Page 80 of The Santa Rules
I’ve never wanted to mount someone more.
The girls try to stifle their laughter, and I look over, feeling my cheeks heat.
“I think that was an inside thought.” Summer winks.
Hardy gives me a grin. “I think we can arrange that later.” He plants a peck on my cheek. “I forgot to ask, who did you hire as Santa?”
If my cheeks were pink, they’re red now. I avoid eye contact with him, looking at the girls, silently pleading for help.
“Bells.” His voice is stern yet resigned, like he already knows his fate.
“He calls you Bells!” Lucy sighs.
“Aren’t nicknames supposed to be shorter than your actual name?” Raven asks.
“Like jingle bells?” Summer raises an eyebrow.
“Actually, it’s because I was wearing this hat while we?—”
Hardy covers my mouth with his hand. “They don’t need to know every detail,” he chides as the girls whistle and fan themselves.
He removes his hand, and I turn to face him, grabbing his arms. “Don’t be mad. I couldn’t find anything in your size locally, so I had to order it, and I really hope it fits you.” I walkmy fingers up his chest slowly as I lower my voice. “Maybe you can try it on for me tonight.”
“We’re not banging in the same outfit I’m going to wear in front of the kids,” he whispers back.
“Maybe not before you wear it for the kids, but definitely after.” I wink, reveling in the way the tips of his ears turn red.
A throat clears behind us, and when I turn to look, I see Lucy pointing across the gym. Chuck is waving his arms wildly, stumbling around while Amber stares at him with her hands on her hips. They’re too far away to make out any words, but it’s obviously a heated argument.
“What do you think that’s about?” Lucy asks, taking a step closer to me right as Amber whips her head in my direction and looks me straight in the eyes. Then she turns back to Chuck gesturing in my direction.
“I think it’s about you,” Raven says to me.
Right then, Chuck stumbles into one of the theatre flats and knocks it over. A hush falls over the gym.
“I’m going to escort him out of the building. Excuse me, ladies.”
I watch as Hardy strides across the gym and helps Chuck up. Amber looks embarrassed and apologetic, and she rushes over to pick up the set piece as another mom helps her.
“I swear, if she’s trying to sabotage you, she’s reached a new low,” Raven says, crossing her arms.
“Based on the way she’s trying to fix what Chuck knocked over and the embarrassed look on her face, I’m going to guess this wasn’t planned,” I say, looking away from the scene.
“It’s very noble of you to be so forgiving. I don’t think I possess that level of fortitude.” Raven places a hand on my shoulder.
“Honestly, I think she’s just insecure, and for some reason, I’ve become her punching bag. I’m not saying I want to be best friends with her or anything, but I think she acts the way she does to make herself feel better.”
“Hurt peoplehurtpeople,” Lucy says.
I clap my hands. “Okay, we’ve got a few hours before I turn into a pumpkin, so let’s start laying out merchandise.”
It’s incredible the way this group of moms comes together. I truly believe that we could solve most of the world’s problems if moms were in charge.
Before I realize it, an hour has passed. I’m lost in thought when a pair of strong arms snakes around my waist as a warm, hard body presses against me, his pine, bergamot, and smoky scent filling me with peace. “How’d it go with Chuck?” I lean back against him, looking up at him.
“It was fine. I was tempted to drop him off at the drunk tank to sleep it off, but I just ended up taking him home since I couldn’t get a rideshare to come pick him up.”
“Yeah, Ned is usually in for the night by eight.”
