December 1st
“Come along, darling, just choose a name.”
Branch Connors glowered at his mother and let out a long snort. She was already wearing a snowman sweater – a snowman sweater with flashing lights. She started earlier and earlier every year. “Secret Santa, Mother? Really?”
Martha Connors shook the Santa hat at him. “‘Tis the season, darling.”
She smiled in the maddeningly benevolent way she always did when she wanted him to eat his vegetables or hire one of her ‘special cases.’ She was big on charity. Since her last ‘special case’ almost burned down the mailroom, he was starting to become immune to that smile. Though, for the sake of a quiet life, he thought it best to submit to the Secret Santa and have done with it. After all, he could just have his assistant buy the blasted gift for him. He really didn’t have to put any effort into it at all.
Roughly, he stuck his hand in the hat and grasped a piece of paper. He pulled it out and looked at it briefly before dismissing it completely. It was a second cousin of his who worked on the fourth floor. Undoubtedly some bottle of alcohol would be suitable. Alcohol was always suitable for his family.
His mother’s smile widened even more and a part of him – the part that had always taken joy in the way her eyes shone with pride whenever he presented her with a flawless report card – glowed.
“I’m so glad you’re getting into the holiday spirit this year.”
She gave him the worried look that he was actually becoming accustomed to – it had been a way of life for the last ten years.
“You know, a fried of mine has a daughter who would be…”
“Mom,” he tried to interrupt her gently.
“Absolutely perfect for you. She’s…”
“Mom.” He lost a little of his patience.
“A doe from a deer herd and…”
“Mother!”
She blinked at him. “Yes, darling?”
“No. No set-ups.” Definitely not with anyone his mother considered suitable. Undoubtedly she would find someone chipper who adores Christmas as much as she did. Which meant, not his type at all.
“But darling, it has been ten years.”
Her sad smile deepened. His insides clenched as he thought of his late mate.
“I’m already seeing someone,” he lied.
Her eyes widened. “You are?”
“You don’t have to sound so shocked,” he grumbled. Even if he was lying, surely it wasn’t unbelievable for him to actually find a woman to date him on his own. Women hit on him all the time. Well, sometimes anyway.
“I’m not shocked at all; I’m delighted to hear it. You must invite her to dinner; I’d love to meet her.”
Branch grumbled something unintelligible.
She kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll see you later, darling,” she trilled before bouncing away to inflict some holiday spirit on more unsuspecting members of their herd.
Branch turned his attention back to his report and tried not to growl as he thought about how much he hated Christmas and all the forced cheer, the drunkenness, the overspending...
Just breathe he told himself. It will all be over in a month.
He got back to his report. One of his junior accountants had drawn his attention to a discrepancy in their accounts. He didn’t usually handle that kind of issue; as CFO, that was his uncle’s domain, but the young cow had mentioned the matter when they were waiting an elevator together. She was nervous and babbling, and it came out. He told her to send him the reports, and he would look into it. He couldn’t make heads nor tails out of some of these expenses. What on earth was Snow Bunnies? That was probably his brother sneaking in some kind of expense that had no business being charged to the company. Knowing his brother, it was probably a strip club. Well, that wasn’t the anomaly in the accounts, but he would certainly put a stop to the amount of money they were throwing at it each month. That was one of many things to go, including the completely unnecessary horse-drawn cart and driver they kept on staff. Why on earth would they need one of those on staff?!
“Hey!”
Branch curled a lip and huffed as his brother, Harlan, sauntered into the office without knocking.
“Can’t you knock?” he growled.
While reindeer predominantly prefer leafy greens, they certainly weren’t pussies when it came to fights. Anyone on the wrong end of their antlers could attest to that. While they may not have the pointy teeth of wolves and bears, Branch was not above growling at anyone – especially those who wanted something.
“I can,” he smirked dropping into a seat and flinging a leg over one of the arms. “I just don’t.”
“What do you want?” Because he always wanted something. “I’m very busy.”
Probably not something his brother would recognize since he had been coasting since he was flung out of college. Burn down three buildings, and the College Board was totally unreasonable!
“Lighten up, bro,’ it’s Christmas.”
“It’s December 1st,” grumbled Branch.
“Exactly, almost Christmas.”
Branch rolled his eyes. Just because he was a reindeer, it did not mean he was a Christmassy person. If he could, he would go to work on Christmas day, but that would make his mother cry and give him that awful queasy feeling in his stomach. But while he had to attend dinner on Christmas day, he certainly didn’t have to attend the myriad of gawdawful holiday events she organized throughout December.
“What happened to your assistant?” asked Harlan.
“Nothing,” said Branch, pointedly trying to get back to the document he had been reading when his mother first interrupted. “I expect he’s out at his desk right now.”
“Yes, exactly, he.”
Branch pursed his lips. He knew what Harlan was getting at – he was just choosing to ignore him. His last assistant, Judy, had been shuffled to another department three days ago. Her tight clothing, short skirts, and overpowering perfume were just about manageable, but coming to work without underwear and choosing to bend over at every available opportunity really was the giddy limit. Judy was moved somewhere else – to an admin job at their resort in Florida he believed – while a suitable replacement called Boris was moved into the role with effortless ease.
Given that Branch was the alpha, he was accustomed to overt displays by females all wanting to become ‘Mrs. Alpha.’ It was a coveted position and the unmated cows – yes, cows was the correct word for female reindeer – of his herd all wanted that role. Women virtually fell at his feet. That happened literally once too. He was also used to stepping over them.
He had been mated, to a member of his herd called Janelle. He had loved her since they were children, and she had been his one – his heart mate, his soul mate – but he had lost her. He wasn’t ready to make the leap again – he could not bear to replace Janelle yet.
Branch would mate, one day – for the sake of the herd. Most likely it would be a mating of convenience. But that day was not here yet, and the female definitely wasn’t his ex-assistant who possessed far too much confidence and far too little underwear. Though, her antics were nothing compared to the pushiest female in the herd – Maris. She had already bought a wedding dress and kept a calligrapher on retainer, ready to create invitations with flair for their wedding!
Harlan huffed when he realized Branch wasn’t going to be any more forthcoming than a brick wall. Unlike Branch, Harlan had found Judy’s antics ‘hilarious.’
“Mom make you pick your Secret Santa victim?” asked Harlan.
“Yes,” rumbled Branch.
No doubt she was already off force feeding merry cheer to other members of the herd. It was only a matter of time before she got out the Christmas decorations and donned her hideous musical brooch. Damn thing wouldn’t break no matter how many hammers or hooves it fell under.
“Who’d you get?”
“Roger,” he replied dismissively. It hardly mattered.
His brother gave him an awfully smug smile, and Branch groaned. “You got me, didn’t you?”
“I’m not saying a word,” said his brother with far too much glee.
Branch ran a hand through his hair. Terrific. As if Christmas couldn’t get any worse.
“I’m going to tell Mom I’m not taking part this year.”
“No, you won’t.”
Harlan gave him an infinitely smug smile, and Branch sagged.
“No I won’t,” he agreed dismally.
He wouldn’t hurt her feelings for the sake of an awful Secret Santa gift. She lived for Christmas; he wouldn’t take that away from her just because his brother pissed him off and he loathed the damn holiday.
“She’ll make you love Christmas yet,” taunted Harlan.
Branch snorted in disbelief. Unlikely. That would take some sort of damn miracle.