulsed. She tried to wave a casual hand and gave a little laugh. “Please. As if."

The others all looked at each other and raised their brows, and Erin knew the rumors were going to fly. Great. Just what she needed.

"I'll find out who it was,” Cheryl said confidently, and Erin's heart skipped a beat. Cheryl was the mistress of the office grapevine and, if anyone could find out, it would be Cheryl. But surely she and Dex were the only ones who knew, and he would never say anything ... would he? She bit her lip.

"Here,” Cheryl said unexpectedly. “This is for you.” She handed her a little wrapped present. Erin stared at it in dismay. She had nothing for Cheryl! Why on earth was she giving her a Christmas present?

She took it slowly. “Thank you, Cheryl,” she said uncertainly. Could she run out and pick something up? God, there was no time. They finished work at noon, and it was eleven-thirty. In fact, most people would be leaving soon. She took a breath. “I'm sorry, I didn't get anything for you...."

Cheryl waved a cheery hand. “That's okay. It's just a little something. Merry Christmas, Erin."

Damn, she hated that. Why hadn't she thought to pick up a couple of extra little things? Probably because she'd been so busy and stressed running around buying all the staff gifts, organizing the party, and trying to figure out what she'd get her own family. She sighed.

As the others all started to leave, calls of “Merry Christmas” and “see you in the new year” were exchanged. Kayla gave her a hug, and Jason came over to wish her Merry Christmas and plunked the foolish Santa hat on her head. Erin sat in her cubicle and stared at the spreadsheet on her computer monitor. If she could finish this report today, it would be ready to go when everyone was back in the office in January.

Too bad the top of her head was coming off, though. The Aspirin she'd taken earlier had done nothing, and she really, really wanted to sleep. When the office was quiet, she slid down in her chair and leaned her head back, closing her eyes. Ah.

In a few minutes she'd tackle that report. Too bad there was a damn spreadsheet in it. On the best days that was an issue for her, never mind when she was hung over. When she was done, she'd scoot out and pick up the other gifts she had to get before the stores closed and be over at her parents’ by six o'clock as required.

"Nice hat."

She opened her eyes and met those of Dex, standing in the opening to her cubicle, watching her with amusement, eyes gleaming, dimples flashing. Her heart stopped for one beat then picked up a painful thumping in her chest.

"Thanks."

She sat up and went to remove the hat.

"No, leave it,” he said, coming closer and adjusting it on her head. “It looks cute."

She gazed at him wide-eyed. “Um ... do you need something?” She was completely, hotly mortified to see him after what had happened last night. She wanted to slide right out of her chair and under the desk.

"Oh, yeah,” he replied softly. “I need to collect my debt."

"Huh?” She looked at him blankly.

"Remember? Last night you said you owed me."

Oh. My. God. He could not be serious. She felt her cheeks scorching and put her hands up to them.

"Look, I am so sorry about last night,” she began, her voice trembling. “I had way too much to drink and kind of got carried away...."

He paused. “So ... what are you saying? It was just a drunken mistake?"

"Um...” God, she didn't know what to say. Why was he here? Why was he doing this to her? Surely he didn't just come here expecting her to ... her mind couldn't even go there.

He drew back a bit, and his face had a look on it that was almost ... hurt. His eyes shuttered, and the amusement that had deepened his dimples and curved his mouth was gone.

"Please,” she whispered. “I don't know what to say. I don't know what's going on, or what was going on last night. You disappeared after..."

He blinked. “I went to the men's room, and then I went and talked to some other people. I didn't want any rumors to start so I was just staying away from you for a little while. Then I couldn't find you. Why did you take off?"

"I got a ride home. With Kayla and her husband. I thought you'd left. God, I was so embarrassed.” She pressed a hand to her aching eyes.

"Why were you embarrassed? No one knows that was us."

She shook her head. “No, I mean I was embarrassed because I behaved like that. I have never been so slutty in my life, and you must have been absolutely horrified."

"Are you kidding me?” He looked incredulous. “That was even better than my best fantasies about you."

She blinked, uncertain if she'd heard correctly. “You ... have fantasies ... about me?"

He nodded slowly. “Hell, yeah. All the time. But I couldn't even have imagined that. Christ, it was hot."

She softened, relaxed a little, her tummy still doing flips, and now it wasn't just the hangover. “Oh.” She swallowed. “Um ... you were taking a chance coming here. People are talking. Everyone is wondering who it was getting lucky in the ladies’ room."

His eyes warmed again and he put a hand to his heart. “I swear I will never tell anyone,” he promised solemnly.

"Me either.” Suddenly her headache was better. “But people did notice us together last night."

He shrugged. “Nothing wrong with that."

"Really?” She gazed at him. Things seemed much merrier than they had a short while ago.

"I would have made up another stupid payroll question if the others were still around,” he told her, sitting on the edge of her desk. “But here you are, all alone."

She nodded. He'd been making up payroll questions? God!

"I actually came to see what you're doing tonight. My family doesn't arrive until tomorrow, and I'd like to ... see you. You know. Go out."

"Like ... on a date?"

He nodded, eyes watching her carefully.

