Your Christmas Love (The Bennett Family 10)

Chapter One

Sienna

“I’ve got the list with gifts ready,” I said into the phone, surveying the spreadsheet I’d labeled Christmas presents.

“Wow. You’re way ahead of me, girl. I’m still working on it,” Pippa said. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t start shopping already.”

“I agree.”

Buying gifts was my second favorite part of the holiday season. My absolute favorite was hanging up Christmas ornaments. My office was proof of that.

“See you at six thirty?”

“Perfect.”

Some might think that starting to shop so early for presents was overdoing it, but there were a lot of people in the Bennett clan, and buying the perfect present for each took time and dedication. Pippa Bennett-Callahan was my favorite aunt, and my partner in crime when it came to shopping.

“Your boss is arriving today?” she asked.

“Yep.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks. I’ll need all the luck I can get.”

I sighed after hanging up. My boss had been working out of the Seattle office until now, but he was officially moving to San Francisco today. We’d only communicated through phone calls and emails until now.

Everyone was in a frenzy this morning, waiting for him to show up.

“Think the boss from hell will be late?” my colleague Mara asked, poking her head in my office.

“Don’t call him that,” I said on a smile.

“Why? Everyone else is.”

“True. But I don’t think he’ll be late. Not his style.”

He was impatient and demanding, but he was also brilliant. Winston Statham was a genius. He took over the chain of department stores from his parents at only thirty years old. He was just five years my senior. I’d learned more in the months I worked with him than in two years at my previous job.

I’d joined Statham Stores one year ago as a branding junior. My superior had to unexpectedly go on maternity leave early, and Winston decided I was equipped to take over her duties until she returned.

Since then, I’d been working with him to revamp our online store.

My dynamic with Winston was interesting, to say the least. When we weren’t sparring over details, we were productive, building on each other’s ideas. Would working face-to-face impact our dynamic?

I’d find out sooner rather than later.

I looked around my office, smiling. I’d already hung Christmas ornaments everywhere. Sure, it was still early in the year, but I’d barely held back until Halloween. After, I unleashed myself on the office.

I jumped when I heard a familiar voice by the elevators and hurried out to the corridor. My palms were sweaty. My mouth was dry. I was determined to make a good impression. I spotted Winston immediately, because everyone was gathered around him.

Currently, I was looking at the back of him: charcoal black hair, impressive height and build. He was speaking with several of my coworkers. When he turned around, my breath caught. I’d never even seen a picture of him.

Thank heavens he’d never wanted to do any video conference calls, because those mesmerizing green eyes would have messed up my focus. Everything about him just spelled sexy and manly. He stood out in the crowd, and not just because his suit was tailored and molded around his fit body to perfection.

Everyone was introducing themselves. I waited until he was right in front of me to say, “Sienna Hensley.”

“Nice to finally meet you in person.” His eyes widened in surprise. I couldn’t ignore the way my stomach flipped during the few seconds we made eye contact.

After he greeted everyone who’d gathered in the lobby, we all went into the meeting room. Winston had asked me to prepare it so he could address the team upon his arrival.

There were too many of us for all to sit, so I stood by the door. I just couldn’t get over how damn attractive he was. Those eyes, the way he walked... even the way he ran his fingers through his black hair was sexy.

“Good morning, everyone. Thank you for gathering here. As you know, I’ve been working out of the Seattle office until now, but San Francisco is home. Besides, this is our flagship store. It’s the place to be. Let’s make this Christmas season our best one yet. I’m confident we can reach a new record in sales on Black Friday and during this quarter in general if we put our minds to it.”

He looked around the room as if expecting everyone to nod in agreement, but was only met with skeptical expressions.

Way to make an entrance, Winston.

Only last Friday, half of my colleagues were betting that he wanted us to gather so he could get to know the team better, that in person he wasn’t really the boss from hell he seemed from his emails.

Winston’s parents had retired before I joined Statham Stores, but my colleagues said that they were warm and friendly. Winston’s leadership style was different. He went on to talk about more specific sales goals and ways to reach them.

Well, that speech didn’t help anyone warm up to him.

“Okay, everyone. Let’s get to work,” he finished. Everyone practically darted out of the room. I was about to join them when Winston’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Ms. Hensley, let’s go to my office. I want to talk to you alone.”

He pinned me with his gaze, watching me intently. I was a little breathless.

“Sure.”