“It’s fate, of course.  That I got Jordan as my secret santa, and he broke up with Tatiana last week.” Holly whispered in hushed tones toward her best friend, and coworker, James.  He was hanging over her cubicle wall, his long arms crossed, his chin resting against his forearms. His bright eyes followed her, an amused and thoughtful look on his handsome face.

“Fate, right.” He nodded, a small smile on his lips.  He shook his head then, a soft chuckle following his comment.

“Come on, James. Give me a little hope. It’s Christmas! And I am going to get my Christmas kiss!” Holly grinned, rolling back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest with a pout.  James smiled then, his eyes glittering as he watched her.

“Of course, Hol. Christmas is the answer to everything.” He nodded and then stood up straight, his broad shoulders a good foot or so above the top of the cubicle wall.  He adjusted his tie-- a red and green striped atrocity he reserved only for the few days before Christmas, and tilted his head toward Holly. He would humor her, he always did.

“I’m going to do it today. I’m going to tell Jordan how I feel.” Holly gushed, bringing her bright red polished fingers up to her mouth.

James couldn’t help but smile. She was like a kid at Christmas-- there was an exuberance to her that only she possessed. It was what had attracted him to her his first day working at the firm a little over a year ago, and it was what had kept him entertained ever since. The woman was a bubbling, unending fountain of goodwill and positivity. Some people like that could be grating and obnoxious. Holly was just Holly. Sweet. Caring. Unassuming.

“Good luck, love. You’ll need it.” He said with a sideways glance, kidding gently with her.

“Thank you!” She sighed with a laugh. “So what about you? What are you up to for Christmas?” She rolled her chair toward where James was standing, tucking his hands into his trouser pockets.

“Not much. My parents are on a transcontinental cruise.” He raised his eyebrows, amused. “Sis is going to her in laws with the little guy. Looks like I'm on a solo Christmas this year.” James said, and although his voice was melancholy, he smiled brightly at Holly. She frowned and chewed hesitantly at her lip.

“Oh, gosh. You could come hang with me and mine at my Nana’s.  She's a bit senile and has a mouth like a sailor, but it's good fun.” Holly giggled. James grinned and shook his head.

“Tempting, but I'll be fine. Don't worry about me, darling.” He chuckled. “Besides, won't you be busy with your boy toy all holiday?” He winked at Holly, who blushed and then rolled her eyes.

“Goodness.” She hushed him, before reaching up, tossing her long, wavy brown hair to the side.  Her hair reminded James of milk chocolate. And silk. Milk chocolate silk.

“Speaking of, how do I look? Irresistible?” She tilted her head, and winked at him, which made James laugh out loud.

“You look nice today, Holly. Though you always do, don’t you?” He gave her a knowing look, and a soft chuckle while shaking his head.

“Thanks, Nortie.” She grinned, using her nickname for him, which was a play on his last name, Norton.  James cleared his throat, and took a step away from her cubicle, reaching up and running a quick hand through his thick, wavy sandy blond hair.  It was always a mess. Always needing a cut though it always seemed like he'd just had one.

“Holly, if I don’t see you before the end of the day, I hope you have a Happy Christmas.” He said, his blue eyes leveled and he made to leave.

Holly looked up from the package at her desk, the one she’d wrapped in shiny red foil wrapping paper, and topped with a huge bow.  It was for her long time crush (and boss), Jordan.  A sparkly new geode paper weight with his name engraved on the side.  It wasn’t a very sentimental gift, but then, he wasn’t a very sentimental sort of guy.  When Holly had gotten his name for Secret Santa, she knew the important part wouldn’t be the gift, but the admission that went along with it.

“Happy Christmas, James.” She said softly, her eyes following him as he walked away.

