Before You Go

Chapter Twelve

"Aren't you still supposed to be at work?" I answer my phone with a question.

"I landed an hour ago." Carter replies. "I'm on my way there."

"I'll be done in an hour." I say, just when Barry enters my office. He hands me a bunch of papers so I tuck my phone in between my ear and shoulder. I frown when I see the note on top.

They need this by the end of the day.

I sigh and shake my head. "Actually, can you head to Bonnet's instead? I don't want to lose the reservation. I have some last minute work that needs to be done."

"Can I drop by there first? I miss you." He says, making the butterflies in my stomach flutter. "I want to see you."

"We could lose the reservation." I say.

"Too bad, I'm already here." he says over the line.

My head shoots up and true to his words, he is here. He grins, waving at me from behind the glass door of my office.

In his damn uniform.

If my office walls weren't made of glass...

His knocking on my door jolts me from my obscene thoughts. I motion for him to come in and he does. He's taking something out of his luggage.

"I wanted to get you something to congratulate you, but we were already at the airport when you told me." he grins and hands me the crumpled paper bag he pulled out of his luggage.

I take a peak and confusion washes over me. I look at him confounded. I pull the two contents of the bag. A scarf, and what looks like a stuffed Christmas leprechaun elf?

"Thank you. The scarf feels great." I start and lift the stuffed elf up for him to see. Maybe he got the wrong bag? "But I don't understand this."

"I don't either." He grins proudly at me. "I just found it and saleslady said it would make a perfect romantic gift."

Standing up from my chair, I plant a quick kiss on his cheek. "That doesn't make any sense, but thank you."

"I know it makes no sense." He grins and pulls me back. "I just wanted to get you something. It will match the Christmas decor you did at my house."

"You bought this for me so I could leave it at your place?"

"What I'm trying to say is stay at my place for the night." he says, his tone a little disappointed that I didn't get what he was trying to say. No one could connect those two dots together! "We both don't have work tomorrow."

"You could just ask me that instead of the whole Christmas thing." I roll my eyes. They land on the forgotten stack of papers Barry brought over, making me sigh. Now I'm the one who's disappointed. "I need to finish work. Can you go to Bonnet's to hold our reservation? You can take my car."

"I can take a cab." he says and gives me a kiss before heading to the door. "Go and finish what you have to so that I can have you all to myself tonight."

He winks at me before closing the door behind him.

I grudgingly look at the stack of papers I need to read and start.

Ninety minutes later, I recap my red pen and stack the last file on top of the finished papers.

Finally.

My phone has buzzed a few times but I ignored it so I could finish faster. They will just call me if it's really urgent.

I make my way to my car while I check on it. Five texts. They're all from Carter.