Page 59 of Claiming Her Cougar
The office Christmas party is brunch held at a local country club.It’s the Friday before Christmas, and after giving the valet my keys, I approach the door of the club.Nervously, I tug on the hem of my sweater.I’ve seen other folks wearing their ugly sweaters, but I worry my sweater is exceptionally ugly.Oh well, I love it.
“I’ll take your coat, miss,” the coat check clerk offers.Smiling at her, I remove my green wool peacoat and hand it to her.
“Wow!I love your sweater!”Her eyes have gone as wide as her smile.
“Thanks,” I say, taking the claim ticket.“I hope I don’t ruin anyone’s appetite.”
I’m wearing a black knee-length pencil skirt and a white blouse under my sweater, so if I’ve really missed the mark, I can take off the sweater and still look presentable.Taking a deep breath, I approach the dining room.Will, Mike, and their spouses are near the threshold, along with other members of the senior staff.I don’t see Liam—not that I was looking for him.
Faith spots me first and gives a squeal of excitement.
“Oh my goodness, Mallory, look at you!Where did you get your sweater?”
Her exclamation has caused others to turn my way.I rock uncomfortably on my black heels.
“My Nana knit it for me.She made sweaters for all the grandkids to wear for Christmas, and this is mine.”
“Holly, check this out!Holly knits, but I don’t think she’s ever done anything like this,” Faith says.
Holly runs over, mimosa in hand.“Wow, that’s incredible!Turn around, Mallory.”
I do a slow turn, feeling self-conscious.
“The detail is incredible!May I?”Molly reaches out a hand as if to pet my sweater.
I nod.
She gently strokes my arm.“I love how there’s Fun Fur and actual googly eyes sewn on.She’s captured Gritty perfectly!”
Yes, I’m wearing a handmade Gritty ugly Christmas sweater for my company’s holiday brunch.Nana found just the right shade of Flyers’ orange yarn at her favorite shop and knit me a Gritty-themed sweater, complete with orange Fun Fur for his face and the bottom of the sleeves.She even added plastic googly eyes that shake and wobble with every move I make.The saving grace is that the eyes aren’t where my nipples are.That would be a bridge too far, even for me.It’s hideous, but I love it, and my Nana is the best Nana in the whole wide world.
More people have wandered over to check out my sweater.It has its admirers, and, for some, the ridiculousness is the attraction.I feel awkward being the center of attention like this.I knew Gritty would get a reaction, but nothing like this.
“You and Liam will have to pose together, and we’ll tag Gritty and the Flyers when we post it on the company’s social media,” Daphne says, handing me a much-needed mimosa of my own and giving me a hug.
“What?Why?”I ask.This is a work function, not the senior prom.Liam and I do not need to pose for pictures together.
“Logan, check out Mallory’s sweater!”Daphne calls, looking over my shoulder and waving someone over.
“Hey, Mallory.”Logan leans in to kiss my cheek.
“Wow!That’s incredible.Puts my light-up cactus sweater to shame,” he says with a laugh.
Liam joins us.Oh no.He’s wearing a Flyers sweater too.His sweater straddles the line between gaudy and classic, unlike mine that never saw the classic line as it zoomed straight to gaudyville.It’s orange and black, the Flyers team colors, just like mine, but where I’m Fun Fur and googly eyes, he’s intricate stitching marrying a classic Nordic snowflake design with the stylized “P” of the Flyers’ logo.It spans his broad shoulders, and the hem falls at his narrow waist, accentuating his athletic build.He’s rolled the cuffs of his black button-down dress shirt over the pulled-up sleeves of his sweater, like he’s a freaking male model.I wonder how absorbent the yarn Nana used is because I’m fairly certain I’m drooling.
“Great sweater!I can’t believe we coordinate.That’s crazy.”Liam gives me a one-armed hug in greeting.His hand lingers at my waist and gives a slight squeeze.The heat in his eyes as he gazes down at me makes my breath catch.That is not a “nice sweater, coworker” look; it’s a “I want to strip you naked and do sexy, naughty things with you” look.I glance around to see if anyone noticed, but everyone’s hugging each other, so it’s unremarkable.
“Too crazy,” I agree.I think his sweater was knit from magical unicorn fur full of pheromones because all I want to do is drag this man to the coat closet, rip his sweater off him, and have my way with him.
“Our table is over here,” Daphne says, grabbing my arm and leading me to a table close to the bank of windows overlooking the golf course.I’m seated between Daphne and Liam.Logan’s on Daphne’s other side.Miller joins us, as does our coworker Ben, introducing me to his lovely wife, Heather.
“Another hockey fan!”Ben says, checking out my sweater.“I knew I liked you.”
Laughing, I reply, “What’s not to love?”
“Do you play or just watch?”Ben asks.I’m surprised.No one ever asks if I play.
“I played some when I was younger, but just with my siblings, not on a team.My younger brother did travel hockey when he was a kid.How about you?”
