“It's very festive,” I said finally, since it seemed as if Holly was expecting some sort of response.
She beamed and went to pack an enormous box of decorating supplies. “The holiday party is tomorrow, so act like a normal Christmas-loving person. TheTechBizrepresentatives will be there. They need to see that you aren't Owen Frost the Unfriendly Snowman. Maybe you can practice smiling in the mirror.”
“I'd rather spend the day with you,” I told her.
“I'm busy today. I have a to-do list,” she said, whipping out a fuzzy red notebook and a pen with a bobblehead Santa on it. “I have to go to the post office and then pick my outfit for tomorrow.”
I took the notebook out of her hand and put in on the desk then pushed Holly back against the edge of it.
“Just wear what you're wearing right now,” I said, my hands creeping up the skirt. I wanted nothing more than to bend her over the desk and fuck her.
Breathlessly, Holly said, “Someone's going to see!”
“Isn't that why you put up all these decorations—to provide some cover?” I said, the grin on my face dangerous.
“I don't think it's that much cover,” Holly said.
I stepped back while she adjusted her dress and licked her lips. “I have to go before the post office closes.”
I kissed her once more before she left.
*
The office feltcolder without Holly there. I looked around at the Christmas decorations. On second thought, they weren't that bad. There weren’t a lot of blinking lights and red and green sparkly ornaments. Holly had used sage-green garlands, lots of silver and white and gold, with soft fairy lights. It felt more like a winter wonderland than a Christmas mall scene.
But it wasn't as calming as she probably thought it would be; I was antsy. I needed Holly. Instead, I opted for a walk. Rudolph needed to go out.
I picked him up from the doggie daycare. I’d given them a temporary spot in the tower until their permanent space was constructed. Already the new amenity was a huge hit with my employees. There were several dogs playing in the room that had been allocated for the service.
One of the workers handed me Rudolph's leash. The puppy was hanging from it by his teeth, three of his four paws off the ground.
“We really did try to tire him out,” the woman said. “We took them all to the park and ran around. This dog was never cold or tired. You must have your hands full!”
“He had bacon for breakfast this morning,” I explained, dragging Rudolph away. “You better not get expelled from daycare,” I warned him in the elevator. The puppy was oblivious and hopped around as soon as we were outside in the cold.
Figuring he was tired of the nearby park, I took him to another park several blocks away. He jumped in piles of dead leaves and snapped at the snowflakes that had started to fall. After a good hour of running around, I took him back to the tower.
Up ahead, I saw Holly, huffing as she pushed an empty metal cart. I snuck up on her then grabbed her, spinning her around and kissing her. She screamed and beat me around the head with her purse.
A young woman walking a miniature horse wearing tennis shoes, a custom blinking sweater, and a hat festooned with poinsettias and sprigs of garland passed us and gave us a suspicious look.
“It's fine, I know her,” I assured the horse girl.
“Very well,” Holly added.
“Weirdos,” the girl muttered.
Holly and I barely held it together until she had passed out of earshot. Then we started laughing.
“Why are you even out here?” Holly asked.
“Rudolph needed to burn off some energy,” I said. The puppy was chewing on the leash, tired of standing still.
“Switch?”
She took Rudolph, and I pushed the cart.
“Honestly, you make it look so easy,” she said, squeezing my arm.
