Page 181 of Screwged for Christmas

“You do a lot of things nicely, Evie,” he growled low. Fiery sparks flickered in his dark eyes.

“I call you ice princess because you look beautiful with snow in your dark hair and this fluffy coat on.”

“Mr. Dyson, it’s good to see you.” A stout man with pudgy cheeks colored red from the cold he just walked in from, came to an abrupt stop in front of our booth and extended a hand to Gabriel.

Gabriel turned, his famous scowl slipping into place a second before recognition took over.

“Calvin,” Gabriel nodded.

“We weren’t expecting you until next week. We can go back to the office if you like, go over the books. We have everything in order for you.”

I’m sure I looked puzzled because Gabriel tapped my nose and winked. “By the way, welcome to my little bakery, Ice Princess.”

My mouth fell open.

His? Huh. So my bodyguard/gopher/daddy’s best friend liked pies as much as I did.

“Not at all, Calvin. It’s Christmas Eve. Go home, spend it with your family. We can catch up after the new year.” Gabriel turned a stunning smile my way. “I have other plans for the last weeks of the year.”

Calvin nodded and moved to walk away when Gabriel called out. “Oh, before you go. Do you know if there’s any vacancy open down at the Claus House?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Dyson. With all the people in town to see the tree lighting…” he paused. “I’ll do you one better, though.” The older man's face lit up like he had a secret to share.

Ten minutes later we stood in the middle of our own little apartment overlooking the town’s square and our extra pie in hand.

Deep down, I’m not overly picky but the last place was not how I wanted to spend Christmas. This place was a huge upgrade, one I’m grateful for.

“Wow, this would have been nice a few hours ago,” I murmured close to Gabriel’s ear, and he only angled a side-eye my way.

“I was preparing this place for you knowing the bed and breakfast would be filled. Sorry I've only gotten as far as loading some firewood and putting clean sheets on the bed. I was going to have a fresh coat of paint and some flowers brought up, maybe a tree. Oh, and here’s the extra pie and cream you asked for. I—”

Gabriel took the package and cut the man’s rambling with a hand to his shoulder. “It's perfect, Calvin. Go home, see the family. Spend time with them. There will be plenty of time to go over the books later and thank you. We might be up for doing the tree tomorrow. Sound good?”

It was surreal to see a bear of a man like Gabriel be so gentle. I never considered him someone who cared for people outside of it being a job. Come to think about it, that might be more reflective of me than of him. Maybe I adopted the bratty attitude more than I thought. Something I needed to change.

Either way, I don’t know why I never saw the softer side of him before today, but now that I have, I wanted to know more. Like what he dreamed about at night, what his favorite pie was, did he want kids? A family? The whole nine yards?

Gabriel showed the man out and the second we were alone those dark eyes of his pinned me to the center of the room and I couldn’t move if I wanted.

“Gabriel,” I squeaked, a wash of heat overcoming me instantly.

“What else do you own around here?” I tried, suddenly a little nervous with the depth of hunger in his eyes.

He stalked forward, whipped cream in hand, paying no mind to my question.

He had a plan.

CHAPTER 7

EVIE

Hungry Gabriel was infinity sexier than horny Gabriel.

My insides quivered and I wonder briefly if anyone would hear the screams I knew he would pull from me. I briefly wondered if I was ready for all the naughty pleasures this man wanted to show me. Wondered if I could hold up from the intense passion I felt radiating off him.

I didn’t have time to wonder much else, because he was on me, tugging at the zipper, his mouth on mine. Demanding, dominant, and possessive.

Coat, bikini top, Uggs… all of it came off and fell on the floor in seconds. Someone flicked the heater on, probably our overzealous Calvin on the way out, and the brush of heat over my bare skin had nothing on the furnace my man stroked inside me.

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