I'm Your Santa Read online

  “Lost out to the drummer from Blue Sticky Notes. Bachelorette parties should be outlawed. Miss your guy?”

  “Miss the sex.” She slapped her fingers to her lips. “Can’t believe I just said that. What’s in that cider?”

  “Apples.” He chuckled then nodded at the crowd. “The natives are leaving, probably to go home to lovers and warm beds.” He took a long drink. The carolers finished up their last song, kettle fires got extinguished and the gazebo suddenly went dark, leaving a sliver of moon, the faint glow of streetlights and the quiet of falling snow. She let go of the railing. “Guess this is our cue to go home.”

  She turned and slipped on ice, stumbling against Handsome, making him lose his balance, too. They both fell onto the wood bench in fits of laughter. LuLu buried her face in his pea coat. “This is the most fun I’ve had in two months. Gives you a clue how great my life’s been lately. Thought twenty-five was going to be the best year ever.”

  “I was hoping twenty-nine would do it for me.” His eyes darkened as he stared down at her and then, slowly, as if giving her time to stop him, he kissed her. It was one of those mutual kisses, the kind that said I really want this and hope you do, too.

  And she did, a lot. He tasted of cider and cinnamon, and smelled like fresh snow and one very delicious man. His tongue touched her bottom lip, and her mouth opened as if she’d been waiting for him and this kiss all her life. Amazing what a little cider can do to brain cells. Then their lips mated more than kissed, and her brain cell’s sizzled.

  “I needed that,” he whispered, his breath hot on hers, his voice low, a little rough and a lot sexy. Where’d this guy come from?

  “Glad I was here for you.” She nodded for emphasis. “I think I’m horny and tired. Good thing I’m leaving tomorrow. If I ever ran into you after saying something like that I’d die of embarrassment.”

  He grinned, his teeth white against the dark night. “Won’t tell a soul, promise. I don’t know your name so your secret’s safe. I’m out of here tomorrow, too, no reason to hang around.”

  Then he kissed her again and she ran her hands through his hair and around his strong neck. She sure felt a lot better then she did five minutes ago. He touched her face, his erection pressing into her middle. Been months since she felt one of those and…well dang…they really did come in sizes.

  “What do you want?” Moonlight danced in his eyes. “Tell me and I’ll make it happen. It’s the code of the dumped. We hang together, gotta be there for each other.”

  She swallowed. “I think I want what you want but I could be wrong.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “Forget any reference to the word but tonight. I’ve heard it too many times as in, ‘I’m in love with you but love him more.’ Or, ‘I’m in love with you but you’re never there for me.’ Or my personal favorite, ‘You’re a great guy but I just want to be friends.’ What the hell does that mean?”

  His lips claimed hers in a slow seduction this time. What was he doing? What the heck was she doing right out here in a gazebo! Then his fingers crept under her jacket and sweater and caressed her nipple, and she suddenly didn’t care about making sense. She gasped, his touch exciting, alluring, promising. She really liked the promising part.

  “Do you like that?”

  “Don’t stop.”

  He grinned—he had a great grin—and kissed the lobe of her left ear. His rough chin on her cold cheek and neck were the sexiest thing she’d ever felt in her life, till he licked a spot behind her ear, stroked her other nipple, and liquefied her insides to that hot stuff that comes out of volcanoes that she couldn’t remember what it was called. She swallowed a primal whine and forced herself to breathe. If she fainted and missed the rest of this magic she’d never forgive herself. “How’d you know to do that? Where’d you learn to…” She panted again as he took another taste of her.

  “Instinct,” he said in a heavy voice. “Pure instinct and the right partner.”

  “Amen to instinct!”

  “Amen to the right partner.” He laughed, a deep sound that said he didn’t take himself too seriously. “I want to make love to you, here and now.”

  “There’s not enough money in the Western Hemisphere to get me to leave.”

  “I’m pretty good, but with that much money on the line I hope I don’t disappoint.”

  “No buts, remember, and you passed the pretty good mark two kisses ago.”

  He reached to his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, covered himself then faced her.

