He rolled his eyes. "Not Dad. Me. They think I’m a risk."
I frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"They're worried that my single status leaves the company open to scandal. They act like I'm a fucking playboy. Do you know the last time I fucked someone?”
“Ah... no.” And I didn’t want to know. Some things didn’t need to be shared between brother and sister.
“I don't do anything but work my ass off saving this company, but they think my single status gives the impression that I'm not stable."
"That's ridiculous."
"Maybe you can tell them that."
The board wouldn’t listen to me. They’d always dismissed me when my dad was around. That hadn’t changed.
Max approached carrying three drinks. He handed me orange juice and seltzer and a glass to James. "You look like you could use this. It's a double shot of scotch."
"I could use more than a double, but I suppose if I had more, my board would kick me out of the company for embarrassing them."
Max looked at me with an arched brow, clearly questioning what was going on with James.
"The board thinks James’s single status puts the company at risk for instability and scandal."
This time, Max frowned. "Really? What is your board made up of? Octogenarians?"
James laughed, and it was the first time I'd seen him smile in a long time. "Pretty close to it." He let out a sigh, and then someone from across the room caught his eye. "Can you excuse me? I need to go check in with Reyna."
I nodded. "You’re doing a great job, James. Don't let the fuckers get you down."
James waved at my comment as he strode toward a young woman.
Max laughed. "I love it when you say the word fuck."
Thankfully, James was out of earshot when he said that.
I winked at Max. "I know you do." I leaned closer to him, my lips a whisper away from his ear. "I know you like it when I don't just say it, but I do it too."
He groaned, his hand sliding down my back over my ass and giving it a squeeze. "Is there an empty office where we could discuss this further?"
I laughed. "You know, I might consider that, except the board is concerned about scandal in the company. It might not look good if the CEO’s sister is caught fucking her husband in one of the offices."
He feigned confusion. "Really? I thought that's the type of thing that happened at Christmas parties. And it's not like we're not married."
"How about we just save that for later tonight?"
"I'll hold you to it,” he said.
"You’d better." I held my glass up. “To our first Christmas. It’s going to be the best one ever.”
His smile was lovely. “To our first Christmas. And to our second and third and fiftieth.” He pulled me close. “Last Christmas, I was a broken man. You’ve healed me. You’ve healed parts of me that I didn’t realize needed healing.”
How many times a day did Max say things that made me swoon? Ten? Twenty? I never got tired of it.
“Last Christmas, I was brokenhearted, but you’ve mended it and then some. I never knew happiness and love like this existed.”
“I love you, Amelia. Merry Christmas, baby.”
EPILOGUE TWO