Sugarplum (Silk Stocking Inn Book 5) Read online

  Stan hadn't waited for me. I found him already back in his office. He shut the door behind me as I walked in.

  "Uh, I apologize for not making it to the lodge," I said quickly, worried that he might be angry or insulted that I didn't show.

  "Yeah, Tanya mentioned that you had car trouble. Everything all right now?"

  "Yep, it's all fixed."

  He sat against the front of his desk. "You are the only person who looks rested and happy this morning. Don't get me wrong—it was an awesome weekend, but it's hard coming back to work. You know what I mean?"

  "I do." I could have added that I, too, had an awesome weekend, but the last thing I wanted was to make small talk with the man. "Uh, is there something you needed?"

  "Nope." He tilted his head and used what he seemed to consider his charmed smile. "Just missed you, that's all. I was disappointed when I heard you weren't coming." He pushed off his desk and reached for my hand. A month ago, hell even a week ago, my heart would have fluttered with excitement at the gesture. But all I could do now was take a step back, out of his reach. His charmed smile vanished.

  "What's wrong? Jen, it's you that I want. I miss what we had together."

  I shook my head. "We just didn't have all that much. I've moved on. I think it's a lot better for our work relationship, don't you?"

  He looked shocked, and the tick Tanya had mentioned earlier flicked his cheek. "Right," he said curtly. "How are those final graphics coming?" He couldn't have sounded more cold and businesslike if he had been a robot.

  "I'll be done by Wednesday."

  "Great." Without another word, he circled around his desk, sat in his chair and picked up his phone to make a call.

  I walked out and closed the door sharply behind me. It was not the way I wanted to start the week. I was already beside myself with heartbreak about never seeing Holt again. This had been the last thing I needed.

  Chapter 20

  It was Wednesday, only the third day of the week, but it felt as if it should at least be Friday. My mood hadn't brightened as much as I hoped it would. Tanya had filled the gaps in our work day with stories about the weekend at the lodge. There had been a few surprising hook-ups and a few interesting arguments, but for the most part, it had been two days of skiing, drinking and hot tub soaks. It sounded as if most everyone had a good time, including Tanya herself, who had started a thing with Rocky, the big weightlifter guy on the game testing crew. He was a grown man who basically earned a living playing video games. A nice gig for someone who didn't want to do much else in life. Tanya had flirted with him on more than one occasion. It seemed the new blue bikini she'd picked for the sole purpose of sitting in the hot tub had finally sealed the deal. But I knew Tanya well. She'd be bored of him soon enough, especially now that she had him. She always preferred a challenge.

  I hadn't said a word to her about the awkward moment with Stan in his office. I had also been putting off telling her about my weekend. I just didn't have the mental strength to talk about it yet. I was still grappling with the idea that I'd never see Holt again.

  I pushed around the mouse, focusing on everything except the main character on the screen. Ziggy Holt had been there all week to remind me of just what I'd left behind on that snowy mountain. I was sure I'd never meet anyone like Holt again, which was a depressing thought.

  Tanya came up behind me and watched me work over my shoulder.

  "Why are you hovering? Don't you have your own work to do?" I asked.

  "I do, but I needed to take a walk. I'm going down to the corner to get an ice cream. Interested?"

  I shook my head. "Nah, I've got too much work to do."

  "Yeah, me too, but I just can't get anything to come out of my drawing pencils. I figured a scoop of rocky road would get the juices flowing. Hopefully I won't run into Stan on my way out. He's been in such a shitty mood all week. Guess he still hasn't gotten over the weekend with his failed conquest."

  "Guess not." I kept focused on my computer because Tanya was too good at knowing when I was hiding something. She stayed a few minutes longer but didn't say a word.

  "Hey, if you keep breathing over my shoulder I'm going to get one of those ticks in my cheek too."

  "I'm going. I'm going. Just admiring ole' Ziggy. We sure did a great job on him. If only we could make him real." With that, she walked away. I nearly called after her to tell her I'd found him, I'd found Ziggy in human form and he was even more spectacular and heartbreaking than the digital one. But I didn't.

  Tanya shuffled through the workroom and disappeared down the hallway.

  I tried to concentrate on my work again, but it wasn't easy. Maybe I should have gone for the ice cream break. Seconds later, Tanya's easy to recognize shoes slapped the cement floor of the workroom. Her eyes were round with surprise as she raced toward me.

  "Shit, what's the matter? Did Stan see you?"

  She shook her head and swallowed hard to catch her breath. "He's here."

  "Who is? Stan?"

  Tanya shook her head harder. "No. Him."

  "Who? Rocky?"

  She grabbed my shoulders to shut me up. "No. Him." She pointed at my computer monitor. "Ziggy." She pressed her hand against her chest as if she might have a heart attack. "He's out there. In the hallway."

  She glanced back toward the offices. I followed her line of sight.

  He stepped silently into the workroom. An even denser silence fell over the room as people noticed the man standing in the doorway. To everyone in the room, he was a complete stranger and yet everyone knew him. Only they knew him as a Ranger in our latest video game. I knew him as the man I loved.

  My stool scraped the cement floor as I hopped off of it. I left a stunned, breathless Tanya behind me as I raced across the room. Without giving it a second thought or taking the time to ask him why he left without a good-bye, I jumped into his arms.

  We kissed, first, with a shocked hush surrounding us. The silence eventually erupted into cheers and yells, loud enough to bring the boss from his office. Stan's chin nearly clunked on the floor when he saw Holt standing there, me tucked securely in his arms.

  The last thing I wanted was to talk to Holt in front of my curious workmates. "I'll be right back," I told Stan as I took hold of Holt's hand and led him down the hall to the back exit. Once outside, he pulled me back into his arms.

  "You just left," I said. "I thought I'd never see you again."

  "I got up late for work. I didn't want to wake you. But I've been sitting up in that ranger's cabin thinking about you. I just had to come see you. I'm kind of hoping we can figure something out. I'm off for three days and I don't mind driving back and forth. That is if you're interested in seeing me more."

  I tapped my chin as if I had to think about it. "I suppose. I mean the real Ziggy is so much more fun than the Ziggy on my computer."

  His dark brow curled up in confusion.

  "Oh nothing. Let's just say that Coco was right. The best fantasies grow into realities." I hopped up on my toes to meet his kiss.

  Printable Recipe Card

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  More Silk Stocking Inn

  Red Velvet

  Salted Caramel

  Mocha Latte

  Hot Buttered Rum

  About the Authors

  Anna Hart is an Amazon top 10 bestselling author of super sexy, quick romances. View her available titles: Anna Hart’s website.

  Tess Oliver is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of sexy romances. She’s always working on new and exciting projects. You can stay up to date, and get a free book by visiting her website and subscribing to her newsletter.

  @Tess_Oliver

  tessoliverauthor

  www.tessoliver.com

  [email protected]

 

 

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