Page 23 of Hot Mess Christmas Express

Sienna let out a low laugh. Bob had given her job to Scott. She should have known. He’d been looking for a way to get him into the company for a long time, and Caleb had handed him an excuse on a silver platter. She couldn’t hold that against him too much.

Flicking her eyes to his, her heart softened. The remorse and heartache in them were clear as day. Caleb was obviously hurting just as much as she was.

“Starting Monday, Savannah Premier Plastic Surgery will no longer be doing business with Cosmas.”

“Can you do that?”

“I can. There are other drug companies out there who will be more than happy to have the business. I won’t work with people who are shady like that.”

Sienna’s heart squeezed. The fact that he would change one of his major vendors because of how they treated her told her just how sorry he was and that he knew just how badly he’d acted. Her insides melted a little more.

“I appreciate it,” she said, trying to keep her voice even. “But you can’t make a business decision based on a holiday fling.”

“I’m not doing anything based on a holiday fling.”

“Caleb…”

“Sienna, listen to me,” he pleaded. “Two years ago I met this insanely beautiful girl, who had this wild multicolored hair. But I was an idiot and let her get away. Then, a week ago, I got a second chance and was an even bigger idiot and pushed her away. Now I’m just hoping she’ll give me one last shot to prove to her that my feelings for her are very, very real and that I want nothing more than to be with her.”

Tears pricked at Sienna’s eyes, and she blinked rapidly to keep them from falling.

“I need to know that you trust me.”

“I do trust you; I’m just obviously shit at showing it. But that’s my failing, Sienna, not yours. Consider it my New Year’s resolution to not always assume the worst. And, if you’ll have me, you’re the only person I want by my side while I try to figure out how.”

“But why me? I’m a hot mess, Caleb. I can’t do anything right, and now I don’t have a job.”

“Sienna, I told you. You’re not a hot mess. You’re just hot,” he said, stepping into her and placing his hands on her hips. Her heart leapt, the feel of his hands on her comforting. “But you’re also smart, caring, funny, kind…I could go on and on. You light up my life in a way I can’t put into words, and you make me want to be better. As for the other stuff, we'll figure it out, together. Because that’s what people who love each other do.”

“Love?” she choked.

She knew that she’d been feeling it but had convinced herself she was crazy. You didn’t fall in love with someone in a week.

“I know it sounds insane. But I love you, Sienna.”

Caleb placed his forehead against hers. Tears broke through, slipping down her cheeks. He loved her. And she loved him right back.

“I love you too, Caleb.”

“Good,” he whispered, pulling her into him. “Because the clock on that wall says it’s about to be midnight, and there’s only one person I want to be kissing this next year. And every year after that.”