Secret Santa (novella) (3 page)

‘It’s the address you gave me, love,’ the grisly old driver snarled. ‘Are you getting out or what?’

‘Oh, yes, sorry, what do I owe you?’ She fumbled in her handbag for her purse, but before she could pull out her money, the door next to her swung open and a hand appeared in front of her face, waving a fifty dollar note.

‘I’ve got it.’

Morgan.

Her gaze darted to the side just as he stuck his head in the cab. ‘Morgan?’

’Hey.’ He smiled as he leaned in further and thrust the money between the front seats. ‘Here. Keep the change.’

‘But that’s thirty dollars!’ Jenn argued when she glanced at the meter.

‘The man is working on Christmas day, Jenn. Shouldn’t he get a little something extra?’

‘Oh, well, yes, but — ‘

Morgan grabbed her hand and tugged. ‘C’mon. Let’s get you out of there,’ he said as he pulled her from the back seat to stand on the driveway.

He slammed the door shut and the taxi sped off down the street disappearing around the corner before Jenn could bat her eyelashes. She stared after the car, her brain a whirlwind. What was Morgan doing here? And where the hell was here? Before she could form her questions into words, he was ushering her through a small gate beside the two larger ones spanning the driveway of the biggest property she’d ever seen.

‘Oh my,’ she breathed as the gardens and house came into full view on the other side of the enormous front fence. ‘What
is
this place?’

Morgan glanced over his shoulder when her feet slowed and she lagged behind. ‘Technically it’s mine, but my grandparents are in residence, so I think of it as theirs. I live in the guest cottage out back.’

‘Guest cottage?’ She’d fallen down the rabbit hole. ‘You live here? Wait. You
own
this place?’

Jenn couldn’t wrap her head around that. She knew Morgan’s was successful, but she had no idea the restaurant was doing
that
well.

Morgan laughed. ‘Yes. But it’s not what you think. The place is held by the family trust and it’s worked in a way that the youngest first born inherits the place at birth, but the generations before him or her live in it for life.’

She shook her head. That sounded far too complicated for her currently muddled mind to deal with. ‘Okay.’

His laughter rang out across the lawn as he continued to tow her in the direction of the imposing front doors. She dragged her heels until she realised she was digging up the manicured grass and leaving a trail in the pristine yard.

‘Wait. Wait.’ Jenn yanked on her hand until it came free. ‘Why am I here? I don’t understand…’ But then she did. ‘Oh my God. You’re my Secret Santa!’

He had the good grace to blush.

‘Why? Why would you do that?’ Tears stung her eyes. She’d refused his invitation to spend Christmas day with him and his family and he’d tricked her into it by giving her a Christmas lunch at what she thought was a restaurant as her Secret Santa gift.

‘Hey, hey.’ Morgan slipped his arms around her and pulled her close until she was tucked snugly against his warm chest. ‘You don’t have to stay. I just thought it would be a better idea if you were around people today. At least come into the house. If it’s too much you can head out back to my place where I promise no one will bother you.’

She shook her head. She’d been thrilled when she opened her present and read the certificate. As much as she’d believed it best to be on her own today, she’d been dreading it to the point of feeling sick to her stomach. The gift of not being alone — of not spending the hours dwelling on why she was by herself — had given Jenn’s depressed mood a boost until she could barely contain her excitement.

Morgan rocked side to side while he tightened his hold. ‘I’ll take you home now. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just couldn’t bear the thought of you all alone with no one to turn to if you wanted — or needed — to.’

At some point her arms had snaked around his waist and her head nestled into the side of his neck. She could smell soap and pine and Morgan. He always smelled sweet. Jenn was sure it was all those sinful desserts he made. Taking a deep breath she saturated her senses with his tantalising aroma. With her body curled against his, it was hard to remember why doing this with him was a bad idea.

‘Jenn?’ he murmured into her hair and she could have sworn he pressed his lips to her head. ‘Do you want to go home?’

‘No.’

‘Are you mad at me?’

‘No.’

‘Okay.’ His arms loosened and Jenn gripped his waist tighter. ‘Okay, not letting go yet.’

Just a few more seconds. A few more heartbeats to pretend it was all right to be in his arms — to feel his body pressed against the length of hers. She squeezed her eyes shut and etched every single sensation into her memory. She’d take it out on those rare occasions when she allowed herself to think about Morgan as something other than her boss. A sigh raised and lowered her breasts against him.

