Christmas Miracle (6 page)

“Thanks for coming, Mel,” Lauren said softly as she approached her.

All the while, her sister shot glances behind Melanie and lifted a brow as if she wanted to know who the man was. She ignored the questioning look on Lauren’s face. They were not going to discuss her life. She was here for Janie, and nothing else.

“I’m here for my niece. Did they let you see her?”

Running a hand over her face, Lauren nodded. “She’s sleeping right now, but she’s breathing much better.”

“Good. That’s good.” Melanie looked over her shoulder to Cameron. He’d insisted on coming in with her and now sat on one of the couches, stealing glances at her while trying to give off the impression that he was reading a magazine. She turned back to Lauren. “I’d like you to keep me informed about Janie, okay?”

Her sister nodded. Melanie turned away, but Lauren touched her arm. She looked over her shoulder. Lauren’s eyes were swimming with unshed tears.

“Thank you for coming.”

Melanie nodded and looked away. She walked over to Cameron, who chucked the magazine and stood as she approached.

“Are we leaving already?”

She nodded.

He looked over to Lauren and frowned slightly. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Very sure.”

Cameron nodded and lifted a hand to Lauren. Melanie didn’t look back. She turned and headed for the elevator.

***

“I thought you said you didn’t have any family.”

They were in his SUV, heading back to her place.

“It’s complicated,” she finally said when the silence seemed to stretch between them.

“When I asked you why you spent Christmas alone, you said that you had no family. I assumed you meant they were all deceased.”

“No. Not all.” Just her parents.

“Was that your sister?”

Lauren certainly did not look enough like her to warrant that observation, so she could easily lie and say no. Something made her nod once.

“And the person in the hospital is your niece or nephew?”

When she lifted a brow, he answered, “We were in the pediatrics unit.”

“Yes, my niece.”

“This is none of my business…”

“You’re right, Cameron. It isn’t.”

He continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “…but if I had a sibling and a niece in the same state, I wouldn’t be spending Christmas in some office.”

“Cameron, let it go. Like you said, it’s none of your business.”

“I’m making it my business, Melanie. You can’t be happy working on Christmas Day. Can you honestly tell me that it makes you happy, sitting alone on Christmas Day, staring at files?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she sighed and turned to look out the window. Bright lights were everywhere. New York City was the city of lights to begin with, but with Christmas only days away, that was amplified by ten.

Melanie was dozing off in the car when she heard the light hum of Christmas carols in the background. Cameron had turned on the radio, and the smoky voice of Nat King Cole was wafting into the vehicle. As he sang about “chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” she was teleported back to younger days, when she still lived with her parents, and used her meager allowance savings to purchase little gifts for her family. A sad little smile tugged at her lips when she remembered the Barbie doll she’d bought Lauren. It had cost seven dollars, but to a fourteen-year-old, that was ridiculously expensive. She’d saved for weeks and weeks to get that money, and when Lauren unwrapped the present, her face had lit up more than their Christmas tree. Those were the years when she would have done anything for her younger sister. Yes, they’d had sibling rivalries and petty jealousies that were at times instigated by unknowing parents, but it had been nothing their bond couldn’t overcome.

She awoke with a little start to find herself tucked in Cameron’s arms. He easily carried her into her building, where the doorman opened the door and, after giving Cameron a nod and a large grin, called the elevator for them.

Melanie tried to get down a few times, but Cameron wouldn’t let her, and she was too tired to fight him. Plus, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to. She settled for leaning her head against his solid shoulder instead.

When he laid her out on the bed and began undressing her, she tried to brush his hands aside.

“I can do it myself, Cam—”

“I know, lass. Just lie back and let me take care of you.”

“But I…”

His lips brushed across hers, and she blinked sleepy eyes up at him. He was smiling down at her.

“This is no burden for me, sweetheart. Trust me.”

She felt a tug and then her jeans were sliding down her legs. Yawning, she closed her eyes. There was something about Cameron that pushed down the barriers she’d thrown up to keep people out. He was charming, and funny, and considerate and of course his looks detracted nothing from that. Well, he was just Cameron. That was her last thought before warmth engulfed her and she fell into a restless sleep.