"Oh.” She sighed, and tingles of warm pleasure zinged through her body. “Oh, I would really like that. But tonight is the night my family exchanges gifts."

"Oh.” He looked disappointed. “Well, what about right now? We could go for lunch."

She sighed and looked at her computer. “I was really hoping to finish this report before I leave,” she said, and bit her lip. “Otherwise I'll have to come in over the holidays and finish it. And I really need to go pick up some gifts."

"Oh.” He looked at the spreadsheet on her monitor. “Maybe I could help. If we get it done quickly, you'll have time for lunch."

"Um ... okay."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm trying to create a pivot table, but it's not working, and I have no idea what I'm doing wrong."

"Piece of cake,” he murmured, reaching for her mouse. “Tell me what you want."

She told him, and with a few clicks he had her pivot table done and saved in the report. “Awesome,” she breathed, feeling better and better.

"Now,” she rolled her chair closer to the keyboard. “I have a few things left to copy and paste.” She worked quickly for the next ten minutes then saved the document. “Done.” She gave a big sigh of relief and smiled at him. “Thank you so much."

"Hey, any time. Now, I'll buy you lunch."

They went to a restaurant nearby where the lunch crowd had already started to thin out. Erin's stomach wasn't feeling totally normal, but maybe eating something would make her feel better. Strangely enough, the headache was almost gone.

Wow. She'd been so sure she had totally humiliated herself last night, but here she was seated across from Dex who was smiling warmly at her, laughing at her description of her hangover. They talked and laughed and ate lunch, and Erin was horrified the next time she glanced at her watch to see it was almost five o'clock.

"Oh, my God!” she exclaimed. “We've been sitting here for three hours!"

Dex nodded, unperturbed. “Yeah. Amazing. It only feels like a few minutes."

"But my Christmas shopping! I'll never make it to the mall on time!"

His face fell. “Shit. I forgot about that. I'm sorry, Erin. Let me take you."

She shook her head, frantically gathering up her things. “That's okay."

"Oh come on. I can help. Just tell me what to do. I'll be your gopher."

She stopped and stared at him, shaking her head, lips twitching. “You in no way resemble a gopher,” she told him, and he grinned. “All right, come on then."

They went and got in his car in the parking garage. In the dim light, he turned to her, white teeth flashing. “Thanks for having lunch with me,” he said and leaned across to give her a kiss. Oh.

It was a slow, sensual kiss, soft and lingering, his lips warm on hers. She opened for him, touched her tongue to his, heard his low groan. He cupped the back of her head and pulled her closer, tipping his head for a better angle, deepening the kiss. She grabbed the lapels of his soft coat, drawing herself closer, wishing they weren't in a car with a console between them.

His fingers came up to her cheek, stroked her softly, and then he moved away, his thumb running over her bottom lip. She gazed at him. “Wow,” she managed to breath.

"Yeah.” His voice was husky. “Damn, I like kissing you."

"Me, too."

He hauled her closer, over the console, wrapped his arms around her, and she clutched him, and they were kissing again, feverishly, mouth crushed against mouth, his tongue filling her mouth in a way that made her ache way down low.

Thick and bulky winter coats frustrated both of them, and Dex growled. “Damn,” he said. “Let's go to my place."

"Oh, yeah,” she moaned, kissing him again. Then common sense returned, and she almost cried. “I can't,” she wailed softly. “I still have stupid Christmas presents to buy."

They both looked at the clock on the dash of his Lexus then back at each other. “I'll never make it now,” she groaned. She thunked her forehead down on his chest.

"I'm sorry, Erin,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head. “It's my fault."

"No, it's not.” She stayed like that for a moment. “This just isn't a good Christmas."

"It's okay,” he soothed.

She looked up. “I'll pick up something at 7-Eleven,” she said, sighing. “I guess that's all I can do."

He looked as if he was going to laugh. “It's not funny.” She scowled. Now he did smile and pushed a strand of hair off her face.

"It is funny,” he said. “Maybe you don't see it right now, but you will."

She sat back in her seat and leaned her head against the headrest. “Yeah, maybe.” She took a deep breath. “Well, if I'm not going shopping, I guess I should just go home. I need to change to go over to my parents’ place tonight."

"Oh."

She turned and looked searchingly at him. “Would ... would you like to come? It's a family thing, but ... they won't mind.” At least they could have more time together.

"I wouldn't want to impose."

She shook her head. “Don't worry about that. My family would love to have you, really. I don't know how much fun it will be for you, but they won't mind."

"Okay then. I'd love to come."

"You don't know my family,” she warned. “My brothers-in-law are both rude and crude, there'll be four wound-up little girls running around waiting for Santa to come, and my parents will probably be checking you out to see if you're good enough for me."

He grinned. “I can handle it. How late do we have to stay?"

Something warm and liquid slid down low inside her, and she smiled. “As late as we want. Maybe after, we could have that date ... sort of. We could go back to my place and have some hot chocolate or something...."

"That sounds awesome.” He paused then gave a wicked smile. “Remember, you owe me."

She swallowed as warmth rushed over her at the thought. Then she gave him her address, and they arranged a time for him to pick her up. With a long, hard kiss, they said good-bye.