After seeing his father’s profligate ways almost destroy the family business, Ransom Burke has instituted a firm policy of no work fraternization. When his longtime lover leaves him for a woman, Ransom vows never again to let anyone get close to him. He informs all future lovers he’ll shower them with gifts as long as they remain monogamous. However, at the first sign of straying, they’ll receive a bouquet of white roses tipped with gold and the affair will be over. Man after man chooses straying over Ransom until the day the very appealing Parrish Rutledge comes to work for him. That means Parrish will forever be out of his reach. Parrish has been alone since he was sixteen, having been tossed out when his older brother discovered he was gay. He’s immediately attracted to his new boss, but even though he dreams of Ransom, he knows, due to the company policy, it can’t go anywhere. But in the aftermath of the office Christmas party, things change between them, and Parrish is given a choice: keep his job and know he can never again see Ransom as anything other than his boss, or quit and become his lover. The one is unthinkable, and as for the other, Ransom is a serial monogamist who doesn’t have the best track record. Parrish’s choice will either lead to a Christmas Day where once again he’ll be alone, or the best present ever will be under his tree.

The Best

Across one of the chairs in the seating area was a pair of black lounging pants and nothing else. Parrish licked his lips, grabbed them up and rubbed them against his cheek—they were silk!—before hurrying into the bathroom. Another shower would be a good idea. It wouldn’t take him long.


He grinned to himself. Five minutes. Seven at the most.


He was back in the bedroom, rubbing a towel over his hair and admiring the effect of the candlelight and the flames flickering in the hearth, when Ransom joined him.


“I knew those pants would look good on you.”


Parrish’s mouth went dry. The way Ransom was looking at him…it felt like he was about to be pounced on and gobbled up.


He licked his lips—if he continued doing that, they were going to become chapped—and had to swallow a couple of times before he could get any words out. “And they feel even better.” He brought one of Ransom’s hands to his hip. “Don’t you think?” he asked innocently.


Chapter 68