Page 1 of The Bad Boy's Secret Santa

Chapter One

PIPER

I hug the red envelope to my chest and let out the squeal of delight I’ve been holding in for over twenty minutes. Ever since I pulled the special Christmas card out of my mailbox. I didn’t dare let my four-plex neighbors see just how excited I was about this turn of events. They truly believe that participating in this year’s Secret Santa event is all about a free month of rent.

I know better.

Thisis the Christmas that I finally find my true love.

There’s a rumor circulating Alpine Valley that Grandma Wilma is a matchmaker. That she uses these special events to help couples find one another. Most people laugh at it, despite there being five newly minted couples from last year’s event. But I noticed something they haven’t. The women who were personally invited to participate were the ones who ended up with engagement rings last Christmas.

And I’ve been suspecting that Grandma is up to something this year too. Ever since our Sunday night pot roast last week.Why else would she have asked about my neighbors’ Christmas plans?

I reread the card once more, unable to tame my cheek-to-cheek grin of excitement. I’m willing to bet there’ll be four more happily-ever-after successes to add to the event’s tally come Christmas Day.

I change into my favorite red sweater, the one that accentuates all my curves, add a few curls to my long blonde hair, and touch up my makeup. I stare indecisively at the lipstick tube in my palm. Red might be overkill. But I also feel confident and sexy when I’m brave enough to wear it.

If I’m going to discover who my true love is today, I want to lookandfeel like a million bucks.

I apply the lipstick.

Slipping on my coat and cute, fuzzy red stocking hat, I opt for walking.

Light snowflakes fall from the sky, ever so gently dusting the world around me. Everything sparkles. I canfeelthe Christmas magic in the air.

Is today the day I get to star in my very own Hallmark movie? Well, hopefully mine will be less wholesome because I would really, really like some mind-blowing sex this Christmas. Hey, I’ll admit it. The drought has been embarrassingly long. Besides, Santa has a naughty side. Right?

I scan the sidewalk as I head downtown, wondering who my perfect match might be. Has he been in Alpine Valley this whole time, right under my nose? Or will it be some mysterious stranger who gets stranded in town? Maybe some hot single dad will need a nanny for the holidays and his daughter will help the match along.

“Or maybe I’ve watched too many Christmas romances lately.”

But my smile only stretches wider as I turn a corner and the Alpine Valley Community Center comes into view.

No one knows for sure how the names for the Secret Santa event are chosen. Grandma has beenverytight-lipped about it all.

“Piper, you’re the first one here!” Grandma Wilma straightens out a red tablecloth across a long table. Behind it, I spot a couple dozen or more tiny gift bags. All of them holiday themed and glittery.

“Can I help?”

“Actually, I was hoping to ask you something.”

“You need a favor?”

“It’s a little more than a favor, sweetie.” She waves mebehindthe table, and my pulse jumps.

I cautiously meet her on the forbidden side of the table and a shiver runs up my spine. It’s kind of like a kid getting a peek into Santa’s workshop. Wow, I’ve really built this thing up in my head. “What’s going on?”

“I thought you might like to be my apprentice this year,” she says.

“Oh?” I’m not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, I’ve been dying to know how she does it all. On the other hand, I was really hoping to draw a name and get my happy-ever-after. Will I still find my true love if I can’t participate?

“You still need to participate if you want that rent waived,” she says, as if she can hear my silently shouted fears. “But if you have some time this morning, I’d love to show you the ropes. This will be my last year running the event. I’d hate for it to go away in the future. It’s been such a success.”

Yeah, it has. “I don’t have a lot of work due right now.” I purposefully wrapped up most of my current projects so I could take some time off over the holidays. “I’m free for a while.”

“Oh good! So, you’ll do it?”

I eye a metal bucket filled with wooden tokens. I’ve often wondered how many numbers are in there. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me, but I’m pretty sure there are more tokens than gift bags. Oh, I havesomany questions.

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