Her boss.

It didn’t matter how good this felt — how right — being in his arms was wrong. With great reluctance, and a strength she didn’t know she possessed, Jenn let go and stepped back. She tried for a smile, but her lips wobbled and her eyes still held the sheen of tears. Not sad ones. And that was another reason to cry. It had been so long since anything had moved her other than grief.

‘T-thank you.’ She blinked rapidly to disperse the moisture gathering on her lashes. ‘I don’t really want to be alone today.’ It was hard to admit, but Morgan deserved to know where her head was at.

‘I still shouldn’t have pushed the issue.’

‘No. But I’m glad you did.’ Jenn smiled and nodded towards the house. ‘So are we going in?’

Morgan glanced over his shoulder towards the mansion. ‘There’s going to be a lot of people in there. They’ll definitely get overwhelming at some point. Jeez, they overwhelm me and I grew up in the middle of the madness.’

‘I’m sure they won’t be that bad.’ But Jenn was a little worried. As an only child she didn’t have much experience with large families.

He brushed the back of his fingers down her cheek. ‘If at any stage you want out, tell me. I’ll take you down to my place and we can hang out there for a while or you can stay there by yourself.’

She couldn’t help herself. She moved into his touch. The shout from across the yard snapped them both out of the moment. They jumped apart and Jenn had to take several deep breaths to calm her racing heart. Her palms were damp and the soft, gooey warmth swirling in her lower belly left her with an ail-too familiar, Morgan-related tension.

’Someone is calling you.’ Jenn couldn’t get a good look at the person waving at them, but she knew it was a woman. If the flowing dress hadn’t given it away, the slight frame and flamboyant, red, curly hair draped over bare shoulders would have.

Morgan closed his eyes on a sigh. He’d hoped to save Trud for last when he introduced Jenn to his family. He should have known his grandmother — who preferred everyone refer to her by her shortened first name — would expect to be first in line. At seventy-five, she behaved more like a twenty-five year old and presided over the family like a queen.

‘I think she’s heading this way,’ Jenn murmured.

‘Shit.’ He opened his eyes and spun around. Grabbing Jenn’s hand, he tugged her in Trud’s direction. The damn woman only ever wore sky-high heels and those did not mesh well with the spongy grass. ‘C’mon, before she hits the lawn in those suicide shoes she always wears.’

He raced them over the remaining distance to the paved driveway. The shortcut across the yard didn’t seem so smart now. But then he hadn’t expected to stop in the middle. They were only a few feet away when his grandmother started talking.

‘Morgan, why are you skulking around out here like a common thief? Bring your guest inside like a proper gentleman.’ Trud clicked her tongue and shook her head. ‘You’d think I never taught you any manners.’

Before she could reprimand him further, he made the introductions. ‘Trud, this is Jennifer Browne, the manager at Morgan’s. Jenn, this is my grandmother, Trud.’

‘Oh, it’s nice to meet you Mrs…’ Jenn stuck out her hand as she stumbled over what to call Trud.

‘None of that nonsense. No Mrs for me. Everyone’ — she waved one bony hand at Morgan — ‘and I mean everyone, calls me Trud. You will too.’ Trud gripped Jenn’s hand and spun on one spike before dragging Morgan’s guest towards the house.

‘Trud, go easy. Jenn’s not used to bossy old women.’ Morgan jogged to catch up. For an old woman, she moved damn fast. Then again, Morgan couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t gone at warp speed.

Morgan beat them to the door and held it open.

‘Ah, there they are,’ Trud said.

He looked into the foyer but didn’t see anyone. ‘Who?’

Trud patted his forearm. ‘Your manners. I knew they were around here somewhere.’

Jenn chuckled and Morgan rolled his eyes. ‘Very funny. Is everyone in the family room?’

‘Yes, dear. We were just waiting for you to come inside so we could start opening the presents.’ Trud let go of Jenn’s hand and led the way through the foyer to the hall beyond the stairs.

‘Oh, perhaps I should—’

‘Nonsense.’ Trud waved her hand in the air. ‘There’s a present beneath the tree for everyone.’

Morgan bent forward to whisper in Jenn’s ear. ‘Don’t worry. Your real Secret Santa gift is beneath our family tree.’

