My Hot Holiday by Kate Crown Read Free Book Online

excitement.
    "Congratulations!" I say quickly, feeling faint.  "You must be thrilled?" I manage.
    "Yes, it's been a ton of work," he fires back.  "The only bad part is having to tell people returning from Christmas break that they no longer have a job…not the best way to start the New Year.  That part is never easy.”
    So, it is true.  I am toast.
    "Oh, I can imagine.  Are you going to have to do that this time, too?" I ask him tentatively, pulling the blanket tighter around my cold, half-naked body.
    "Yes.  The question that we still have to answer is how many jobs will be cut.  We are still working out the numbers."  He begins to pace the room again.  "Sorry for talking about talking so much business...especially after THAT.”  He motions toward the bedroom and furrows his eyebrows again.
    "I'm sorry, tell me what you do for a living again?"
     
     
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    Don't miss the next installment of Jillian and Jake's story, available late December 2012 from Kate Crown!  Keep reading for a preview.
     
     
    “This is ridiculous.”
    I glance over at the driver’s seat.  My 65-year old mother grips the steering wheel with textbook 10:00 and 2:00 symmetry, while she drives me to work on my first day back from Christmas break.
    She shakes her head.  “No, it’s not!”
    Deep breaths…don’t panic!  I’m 37 years old, and my mom is behind the wheel of my Toyota.  It’s only temporary.  It’s just one day.  I can handle it.
    “I love you, honey, and I’m not going to let some rich CEO get the best of my daughter.”
    I raise an eyebrow.  “Did you pack my lunch for me, too?  You know PB & J is my favorite, right?”
    “I’m just saying, Jillian, that you have to expect the worst.  I saw how you looked at Christmas breakfast, and I don’t ever want see you in that kind of shape again.  Until the kids come home, I’m going to watch over you.“
    She’s right.  I am pathetic.  The thing is that she doesn’t even know the half of it!
    If the divorce 19 months ago wasn’t bad enough, then Christmas Eve was surely the clincher.  I had the best sex of my life with a perfect stranger and then 5 minutes past afterglow, I discovered Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome was about to be my new boss.
    Welcome to 2013, Jillian Reece!
    Okay…A little explanation.  After that escapade, I showed up the next morning for Christmas breakfast at my parents’ house crying and drunk.  It’s also quite possible I said a few things to Aunt Lucy that I should have kept to myself, but geez!  Give me a break!  Her fourth husband was gay, and everyone knew it but her.  I was just restating the obvious.
    Anyway, back to me.
    I tell myself I’m going to be fine for the thousandth time.  I’m not emotionally unstable, am I?  I know exactly how much I can handle.
    Well, sort of.
    Once I get back in the office and discover that I’m not about to be fired by, the first man to give me repeat orgasm  on the very first try, everything will be just fine.  I know it.  Mom doesn’t know about that part, though.  No wonder she thinks I’m crazy.
    “Mom, you really don’t need to worry about me.  I’ll be fine.  I know you need to get back to Oyster Cove soon.  Dad needs you, too.”
    I’ll admit it has been nice having her with me for the past week, but this has gone on long enough.  I need to put on my big girl pants and move on.  There will be no more thongs around this tush for a long, long time. Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome has definitely closed my shop for a while.
    Mom would pass out cold if she had any idea that I invited a drunk (albeit gorgeous and rich) stranger to my cabin on Christmas Eve and let him have his way with me.  I know.  It’s not my finest moment.  All seemed to be going just splendid, until I discovered that mere minutes after Jake merged with me, he merged with my company.  I guess that’s why you get to know people before let them seduce you in a book store or tie your wrists