The only Jewish person at Patterson and Associates, Micah Adler grudgingly participates in the office's "secret Santa" gift exchange at Christmas. But the gift that waits for him is a little surprising -- a brand-new box of condoms, with a suggestive, unsigned note attached. In trying to figure out who might have sent the gift, he narrows it down to two coworkers: Brady or Jonathan. Both men are young, attractive, and single, like Micah himself, though if Micah had his choice, he'd pick Jonathan. He's harbored a not-so-secret crush on the guy ever since they met when Micah began working at the firm. But Micah knows it's a hopeless cause -- Jonathan is straight, and said as much when Micah first hit on him months ago. Since Brady is gay, Micah suspects the condoms and other sexually-themed presents he receives are either a gag gift from one queer to another or a blatant offer to spend the holiday with someone else. When the trio decide to go out after work on Christmas Eve, Micah thinks he'll get a chance to flirt with Brady and see where the evening might end. But is Brady really Micah's secret Santa? Or does Jonathan have something he wants to confess?

Secret Santa

Taking Micah’s glass from nerveless fingers,Jonathan set it beside his own,then resettled himself on the couch.Had he just moved closer?Micah wasn’t sure.Suddenly things were moving way too fast for him to keep up.Just how much had he had to drink today?Too much,or maybe not enough.


When he reached for his glass,though,Jonathan caught Micah’s hand and laced his fingers through Micah’s.His touch was warm,gentle,firm—everything Micah wanted,everything he needed.Staring at their entwined hands,Micah cleared his throat and said,“Don’t fuck with me,Jon.I want this too much.If this is funny to you,just stop now.”


Jonathan shifted closer on the couch—this time Micah saw him move,and he felt Jonathan’s knee press heavily against his thigh.“How long have we known each other?”Jonathan asked.


With his friend so damn close,touching him so tenderly,Micah couldn’t think.“How long have I worked at Patterson?”


Chapter 8