Page 7 of Christmas Obsession

“Yeah, probably. I mean, most women nowadays don’t want a man to take care of them. They want to take care of themselves, and I’ve found that most men have no interest in taking the lead. They say they do, but in reality, they want control, not leadership.”

“Sounds like you haven’t met the right guy yet.”

“Clearly. If I’d met him, I wouldn’t be a forty-one-year-old virgin.” My throat closes the second the words are in the air.

Did I just say that?

I did not just say that!

Where is the rewind button?

Someone, hit the rewind button!

Oh my God! My cheeks heat and my mouth opens and closes half a dozen times before I glitch and switch the conversation to Christmas. “I think that we should have live reindeer for the town toy drive. That would draw tourists, right? Something extra motivating that would make people want to donate.”

I can feel my palms becoming sweaty, but my mouth won’t stop moving. “You could play Santa and we could get carolers from the church. I’d bet everyone would come to see that. We still have time to build a sleigh, too. I mean, if the town gets the grant money from the governor, we could do something really nice. I heard someone saying we could use it to revitalize the heritage trail out by the old railway, and they’re already talking about how nice it would be to have a community greenhouse back there.”

His gaze is steady with mine, and though I can’t see him that well, it looks like every muscle in his body has tightened.

He probably thinks I’m such a loser now. I can’t believe I really said that out loud. Maybe I should circle back and say something else to deflect it, tell him I’ve been celibate for religious reasons, folks respect that, except Mike knows me. I’ve spent every day for the last ten years with him. He wouldn’t believe me if I told him I’m on a lifetime journey to spiritual enlightenment.

Then again, what harm would it do? I should try it.

No! I should keep drowning him in Christmas ideas until he forgets everything I ever said before the word Christmas.

“Last time there was a toy drive, all that was set up was a makeshift snow globe. No one wanted to see that. We get snow all the time. Reindeer, though, now that would make a real difference.” My eyes light with fake enthusiasm over this horrid idea, and my chest tightens simultaneously.

What is he thinking? Why hasn’t he said anything?

“You’re a virgin?” he says, completely ignoring every idea I’ve just laid out in front of him.

“What?”

“A few minutes ago, you said you were still a virgin.”

“I misspoke.”

His head lowers and his voice drops as he says, “So you’re not a virgin?”

“Is this an interrogation? You’re my boss. Don’t you think this is inappropriate work talk?”

“I do, yeah.” He shakes his head and scrubs his hand down over his face. “Sorry. I must have misheard you.”

“You did! I was making reference to the Virgin Mary.” I roll my eyes and stand from the desk as though he’s somehow offended me, though in reality, I’m sopping wet and desperate for him to push past every boundary I’m putting in front of him.

“I apologize,” he groans as he stands from the desk, his face flushed as though he’s embarrassed. “I’m going to go get the generator started. No telling how cold it’ll get in here tonight.”

Oh God.

Tonight.

We can’t leave. We’re stuck here.

We’re stuck here, and he knows I’m a virgin.

I watch his massive frame leave the room one heavy step after the other, the scent of cedar on his body lingering behind as I try to figure out how I fix this weird little mess I’ve gotten myself into.

Chapter Four