  “Did you know that Donna W loves Charles M?” She pointed to the gazebo roof.

  “Then it must be true. Glow-in-the-dark orange graffiti wouldn’t lie.” He bunched her skirt to her waist. His brow rose, a laugh on his lips. “Daffy duck undies? I’m a fan.” He looked her in the eyes. “Of a lot of things about you.”

  She felt herself blush hairline to heels and he quickly placed himself over her. “Damn, it’s cold tonight.”

  “It’s getting a whole lot warmer.” The tip of his erection thrust against her panties and when his fingers pushed aside the strip of cotton and touched her bare flesh she nearly swallowed her tongue. She gulped a lungful of air and her fists tangled into his coat as he did something down there that nearly sent her into an instant orgasm. “Holy—”

  He kissed her, swallowing her whimpers, his fingers pushing deeper and massaging as they went, gradually opening her, setting fire to what was already hot and wet.

  “Breathe, sweetheart. You got to remember to breathe.” He slowly took his fingers from her and she grabbed his coat. “Oh my God. Don’t go!”

  “It gets better.”

  She grabbed him tighter. “Handsome, I can’t stand better.”

  He smiled and this time his erection eased into her just a bit, her body adjusting to his size and that she didn’t burst into a million pieces was a complete mystery. His eyes bore into hers. “Am I hurting you? You have to let me know. You’re so tight.”

  “You’re magnificent.”

  “You’re a flatterer.” His lips met hers as he filled her more, stopping, then moving again till he took her completely; making her feel more like a woman and more desirable than…what was the name of that guy she almost married?

  “Hold on to me, honey.” Handsome braced himself over her, dots of perspiration forming over his lip. “I want this to be special for you because it is for me.” He entered again, bit by bit. “I want you ready, eager.”

  She framed his face between her palms. “Any more eager and I…” She pulled his face to hers and kissed him as he thrust into her the third time and everyone knows that the third time is…“Oh my God!” she gasped into his mouth, a blazing orgasm roaring through her; Drowning out every sound and every sensation, but all-consuming sex and being with this incredible man.

  His damp cheek rubbed against hers, his breathing ragged, fast and uncontrolled. “Oh, sweetheart,” he panted again. “You are amazing, incredibly amazing.” His chest rose and fell against hers, the back of his neck damp, the weight of his body on hers a delicious sensation of them being one. His gaze met hers and he offered a half smile, and a hint of devil in his voice when he said, “Guess we have more in common than getting dumped.”

  A car slowly circled the town square, snow crunching under the tires, headlights reflecting off the bushes that hid them.

  She said, “It’s the sheriff. Can we get thrown in jail for sex on the square?”

  “If he finds us we’ll definitely be the opening act for the a.m. edition of town gossip, and even if we’re leaving we have family here who aren’t.” Handsome took himself from her, making her feel alone and abandoned, even more than when what’s-his-name ran off with what’s-her-name. Lulu’s brain refused to function, a by-product of afterglow?

  He zipped then hunkered down beside the bench. She joined him and he took her hands in his, keeping them warm. “You leave first. Just walk naturally,” he said. “The sheriff will think you’re out for a night
stroll.”

  “What if he or someone else sees you, too? Won’t they know something’s up?”

  A spark of mystery lit his eyes along with a healthy dose of self-confidence. “Sweetheart, no one will ever see me.”

  “Oh, boy. You’re a vampire.”

  The grin grew. “Better.”

  She kissed his cheek. “You’re great, Handsome.”

  “Right back at you.” His lips grazed over hers. “You’re going to be okay. I want you to believe that. You’re young and beautiful and have a lot of living to do. Things will get better. Now get the hell out of here.”

  The hum of breakfast customers at Slim’s mixed with Boogie Woogie Santa Clause from the green and yellow jukebox in the corner. LuLu straightened her bulky sweater and tied on a waitress apron dotted with snowmen. Yawning she thought of Handsome, since it was the memory of hot sex and tricky fingers that kept her awake all night. Good thing he was leaving, because the next time she laid eyes on the man she’d jump his bones demanding an instant replay.

