Page 6 of The Christmas Mistake

“You want to come back to mine for a drink?”

And then she says, “how about mine?”

2

CHASTITY

I can’t believe I’m standing in the snow on the sidewalk outside the office holding Nicholas’ hand as he calls a taxi. I can’t believe I get into an actual taxi with said man. I can’t believe we’re actually heading in the direction of my house.

I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Truly. I just wanted to talk to the guy when I spotted him at the party, that’s all. He looked so lonely standing there by Sharon’s weird punch that no one should be allowed to drink. He was like a lost puppy. A big, muscular, handsome puppy. I innocently – and naively - thought a few words with him wouldn’t hurt. Maybe he just needed a friend, I thought. Christmas is a time for joy, not for standing around looking doomy and glum like Mister Serious had been.

“He’s weird.”

That’s what Evie had said at the beginning of the night when we spotted Nicholas moping about at the fringes of the party.

“You’ve seen him about in the office. He’s got no real friends. He doesn’t talk. He doesn’t flirt with anyone. He just works on the numbers all day. What a weirdo.”

“But he is kinda handsome, don’t you think?” I asked my friend. “Kinda cute.”

Evie squinted her eyes at the lonely figure trying not to look disgusted at the punch he was drinking. “Maybe he is. In a dork sort of way.”

I gestured at the man. He still hadn’t noticed us staring at him from across the room. He might be handsome, but he was clueless. Like most men are. “He’s certainly no dork,” I replied. “Look at the size of those muscles on him. Those are some nice arms. I’ve never met a dork who clearly works out as much.”

My friend rolled her eyes at me. “Well, why don’t you just get into his pants if you fancy him so much, Chastity?”

Our coworker, Tom, then decided to stroll past us. It was perfect timing. Evie smiled at him dreamily. He winked back at her. Sparks were flying. I could tell my friend was horny and very much over this conversation.

“I wanna talk to him,” I said, still focusing on Nicholas standing all alone. “See what he’s about.”

“Go on right ahead,” Evie replied with a sigh. “It’ll be the most boring talk in your life, I bet. I’ll be over here having lots of fun with Tom.”

To be honest, I felt like a challenge. Something was compelling me to talk to Nicholas, and it wasn’t just the alcohol. His awkwardness standing there on his own was kinda cute. He’s been an enigma ever since he started a few weeks ago. Stony and cold. I want to peek inside his outer brick wall. Guys usually like chatting to me because I’m outgoing and bubbly, but not Nicholas. He’s different, and that makes me want him more. I’m not a gal to back away from a challenge. I was going to beat his aloofness.

Everyone around us was trying so hard to have a good time and somehow he was trying desperately for the exact opposite.

I poked my tongue at Evie and started to make my way across the office towards Sharon’s ungodly punch.

“You just gonna watch?” I asked him.

And now I’m standing outside my front door in the freezing cold fishing for my keys inside my purse to let Nicholas Carter into my house for some freaking reason.

Your never-satiated horniness, Chastity. That’s why he’s here.

“You need help?” he asks, bending over my shoulder to look inside my purse as I struggle.

God, the man is really damn tall. It turns me on. Is it weird that I want to wrap my legs around his chest and ride his tall frame like a bike?

Dirty, dirty girl.

I’m beginning to realize that the cold snow and the alcohol is a really dangerous mix for me. My head is spinning in circles and I need to sit down.

“I’m alright,” I mutter before pulling my keys out of the purse and then accidentally dropping them into the soft snow.

We both reach down at the same time to pick them up when we bump heads. I feel a quick burst of pain before I completely lose my balance and fall head-first into the snow.

Cold, cold, cold.

I’m such a flipping idiot.