***

The next day was nothing short of hectic. It was two days before Christmas, and four of the eight PR agents she employed had left early after handing in summaries of the cases they’d handled for the year. Their vacations had been cleared with her and HR months ago, but as her staff was significantly reduced at the moment, Melanie felt a twinge of regret. She stared at the four one hundred page plus summaries stacked neatly on her desk. She wanted to get through all of them before the New Year. Maybe she would hire an office assistant or two in 2015. She imagined Fiona would be extremely happy about that. Speaking of Fiona Clark...

Picking up her phone, she dialed her secretary and asked her to come into her office.

Fiona walked into her office with her back straight and a cool expression on her face. Melanie refrained from speaking in order to assess this new mood. This was how she’d tried to get Fiona to look and present herself for two years, and now she wasn’t so sure she liked it. Her usually bubbly, albeit awkward, secretary was a good contrast to her stoicism.

“Is everything okay, Fiona?” Melanie found herself asking, genuinely concerned.

“Yes, Ms. Samuels. Everything is fine.”

“Have a seat, Fiona.”

She sat quickly, but her expression was still aloof. It almost seemed like Fiona was expecting to be told something bad.

“Fiona, you’ve worked with me for over two years now—”

“Are you dismissing me, Ms. Samuels? Because if you are, it’s not necessary to give me the speech. I’d rather you just tell me so that I can clean out my desk, and go spend the holidays with my family.”

Taken aback, Melanie almost gaped at her. Fiona thought she was being fired? And Fiona had just spoken to her like that?

She blinked and pushed herself up in her chair, eyeing her secretary closely. Even though her face was a cool mask, she was fidgeting with her hands, a clear sign of nervousness.

Melanie relaxed and shook her head. “Fiona, I am not firing you. I wanted to commend you on a job well done. In fact, when you return from your break, I want to speak to you about a promotion, and a raise.”

It was interesting to watch the icy façade fade from her secretary. Her face practically melted before lighting up.

“Oh, thank you, Ms. Samuels. I thought… It doesn’t matter what I thought. You did say a promotion, right?”

A small smile touched her lips, and Fiona blinked at her as if she’d grown two heads.

“Yes. I’m going to speak to HR about hiring another office assistant. Naturally, you’ll be promoted to my executive assistant—”

“Oh, thank you, Ms. Samuels. Thank you so much.” And then her eyes moistened and she shook her head in disbelief.

“Don’t thank me yet. You’re going to have more responsibility—”

“I wouldn’t mind, Ms. Samuels. Thank you again.” She stood, frantically dabbing at her eyes, and began heading for the door.

“And Fiona, I know that you haven’t taken a vacation in the years since you’ve been here,” Melanie began. She’d checked with HR this morning when she came in, and although she hadn’t recognized it before, Fiona’s record was almost as impressive as hers. Only two sick days in two years. Melanie had had one. She had PR agents who took more vacation than her secretary. “You’ve only been out twice. So, starting tomorrow, you’re on vacation for a week. I would give you two, but we need to close out this year.”

Fiona’s eyes widened, and then she gave Melanie a large but shaky smile. She approached her desk slowly.

“Thank you, Ms. Samuels,” she whispered softly. “This means a lot to me.”

Melanie nodded. “Good. Since you’ll be out for a week, I’ll need a temp, a qualified temp who has worked with me before, preferably, to fill in for you on those days. Call the agencies and see who they have available for tomorrow.”

Fiona’s smile was blinding as she said, “Right away, Ms. Samuels.”

***

When Cameron showed up at her office to take her out to lunch, Melanie didn’t ask Fiona if his secretary had made an appointment or anything of the sort. She’d expected him, and while she’d only admit it to herself, she would have been disappointed if he hadn’t shown.

This morning, she’d awoken to find that Cameron was still in her apartment, and he’d even made her coffee. He’d risen earlier than her usual five o’clock, and when she’d stepped into her kitchen, it was to find him sitting at her dining table, rapidly typing away at his laptop with a mug of coffee next to him. When she’d eyed the laptop in confusion, he’d casually told her that he always kept one in his vehicle. After a simultaneous shower that had reintroduced her to the art of giggling, they’d dressed and driven off in their own vehicles.