She was close to James.  He was like her “office husband.”  Someone she talked to constantly, that knew the minute details of her boring life, and she knew his.  She knew he liked turkey sandwiches on wheat. She knew he liked clementines more than oranges because they fit perfectly in the palm of his wide, big hand. He knew she was always cold, and kept two sweaters stashed at her desk. He knew she liked lemon cookies and grapefruit seltzer water. And he knew that she'd had a secret crush on their boss for some time now.

Holly and James didn’t see each other much outside of work-- except for the occasional happy hour.  Neither of them quite knew how to broach the subject, and things were comfortable and easy as they were. Sometimes she'd go to call him on a weekend, just to tell James a funny story but then she'd remember she didn't know his phone number. Just his work extension code. But he really was the only other person she could imagine spending any time with outside of these grey walls.  Him, and Jordan, of course.

Which was why she had a plan.  A brilliant plan.  She was going to give Jordan his secret santa gift, and then give him his real gift- her!  It was fool proof.  And besides, Holly had the magic of Christmas to back her up.

The office was practically empty by now.  It was barely four o’clock, but everyone left early on the day before Christmas eve.  She was sure she could slip into his office, barely noticed and exact her plan.

She stood up, taking a quick glance around.  She was right. Most of the desks were empty, and those that were there were obviously just biding their time.  Holly glanced in the hand held mirror she kept at her desk, checking her makeup.  She worn her lucky red dress, paired with  sexy black thigh highs (though they looked like regular black stockings unless you peeked under her dress-- gotta keep it professional!), her candy cane high heels and a sparkly red headband in her curled hair.  She looked like a naughty Christmas elf.

It was perfect.  Today would be perfect.

She grabbed Jordan’s secret santa present, and sashayed her way toward his office.  His door was closed as usual, and thankfully, his blinds were as well.  This would make it easier to confess her love for him.  And to sneak her Christmas kiss. 

She paused at Jordan’s door, nervous.  She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such an intense, heady crush on someone.  She’d felt this way about Jordan for three agonizing months now.  She’d exhausted all her resources talking about it.  She’d talked to her mother about it. Her sister. Her best friend from highschool, who was, confusingly enough, also named Holly.  She’d talked James’ ear off about it, mostly because he was the only who also knew Jordan.  And because he always listened. Always.  Sure, he joked around and poked fun at her, but he also really listened.  He was a good friend.  No, a great one.

He hadn’t exactly supported her decision to throw herself at Jordan, but then again, sometimes you just had to take a running leap.

So here she was.  Ready to leap.

Holly knocked confidently on Jordan’s door.  She felt her knees shaking slightly, and her heart was racing a million miles a minute.

“Come in.” Jordan’s commanding, sexy voice came filtering through the heavy door.  Holly held back a giggle, pulled herself together, and entered Jordan’s office.

His office was nothing like the rest of the bland, boring office space.  His office was dark wood, and teal accents. A large floor to ceiling window overlooked London, and there were moody, modern lamps filtering in hazy white light.  He was sitting behind his huge wood desk.  His jacket was off, his shirt sleeves rolled up over his perfectly tanned forearms.  His tie was loose, and he looked relaxed.

“Holly. You look like a fucking elf.” He laughed, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement.  Holly smiled, doing a little curtsy.

“Thank you, I think.” She said nervously, her heart crashing against her chest. A sudden flash of James popped into her head.  He’d said the same thing to her except, he’d worded it a bit different.

“The happiest, glitteriest, most cheerful little elf on the whole bloody planet.” Had been his choice of words.  It had made her laugh, made her heart feel light and wonderful.

“What can I do for you, doll?” Jordan asked, sitting up straighter in his black power chair.  His dark hair was cut just right-- close on the sides, and then longer up top, slicked back and styled like most men wore it these days.  His eyes were dark and smoldering, unyielding as he did a quick once over of Holly’s outfit again.  He must have really liked her red dress.

“Well. I just wanted to say I hope you have a great Christmas. And that...I’m your secret santa!” She said with a flair, presenting her gift to him like he was Santa Claus himself.  Jordan’s eyes lit up, and he looked pleased, flashing Holly his perfect, intense white smile. 

