All I Want For Christmas: A Sweet Serenade Christmas Novella Read Online Free

for their floor, and the elevator vibrated into motion. He smiled at her. “Did you have a nice weekend?”
    “I went Christmas shopping.” Her voice came out a little breathy.
    “Better you than me. I hate Christmas shopping.”
    “It can be fun if you don’t leave it to the last minute.”
    “I’ll have to take your word for it. Say, I’m going to a houseboat party on Friday. Want to come? It’ll be low key with just a few friends.”
    “I don’t know…”
    He leaned toward her. “I’d really like you to be there.”
    She eased backward, fetching against the elevator wall. “Thanks for the invitation, but I’m not sure...”
    “Please?” He was close to her again, somehow.
    The elevator pinged at their floor, but as it shuddered to a stop, she couldn’t seem to move.
    “Say you will.”
    She was drowning in ice blue eyes. “I will?”
    “Thanks. You won’t regret it.” The door opened, and he glanced past her, then dropped a kiss on her lips.
    Hailey went still from surprise. The kiss could have been pleasant if she’d been in any way ready for it and if it had happened in a better time or place. Putting her hands against his chest, she shoved him away from her.
    Someone cleared her throat, and he broke the contact. Hailey dragged her eyes from Corey’s and looked straight into Evangeline’s narrowed eyes. Corey marched them both out of the elevator, holding her like a shield before him.
    “You’re a jerk.” Evangeline’s voice dripped venom as she glared first at Corey, then Hailey. “And you’re welcome to him.” She swept past them, and the elevator doors thudded shut behind her.
    Hailey stepped out of Corey’s arms and tried to pull her arm free of his grip. “Let…go…of me.”
    “Hailey, wait a minute, will you?”
    “Why should I?”
    “Because I want to talk to you.”
    “I don’t like being used.”
    “It wasn’t like that.” 
    “Oh, really?”
    His mouth opened but as footsteps rang in the hall, he closed it again, releasing her so quickly she stumbled. Heat crawled up her neck and flamed into her cheeks. Kelsey passed by them with a nod and a slight smile. He wasn’t scowling today, and that was a relief. At G. W. Brown, Incorporated, employees weren’t supposed to become involved with co-workers. Of course, several office romances had already flown in the face of that rule.
    Corey pulled her down the hall toward the information technology department, where his office was located.
    “Stop that.” She put on the brakes.
    “I’m just trying to find somewhere more private to talk.” He hissed near her ear.
    “I need to get back to work. Can’t we shelf this until later?”
    “All right.” He let her go. “Meet me for break?”
    “When?”
    “Say, two? How about in the little garden behind the building?”
    “Two o’clock, then. In the garden.”
    “I’ll see you there.” Putting his hands in his pockets, he walked away.
    Hailey was forced to follow, since her desk was the same direction he was heading. She lagged behind, regretting her decision to meet him. What sort of mess was she getting herself into?
    By the time the display on her computer read two o’clock, she’d worked out what to say to Corey. Unfortunately, her carefully-worded speech deserted her as soon as she saw him waiting for her on the ground floor outside the elevator. Gone was the frantic man of earlier, and in his place stood the poised, good-looking individual she’d admired for so long. He held the door for her, then took her hand and guided her through the entrance gate into the walled garden. It was pretty, even in winter with the roses bare and the fountain at its center turned off. Cedar benches set on flagstone pavers lined the stacked stone walls. They had the place to themselves, which wasn’t so surprising in the dead of winter.
    He pulled her into his arms and lowered his lips to hers, covering her instant protest. This time his kiss wasn’t quick or light.