Page 15 of Wrapped Up with the Three Scrooges

“I’m staying at the Extended Stay on Fifth,” I said once we were settled in his ridiculously nice car. I was trying to sound casual and probably failing miserably.

“We’re not going there.” He pulled out of the parking lot, turning in the wrong direction.

I gripped the edge of my seat and really hoped I wasn’t about to end up on a true crime podcast. “Where are we going then?”

“You’ll see.” His grin was equal parts mischievous and reassuring, which somehow made me more nervous.

“You know, if you’re planning to murder me, there are probably easier ways than...” I glanced at the passing street signs, trying to figure out where he was taking me. “Whatever this is.”

He laughed, the rich sound filling the car and setting off a strange, fluttery sensation in my stomach that I was going to try my hardest to ignore. “If I was going to murder you, I wouldn’t do it while wearing my favorite sweater. Blood’s impossible to get out of cashmere.” He plucked at the soft black material with his free hand, and I tried not to stare at the way it hugged his shoulders.

“Ah, a practical serial killer. Good to know.”

“I prefer the term ‘discerning psychopath,’ thank you very much.” He winked at me and my pulse stuttered. “We’re going to the mall.”

“The mall?” I straightened in my seat. Shopping was my happy place, but not when I had no money.

He changed lanes smoothly, his profile illuminated by the glow from the dashboard. “Consider it phase two of Operation Save Christmas. This morning was phase one: basic survival needs. Food and transportation.” He ticked them off on his fingers. “Phase two is essential supplies.”

“Levi, I can’t-”

“Let me finish,” he cut me off gently. “That asshole donated your winter clothes, right? It’s December and you need a warm coat at minimum.”

“I appreciate the thought, but I really can’t afford it.”

“Who said anything about you paying?” He shot me a look that was both challenging and tender. “Consider it a Christmas bonus.”

“That’s too much.” My throat felt tight. “You’ve already done so much today.”

“Em.” The way my nickname sounded coming from his lips sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the temperature. “You used your own funds to decorate our break room, you showed up to work despite everything, and you haven’t complained once. Let me do this.”

I stared out the window, trying to swallow past the lump in my throat. “People are already talking.”

“Let them talk.” His hand found mine across the console, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Maybe they’ll get creative and come up with something actually interesting instead of the usual office gossip.”

Despite myself, I laughed. “Like what? Secret government agents? Alien conspiracies? I have a nifty tinfoil hat I could wear tomorrow.”

“Now we’re talking.” He grinned but didn’t let go of my hand. “Though personally, I’m hoping for treasure-hunting pirates who can’t decide if they want to duel or date.”

“Naturally.” I rolled my eyes but couldn’t fight my smile. “Because that’s so much more believable than ‘boss helps freezing employee buy a coat.’”

“Where’s your sense of adventure, Christmas Spirit?” He pulled into the mall parking lot, finally releasing my hand to navigate through the traffic. “Besides, who says it can’t be both?”

My heart thundered in my chest as Levi parked the car, his last words hanging in the air between us. When he turned to look at me, the same magnetic pull from this morning returned full force, and I leaned slightly toward him without conscious thought.

What did he mean by that? Both helping and... something else? The way he was looking at me definitely suggested something else.

“I should...” I fumbled for the door handle, practically falling out of the car in my haste to escape before I did somethingmonumentally stupid. Like grab him by that ridiculously soft sweater and find out if his lips were as soft as they looked.

What was wrong with me? Here I was barely over a week single, fantasizing about kissing my boss. Talk about out of the sleigh and into the reindeer stampede.

When I dared to glance at Levi as he got out of the car, there was a flash of disappointment on his face before he masked it with an easy smile. Great, now I felt like a dick.

“Is Nordstrom okay?” His hand brushed against mine as we walked toward the mall entrance. The contact, however brief, sent little sparks of electricity up my arm.

“That’s a bit...” Expensive? Fancy? Way out of my comfort zone? “Much?”

He chuckled, his fingers grazing my wrist as we passed through the automatic doors. The warmth of the mall hit me like a wave, making me realize just how cold I’d been.

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