When he stepped through her door, she immediately noticed that he’d changed his clothing. Instead of the navy sweater, he now wore a teal green one, and she could see the red of his tie peeking out from underneath. An unconscious smile touched her lips. Cameron really took this Christmas business seriously. Instead of waiting before her desk, he stepped around it, and when she looked up at him, leaned down to kiss her.

“Hi,” he murmured, his minty breath fanning her lips.

“Hi.”

“Are you ready for lunch?”

He stepped away, moving over to the closet that housed her coats and some extra business suits in case of accidents or emergencies. Pulling out her brown jacket, he moved back to her, draping it over her shoulders and stepping back.

“Yes. I’m hungry. I didn’t have breakfast this morning because I was otherwise occupied.”

Cameron grinned knowingly and lifted a brow. “Really? You should tell me all about it.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

He laughed softly and held the door open for her. “After you, sweetheart.”

“Such a gentleman,” she teased, stepping before him.

He caught her around the waist and pulled her against him. For once, Melanie was extremely glad that Fiona’s desk wasn’t directly opposite her office.

“Only when I want to be,” he murmured against her ear, and just to prove it, he licked at her earlobe.

Warmth pulsed through her body, and she didn’t move when he released her.

“How particular are you about lunch, Melanie?”

“What?” She was hungry, but for two different things.

“Would you mind if we got there a few minutes late?”

His lips touched the side of her neck, and her eyes widened when she recognized that at any time, an employee could pass her office and see her being groped by him. A nervous laugh left her lips at that. She didn’t think they’d be as surprised by the groping as by the fact that she was the one being groped.

“Cameron—”

“Answer the question, Melanie. Would you mind?”

***

He kissed the other side of her neck as his fingers delved under her jacket, then under her work shirt to lightly cup and caress her breasts through the navy blue lace bra. After watching her dress this morning, in matching thong and seductive bra, he’d been unable to remove the image even after two meetings that should have held his undivided attention.

She melted against him. “Now that you mention it, I don’t think I would.”

“Good girl.”

Pulling her back into the office, he locked the door, before turning to face her.

***

Without his body pressed up against her, Melanie felt the stirrings of uncertainty. Yes, Cameron was a very attractive man, and yes, she was attracted to everything about him, but he was still a potential client…

She gasped. A potential client who was slowly, wickedly stripping out of his clothing. He removed his belt first, pulling it away from his body, and then curling it in his hand.

When Melanie eyed the belt, Cameron shook his head and tossed it to the nearest chair.

“You’re not ready for that yet,” he said as an explanation.

As her brow shot up, he chuckled. Cameron was not using any belt on her at any time.

Her throat grew dry as he undid the first buttons of his shirt, placed his hands in his pants pockets, and lifted a brow.

“Your turn, lass,” he murmured, and when she stared at him longer than he wanted, he directed, “Remove the jacket, Melanie.”

Melanie blinked. What did he say?

A low, husky chuckle touched her ears, and he repeated, “The jacket, Melanie.”

Oh, right. She slipped it from her shoulders easily, placing it against her desk as she watched him.

“More,” was all he said.

She swallowed, her fingers trembling as she began to undo the buttons of her shirt. She’d never stripped before someone before, and it was an awkward moment.

At some point she must have lowered her head, because she felt Cameron’s fingers under her chin, lifting her eyes back to his.

“Look at me, lass,” he murmured a bit gruffly, moments before his lips found hers again. Her fingers forgot their original tasks, sliding up his shirt, over his neck, through his hair.

She didn’t know his fingers were working her pants until they fell away from her waist, pooling at her feet. He broke the kiss and undid the rest of the buttons for her shirt, before taking a step back and staring his fill of her brown body. With her blue work shirt parted to reveal the girly lace-bra underneath, and her slacks pooled at her feet to give him a view of the tiniest thong, and the smoothest, longest legs...