The Billionaire's First Christmas - Contemporary Romance by Holly Rayner Page A

and picked up the
plate of cookies. I was about to dump them in the wastebasket when
the scent assaulted my senses again. I set the plate back down and
sat myself down behind my desk. I suppose she wasn’t going to know
the difference if I ate them or not, so tasting one wouldn’t be
encouraging her behavior. Besides, although it was slightly
annoying, it was a nice thought. I knew that she had something to
do with the change in the way I’d been feeling about my life
lately, I just wasn’t sure what.
     
    I picked up one of the cookies and
took a bite. I hated to admit it, but it was delicious. I ate the
whole thing. Then, I poured myself a cup of coffee and went back
for the other two. By the time I finished my coffee and all three
cookies, I was feeling so much better. It was amazing what a little
sugar and caffeine could do. I was still unwilling to admit that my
feelings for Robyn had anything to do with my sudden change of
attitude.
     
    Curiosity overcame me and I reached
for the note again. This time I actually read it:
     
     
    Aaron,
     
    Here’s hoping that a
little sugar and a lot of Christmas cheer can chase your stress
away. Happy Monday!
     
    Robyn
     
    P.S. I have a dinner party
to attend on Thursday night with a group of my friends. We do it
every year at the Lighthouse Inn and I would love it if you could
join me. We’ll be there at eight. I’ll just expect you…whether you
respond or not. I won’t take no for an answer.
     
     
    Okay, she was right about the sugar.
It didn’t matter to me that they were Christmas cookies though. It
was the ingredients that had worked, not the decoration. I wasn’t
going to believe she’d baked Christmas spirit into them.
     
    She’d invited me out on a date, I
would assume. That was nice of her, but the part about her assuming
that I would just show up; that bothered me. What made her assume
such a thing? Was it the kiss? Had I given her the idea that we
were something we’re not? I leaned my elbows on the desk and put my
head in my hands. What had I done? I didn’t normally do this. I
never set a woman up to get her heart broken right before I left on
my Christmas trip. I never set them up period. I always told them
straight out what I was looking for. It was always temporary. Why
was Robyn so different?
     

 
     
    ROBYN
     
     
    I went by the mall on my way home from
work on Wednesday evening and bought a new dress. I wanted to look
great for dinner Thursday night, especially since I hadn’t heard
from Aaron. I hadn’t been convinced that he would agree to go, but
since I hadn’t heard from him and it was already Wednesday night, I
thought that was a good sign. I thought he was enough of a
gentleman that he would have surely called if the answer was no. I
couldn’t imagine him just not showing up. I walked around and
listened to the Christmas music and looked at all the pretty
decorations. I got some ideas for my own tree from the one in the
center of the mall and while I was there, I bought some more
Christmas decorations. I enjoyed seeing everyone out, looking happy
and excited that the season was finally upon us. I went home with a
warm, happy feeling in my heart.
     
    I left work early on Thursday with
Max’s blessing. I had a ton of vacation time saved up and he was
more than willing to let me use it here and there before the
holidays. I went straight home and started getting ready. I took a
long, hot bubble bath first. It felt so good to soak in the warm,
soft bubbles when the weather was so harsh and cold outside. I
loved the snow, but I loved it even more from the warmth of my own
home.
     
    When I got out of the tub, I slipped
on my robe and I put my hair in hot rollers. Afterwards, I applied
my make-up carefully and then I slipped on my new dress. It was a
light green pleated chiffon gown with beaded back bodice and it was
sleeveless with beads that went across the shoulders. It had an
A-line skirt that ended just below the knee. I had the