Page 9 of Mistletoe Mistake
“Oh god, no.” The words slip out before I can stop them. “I mean, no thank you, Tahls, only kids sit on Santa’s lap. C’mon, let’s go and let the next person have their turn.”
“No, you have to have your turn, Holly.” Her voice takes on a whiny quality that I could really do without.
“It’s okay, it’s more common than you think.” Santa pats his lap in what I’m sure he considers an inviting manner. Me? I just find it creepy.
“No, thanks.” My voice takes on a shrill tone that makes me cringe.
“Holly, sit. Down!” Tahlia hisses, as though I’m the one embarrassing her.
Could this moment be any more horrific?
I probably shouldn’t have tempted fate with that thought. Because when I look helplessly around the perimeter of the village to all the people standing behind the tiny picket fence, my eyes clash with a pair of beautiful jade ones that are watching me curiously while a smirk plays across his lips.
What the hell is Nick doing at Santa’s village?
4
Nick
It’s a standoff and I feel like I am being supremely outwitted.
“It’s mine.” Tahlia glares at me. “I’m a little kidandI’m the guest, so you have to let me have the last marshmallow.”
“I’m also a guest here and I’m your elder, so I would argue that meansIget to have the last marshmallow.”
She scowls at me across the dining table where Holly set us up before rushing off to make a call.
“You’re lucky though, because I am also a gentleman, so you can have the last one.” I push the almost empty bag across to her and enjoy the grin that lights up her face.
“Thank you, Nick,” she replies, suddenly demure as she stuffs the marshmallow in her already overflowing cup of hot chocolate.
While Tahlia is distracted, I steal a look across at Holly, who is leaning against the kitchen island. Biting her nails and with a furrowed brow, she looks worried, and an instinct to fix whatever the problem is propels me off my seat and headed in her direction.
“Is he going to be okay?” She glances up at me as I take a spot next to her. “Mmmhmm…” She nods, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. “Of course she can stay, keep me updated and give Troy my love.” Her lips turn up in a smirk and I am suddenly aware of how close I’m standing. How easy it would be to run my thumb along that lush bottom lip that I fantasize about a little too often. “You can also warn him that I plan on teasing him mercilessly when I see him.”
A low rumble on the other end of the line has her giggling and I feel my cock come to life at the sound. I really should move away, but she smells so good. Ironically, like Christmas. Peppermint and chocolate.
Edible.
Coming to my senses, I take a step back and move around to the other side of the counter to hide my semi. I wonder if it would look suspicious if I carry a book in front of my crotch whenever I’m around her.
Hell, it worked in eighth grade around Shauna Garrett.
“So, apparently Troy was showing off his moves on the ice-skating rink and has hurt his ankle.”
Holly’s voice jolts me from my thoughts and I look up to find her trying to smother a laugh. “He’s fine, but they’re at the hospital waiting to get it looked at. I hope it’s okay with you, I said Tahlia could sleep here tonight. Give them one less thing to worry about.” She shrugs apologetically. “I can take her back to the apartment so she’s not in your hair. I didn’t actually intend to bring her here today, I promise.”
That much was obvious when she tried to bolt after I stumbled across her at the mall.
In a Santa village.
Surrounded by fake snow, gingerbread houses, and life-sized candy canes.
I’m pretty sure it was my heaven and her hell.
Luckily, it only took one mention of Gypsy to have Tahlia insisting on coming back to the house to visit her. Otherwise I’m sure Holly would have disappeared faster than I could say Ho! Ho! Ho!
I glance across to Tahlia who is studiously slurping up her drink, chocolate covering her face, hands sticky with marshmallow goo and a hopeful dog sitting at her feet.
