Donna Hill - Mistletoe, Baby

Ian returned with her drink.

“Thank you.”

Ian’s voice rose above the hum of conversation. “Can I have everyone’s attention for a moment?”

By degrees the room quieted and the guests all turned in his direction.

“What are you doing?” Alexis whispered through clenched teeth that doubled as a smile.

He gave her a long, stirring look and her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. Her face heated.

“I want to make a toast to the most brilliant, beautiful, decent woman that I know. Her departure is going to leave a big gap here at Atlanta College and a bigger one in my heart.” He pressed his hand dramatically on his chest.

There was a collective gasp of wide-eyed surprise for some and a “knew it all along” expression on the faces of a few.

Ian turned to her with a smile that could steal her heart if she let it. For a moment she doubted her decision. He raised his glass and the rest of the guests did the same. “To Alexis. Wishing you much success and happiness, and here’s hoping that you take a big bite out of the Big Apple. Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

Alexis mouthed her thank-yous and sipped from her glass.

“I meant what I said.”

Alexis gazed up at him. “Ian...”

They were mere inches apart. Their voices were low and intimate.

“No need to take it any further. I wanted you to know that what I feel for you isn’t only in the bedroom.” He grinned. “I’m not going to lie and tell you I’ll wait but I will say that I’m not in a hurry to look.”

She pushed out a breath. “You are determined not to make this easy for me.”

“When has anything between us been easy?”

She lifted her glass. “Touché.”

* * *

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there for your send-off.”

Alexis adjusted the phone between her ear and shoulder while she put the last few items in her suitcase. “Naomi, the last place I expected you to be was at my going-away party.”

“I know but still. You came to see me last week.”

“That’s different. You just had a baby last week. And I had to see my brand-new goddaughter before I left and make sure my bestie was all right.”

“I’m exhausted and achy but every time I look at April my heart swells. I still can’t believe that she’s here and she’s mine and Brice’s.”

Alexis listened to the awe and joy in her friend’s voice. She was happy for Naomi and Brice. The two friends still laughed about how Naomi and Brice had met in Antigua—the trip that Alexis was supposed to go on with her and didn’t—with Naomi pretending to be someone else the entire time, only for Brice to wind up in Naomi’s classroom when she returned to her real life as a professor at Atlanta College. Ever since Naomi had married Brice and moved away, and continued to regale her with the wonders of marriage and now motherhood, she found herself wondering if she would ever find that kind of happiness, that all-consuming love that lit up a room. Every now and again she thought it might be Ian, but that spark never quite reached that level of intensity.

On the other hand, there was never a shortage of men in Alexis’s life. If anything there was always a surplus with one in the wings. Things slowed down when Ian moved into the picture. But...

“You call me when you get to New York,” Naomi was saying.

Alexis blinked back to the moment. “Of course. As soon as I touch down. Not sure when I’m going to get back to see you and my goddaughter.”

“Don’t worry about us. You just go to New York and kick ass.”

Alexis chuckled. “I plan to. Listen, give my baby a kiss and one for Brice, too.”

“Gonna miss you, girl.”

“Same here. But that’s why we have planes and Skype and FaceTime.”

They laughed.

“True.”

Alexis could hear the baby crying in the background. “Go take care of April. I’ll call you.”

“Safe travels, sis.”

“Thanks.”

“Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Alexis hung up the phone with a soft sigh. She looked around her bedroom. She’d had some pretty happy times in here, she mused wryly. She zipped up her last suitcase just as a car horn honked out front.

She walked to the window facing the street and pulled the curtain aside. Her cab was out front. Thankfully, she’d shipped the majority of her belongings a week ago, leaving her with only one suitcase, her carry-on and her purse. She checked to make sure she had her ID, credit cards, cell phone and laptop. She took one last look around, turned off the lights, grabbed her bags and left her old life behind.

Chapter 2

Alexis had to give props to R.E.A.L. The organization—Realize Excellence Achievement Leadership—had arranged to have her furniture and clothing moved, they’d found her an apartment in New York and they’d gotten her a first-class ticket. She could easily get used to this kind of treatment.

The moment she stepped off the airplane and into the JFK terminal she could feel the energy that always seemed to hum beneath the surface in New York. It was hard to explain to anyone who had not experienced it, but it was similar to turning up the volume on your life or walking into a dark room and someone flipping on the bright lights.

She rode along with the other arriving passengers on the down escalator to baggage claim. As soon as she stepped off of the escalator she was stunned to see a navy blue suited young man holding up a sign with her name on it. She grinned. R.E.A.L. was pulling out all of the stops. She was totally impressed.

She walked up to the driver.

“Hi, I’m Alexis Montgomery.”

“Ms. Montgomery.” He gave a short nod. “Michael. I’m your driver. I’ll help you with your bags and then I’ll go and get the car.”

“Great. Hopefully it won’t take too long.” She headed in the direction of carousel three with Michael at her side.

“How was your flight?”

“Very nice, thanks to a first-class ticket. The organization treats its employees very well.”

They stopped in front of the carousel that had already begun to fill with luggage.

“Yes, it does.”

Shortly her bags came around on the belt. Michael took them and walked to the exit. “If you wouldn’t mind waiting a moment, I’ll bring the car.”

“I can walk with you to the car.”

“No worries. I’ll be right back.”

She inwardly shrugged. Fine with me. She walked over to a nearby bench, sat down and watched arriving travelers run into the arms of waiting loved ones. She experienced a momentary twinge of melancholy, knowing there were no open arms to greet her, just a furnished apartment in an unfamiliar city. She sniffed, opened her purse in search of her cigarettes and then remembered that she’d recently quit and suddenly wished that she hadn’t and took out a stick of gum instead. She glanced around, took in the sights and sounds. Although it was early May, it was a balmy seventy-five degrees. Almost like home, she thought.

Just then a black Lincoln pulled up in front of her and Michael quickly got out. He reached for her carry-on and opened the passenger door. Alexis slid into the roomy interior and gasped in alarm.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. Please. Sit.”

Alexis’s pulse raced. She settled herself opposite her surprise guest.

“Graham Stone.” He extended his hand.

Her eyes widened. “Graham Stone, CEO of R.E.A.L.?” Her hand, of its own volition, found its way into his. His long fingers wrapped around her hand and it was as if he’d cut off the oxygen to her brain.

He grinned and even in the dim interior she could see his eyes sparkle. Her stomach fluttered. She pressed her knees together to silence the lady that had jumped up and started to purr.