Page 15 of A Very Naughty Christmas

“I’m coming,” she grumbled as the knock sounded again. She couldn’t help but remember when she’d come home from school last Christmas. It had seemed that every hour or so there was a knock on the door with another package from FedEx.

“I thought we said no presents this year!” her mother had exclaimed to her father, mock scolding as she wagged her finger at him.

“Ah, well,” he’d shrugged in return, clearly unrepentant.

Sara, still in her PJs but mindful of the chill outside, wrapped her cozy gray throw around her shoulders like a cape and didn’t bother to so much as comb her hair—she was sure she looked dreadful, considering she also hadn’t bothered to shower in the last two days—before trudging to the door and throwing it open. A mild sense of déjà vu washed over her as she saw Alex standing on the doorstep with his killer smile and, this time, instead of a box of doughnuts, he held a brown takeout bag.

“Good afternoon,” he called out cheerfully, seeming unperturbed by her answering scowl. “I thought I’d stop by with some food since you haven’t set foot outside in a few days. Figured you might be hungry.”

“How do you know I haven’t?” she demanded. “What did you do, set a booby trap or something to alert you?”

“Oh, come on, Sara. I’m a cop. I have much more sophisticated techniques than that. Now, are you going to let me in?”

She rolled her eyes and did not laugh at his attempt at a joke, instead choosing to eye the bag he held. It looked pretty full, judging by the bulge at the bottom. And now that he mentioned it, shewashungry. She’d been living off Froot Loops and she’d just run out this morning. “That depends. What’s in the bag?”

“Oh, I see, playing hard to get,” he teased. “But I won’t tell you, not even so much as a hint. If you want to find out, you’re going to have to let me in.”

Sara thought it over for a moment and then stepped aside. The one item left in the hallway was a gold gilded mirror. She caught sight of her reflection and grimaced. Not only was her hair a disheveled mess, but there were bags under her eyes and she looked pale, thanks to not wearing any makeup. Oh, well. What did she care? She didn’t have to preen and primp around Alex anymore—she’d killed any chance of having something with him the other night. Oh, who was she kidding? There had never been any chance to begin with, but at least now she knew it.

“Thank you. I’ll unpack this on the table, and then maybe you can tell me why you’ve been spending your Christmas break cooped up inside the house.”

She closed the door behind him, following at a respectful distance. “I have not been…” She’d been about to sayavoiding you, but the lie stuck in her throat. She knew that he wouldn’t appreciate it, and what the hell? So he knew she’d been avoiding him. What difference would that make to him, anyway? He just saw her as some kid—correction, some kid he was taking an interest in for charity’s sake over the holidays.

“You haven’t been what?” Alex asked, turning to face her when she entered the kitchen. He’d already set the bag down and laid out burgers and fries in front of two adjacent chairs, the mouth-watering aroma of which made her stomach begin to growl then and there.

“Never mind,” she mumbled, eyeing the foil-wrapped burgers.

“Youhavebeen avoiding me,” he continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “Is it because I spanked you? Because you asked for that spanking, and even told me that you deserved it. I consider the matter forgiven and forgotten, so long as it doesn’t happen again.”

“No, it’s not the spanking.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Can we eat now?”

“Not until you tell me what the problem is. And, by the way, I’m not enjoying this attitude you have right now.”

She looked up at him in surprise, quickly noting that his brows were drawing together. Her belly knotted and yet, did a small flip at the same time. Uh-oh. She was making Daddy mad. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Thank God he couldn’t read her mind!

“I… I’m sorry,” Sara apologized, making an effort to speak without grunting or sighing at him.

Alex gave her a sharp, assessing look before he finally nodded. “All right. Now, are you going to tell me why you’ve stayed holed up in your house this whole time? Thetruth,” he added, almost as if he knew she’d been about to fib about needing to pack. Which, of course shedidneed to do, but it didn’t have anything to do with why she’d gone AWOL.

“I’m really hungry,” she hedged.

He gave her one more searching look before he nodded. Then he walked to the table and took one of the chairs. Sara followed his lead, but when she tried to sit down at the other, he took her by the hand and pulled her to his side.

“W-what are you doing?” she stammered.

“You’re hungry, and I want answers,” he explained. “So we’re going to compromise. You sit on my lap, and I’ll feed you.”

“Feed me?” she echoed incredulously, blushing deeper at the tremor she heard in her voice.

“That’s right. Fries for information. An equal trade, wouldn’t you say?”

“Mr. Maxwell… I can’t… I can’t just sit on your lap,” she squeaked.

“Funny—sometimes, I’m Alex, then back to Mr. Maxwell.” His eyes twinkled at her and she began to fidget, suspecting what he was about to say even before the words came out of his mouth. “And ‘Daddy’ at others.”

That did it. Her face burst into what felt like bona fide flame. Oh, man, if there was a time she’d ever beenthisembarrassed, she sure didn’t remember it. She tried to turn away to hide her face, but his hand snaked out and took her by the wrist. With a gentle tug he had her facing him once more—albeit, eyes glued firmly to the floor—and sitting on his knee.

“Ketchup?”

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