Cuff Me at Christmas Page 10

  “Hey, Diane.” My boss’s assistant dropped into a seat at the table behind me. Dan, another of the head honchos, joined him, giving me a polite smile as he settled into the chair across from Nathan.

  Dan had no idea who I was even though we crossed paths often enough. I had that effect on people. I was the invisible woman. I held in a sigh as my heart gave a tight squeeze in my chest. Nothing like being alone and totally forgettable to the people around you, especially this time of year.

  I wiggled my toes in my boots. They were made to keep my feet warm and dry, not make a fashion statement, but somehow the boots failed their purpose. I needed dry socks.

  This time I allowed a slight sigh to escape me. Not like anyone would be paying attention. How sad was it that I spent my days in the most exciting city in the world, and the most I had to look forward to was toasty warm toes?

  “Have you checked Sinder? Did Jack get any takers?” Dan asked.

  “Hold on, I’m signing into his account now.” Nathan lowered his voice. “Why’d he have to specify a virgin? He’d be swamped with responses otherwise.”

  Dan snorted. “That’s not his only problem. Using the screen name Scrooge isn’t going to help his cock’s cause either.”

  I sat up a bit straighter in my chair.

  “Keep your voice down, man,” Nathan said.

  “Relax. Nobody’s going to hear us.”

  “Diane is sitting right behind you.”

  Dan finally lowered his voice. “I hardly think she’s on Sinder.”

  “Good point,” Nathan agreed.

  I brought my cup to my lips, barely tasting the now-cooled coffee. My brain buzzed and it had nothing to do with the caffeine.

  Not only was Jack on Sinder, he was using Scrooge as a screen name. And he was looking for a virgin.

  My vision blurred. I’d been in love with Jack forever. He was tall, dark and handsome with a great mind for business. My panties got damp every time he walked through the accounting department where I worked.

  Not surprisingly, he didn’t know I existed. My employment in the lower levels of the hotel kept me from crossing his path too often. Most of his time was spent upstairs in his penthouse suite where he lived and worked.

  It was mid-December. Another year was about to slide by. I was twenty-two, long past the age where most women had given up their virginity. No backseat groping or picking up a guy at the bar for me. I just couldn’t seem to bring myself to engage in a casual hook-up. The idea of letting some strange guy inside my body left me cold.

  That didn’t mean I wasn’t panting at the thought of finally getting beneath the sheets with someone a little hotter and more experienced than my vibrator. I mean, it wasn’t like I was saving myself for Mr. Right or anything ridiculous like that.

  Even as I had that thought, I knew it was a lie. Early on, I hadn’t been holding off on having sex until I got married. In high school and college, it just hadn’t happened. I didn’t date a ton, and I guess the guys I did end up dating weren’t too tempting. So I hadn’t really been consciously saving myself.

  At least until I met Jack. The minute I saw him, I knew exactly who I’d been saving myself for—Jack Thorson.

  But let’s face it. Jack was waaaay out of my league. And even if by some miracle he noticed me, he had a strict policy about upper management not dating employees. What were the chances he’d be willing to bend those rules for someone like me?

  My thoughts soon had my mood matching my wet feet—cold and miserable. A tiny tear escaped the corner of one eye and slid down my cheek. I swiped it away with the back of my hand hoping no one noticed.

  They didn’t. Naturally.

  Dan and Nathan still snickered like horny schoolboys behind me over Sinder ads.

  My phone vibrated with a message from Poppy, my BFF, who ran the hotel salon.

  My next two appointments canceled. Gotta love December. They were too hung over to get out of bed. I can trim your split ends unless you’ll let me give you a makeover. XOXO

  As I stared at her message through eyes still blurred by a few tears, an idea started to take root inside me. It was crazy, and I wasn’t sure if I’d have the courage to go through with it, but what did I have to lose?

  Fuck it. I was done sitting around waiting for my life to begin. It was time I made my own damn Christmas miracle. And if that miracle included finally getting laid, even better.

  Keep reading the rest of Christmas Quickie

  Also by Lark Avery

  Christmas Quickie

  Rocking Her World Always

  Lucky in Love Complete Box Set

  His Virgin Valentine

  Bossy Biker

  Bossy Surgeon

  Tempting Treat

  Mister Boss

  Mister Protector

  Mister Regret

  About the Author

  Lark Avery prides herself on her abilities to procrastinate, find excuses to drink wine before noon, and go days without wearing real pants. She entertains herself by writing outrageous, filthy romances full of cocky heroes, wild women and over-the-top escapades. When she’s not writing, she enjoys binge watching angsty teen dramas and finding new places to hide the good snack cakes from her family.

  Sign up to get info on all her new releases here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w6t2m3