Page 58 of The Naughty List

“I was watching the interviews on camera. You were too tempting to be my receptionist. So I messaged Elaine and told her to say the position had been filled. Then seeing you up close…in person…” He pauses, shrugging and lowering his gaze. “I couldn’t let you go. I happened to have the dogs with me that day in the office and it was all I could come up with on the spot.”

I eye him warily to determine if he’s telling the truth. No nervous tics of any kind. It appears that he is.

“So what now?” I ask quietly.

“What do you want now?”

I am not prepared to answer that. I focus on the short-term.

“I want you to come inside, eat dinner, and play charades with my family.”

His expression turns pained. “Seriously? Charades?”

I step closer and peer up at him from under my eyelashes. “You really hurt my feelings, Jonah. My sensitive little feelings. After taking my virginity.”

“Oh, you’re playing that card? Really?”

I shrug. “My dad taught me to work with what I got.”

“And you’ll really forgive me if I play charades?”

“It will be a start.”

Jonah shakes his head and holds his hand out to me. “In that case, lead the way.

17

JONAH

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

Seeing Hollis in her natural habitat is hazardous to my health.

She’s vibrant, beaming while introducing me to everyone. Her brothers I’ve met, but now there are her mom, dad, and the infamous Addison.

After some invasive sniffing of Hollis’s mom’s Yorkie and Addison’s Terrier, Achilles makes himself right at home by the fireplace. The whole group is gathered, drinking spiked eggnog and playing the most competitive game of charades I’ve ever witnessed.

It’s like I’ve walked onto the set of a family sitcom, but there are quite a few more curse words flying around than the FCC would allow on TV.

I nod and smile and do my best to participate in the conversations they engage me in, but some part of me remains at a distance.

This is what I wanted my entire life.

Family.

A Home.

Somewhere to belong.

But witnessing it like this stings—reopening an old wound I try to keep closed.

I was never worthy of this and the universe knew it.

Hollis makes eye contact while acting out whatever is on the slip of paper she drew from her the upside down Santa hat. I smile to put her at ease. She’s worried. She knows this is difficult for me. I’m not even in the same zipcode as my comfort zone right now.

I’m so enthralled watching Hollis act out what I think is maybe a reindeer, I don’t notice Addison approaching until she’s standing right beside me.

“She loves the holidays,” she says quietly.