“That’s fantastic.  Thank you.” He grinned, and stood up from his chair.  Holly was immediately reminded of how tall he was, how much bigger.  He was at least 6’0 or maybe 6’1”.  She only knew because James had told her they were about the same height, and she knew James was 6’1”.

She watched as Jordan walked toward her, almost in slow motion.  He was lean, and fit.  She knew he ran a few miles every day.  He held his arms open, making his way around his desk.

Oh gosh. Oh geez. He was going to touch her. He was going to hug her.
 
She took a half step forward, and let Jordan envelope her in a hug.  She could feel his arms around her back, his chest pressing against hers, his hands moving to the small of her back.  Oh gosh. It was hard to breathe.

“Thanks, Holly.  You’re a sweetheart.” He murmured by her ear, and then shifted.

Oh GOD. Was that...? Was he...? Holly blinked, feeling something shift against her hip, something hard and…

Oh my. No. It was his present. An actual present, not a metaphor. She’d lodged it between them, both of her hands frozen at her sides as he’d hugged her.

“Here!” She stepped back, pulling out of his arms as she pushed the present out toward him. Jordan grinned and took it in one of his perfectly manicured hands. Still masculine looking, but his nails were always perfectly cut and taken care of.  She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly feeling very dry.

He ripped open the present, not seeming to notice her handy work she’d put into the wrapping.

“Oh! A geode! You must have known I love crystals.” He said, beaming as he motioned to the other large crystals sitting on some of his otherwise barren shelves.

“I did.” She smiled, happy that he seemed happy.

“Thank you, Holly. What a nice gift. Great secret santa.” He smiled at her and then walked over to the nearest shelf, placing the glittering geode next to what looked like a glowing pink crystal.

“You’re welcome, Jordan. I also...wanted to talk to you.” She said, taking a hesitant step toward him.  Things didn’t exactly feel as she’d imagined them, if she was going to be honest.  But she had to do this.  She had Christmas magic on her side. And she had told herself she’d get her Christmas kiss.  She couldn’t wait to tell him any longer.

“Sure,” He leaned back against his desk, his long legs stretched out in front of him. His eyes flickered to her hair.

“Well I…” Holly reached up, touching her glittery gold headband.  She felt dumb for wearing it all the sudden.  She wished she’d worn a plain, boring outfit like the other women in the office-- something smart and sophisticated. Maybe Jordan didn't like glitter, no matter how much she loved it.

“Yeah?” Jordan asked, tilting his head, his handsome face waiting.

“Well, I know it’s not very professional but I just figured since it’s Christmas, I really ought to tell you how I feel.  I just wanted you to know that I like you. As, as...more than just a boss. As a person. And I thought that maybe, if you were interested, that you’d like to hang out sometime. As in, outside of this office. Out in the...real world.” She had practiced this speech hundreds of times, but it had never gone quite like this.  Holly held her breath, the blood rushing between her ears.  She couldn't read his expression.

“Holly, doll. Are you telling me you’ve got a crush on me?” He grinned then, bringing his hands down to the edge of his desk.  She flushed, feeling her cheeks go red.

“I suppose you could call it something like that.” She said, her voice suddenly small and quiet.

Jordan laughed then, a loud, boisterous laugh that she wasn’t sure how to read.  Holly swallowed and forced a smile, though she was nervous and still waiting for that Christmas magic to kick in.  You know the kind-- the snow falling, fire in the fireplace crackling, warm cookies and milk feeling you could only get around this time of year.  Romance in full, wonderful bloom.

“Come here, then.” Jordan beckoned her toward him, his eyes focused and sharp.  Holly gave him a quick smile, her heart leaping, and stumbled toward him.

