Secret Santa (novella) by Rhian Cahill Page A

prepare?’
    ‘Yes, yes. Sorry.’ He smiled and took another step away from temptation. ‘I’m a bit distracted today.’
    ‘What has your attention if not your prized restaurant?’ Jenn asked.
    He’d love to tell her the truth. Would love to say you while wrapping his hand around her neck and pulling her in for a kiss, but she wasn’t ready for that. She’d back right away and he’d never be able to pull off the special Christmas present he had planned for her.
    ‘Nothing. You know me. Single-minded when it comes to Morgan’s. I’ve been getting organised for the holiday break. Getting all the stock to cover the holiday period and keep Morgan’s running smoothly.’
    ‘I thought we had everything ironed out?’ She arched one eyebrow. ‘If you need me to work extra hours I can. I’m not heading home this year.’
    Morgan heard the catch in Jenn’s voice on the word home and quickly changed the subject. ‘Did you see Wade and Emily when they came in with Davie last night? I swear they’re feeding him growth hormones or something. He doubles in size every time I see him’
    ‘I did.’ Her frown was replaced by a smile that lit up her whole face. ‘He’s such a cutie. I just want to pick him up and squeeze the stuffing out of him.’
    ‘He is a chubby little thing. Well, not so little.’ Morgan grinned. He loved that his friend had found happiness after years of heartache. Now if he could just be the one to ease Jenn’s pain…
    Out in the dining area, the phone rang and Jenn quickly headed that way. ‘I’ll get that. You get to those desserts,’ she ordered over her shoulder.
    ‘Yes, Ma’am.’
    Morgan gave a mock salute to her back before turning in the direction of the kitchen. Glancing down the corridor, he checked Jenn was out of sight before slipping into his office to dispose of the bogus envelopes. He shoved them to the bottom of his backpack then retrieved the real set from his pocket. He’d pin them on the staff noticeboard and remind everyone to grab one before leaving tonight. Anyone not working today would pick theirs up over the next couple of days.
    He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The first stage of his plan had gone off without a hitch. Now he could only hope the second part would prove as successful.
    Jenn put the phone down and made the change to the Tibbs booking. She had to double-check she’d changed it correctly. It was hard to concentrate when her mind and body were completely focused elsewhere. She sighed. She’d found herself in this state a lot lately. It was this state getting harder and harder to ignore the feelings Morgan provoked. Every day they spent together only added to her affection for the man. He was dependable, dedicated, and loyal to those close to him — a nice guy who hadn’t let his celebrity chef status go to his head like so many others thrust into the limelight unexpectedly. Jenn genuinely liked him. It was the other emotions she felt towards Morgan that had her all tangled up.
    Lusting after her boss was not a good idea, especially as she loved her job. She’d been thrilled to score the manager’s position at Morgan’s straight out of university. It was a dream job — but it was her even dreamier boss that got under her skin. Morgan Campbell was six feet of blond, bronzed, masculine perfection and he’d spent the last two years starring in every one of her secret fantasies — leaving her with two years’ worth of sexual frustration.
    She’d gone out on a few dates, but she’d soon given up when none of the men had been able to wipe her mind clear of her scrumptiously tempting boss. He was known for his decadent desserts, but Jenn thought he was far more appealing. The man was lickable from head to toe and she’d love to sample just a teeny tiny piece of him.
    Her lips vibrated as she let out a gush of air. She couldn’t risk her job no matter how much her hormones stood up and danced when Morgan was around — or when he