woman.
Maybe he had underestimated Tessa. He should have told her who he was the moment she’d accused him—or rather accused the Bryant heir—of having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth and servants up his ass. They could have both had a good laugh. Maybe she would have gotten a little embarrassed, but then they could have moved on from there. But now, he was eyeball deep in a lie and he didn’t know how to peddle out of it.
On top of everything, the store was opening in two hours and he had yet to get to sleep. Good thing he kept a razor and a change of clothes in his office. Peggy would have his hide if she realized he’d worked all night. The woman was like a bloodhound when it came to sniffing out lies. Good thing he wasn’t dating Peggy.
The absurdity of that thought made him laugh out loud. He was obviously giddy from lack of sleep. Bryant’s on the Saturday after Thanksgiving on two hours sleep. It was going to be one hell of a day. He only hoped Santa Claus showed up for work today. That would be all he needed. Ho, ho, ho.
~ * ~
“Jesus, Jason. Did you sleep here all night?”
His dream of being wrapped in Tessa’s arms was rudely squelched by Peggy’s screech. He popped his head up off the desk and feigned alertness. “No, of course not.”
Peggy’s skeptical scowl came into view as his eyes focused. He let out a deep breath and gave in. “I worked all night, I only slept here for a couple of hours.”
She delivered a loud humph at his revelation. “You’re going to go home and get some decent sleep in a real bed.”
He shook his head. “I have to set up a meeting with the buyers about an idea for a vintage inspired line of clothing. I have to shuffle around the sales associates. I made some major changes last night. There’s a new department. I need to send out a memo to the marketing department and get signs made. Ads have to be run—” Jason halted when a large and strangely familiar looking male suddenly appeared in the doorway behind Peggy, dwarfing her.
At Jason’s frown, Peggy hooked a thumb behind her. “And you have to speak with Mr. December.”
Ahh, of course. He hadn’t recognized him with his clothes on. And then, through the haze of exhaustion, Jason realized that just hours before he’d had his tongue down Mr. December’s sister’s throat. He sat up a little straighter in his desk chair. This guy looked even bigger clothed and in person than he did shirtless in the calendar photo. Hmm. Maybe it was a good thing he’d been using a fake name to date his sister, although, how was big brother going to react to Jason’s lying?
Troy O’Donnell, AKA Mr. December came forward, arm extended. Jason’s heart thudded until he realized Troy was smiling and only wanted to shake hands.
The thought of shaking hands left Jason momentarily staring at the other man and wondering if the stomach virus that he’d been afflicted with yesterday was still contagious. Jason would have to risk it or offend him, so he shook warmly, vowing to wash with anti-bacterial soap at the soonest opportunity.
“Mr. Bryant, I have to apologize for yesterday,” Mr. December began.
Jason held up a hand to stop him. “Really, no apology necessary. We…uh…had no problem finding a last minute replacement.” He widened his eyes and shot Peggy a look that he hoped said to keep her mouth shut about who that replacement was.
Troy nodded. “I know. My sister was here and was very impressed by him.”
“Oh, was she?” Really? Well. Good to know. His heart beat a little faster at the mention of Tessa.
The fireman nodded. “Seems so. She went on a date with him last night. That’s the other reason I wanted to stop in, besides apologizing. I wanted to meet this guy and make sure he’s decent. You know, since it looks like my sister is going to be dating him. I thought maybe you could tell me about him.”
Jason swallowed. Not only did Tessa have an extremely huge weightlifter of a
Maybe he had underestimated Tessa. He should have told her who he was the moment she’d accused him—or rather accused the Bryant heir—of having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth and servants up his ass. They could have both had a good laugh. Maybe she would have gotten a little embarrassed, but then they could have moved on from there. But now, he was eyeball deep in a lie and he didn’t know how to peddle out of it.
On top of everything, the store was opening in two hours and he had yet to get to sleep. Good thing he kept a razor and a change of clothes in his office. Peggy would have his hide if she realized he’d worked all night. The woman was like a bloodhound when it came to sniffing out lies. Good thing he wasn’t dating Peggy.
The absurdity of that thought made him laugh out loud. He was obviously giddy from lack of sleep. Bryant’s on the Saturday after Thanksgiving on two hours sleep. It was going to be one hell of a day. He only hoped Santa Claus showed up for work today. That would be all he needed. Ho, ho, ho.
~ * ~
“Jesus, Jason. Did you sleep here all night?”
His dream of being wrapped in Tessa’s arms was rudely squelched by Peggy’s screech. He popped his head up off the desk and feigned alertness. “No, of course not.”
Peggy’s skeptical scowl came into view as his eyes focused. He let out a deep breath and gave in. “I worked all night, I only slept here for a couple of hours.”
She delivered a loud humph at his revelation. “You’re going to go home and get some decent sleep in a real bed.”
He shook his head. “I have to set up a meeting with the buyers about an idea for a vintage inspired line of clothing. I have to shuffle around the sales associates. I made some major changes last night. There’s a new department. I need to send out a memo to the marketing department and get signs made. Ads have to be run—” Jason halted when a large and strangely familiar looking male suddenly appeared in the doorway behind Peggy, dwarfing her.
At Jason’s frown, Peggy hooked a thumb behind her. “And you have to speak with Mr. December.”
Ahh, of course. He hadn’t recognized him with his clothes on. And then, through the haze of exhaustion, Jason realized that just hours before he’d had his tongue down Mr. December’s sister’s throat. He sat up a little straighter in his desk chair. This guy looked even bigger clothed and in person than he did shirtless in the calendar photo. Hmm. Maybe it was a good thing he’d been using a fake name to date his sister, although, how was big brother going to react to Jason’s lying?
Troy O’Donnell, AKA Mr. December came forward, arm extended. Jason’s heart thudded until he realized Troy was smiling and only wanted to shake hands.
The thought of shaking hands left Jason momentarily staring at the other man and wondering if the stomach virus that he’d been afflicted with yesterday was still contagious. Jason would have to risk it or offend him, so he shook warmly, vowing to wash with anti-bacterial soap at the soonest opportunity.
“Mr. Bryant, I have to apologize for yesterday,” Mr. December began.
Jason held up a hand to stop him. “Really, no apology necessary. We…uh…had no problem finding a last minute replacement.” He widened his eyes and shot Peggy a look that he hoped said to keep her mouth shut about who that replacement was.
Troy nodded. “I know. My sister was here and was very impressed by him.”
“Oh, was she?” Really? Well. Good to know. His heart beat a little faster at the mention of Tessa.
The fireman nodded. “Seems so. She went on a date with him last night. That’s the other reason I wanted to stop in, besides apologizing. I wanted to meet this guy and make sure he’s decent. You know, since it looks like my sister is going to be dating him. I thought maybe you could tell me about him.”
Jason swallowed. Not only did Tessa have an extremely huge weightlifter of a
Similar Books
