Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 30858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
“Marriages are meant to be monogamous, Nicholas…” I tried to make him come to his senses. “You’re not the settling-down type…”
“I haven’t had much of a dating life since you, Jenna,” he said. “Last I checked, neither have you. And for the record, I would never fucking cheat on you.”
“I don’t want anyone else,” he continued, answering my next escape clause before I could say it. “You’re my wife-to-be, and I want you to stay that way long after we make it official, if you’ll say yes to staying married to me.”
I stared at him, my mind racing a mile a minute, the words choked back in my throat.
He exhaled slowly, like he was bracing himself. “I should probably re-propose, right?”
I nodded, and he got down on one knee. Then, after clasping my hand, he pulled a glittering gold envelope from his breast pocket.
“Jenna Dawson, I have a lot to say to you, but I figured given our history, this is probably the best way to handle this.” His gaze held mine, unyielding. “Will you do me the pleasure of giving me the top thing on my wish list?”
“Depends.” I nodded as tears fell past my cheeks. “Are you going to correct your mistake from earlier this month and put me on the nice list?”
“You know better than to ask me that.”
“My answer hinges on whether you put me on there or not.”
His low laughter sent fluttering butterflies against my stomach, and he gently opened the envelope, showing me the card.
Dear Jenna Dawson,
I made a list and checked it twice,
to determine if you were naughty or nice…
You are (still)
NAUGHTY.
But I can make an exception just this once if you say yes to marrying me…
Please say yes.
“Yes.” I laughed as he stood up. He pulled me against his chest, and kissed me—sealing the deal on this being the best Christmas I’d ever had…
THE END
EPILOGUE
JENNA
Eleven Months Later
Sunlight filtered through our penthouse windows, catching on the twinkle of Christmas lights and the faint scent of pine.
I rolled over in bed and noticed Nicholas wasn’t there.
Confused, I closed my robe and put on my slippers, heading into the hall. My hand brushed over the freshly wrapped garland on the railing, and I smiled—because this time, the decorations weren’t for appearances. They were for us.
I started down the steps, still smiling—until the living room came into view and I stopped short, confronted by hundreds of red and green boxes stacked high.
What the…
There was barely a path between the stacks.
I squeezed by them, spotting a delivery driver setting down a final stack by the doorway.
“Happy holidays, Mrs. Saint.”
My heart fluttered at the sound of my married name. The words still felt new—strange and perfect all at once.
“Happy holidays.”
Before I could ask him what the hell this order was for, Nicholas wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“You’re up early.” He pressed a kiss against my neck—darting his tongue against my skin in a way that made it clear we wouldn’t be standing for much longer. “Something wrong?”
“No.” I shook my head as he released me. “What are all these boxes for?”
“Gifts for all the employees,” he said, “courtesy of this year’s naughty and nice lists.”
“I thought you said you were done with the list idea,” I said. “You were going to finally be a normal CEO and just give out bonuses via paycheck.”
“I have never said that.” He smiled at me. “And since you don’t work for me anymore, it saddens me to let you know that I’m leaning toward placing you on the naughty list again,” he said, his smile already giving him away.
“Then make sure there’s room for two.”
“I’m not placing myself on there,” he said. “That ruins the entire premise.”
“I’m pregnant,” I said softly, my hand instinctively pressing to my stomach.
He blinked.
For a moment, everything stilled. The only sounds around us were the faint hisses and crackles from the fireplace.
“I was planning to reveal it to you on Christmas, but now that I know I’m on the naughty list, I might as well give you a good reason to put me on there.” I picked up one of the boxes. “Should I go ahead and—”
His lips met mine before I could finish my sentence.
“How far along are you?” he whispered against my lips.
“I’m only six weeks.”
“I’ll make an exception for you this year.” He kissed me again, untying my robe, his hands warm and familiar against my skin. “Especially after the year you’ve had with me.”
“You’ll get to be on the nice list for the first time ever.”
“I should’ve been the first person on there this time, Nicholas.”
His smile turned slow and knowing.
“We’ll see,” he said softly. “I haven’t finished reviewing your behavior this year.”
THE END—AGAIN.