Your Christmas Love (The Bennett Family 10)

Everyone knew who they were buying gifts for, but not who was buying them gifts.

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sp; She grinned. “I know. But I’d rather cheat than end up with a crappy present.”

“Absolutely not.”

I’d organized the drawing, so I could technically look up who’d been paired with whom, but I definitely wasn’t a fan of cheating.

Besides, if I convinced Winston to participate, I’d have to run the pairing program again.

“One little hint?”

“No chance.”

Mara sighed. “You’re mean.”

“No, I just believe in following the rules.” I laughed as Mara left, wondering about Winston and his rules. I tried to tell myself that he wasn’t attracted to me, that I was just imagining things. It was safest if I told myself that.

I’d done my best to stay out of the boss’s way after this morning, but when six o’clock came around, I had no choice but head to the meeting room. Winston was already inside, and he was every bit as irresistible as he had been this morning.

“No more breakfast talk,” I warned.

He pointed to his open laptop and our dinner. “We’re not on your territory yet, Sienna.”

Fire sparked in his eyes. The professional environment around us had been a buffer. But tomorrow at my house? All that would be gone.

Chapter Nine

Sienna

On Saturday, I groaned when my alarm clock rang at six. I usually slept in on weekends, but now, duty called.

I was still half-asleep when I started sanding the walls, dressed in overalls and with my hair pulled into an old-lady bun at the back of my head. I had a Christmas movie running in the background. I’d watched this particular one so often that I knew the dialogue by heart. Even though I’d covered the TV with a sheet of plastic, it didn’t take away from the experience.

I got so lost in the movie and the activity that I completely lost track of time. I winced when the doorbell rang. It was nine. Winston was here. Shit. Shit. Shit. I’d planned to shower and change before he arrived, but I couldn’t just let him wait on the front stoop.

Drawing in a deep breath, I opened the door. Winston’s eyes bulged as he took stock of my appearance.

Damn. This might be the weekend, but I didn’t want to appear unprofessional. There was nothing I could do but soldier on, though. I led him inside.

“Decided to make headway?” he asked.

I yawned. “Yeah. I usually sleep in on Saturday, but...” Yet another yawn swallowed the rest of the sentence. “I made sandwiches.”

Grabbing the plate, I held it up to him.

“No poison, I promise.”

“Why? Already approved your vacation days.”

“Yes, but you still have to paint my walls.”

It was only after drinking another cup of coffee and eating two sandwiches that I was awake enough to take stock of his appearance. Oh, la, la. He rocked work jeans and a sweater perfectly.

He stared at the TV. “You weren’t kidding about playing Christmas movies in the background.”

“No, but for you, I’ll shut it off. Can’t torment you this early in the morning.”