It was Christmas. He could make this work, even if he had to walk each child through his makeshift shop one by one himself. Resolving to it, he reentered the conference-ball room.
A final sweep through the guests told him enough. His elevator girl wasn’t here. Might as well make his rounds and then head home for some rest. He’d need it once the morning came.
Hawk signaled Clary. In seconds, she joined his side.
“Speech time?” she asked.
“Might as well.”
Clary tapped a finger to her ear, communicating with the DJ, who waited for the right time to add a transitional break in the music. Hawk approached the microphone.
“Merry Christmas,” he told his employees. “This is a special time of year, and I wanted to thank you all for spending it here.”
He continued on, sharing his appreciation for their loyal service, thanking Clary and her team for such an immaculate event, and emphasizing how invaluable each and every one of his staff was. People applauded, but the looks on their faces said it all. Returned gratitude and appreciation radiated from every expression, filling him with pleasure. He’d always done his best to be a good boss, and moments like this made all the stress of the season worth it.
“Enjoy yourselves,” he said. “Make sure to take full advantage of all the refreshments, and have the best of holidays.” He held out a hand in salute for good measure and received another round of applause before the DJ kicked the music back into full gear.
Speech delivered, Hawk traipsed toward the ballroom’s main entrance while a mental list ticked through. His sisters had their own families to be with Christmas morning. He could ask his parents, but they’d be expecting company once the siblings’ families held their personal celebrations and present-opening. The entire Danielson crew would be gathering. He couldn’t pull them from their preparations or their much-needed sleep.
Hawk wondered about Faye. He’d gotten her a job in his shop on Seventeenth for the season. She already had an apron and knew the ropes in describing products and helping customers make their decisions. Then again, she had all her grandkids too. How could he pull her away from her family?
He was so preoccupied with getting to the exit; he didn’t notice the woman leaving the coatroom until she rounded the corner and nearly crashed into him.
She wore no coat, despite the winter wonderland that had settled all over Westville. Then again, she’d probably just emerged from hanging it up.
Hawk couldn’t say he minded. It would have lessened the effect of her slim figure in the elegant dress that embodied winter itself, with its off-the-shoulder neckline and soft pink lace that hugged her slender silhouette like a sheath. A thin band tied around her waist, emphasizing just how small it was.
Her chestnut hair was coiffed and collected in waves over her right shoulder. The effect of her face was more startling than anything though. He’d seen those chocolate eyes, that thin nose, and those pouty lips in his dreams for days. She may as well have appeared by magic.
“You’re here,” he said.
Surprise flashed in her gaze. She shook the snow from her hair, displaying the briefest flash of silver heels before lowering the train she’d hoisted in one hand to keep it from dragging on the floor. The dress created a pool around her feet.
She dipped her head bashfully before noticing the direction he’d been headed in. “I am. And you? You’re leaving?”
“I—I was.” He felt like such an idiot. Why couldn’t he seem to form any coherent words? He didn’t have anxiety in a stalled elevator for an excuse this time.
They paused, staring at one another in the empty hallway. Tinkling music wafted through, swirling around them. Lights were bright, as though some of the fairy-tale of the dance hall had made its way out here.
Or maybe it was just her.
***
Hawk filled Ella’s vision. With the darkened hall behind him, lit by glittering lights, and pine swag wreathing along the ceiling every several feet toward what she assumed was the ballroom, everything else blurred. Her heart picked up speed.
His tux was black and white. Black slacks, white suit coat, and shirt, with a black bowtie. Hair slicked back, clean-shaven jawline, and blue eyes flashing, he was enough of a distraction to make her forget why she was standing there in too-high heels, in a dress that swam over her like silk, or why her inner hot-guy radar was going off the charts.
He probably didn’t recognize her. It wasn’t like he remembered everyone he rode on elevators with. Usually, she had it together, but in that moment she’d lose her own shoe if it wasn’t on her foot.
“It’s you, isn’t it?” he said again
“Me?”
He took another step. “From the elevator.”
Oh goodness. He did remember.
Ella’s throat closed. That had been such a singular instance. So brief, yet so recurring in her thoughts. She wanted to say something witty, something clever, something enchanting to keep him right here talking to her.
In an age-old gesture, Hawk strode to her side, ratcheting her awareness, until he stopped at her side and offered her his arm.
“I think I’ll stay a little longer,” he said, “if you’d like to dance with me.”
Heat blazed in her cheeks. She was captured in the intensity of his expression. Without taking her eyes from his, she answered yes by slipping her arm through his.
Ella felt like royalty as she glided through the tunnel of gleaming wreaths toward the ballroom. She’d never imagined this. Being met by Hawk at the door. Having him accompany her, having him ask for a dance and imply that she was basically the reason he’d changed his mind.
He was staying so he could dance with her.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Winter Wonderland was a complete cliché, but whoever had been in charge of decorations for this event had created a veritable North Pole of the ballroom. Ella couldn’t fathom how much time it must have taken to create hills of
