Page 9 of Shy Santa

“I’m glad you came. Maybe after the show we could sit down and talk? It’s been forever and I’ve missed my best friend.” She looked so hopeful.

I didn’t have it in me to crush her hopes and dreams of being friends again. Not because of her, but I was tired of the whole situation. “Yeah, sure, after the show, maybe we could talk.”

She hugged me once again before heading toward the tables to the right of the stage.

When I turned back to the bar, I about fell off my stool. A pair of hazel eyes locked on mine with the intensity of a million burning suns.

“Hi.” I chirped.

He nodded his head at me. “Hello.”

“Are you going to be mine for the night?”

Shit, did that come out of my mouth?I was such a flippin’ moron.

His lips quirked behind his thick beard, a sparkle in his eyes.There was definitely a sparkle. I didn’t care that he was a burly man who could break me in half. He could still sparkle.

“Boss said I was to keep an eye on you.” He smirked. “So, I guess that means I’m yours for the night.”

Definitely got some clench and tingle in my lady bits. Yep. I am going to enjoy tonight.

* * *

I poppedanother gummy bear in my mouth as the house lights flickered before dimming. These little bears were great. Most of the time I was a chocolate lover, but I really was feeling these gummies.

It was weird that Maya liked gourmet gummies and had a couple bags in her purse, but hey who was I to cast aspersions on someone’s choice of sugar addiction?

The thumping base started low, giving me more yummy tingles as the stage lights flashed and the music started. I turned my head to watch the second half of the show.

A few men ran on stage together and did a group number. The lights glistened off their tanned skin. Wonder if they used make-up on their bodies or their faces? Those lights could wash out even the darkest skin tone. And how could they be so flexible? I tilted my head, trying to parse out how they didn’t pull a groin muscle. Even doing yoga, I wasn’t that flexible.

“Need a refill?” A deep voice soothed over my skin, interrupting my contemplation of the shimmery dancers. God, I could sink into his smooth, rich voice.

“Mmmm… Got anything smooth and rich?” I asked, my eyes roaming Bear’s chest. And did he look like one. I about laughed when we did the whole introduction thing earlier.

“Bourbon? Whiskey? Or something else?” The sexy man winked; goosebumps rose over my skin as my nipples hardened.

How about you?I thought, leaning my head on my hand. Geez, I needed to get laid so bad. Maybe that was why I couldn’t think of anything good to write.

“As far as I know, I’m not on the menu, but maybe we can arrange something.” Bear leaned into the bar separating us.

His words filtered through my brain. “Shit, did I say that out loud?”

“Yep,” he grinned, his white teeth standing out against his dark beard. “Not that I minded.” His eyes scanned me up and down. Well, as much as he could, since the bar blocked the bottom half of his viewing pleasure.

A small part of my brain screamed to abort and run home, but a larger part of my brain screamed to grab him and kiss him. Maybe take him home and ride him like a rodeo pony.

“While I wouldn’t mind being your horse. It might get me fired if you climbed over the bar to kiss me.” His rich voice teased

“I think I need to stop drinking.” My stomach grumbled. “Maybe if I eat more food, the alcohol flowing in my blood will be absorbed, so I don’t make bad decisions tonight.”

He straitened and grabbed an order pad and pencil. “What ya want to eat to help you sober up?”

I giggled at his seriousness. “Got any pretzels with caramel or cheese sauce?” Those always worked when Maya and I imbibed in the past. “Oh, and maybe a bacon cheeseburger with BBQ sauce and pickles. Do you have waffle fries too?” Man, I was starving. “Do you have pie?”

This hot guy was going to think I was a freak. I already hoovered through an enormous plate of nachos and half a bag of gummy bears. Hopefully, he didn’t know about the bears in my bag. I didn’t see a sign that said no outside food, but most theaters frowned upon that sort of thing.

He wrote out the order and walked to the computer and sent it to the kitchen. A couple of women who wandered up to the bar caught him, but his eyes kept coming back to me.