  “You’re brooding over that boyfriend again, aren’t you?” sister Callie said, taking a sip of coffee while sitting at the bar. “You got to get over him, get out and socialize. Mix it up a little.”

  If she’d mixed it up any more she’d be in jail for indecent exposure. LuLu hoisted a tray of breakfast coffee cups and full carafes for the customers seated at the tables. “Maybe I should just leave here like I planned on doing.” Because every time she glanced at that gazebo across the street she got a severe attack of frustration knowing she’d never experience anything like that night again if she lived to be a hundred.

  Callie took a bite of hush puppy. “You’re broke, honey, remember? Unless you like walking and camping and trapping food a lot more than I think you do, you’re here for the holidays. Slim’s needs help and the pay’s good. Besides, we haven’t been together since my wedding in June.”

  “You’re right. It will be a good Christmas.” Sure was off to a bang-up start. But that part was over and it was a pity. “I think I got the men part of my life figured out. The problem is they keep leaving and it’s really getting me down. We’re good for a while then bam, they up and run off to greener pastures.”

  “Men?” Callie’s left eyebrow rose. “You have men in your life?”

  “Man…just the one man…Jerome.” She could remember his name now, but last night under the influence of new hunky man and astonishing sex, noway. “Except for Paul when I was in college, who left me for the Peace Corp. And Eddie who took that accounting job in Columbia and then there’s Danny who joined the monastery in Nepal.”

  “You drove a guy to celibacy?”

  “You’re not making me feel better here. The point is I end up alone. If any man wants a life of travel and adventure he just needs to hang around me and it’ll happen, guaranteed and…Oh heavenly days and mother have mercy,” she blurted as Handsome ambled through the main door.

  She dropped the tray, mugs and coffee falling everywhere. Better than jumping his bones like she’d planned. Her gaze met Handsome’s across the room and he stopped dead. Then he grinned. Oh, crap, did he have to grin? What the heck was he doing here?

  “Hi,” he said in that low rough voice that sent chills all the way to her fingernails.

  Callie looked from one to the other. “You two know each other?”

  “No,” LuLu said as Handsome said, “Yes.” Why did he have to say yes? Now there’d be sister questions and those were the worse kind…nosey, prying, unforgiving.

  Handsome said, “We met last night on the square.”

  “For a split second,” LuLu added. “By the carolers.” She said to Handsome, “You should go find a table, have breakfast, are you leaving today? Gee, that’s too bad, I’m so sorry. Have a great Christmas. Ta-ta.”

  Everyone in the bar stared. Guess the ta-ta was a little over the top. “I mean—”

  “Let me help you clean up,” Handsome offered, till Callie took his arm, ushering him and the older man he’d entered with in the opposite direction. “I’ll show you to a table.” She threw LuLu a look that suggested she’d clearly lost her mind and that’s exactly what happened last night.

  When Callie returned she grabbed a mop and helped LuLu and stage whispered, “What the heck was that all about? You’re here one day and you already got something going with this guy?”

  “No!” she whispered back as the usual chatter in the bar resumed.

  “Well drop it, little sister. You’re supposed to be rebounding from Jerome.

  “What happened to mix it up?”

  “Not with him. You need some down time from men, least this kind of man, no matter how handsome he is.”

  LuLu’s eyes fogged. “He is dreamy, isn’t he and that’s not a question.”

  Callie dumped shards into the trash as LuLu delivered the coffees. When she came back for a tray of breakfast orders, Callie shoved a green and white flyer under her nose. “Here, concentrate on this. A good way to mix things up.”

  “Live manger scene?” LuLu said. “And why am I interested in that?”

  “Think money. Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve and then Christmas Day, and the town’s desperate for workers. You’ll keep busy and keep your panties on.”

  “How do you know they came off?”

  “Been there, done that, know the look.” She tapped the paper. “You got the morning shift working here at the bar, the manger is the afternoon shift. You’ll be Joseph, the other one eloped to Vegas with the third shepherd.” She sighed. “Maybe you shouldn’t be Joseph, bad track record.”

