A Christmas Temptation. Karen Booth

One

      Eden’s Department Store offered a dazzling array of merchandise, but in Sophie Eden’s mind, everything started with the shoes. Thus, she always began her workday in the shoe department, surveying the latest and chitchatting with the salespeople as they prepared for the day’s shoppers. Sophie often devoted ten or fifteen minutes to the pursuit before heading upstairs to her office. Some days she’d even try on something new. Not today. With less than a month until Christmas, and the vultures circling, getting right to work was the most pressing matter.

      She bustled through the department down the wide center promenade, past the Lucite and chrome displays of sling-backs and stilettos, beneath the splendid crystal chandeliers that dotted the high coffered ceiling. Her delicate heels click-clacked on the gleaming white marble floor. Her shoes were particularly magnificent today—Manolo Blahnik pumps with a slim leather tie at the ankle, in Christmas red. The color choice was no coincidence. The holidays were Sophie’s favorite time of year, and she was going to sneak in every second of cheer she could. She already knew Christmas would be difficult this year. This would be the first without Gram, her grandmother, the founder of Eden’s.

      Sophie rounded a turn as the aisle spoked off to the various sections of the department known to fashion editors all over the world as “shoe heaven.” Tucked back in the far corner was the vestibule with the private elevator that would take her upstairs to the true guts of the Eden’s operation. She sucked in a deep, cleansing breath as she took her short ride up one floor. Normally, she loved her job, but right now it was much farther from heaven than the number on the elevator door suggested.

      “Good morning, Lizzie,” Sophie said, greeting her assistant. She shrugged off her cream-colored wool coat and slung it over her arm. Considering the dirt and grime of the city, such a light color was a stupid idea, but Sophie loved the way it showed off her red hair. It was one of her best assets.

      Lizzie popped up from behind her desk, all sunshine and raw energy. Her platinum pixie cut was extra spiky today. “Good morning, Ms. Eden. How are you?”

      “Depends. How’s my day looking?”

      “You’ve already received three gift baskets from real-estate developers this morning.”

      “It’s barely nine o’clock.”

      “The couriers start delivering at eight.”

      Sophie shook her head. This had been the drill for the last month, ever since her grandmother, Victoria Eden, had passed away. Everyone knew that Sophie and her sister, Mindy, would inherit Eden’s. Their grandmother spoke of it often, at runway shows and cocktail parties and even to the press. Eden’s was a business built for women, by women, and it would be run by women for as long as Victoria Eden could see it through.

      The will was to be read the week before Christmas when the heirs could gather. It was viewed as a formality, though. Sophie and her sister, Mindy, would own the store. Thus the influx of gift baskets, flowers, phone calls and emails. It wasn’t that anyone was particularly interested in Eden’s as a business. They were after the building and the land. Everyone assumed Sophie and Mindy would want to sell. Mindy was desperate to do so. Sophie was diametrically opposed to the idea.

      “Oh, and your sister called to say she will not be able to come by today after all,” Lizzie said as she trailed Sophie into her office.

      “Lovely.” Sophie made no effort to disguise the unhappiness in her voice. She and Mindy were at odds right now. “I’ll have to give her a call and see what her problem is.” She got settled in her chair, which was custom upholstered in peacock blue velvet with gold nail-head trim. She pulled her laptop from her bag and set it on her sleek white glass-topped desk. “Anything else?”

      “Everything’s in your calendar. You have a meeting with the department heads at two this afternoon. Also, Reginald will be up to do the holiday decorations in your office soon. I tried to get him to come earlier in the morning, but it just wasn’t possible. I think they’re all still recovering from installing the holiday window displays.”

      Sophie waved it off. “Yes. Of course. My office is definitely the bottom of the priority list. And I’m glad they’re coming while I’m here. I’d like to be able to pitch in.” Sophie loved decorating for Christmas. It was one of her absolute favorite pursuits.

      “Do you think Reginald will actually let you help? You know how he is.” Lizzie bugged her eyes and whispered, “Control freak.”

      “And I’m about to be the president of Eden’s Department Store. Plus, he loved Gram, and he knows how close we were.” Sophie wasn’t sure who had cried harder at her grandmother’s funeral—her or Reginald. “I’m sure he’ll be nothing but accommodating.”

      Lizzie made her way to the door but stopped before exiting. “Oh. I almost forgot. Jake Wheeler called again last night. Also, he sent the fruit.” Lizzie pointed to the credenza behind Sophie’s desk. Three elaborate cellophane-wrapped baskets sat atop it.

      Jake Wheeler. How could one man’s name send both a flash of anger and a flutter of delight through her body at the same time?

      “Did he leave a message?”

      “He did. He wanted me to remind you that it’s very important he speaks to you.”

      “Of course he did. He’s a man accustomed to getting everything he wants.” Sophie picked up the fruit basket. “Put this in the employee lounge. Someone should enjoy it.”

      Lizzie held out her arms, which dropped a bit under the weight of the basket. “Don’t you want to read the card first?”

      Sophie didn’t really want to read the card, but knowledge was king and she needed to know what Jake Wheeler was thinking. Otherwise, he was a mystery. He always had been.

      Sophie grabbed the gold-trimmed envelope and ripped it from the plastic. “Thank you, Lizzie.”

      “Of course, Ms. Eden. You know where to find me if you need anything.”

      Sophie sat in her chair, her back straight and chin held high as she slid a manicured finger under the envelope flap. There was no telling what Jake had written on this card. When they were in business school together, everything out of his mouth was witty and warm. It was one of the things that first drew her to him. That and his unforgettable green eyes.

       Dear Sophie,

       You can’t ignore my phone calls forever. Sooner or later, I’ll get through to you.

       Best,

       Jake

      A zip of electricity ran along Sophie’s spine. From somewhere deep in the recesses of her mind, the sound of Jake’s sexy rumble of a voice had been set free. It was like a wild animal, pouncing on her. She’d forgotten the way it made her feel. A wave of warmth started in her chest and rolled back over her shoulders. She reclined in her chair and closed her eyes, recalling the magical moment when he’d first kissed her eight years ago, his insistent lips bringing every fantasy she’d had about him to life. He’d kissed her like he meant it, his arms tight around her waist, pulling her body into his. It was a dream come true in so many ways. She’d spent two years desperate for him to do that, trying so hard to be the kind of woman who would catch his eye. Finally, she’d done it.

      Little had she known Jake Wheeler would break her heart and shatter her opinion of him in less than twenty-four hours.

      Sophie’s eyes flew open when there was a knock at her door.

      Lizzie stood before her, plainly concerned. It was not like Sophie to sit at her desk with her eyes closed. “Ms. Eden? Reginald is here.”

      Sophie bolted upright and scrambled out from behind her desk. “Yes. Great. Good morning, Reginald. Please, come right in.”

      “Everything okay?” Lizzie asked under her breath.

      “Just