My Fake Christmas Fiance (Kane Christmas #1) - Julie Kriss Page 0,53

papers. It would rip my guts out to do it, but for her, I would. Then I’d go be a celibate recluse for the rest of my life, because Penny was the only woman I wanted. The only woman I loved.

So I waited, prepared for pain. Then she said the only word I wanted to hear.

“You,” she said. “I want you.”

I leaned in and kissed her. Nothing could have stopped me in that moment. I kissed the hell out of her, kissed her sweet and deep, tasting her and taking her in.

Penny kissed me back, her hands coming up to grip my shoulders, her mouth opening against mine. She was the most beautiful, most brilliant, most wonderful woman I’d ever met, and Jesus, if I played my cards right, I might actually get to keep her.

Don’t fuck this up, I reminded myself.

I broke the kiss and leaned over the meeting table, grabbing our rings. I was so close, right now, to keeping Penny. To staying married to her like I wanted. I had to make things clear.

I picked up the diamond I’d bought for her a year ago, the one she’d been wearing until minutes ago, and I dropped to one knee.

“I told you a long time ago that I would have dropped to my knee in that meeting if you wanted me to,” I said, looking up at her stunned, tear-stained face. “So I’m dropping to my knee in this meeting instead. Penny Gold, I love you and I am proposing to you. Properly. We already got married, but will you stay married to me forever?”

She gasped. Actually gasped. The moment hung in the balance, and I tried not to smile. “You love me?” she whispered.

“I do,” I said. “I know it’s fast and crazy, but I felt it from the first. I think you’re my penguin. Or my swan. Whatever that animal is that mates for life. Maybe dolphins.”

Penny sniffed. “I think dolphins are sluts.”

“Okay, definitely not dolphins then. Will you stay married to me?”

She took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes, I will. Because you’re my penguin, too, or whatever. I’m in love with you, Wes.”

I slid my ring back onto her finger where it belonged. Then I leaned up and kissed her again.

When we parted, I put her wedding band back on her. “Your turn,” she whispered, and she took my wedding band and replaced it back on my finger. Where it belonged.

Right there, in the offices of divorce lawyer Curtis J. Curtis, I truly got married to the love of my life.

Chapter 24

From: Wesley Kane

To: Penelope Gold

Subject: 3 p.m.

Dear Mrs. Kane,

Okay, I know. You’re keeping your name. Mostly because Mrs. Kane is my mother, and no one wants to be reminded of my mother. I get it. I just wanted to type that out.

I know you’re in the office across the hall while I write this, and you’re probably hard at work because you’re the CEO and all, but I have a proposal for you. There’s a janitor’s closet on the second floor that the cleaning crew never uses. No one else uses it either. It’s taken me two days, but I got the key from the building supervisor. I had to promise him Avs tickets to get it, but I did.

(Yes, I do work sometimes. But this was important.)

I am going to check out this janitor’s closet at 3 p.m. I have cleared my schedule and have put this fascinating task as a top priority. I feel the need to inspect the shelves and cleaners and whatever else might be in there as soon as I possibly can. Alone.

Unless you want to join me?

It’s around the corner from the nearest office, and the door locks. I don’t think anyone will hear if we make sounds.

I already checked your schedule and saw that you had a meeting with W.B. at three. I called our mysterious CFO and told him to go do something else and not come back until at least four. Maybe longer. He gave me a frown, but he really, really didn’t want to know the answers to his questions, so he didn’t ask them. Sometimes Winston Beerlover, or whatever his name is, is a wise man.

So: You, me, a key, the cheesy condom in my wallet. A marital tryst. Sound good?

Admit it: This beats spreadsheets any day.

Regards,

Your sexy-as-fuck husband,

Wes Kane

From: Penelope Gold

To: Wesley Kane

Subject: Re: 3 p.m.

Dear Mr. Kane,

It was presumptuous of you to move my meeting with W.B. I have a PowerPoint to show him that is incredibly impressive, and he’s the only one who appreciates my talents in that area. However, since you are the CEO and my husband, I will make an exception.

I will meet you at three, on the following conditions:

You are discreet,

You take that sexy suit off,

You do that thing you did to me last night that drove me crazy. I really, really liked that thing.

Later, you can come to my apartment to help me re-pack all of the boxes I unpacked so I can move into your place. I know exactly which box everything should go in. I have a plan.

Okay, now I’m picturing you naked, and imagining you doing the thing. I can’t concentrate. And I love you like crazy. So as CEO, I’m making an executive decision.

I’ll see you at two thirty.

Love,

Your sexy-as-fuck wife,

Penny

The Kane Christmas Series

If you want to know everything that happens at the Kane Co. Christmas party, read the other books in the Kane Christmas series!

Book 2: Santa Baby Maybe by S. Doyle

W.B. and Joy’s Story

I’m the head ornament designer at Kane Co. Which is a job you can actually have, if you’re willing to work with uptight, impossible, Chief Financial Officer W.B. Darling. Who, unfortunately, happens to be incredibly gorgeous. My holiday season with W.B.? Here it goes:

Five blind dates with other women. Because he’s looking for someone entirely different from a free spirit artist.

Four incredibly sweet moments. Because when we’re together things are just so easy between us.

Three jerk face statements. Because the second I think we’re getting closer he pushes me away.

Two incredible kisses. And because sometimes kissing isn’t enough it leads to well… more than kissing.

One baby. Maybe. (See above.)

Book 3: How My Brother’s Best Friend Stole Christmas by M. O’Keefe

Sophie and Sam’s Story

I have one Christmas wish: to get Sam Porter, my brother’s best friend and the man I’ve loved from a distance for most of my life – to notice me. To really notice me. So, I’m doing that super cheesy thing where I get all dressed up at the Kane Co. Holiday party in the hopes he’ll see what he’s been missing.

And for the span of a blackout every one of my sex dreams about Sam come true. But then the lights come back on and he pushes me away with both hands.

So now I’m done with him. Done with his handsome face, and his not-so-hidden pain and all our inside jokes. And my love for him – I’m really done with that.

But Sam has been discharged from the Marines, and my brother has hired him on at Kane Co. In the shipping department. Where I’m the boss. And he’s…irresistible.

But Sam has his own Christmas wish and it’s me he’s wanted all along.