Page 86 of Santa's Girl
My phone buzzed against my thigh.Bear.
Sorry I had to cut our day short. Club business. You okay?
I smirked.In hell. lol jk. Game night.
Where?he replied.
Lorraine's. It's bridge night with Margie.
Share your location.
I did. Forty minutes later, the front door creaked open, and in walked Bear—leather kutte, boots, snow still dusted across his shoulders. Jinx and Pico flanked him like bodyguards. The whole room went still.
"Deal me in," Jinx grinned, snatching a peppermint bark off the dessert tray.
The ladies swooned. Some were definitely jealous. Others? Straight-up mad. Jess looked like she bit into a lemon.
Bear didn’t care. He walked straight to me, wrapped those strong arms around my waist, and kissed me right there in front of everyone. Deep. Possessive. The kind of kiss you don’t mistake for anything casual.
"You guys crashing ladies night?" someone joked, fanning herself.
Bear popped a grape into his mouth like he owned the place. "Yep."
I couldn’t stop smiling, even if I felt everyone watching.
He was mine. And right now? He didn’t care who knew it.
Then the lights flickered.
Twice.
And blinked out completely.
A beat of silence. Then someone gasped. Another cursed. Jinx held up his phone flashlight.
"Looks like we’re in for it," Margie muttered.
"Ten inches expected by morning," one of the ladies said.
Jinx grinned and winked at Margie. "Sleepover at your place?"
"Oh my," Margie flushed as the ladies fanned themselves with napkins and playing cards.
Lorraine cut in fast. "Margie’s place is too small. I’ve got room. Girls, let’s?—"
Jess used the confusion to slide up next to Bear, her arm brushing his. "Long night. Need a ride, Bear?"
I stiffened.
He didn’t even look at her.
"I'm taking my girls home," he said, voice steel. He wrapped one arm around me, the other around Margie.
Jess stood frozen. A few ladies gasped. Others blinked in surprise.
Jinx casually swiped the nearest charcuterie board like it was a prize he’d earned. "Thanks for the hospitality," he said with a wink.
Pico opened the door, letting in a rush of cold air.
