Gift for the Boss (Managing the Bosses 3.50)

"I'm alright, but my wife is quickly catching up with me. Nothing like good clean fun at work." He chuckled and grabbed a large bag.

"Wait, your wife works here too?" Jamie grabbed the smallest of the bags and walked in between Simon and Alex.

"She sure does. It makes for an interesting life." Simon winked.

Dr. Bennet turned and looked over his shoulder. "A bit too interesting at times."

Simon laughed. “Your wife works here as well, Dr. Bennet. As does your father-in-law.” He laughed harder. “Isn’t this place named after him?”

The laughter around her caused her lips to lift in a smile. It seemed as though the holidays brought along with them the invitation for everyone to generally be in a good mood.

They lugged the presents back up to the conference room, and Alex worked beside Jamie to get them laid out by age group.

Jamie stood and made a quick announcement, trying to get everyone's attention. "If you'll line up roughly by age, then we'll be able to give out the appropriate gifts to you. Thank you!" She put on her most cheerful voice.

Jamie turned to see a beautiful blonde, who could have easily been the centerfold for a men’s magazine, talking with Alex. She had her finger in the middle of his chest and was giggling about something as he spoke.

"Santa. Time to greet the kids." Jamie lifted an eyebrow at him.

"Right. Excuse me, madam." He moved past the woman and shook his head. "I told you it was bad."

"I'm going to go Christmas-crazy on someone if they don't back off of you," she growled and started to turn, but Alex pulled her against him.

"Did you guys know that Mrs. Claus sometimes dresses up like an elf just to have fun?" He glanced around and the kids cheered. "This is my Mrs. Claus. Tell her hi, kids."

Everyone yelled 'Hi!' and Alex turned to Jamie, touching the side of her face and smiling. "I'm only yours, baby. Now everyone knows that." He leaned down and kissed her softly as the room erupted in ooos and ahhs.

Warmth rushed up Jamie's chest and covered her cheeks as she walked behind her boss, her lover, her best friend. The blonde to her right smiled apologetically and mouthed, 'Sorry'.

She nodded and moved to stand beside Alex as the kids started to make their way to sit on his lap. Most needed help, and some had to be picked up out of wheelchairs and given to him. By the time the event was over, Jamie was emotionally spent, and beyond blessed at the life she'd been given.

"Can we do this every day?" she asked as Alex pulled her close just beside the truck.

"Yes. We can do anything you want to do, Jamie." He leaned down and brushed his nose by hers.

"I'm proud of you. You did a great thing today." She brushed her lips by his.

"You make me want to be a good man." He kissed her again. "Well, sort of. Where the kids are concerned, yes. Where the little red slinky thing under this elf costume is concerned... hell, no."

"Speaking of... Let's get home so you can open your present."

He growled, and she giggled, the promise of a long night of passion on their minds.

Chapter 4

Jamie grabbed the Italian take-out from the backseat as they pulled up to the house. Her stomach had made its demands known half the way home, but Alex's hadn't been silent either. They burst out laughing at their gut conversation. She followed him to the door, letting her eyes move down the back of him to enjoy fully how good his red Santa pants hugged his perfect rear. He was one sexy Santa.

"I'll grab a bottle of red wine. You get the food on plates, and I'll meet you at the coffee table in the living room. Sound good?" He glanced over his shoulder as he opened the door and then disarmed the house alarm.

"The pasta has red sauce. I don't want to accidentally spill it on the floor on the living room carpet. Do you mind if we just eat at the kitchen table?" She moved past him as he flipped on the lights, purposely brushing his derrière with her hi

p. She giggled when he stumbled.

He faced her and pouted. For a moment she thought it was because she’d bumped him. "But I want to snuggle down by the fire for dinner.” He winked mischievously. “If we mess up the carpet, I'll replace it. No worries." He popped her butt playfully and followed her into the kitchen. "I'm going to change. Do you want..." he paused as he tried to sneak a peek at what she was wearing below.

She slapped his hands away and laughed. "No! I like this outfit.” She lowered her voice. “You promised to undress me... later." Sliding into his arms, she glanced up to study him more fully. His loving gaze had to be the first thing to catch her attention. He'd always been attentive and interested in her, though as her boss he’d kept it hidden, but the look had shifted significantly. He looked like a man in love.

She just had a hard time swallowing the fact that the look was because of her – that it was just for her.