‘But I didn’t bring anything.’ Her eyes were wide with worry.

‘I kept my present from last night.’ He realised his mistake as soon as the words left his mouth.

‘How did you know I drew your…wait. Did you rig the envelopes?’

Morgan could see her mind ticking. ‘I’ll explain later.’

She glared at him through narrowed eyes.

‘Now, now, children, let’s not fight in front of the adults.’ Morgan had forgotten his grandmother was near.

‘Who’s fighting?’ he asked, trying denial as a defence.

Trud laughed. ‘Oh you might not be there quite yet, but I’ve seen that look plenty of times in my seventy-five years. You, my dear boy, are about to be blasted by an angry woman.’

Morgan glanced back at Jenn and hated to admit it, but his grandmother was probably right. Hoping to deflect Jenn’s wrath, he pointed out the tree in the far corner of the room as they entered, knowing the huge fresh-cut pine would capture her attention and possibly give him time to come up with the words to explain what he’d done without making her any madder.

‘Welcome to the Campbell family Christmas lunacy.’ Morgan swept his arm out to indicate the room full of people and the tree that loomed over all of them.

‘Oh my.’ Jenn brought her hand up to cover her throat. ‘That’s the biggest tree I’ve ever seen.’

She headed across the timber floor and every occupant of the room stopped what they were doing to stare. Morgan knew her appeal; he couldn’t help but admire the sway of her hips or the gentle slope of her waist or the ripple of muscles as they flexed along her spine beneath her light summer dress with each step she took. It wasn’t until his grandmother elbowed him in the stomach that he remembered to follow and introduce her to the various family members in attendance as they made their way to the twelve foot monstrosity that Trud insisted the family needed each year.

‘Oh, these are homemade.’ Jenn traced her fingertips over a few of the decorations. ‘Yeah, all of us have at least one on here.’ Morgan looked for his to show her. ‘Here. This is mine.’

Jenn laughed. ‘Is that Santa in a chef’s hat?’

He smiled. ‘Did you expect anything else?’

‘I guess not.’

‘C’mon.’ He grabbed her hand. ‘Let’s find a seat so Trud can start handing out presents.’

The only spot left in the room was an oversized armchair and Morgan tugged Jenn in that direction. ‘We’ll share.’ He nudged Jenn into the seat and perched his butt on the arm beside her.

Morgan couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. He’d played a game of chance rigging the Secret Santa lottery and he’d managed to hit the jackpot. Now if he could just morph this moment into the start of something more, he’d have his ultimate Christmas Wish.

Jenn collapsed into the plush sofa in Morgan’s living room. ‘Oh my God. I’ll never eat again.’ she moaned.

Morgan snorted out a laugh as he dropped down next to her. ‘You hardly ate a thing.’

‘Not true. I had two helpings of whatever the hell that chocolate dessert thing was.’ She rubbed her full stomach. ‘I’m going to regret that when all those calories find their way to my thighs.’

His gaze lowered to her legs where the hem of her dress revealed a little too much flesh. She wasn’t flashing him or anything, but she was definitely giving him a bit more than was acceptable for a boss/employee relationship, especially when she had unrequited lust for the man. Tugging on her skirt she managed to cover about an inch of extra skin, no more.

He cleared his throat and brought his gaze up to meet hers. ‘You know, I think we’ve ignored this thing long enough.’

Before she could comprehend his words, he leaned over and placed his lips on hers. Jenn’s brain short-circuited. Every thought disappeared bar one — Morgan. He pressed closer, slipped his tongue out to lick across her mouth and she was powerless against the need to invite him inside.

Her lips parted on a moan and Morgan took advantage, sweeping inside to caress her tongue with his. He kept the kiss easy — a testing of new territory while hinting at more. She’d never been kissed quite so reverently. His lips and tongue explored until her breath grew choppy, her pulse raced, and she was on the verge of whimpering in need.

Morgan pulled back, separating their mouths on a harsh gasp. He didn’t move away though. Resting his forehead on hers, he slipped his hands into her hair and held her close. ‘My God, you’re potent. If I don’t stop now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to, and we’re not ready to take this thing all the way yet.’

Jenn was ready. After that kiss, she’d happily strip off her clothes and jump him. ‘But

He pressed his thumb to her lips. ‘No. We haven’t danced around this for two years to risk tumbling into bed too soon.’