  LuLu dropped off the two breakfast orders, refilled coffee, stared at Handsome longer than she should then said to Callie, “Do I look like a Joseph? I’ll be the shepherd, better clothes and I get to carry that hook thing.”

  “Shepherd’s taken. You’re Joseph. You were going to acting school in L.A., act.”

  “It was for directing.”

  “Close enough, and there are all kinds of flyers by the door for part-time Christmas employment needed around O’Fallon’s Landing, pick up a handful.”

  LuLu claimed an order of sausage and ribs. Didn’t these people ever hear of South Beach, clogged arteries, high blood pressure, triple bypass? She got a whiff of barbecue and drooled. Forget South Beach.

  Okay, this was good, thinking about something besides Handsome. Callie was right, if she kept busy she wouldn’t have to dwell on her present situation and she’d pay off some bills. Then she glanced at Handsome and she could barely remember her name. The guy had to go!

  LuLu made her way to the jukebox next to his table, dropped in a quarter, punched up 4-B for “My Christmas Man Blues” then caught Handsome’s eye. “Psst.”

  His brow arched in surprise, and she hitched her head in a gotta-talk-to-you way. Getting the message he joined her. “What’s up?”

  “Shhhh. Pretend we’re studying the song selection. Don’t want anyone to put the two of us together in case they saw us last night.”

  “Uh, you dropped a tray when I walked in here and there was something about ta-ta. Not ordinary conversation. The jig’s up, sweetheart.”

  “When are you leaving? I thought you’d be gone by now, like that two ships passing in the night idea. But you’re still here and no passing’s going on.”

  “I thought you were leaving, too.”

  “I have money issues, I can’t afford to leave. I’m sponging off my sister and her new husband right now, and I’m here to tell you that’s so not what I want to be doing this Christmas, but for the moment it can’t be helped. Now if you can come back in a month I’ll be gone and you can have the whole town all to yourself.”

  “I’m here to finalize some business with Rebecca-the-wedding-planner over there because there’s no wedding. She’s the gal sitting with me and Uncle Cordell at the table. I should be gone by noon.”

  “Today?”

  He glanced at his watch. “Two hours and fourteen minutes from now.”

>   “Two hours? I can do two hours…maybe. Nothing personal but if you’re not around, I’ll quit thinking about you and last night and us together and…You get the picture.”

  “You think about me?” His eyes brightened with a hint of fire deep inside.

  “Maybe. A little,” she lied, then glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and felt her knees wobble. Handsome was too handsome and fabulous in bed…or park bench. Location wasn’t an issue. “I have to refill coffee cups and hand out heart attacks on a plate. Bye. Have a nice life.”

  Sebastian Moore stood by the fire at Hastings House Bed and Breakfast and hardly noticed Rebecca-the-wedding planner making everything perfect for the nonrehearsal dinner. Uncle Cordell put his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder. “Don’t brood, son. You’ll find someone else.”

  He wasn’t brooding, more like daydreaming about orgasmic sex in the gazebo with LuLu Cahill that could not happen again. He needed a break from women. Now was not the time to find new ones. He rubbed his forehead, mentally distancing himself from brown curly hair, blue eyes, and nicely rounded curves that fit so well against him.

  Uncle Cordell said, “It’s going to be fine. Matter of fact, Rebecca and I agreed that going through with the wedding is a first-rate idea.”

  “Doesn’t having a rehearsal dinner when there’s nothing to rehearse sound…what’s the word…nuts!”

  Uncle Cordell’s head furrowed into a unibrow. “With your mom, me and the rest of the family here and everything paid for, why the hell not go through with the arrangements? Maybe it will give you some of that closure stuff I hear about.”

  “Closure?” Now there’s a word he didn’t expect to hear from his uncle.

  “And, it’s Christmas,” Cordell hurried on as if needing to get this over with. “You never know what can happen at Christmas time, least that’s what I’m told. Now go upstairs and get dressed.”

  “Okay, what in blazes is going on around here? You are up to something.” Sebastian gave his uncle a long steady look hoping for some telltale sign. “You waxing poetic about Christmas or anything else is not your style. Barking orders, now that you got down to a science.”