“I’ve never done this before.” She managed.  She’d never put herself on the line like this, told someone she had a serious crush on them.  Not even when she was a teenager. She’d always been the shy one. The dorky one. The cute one that everyone just wanted to be friends with.

“Well, dollface, I have. Let Jordan show you the ropes.” He grinned, and then reached forward, catching her around the waist.

His mouth was on hers in an instant. Fast, intense, all tongue.  His hands were on her waist, and then sliding under her dress. He groaned as he slid up her thigh, over her thigh highs.  Holly gasped and instinctually pushed at him.

“I have a meeting in twenty minutes, but that’s more than enough time.” He chuckled, dragging his mouth away from hers long enough to speak.

Holly was in shock.  More than in shock, she was embarrassed and disgusted.

“No. No!” She gasped, pushing him away with all her might.  Jordan stopped, setting back with a surprised look on his flushed face. Her red lipstick was all over his mouth.

“What?!” He grunted, looking confused and bewildered.

“No! That’s not what...this isn’t what...Oh gosh.” Holly gasped,  “I meant something like dinner and… conversation.  Not a quickie in your office!” She somehow managed to sputter, and then she felt it.  The full on humiliation. The sadness. The complete agony of knowing that you’d just spilled your heart to someone and they thought you just wanted a quick, heartless office fuck, and not a real, true to life, Christmas romance.  How stupid of her to think it would be different.  Like someone like Jordan would take a glittery elf seriously.

“I'm sorry, Holly. I thought we were on the same page. I thought we wanted the same thing.” Jordan raised his hands, looking bewildered.

“Magic. I wanted Christmas magic.” She murmured, more for herself than him. She was disappointed. In so many ways.

“Huh??” Jordan frowned, looking confused and annoyed.

Holly turned then, and ran.  She ran out of the office, praying that she didn’t bump into anyone.  She turned the corner quickly, running down the empty hall and into the nearest open door, which she knew to be the women’s bathroom.

The sight of her reflection shocked her.  Her ruby red lipstick was smeared across her mouth.  Her hair was askew.  Her eyes were wild--like a  captured animal.  She slumped against the bathroom sink, feeling terrible, and stupid, and totally disappointed.  She should have known Jordan was like that.  She should have known he was nothing but a sleaze.

Sighing, Holly wiped off the rest of her lipstick, leaving her mouth pale and pink.  She fixed her hair, pulling off her headband and then took another moment to let her heart settle. 

She’d go home. She’d go home to her empty apartment (save for her three cats, Cinnamon, Clover and Nutmeg), and she’d forget about stupid, dumb, sleazy Jordan and her stupid, dumb, ridiculous Christmas confession. 

She left the bathroom quickly, relieved to find the office even more vacant.

She stopped by her cubicle to get her coat and purse, her mind still racing with what had just happened.  How could Jordan think she was the type to be okay with a quickie at his desk?!  He didn’t know her at all. It made her sad. But how could he know her? They'd barely spoken in the few months he'd worked here. And so, in fact, how well could she really have known him? The realization hit Holly hard and she felt heavy, and tired with the heartache.

Putting on her green peacoat, that she’d specifically matched with her special red dress, Holly sighed as she grabbed her purse and shoved her glittery headband deep into the bottom.  Before walking away from her desk, she noticed something out of the corner of her eye.

A gift. A small little unassuming box wrapped in brown paper and tied with a red and white bow.

She looked away, confused, scoping out the walk ways near her desk.

There was no one around. She hadn’t seen anyone stop at her desk.

Someone must have stopped while she’d been in Jordan’s office, making a fool of herself.

“Huh.” She whispered, picking up the box. It was light weight.

She untied it slowly, pulling off the perfectly wrapped paper, marveling at the carefully tucked bow. 

Underneath was a small box, and she carefully lifted the lid.  Gold and white glitter fell from inside, covering her hands and her desk with sparkles. 

Holly laughed, taking a step back as the glitter cascaded through the air.

