Holiday Hearts

"I hate office Christmas parties." Shelby Carter crossed her arms on her desk and buried her face in them. "I want to finish up this damn end-of-the-year report, go home and forget all about the Holiday Card Company until after the holidays." She'd taken a vacation day for Monday, and Tuesday was Christmas Eve, so the office was closed. As soon as she left work tonight, she was actually free for almost a week."You and every other employee," Jana Pierson agreed, leaning in the doorway of Shelby's cubicle. Jana's desk was across the aisle - she was responsible for tracking product shipments while Shelby coordinated accounts receivable.Shelby nodded. "None of us want to go, but Mr. Holiday, Senior, still insists we show up, tug our forelocks and get presented with a new set of livery.""That's it, I'm cutting you off from historical romance novels," Jana said with a laugh. "Although, god, that's just about what it feels like sometimes. Wouldn't it be nice if they'd just hand us the b

Noel couldn't stand the look of fear in Shelby's pretty green eyes. Never mind that he was her boss, sort of, right now they were in this together and he was the only person she had to count on. He wrapped his arm around her corseted waist and pulled her close."I think so," he admitted. "I haven't finished looking around - I wanted to wait here until you woke up, but I have poked my head into the rooms adjacent to this one. They look almost exactly like I remember the miniature."She leaned into him and clutched at his hand with her own and Noel tried not to notice how smooth her skin was. "So, did somebody lace the eggnog with LSD, or what? Because these things don't really happen. I'm an accountant for goodness' sake.""Your guess is as good as mine, Shelby. My dad has always maintained that there's real magic in the holidays, but I never thought he meant anything like this." It was the only thing he could think of while he'd paced the room waiting for her to wake up. Somehow, th

"What's it like working with your whole family?" They climbed the steps to the house and Shelby could almost feel the warmth radiating from inside. It was as if the house welcomed them back."It's nice, most of the time." Noel held the door and ushered her ahead of him. As soon as he'd closed the heavy oak portal, he helped her off with her cloak before doffing his coat. "We all get along and it's cool to know the company has been in family hands for over a hundred years."There were five Holiday children and each of them played an integral role in the company. Noel's brother Val managed the IT department while his sister Summer handled sales and marketing. Sam was in charge of the new holiday décor product line, while sister Star was the head writer for the greeting card division. Even their mom ran the personnel department. None of them threw their weight around, which helped make Holiday a reasonable place to work.And getting involved with Noel, even temporarily could ruin that. Sh

"What do you say we get out of these clothes?" Noel asked.Shelby grinned up at him, wire-framed glasses askew and her shiny hair half tumbled from its coil."I never knew you wore glasses," he said as he gently removed them and set them on the bedside table."Contacts," she admitted. With trembling fingers, she started to unbutton the jacket of her suit. "Apparently whatever magic brought us here, managed period-appropriate replacements. When I woke up, my contacts were gone. These glasses aren't mine, but the prescription is perfect."Just like his watch and everything else.Watching her fumble with her buttons, Noel brushed her fingers aside and took over the task. The snug, fitted jacket buttoned from waist to just above the swell of her breasts, and he couldn't help but notice how much better it suited her than the original version. When he had it fully opened, he helped her take it off. Nice as it looked, it really constricted her arm movement. And he'd thought his high, starched

Shelby couldn't believe she was lounging in an antique bathtub, sipping champagne and casually chatting with the man she'd just had sex with.Noel sat in a wicker chair across from the tub, a glass of champagne in his hand and his predatory gaze fixed firmly on Shelby. It should have made her nervous, but it didn't. She'd never slept with someone she didn't really know before, but with Noel, she already felt comfortable. It was as if they'd known one another, on some level, forever.Right now they were trying to solve the puzzle of how they'd gotten here and how they were supposed to get home, though between the sex, the champagne and the hot, scented bath, she was too relaxed at the moment to really care."So, you said your dad claims to genuinely believe in holiday magic," she said. "I'm surprised you haven't sent him in for psychotherapy."Noel shrugged and Shelby couldn't help but admire the way it nudged the neckline of his robe open just a little farther. The man was built li