Claiming His Christmas Tree Topper

“Wait, this is your room?” I look to Dasher, and he gives me one of his signature nods. There are a million rooms in this house, and he gave me his bed. Where the hell did he sleep? I don’t know if that’s strange or sweet.

“Can I wear those?” Rae runs over toward my bag and picks up my reindeer headband. Before I can answer her she’s putting them on her head and asking another question. “Does this mean you’re moving in? Are you guys getting married?” Her eyes are round as she stares at my two bags. I guess it is a lot of stuff.

“I’m only staying a few days because of the snow.”

Her shoulders drop in disappointment. “Uncle Dasher, you should marry her, and then she’ll have to stay.”

“Kidnapping?” Dasher asks like he’s considering the idea. It makes her giggle so it’s pretty cute.

“I’ll ask Santa for it.” She tilts that little chin of hers up. “He’s always good at coming through.”

“Rae! I thought we were making cookies for—” Jillian’s voice trails off when she sees us all standing in Dasher’s bedroom. Her eyes bounce from me to the bags to her brother before she lifts her eyebrows high.

“It’s not what you think,” I blurt out.

“It might be too late to let Santa know what you want, Rae. It’s Christmas Eve already.”

“Ahh.” Her bottom lip puffs out.

“I bet I can find an email.” Dasher holds his hand out for Rae to take.

I glare at him because he’s not helping. He winks at me before he and Rae are off.

“You and my brother?” Jillian asks once they are out of earshot.

“No! The snow was bad, and he cut his hand. Then before I knew what was happening, I’m here, and honestly your brother can be like a bulldozer,” I blurt out in one long messy breath, and she stares at me for a long moment.

“You’re right, and that’s why you should be careful. I love my brother, but I’ve never seen someone get so—” She searches for a word. “Passionate. Yes, when he has his sights set on something, that something is done for. He will stop at nothing until he gets it and then—” She trails off. “I just want you to be careful. I know what you’re in for if you go down this path.” With those strangely cryptic words, she leaves me alone in his bedroom.

Ten

DASHER

The only way I could describe the day would be “perfect.” I follow Eve around as she puts the finishing touches on the house and gets everything ready for the party. Tomorrow is Christmas, but we’ve invited close friends and family to celebrate, and I want it to be perfect. I also want Eve to be here, and I’m doing everything in my damn power to make sure that happens.

As she works, I make sure food is brought to her, and I ask questions about her work. I can’t get enough from her, and I absorb every little detail. It’s all I can do not to kneel down and propose to her every time she smiles.

I’ve never been so far gone about anything before, no matter what my sister told Eve. I stayed close as I heard them talk, and I have to agree with Eve. I am like a bulldozer, but only when it comes to her. Maybe I’ve been that way with business, but the women I’ve had a few dates with in the past have a hard time getting a single detail about my life. It’s why Nina befriended, Jillian only to get closer to me.

Eve went to get ready a few minutes ago, and I wait at the bottom of the stairs for her. I know I can’t go with her to the party, but I plan on meeting Penelope there. I had my assistant Tori send a message to her last night confirming that I would meet her at the Mills’. Rich is a complete asshole, and if I’m not there with an invited guest there’s no way he’s letting me stay.

It’s not too long later that I hear movement at the top of the stairs. I know it’s Eve, but I can’t decide if her getting ready quickly means that she wasn’t planning on dressing up for the event, or she just gets ready fast. I have to know if she’s going as a date or as an employee. She never gave me a straight answer when I asked her earlier today.

When I see her dressed in a red dress that’s the color of a poinsettia, my heart stops. It’s cut across her collarbone and tight all the way down past her knees. It’s like something out of a fifties catalogue and I want to run my hands all over it. She looks effortless and graceful, but just as I have the thought, her heel catches in the carpet and she comes flying into my arms.