Inside the box, lying on a bit of felt, was a single sprig of perfect green mistletoe, tied with a tiny red ribbon. 

On the inside of the lid was a handwritten inscription and she recognized the handwriting right away. She gasped, her heart feeling as if it were a balloon, filling and floating away all at the same time.

“Just in case you still need your Christmas magic. I’ll always be here for you. -James.”

“Oh. my. Goodness.” She said breathlessly, her heart pounding as if it wanted to burst through her chest.

“Oh gosh! James!” She whispered, and suddenly, her eyes were filled with tears. James. James. Her wonderful, lovely, perfect James. Who always listened to her. And called her an elf in a good way.  Who saved leftover lemon cookies for her from office parties. And laughed at her dumb jokes. Who let her make her own stupid mistakes.  Who listened to her secrets even though he, apparently, had some of his own.

“James!” She yelped then, shoving the package into her pocket and running down the corridor. She had to catch him before he left. She had to.

“Have you seen James? Did you see him leave?” She shouted at one of her coworkers, who sat closest to the exit.

“He left a minute ago, lovie.  Happy Christmas!” The older woman shouted back.

“OH!” Holly squealed, running as fast as her candy cane heels would allow her.

“Happy Christmas!!” she yelled over her shoulder as she ran. She smashed at the buttons on the elevator and when they wouldn’t work fast enough, she sprinted toward the stairs. 

She made her way down the three flights, hobbling as fast as she could. Darn these candy candy heels!

“James!” She yelled, bursting through the front doors of the complex, scanning the parking lot for his car.

The air outside was crisp and clean, just begging for some snow. Holly froze, her heart pounding through her chest. He always parked in the same place. He had to still be there. He had to. He had to. He had to.

And then...there he was.  He was opening his door, his back to her.  His wonderfully messy blond hair, with his silly uneven scarf that she knew his sister had knitted for him last Christmas.  His neverending height, and his broad shoulders. 

He turned then, and there it was.  That smile. That face that made her laugh, and made her feel light.  Goodness, how had she been so very, very blind?

“JAMES! Don’t go! Wait!” She screamed needlessly, breathlessly. 

His expression was surprised, and then...happy. Patient. Nearly bashful.

Holly ran toward him, her mind racing, her heart racing faster.  Her heels clacked across the pavement as she hurried.

She came to a halt in front of him, out of breath.  He searched her face, his blue eyes hopeful and perhaps a bit anxious. His eyes went to her hair.

“I didn’t know Christmas elves could run so fast.” He said softly, his smile warm and teasing.  Holly laughed then, too loud but she didn’t care.

“We can when we have something important to do.  A present delivery. A message for Santa. Or...this.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the mistletoe.  James raised an eyebrow, and then smiled, looking down.

Holly held out her hands, which were spotted with glitter. The glitter from his present.

“I see you got your secret santa present.” He said softly.

“I did. I did.” She nodded, taking a step closer. 

“Oh James, why didn’t you tell me?  I was such an idiot. Such an idiot. I'm so sorry.” She whispered and James closed the gap between them so quickly that it took her breath away.

She could feel the warmth of his body. Smell his sweet, masculine scent. It was like coming home.

“I figured you liked him.  I couldn’t risk breaking your heart for the sake of my own.” He managed.  Holly bit her lip, her emotions wavering, her heart filling in her chest.  She let out a soft laugh, pushing back tears.

“Goodness,” she whispered, one hand moving to her heart, “There it is.” She reached forward and took his hands in hers.  His hands were cold, but hers were warm. Warm enough for both of them.

“There what is?” He asked, his eyes curious. She pulled his hands up to her chest, over her pounding heart. James pressed his flat, now glittering palm against her, smiling gently at the feel of the racing beat beneath his skin.

“The Christmas magic. All because of you.” She smiled softly, and then reached up, holding the mistletoe up between them, before standing on the tip toes of her candy cane shoes and pulling James in for a kiss.