Page 20 of Christian Clause

“Hope, are you all right? You look flushed.”

Forcing a bright smile on my face, I reply, “I’m fine. I guess I’m just happy.”

Debra returns my smile. “Me, too.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Christian and his female companion rising from the table.

I heave a sigh of relief, which immediately turns to panic when I realize that he’s coming this way.

His viral masculine scent hits my nose before he surfaces beside me. My heart nearly jumps out from my chest from throbbing.

“Hello, Hope.”

Pasting the fakest smile in history on my face, I lift it. “Mr. Clause.”

His penetrating gaze smolders me again and leaves me in awe of his commanding presence.

“This is Katherine, an old friend of mine,” he says, even though I’m not interested in meeting the beautiful woman.

Old friend, my foot! The way the woman looks at him with seductive blue eyes tells me they’re more than friends.

He turns to the woman. “This is Hope, my PA”

I smile at the woman and wish I didn’t as her smile is frosty. I stare at Christian until Debra clears her throat.

“Oh. This is my sister, Debra.” I don’t know why but I add, “The one I told you about.”

I guess I want to make it look like Christian and I have shared many conversations. I smile with satisfaction when the red-haired woman eyes widen a little. I feel petty for doing that. She’s the one leaving with Christian to God knows where.

Christian and Debra exchange pleasantries.

“See you on Monday,” Christian says before departing with Katherine.

I nod because I can’t help wondering if he’s taking his female companion to his house or dropping her off at her place.

And why is that my business?

“Wow. Talk about sex in human form.”

“Debra!” I exclaim with startled laughter, happy that she doesn’t notice how jealous I am.

She shrugs. “It’s the truth. The fact that I’m married to a man I love doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate other men. I have seen him on several occasions from afar, at Christmas parties or meetings, but this is the first time he has been this close.”

Happy she doesn’t notice my ruined mood, I force the food down my throat.

Later, we decide to see a movie before going home. I enjoy my time with my sister, but thoughts of Christian and Katherine are never far from my mind.

Chapter Ten

Christian

Laughter bubbles from my throat at yet another joke told by my friends. It is always fun and jokes whenever I hang out with my friends. I reach out and take my tumbler of whiskey from the table filled with an assortment of expensive drinks. I’m not much of a drinker, but whenever I’m around my friends, I can’t help indulging. I take a sip of my drink as my eyes travel around the exclusive club. My friends and I usually come here to relax after long weeks of tedious work.

We like the club because of its exquisite settings and the fact that it offers the utmost privacy. Entrance is only by reservation. Bouncers are placed at strategic positions in the place for troublemakers, although nothing of that sort has ever happened. Only wealthy people can afford the services of the exclusive club.

The leather chairs are arranged in booth style with dim and colorful lights above every corner. Expensive paintings hang on the walls. Smartly dressed waitresses attend to the patrons while jazzy music plays from loudspeakers. Sometimes, a live band entertains the patrons.

My friends and I have known each other since our college days. Tall, blond-haired and blue-eyed Hudson is in the restaurant business, while dark-brown-haired Wayne with honey brown eyes is into hotels and real estate. Tyler is the only odd one out. He’s the only professional among us, a successful surgeon. He is also the quietest of the bunch with black hair and green eyes.

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