sales to start your Christmas shopping. That's a rookie mistake.
So is having feelings for your hot boss.
I remind myself of all the reasons I dislike him. What were they again?
He's grumpy.
He's demanding.
He's a perfectionist.
He's broody and tall and more attractive than any man has a right to be.
He's. My. Boss.
These are all valid reasons.
Valid enough that I shouldn't be thinking about doing things with him that would put me on top of Santa's naughty list.
Yet I do. I think those things.
I'm feeling suffocated in this car. Suffocated by all the different versions of Nick dancing in my head.
Chapter 6
When we land in Nuremberg I'm tired, but energized in the way that being in a new place brings. I slept on and off during the overnight flight to Frankfort, as best as one can on a plane. The layover allowed just enough time for a cup of mediocre airport coffee before our connection to Nuremberg.
And I hate to admit it, but now that I'm in Germany I'm excited. I know I came on this trip under duress but I manage to conveniently block that out the moment they stamp my passport because I've never been to Germany. Heck, I've never been to Europe.
I'm charmed before we get out of the airport.
Nick seems to know what he's doing so I follow, doing my best to keep up with him as he navigates us through the airport, refraining from the urge to dive into a gift shop or take photos of random signs written in German.
It's not until we're in a cab that I realize Nick speaks German. It makes sense, but I add it to the list of things that surprise me about Nick all the same. Begrudgingly I also have to add it to the list of things about Nick that are kind of sexy.
Nuremberg is… magical. And the cab hasn't even pulled away from the curb yet. Light snowflakes are falling as the driver loads our bags into the trunk while I slide into the back seat, Nick right behind me. I feel a little grimy and worn from a day of travel. Nick doesn't. He looks as good as he always does, as if he's just had a great night’s sleep and strolled into the office refreshed and ready to demand a report or poke at me about something or other.
I wonder if I've read too much into the poking? Maybe I've overreacted?
Beside me Nick swipes at the screen of his phone with his thumb, ignoring me while he checks emails as the cab pulls away from the curb.
Nuremberg is positively huge in comparison to Reindeer Falls, with over half a million residents within the city and over three million in the metropolitan area. Seeing it before me, it makes me feel as though Reindeer Falls is a tiny dollhouse-sized replica, which pleases me greatly. I've heard Nuremberg has been dubbed the most German of German cities and while this is all I've seen of Germany, I'm inclined to agree. I've very nearly pressed my nose against the car window in an effort to drink it all in. We pass modern gas stations sandwiched between classic gothic architecture. We pass signs, some of which I can make out and some of which I can't. As we enter the old city I'm enchanted with the quaint medieval walkways, asphalt merging seamlessly with brick pavers.
We pass stores I want to explore and churches that look as though they've been standing a century or more. I know much of the old city was destroyed during World War II, but the rebuild is astounding in its authenticity.
We're staying in the old city. I was slightly disappointed to find out we were booked in a large American hotel chain instead of some charming local hotel, but I reminded myself I wasn't in Europe to have a romantic rendezvous with my boss. Any residual disappointment vanishes when the cab stops in front of the Sheraton. It's lovely and I'm officially excited.
Cab paid and bags in hand, we head inside. Nick checks us both in, me standing a bit uselessly off to the side while he chats with the desk clerk in German. I busy myself looking at a stand of glossy brochures touting various things to do in Nuremberg. Museums, walking tours, day trips and Christmas markets. My fingers are just brushing the edges of the Christmas market flyer when I feel Nick beside me. I snatch my fingers back from the flyer as if