Unwrapping Mr. Roth by Holley Trent

Author:Holley Trent [Trent, Holley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: elf, santa, holiday, paranormal romance, fantasy romance
Published: 2016-04-10T16:00:00+00:00

***

Hmm, right on time.

Gillian—beautiful and angry as always—stormed through Nick’s office door with Kori on her heels and her lips already parted, likely to spew some insult.

She didn’t spit it out.

She looked at him, and then all the others gathered in his office.

“You’re right on time for the board meeting, pet,” he said.

Mother leaned onto the edge of his desk and waved them in.

Gillian shifted her weight and put on a smile for the folks in the room—his sisters in the armchairs across from him, and also various elves, gnomes, and other beings at the bar, fixing drinks.

The room was eerily quiet for what felt like an entire minute, and then behind Gillian, Kori muttered under her breath, “Oh, shit.”

Gillian chuckled and lacked her fingers together over her belly. “I can come back later.”

“Oh, no. Now that you’re here, certainly you wouldn’t deprive me of your company.” Nick strode over casually as if her intrusion into his corporate dealings was an acceptable thing and picked up one of her hands. He laid a kiss on it and then wrapped it inside both of his. “Such fortuitous timing, Kori. Thank you for bringing her,” he said, loud enough for the room to hear.

Kori—obviously having absolutely no clue what was happening—giggled nervously.

Gillian narrowed her eyes at him and he kissed her forehead, whispering against it, “Behave, brat.”

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said aloud, “I’m glad you’re all here this afternoon. It’s so difficult to get this woman to stand still for long, but no worries—she’s nearly installed at the palace now. She should be much more available in coming weeks.” Nick wore a toothy grin that dared her to challenge him.

She looked like she wanted to kick him. She’d just have to save it for later.

“Everyone, this is my wife, Gillian. The newest Mrs. Roth.”

The people at the bar began making their way over with their drinks and offered her deep bows or curtsies, introducing themselves as members of the charity board.

Mother unplanted herself from in front of the window and joined Nick near the door. She looped an arm around Gillian’s waist and leaned in close to whisper, “I told him removing your things would be unwise. He didn’t care.”

“I can hear you, Mother,” Nick said through clenched teeth. “Stay out of it.”

“She’s not an elf, Nicholas,” Mother said through her own tight bite. “You can’t expect her to do things our way. She has her own life. I told you to exercise some patience.”

“As did Father, I lack that.”

The board members had wandered away after making their introductions and concentrated on freshening their drinks. The fact the Ho’s hadn’t deigned to leave their seats wasn’t lost on Nick. Rude was their usual temperature.

“How are you, Kori, dear?” Holly, in the middle of the cluster of bitchy blondes, asked.

“I’m fine, Aunt Holly,” Kori answered in a near-squeak.

Gillian pulled her glare away from Nick and fixed it on his sister, who tossed one right back at her.

This should be interesting.

“It’s wonderful to see you out and about, Kori, darling,” Hortense said.

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