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“I call dibs on sitting on Santa’s lap!” The voice was female and thick with a Long Island accent.
I frowned. Since when did my accountant want to sit on Mel’s lap?
“Back off, Brenda. I called him first.” Donna’s voice rose over the din.
Him?
I pushed my way into the circle of women. Most of my employees were female, but there was a suspicious number of them converging on the tree. Even Cindy and Angela were vying for attention. They were usually too busy gossiping at the back of the room to care about anything at the Christmas party.
I caught Mel out of the corner of my eye, her hands flying as she spoke to a man. He had his back to me, but his shoulders were far too impressive to belong to any of my employees.
“Ma’am, if you put your hand on my ass again, we’re going to have words.”
“Linc?” My voice was little more than a whisper.
No.
No way.
“What if I want you to have words with me, Santa?”
Wow. My accountant was a shark, but I didn’t realize she was in heat. “Brenda, please step back.”
She swung around with a glass of Merlot in her hand. “You’re a Grinch this Christmas, Kandy.”
The whole room went quiet. Lincoln stood still with a huge red velvet sack open in front of him. He was in full Santa Claus mode—wig, beard, even his padding on. The whole deal. His blue eyes were tired, but they were clear and bright with a touch of hesitation.
I swallowed and lifted my chin. “Who let Santa in the building?”
A murmur washed through the crowd. Employees and their significant others made up over fifty people in the room. Most sneaked off to do things in their office I didn’t want to think about, but it seemed everyone and their damn mother were here right now.
Just wonderful.
I crossed my arms. “Well?”
“I did.”
I turned to Mel’s voice. I frowned. Her Santa suit was half off and Parker Murdock was hovering closer than was warranted.
I turned to find Linc handing out gold boxes with huge red bows to each of my employees. Tagged boxes.
I glanced at Mel again. She was nibbling on her lower lip as she reached back for Parker’s hand. All right, now I was completely confused. What the hell was going on?
“Kay.”
I ignored the shiver of goosebumps over my skin. He had been labeled as asshole status. I was not going to be turned on, nor would I be charmed by him in a Santa suit. No freaking way. “I don’t want you here.”
I wouldn’t look up at him. I couldn’t. I had to be strong. A few weeks—maybe a year—then I would totally be over him.
I could do it.
I was a strong, independent woman who loved Christmas, goddammit. I wasn’t going to let this man ruin it for me. Even if he was standing here, voluntarily, in a Santa suit. That didn’t matter.
I would not be swayed.
“Kay, please look at me. Hear me out and if you still want me to leave, I’ll leave.” He took my hand in his and placed a small gold box in my hand. “Can we go somewhere and talk?”
“We can talk here.” I knew if I left the room with him, I’d be toast. I’d do something stupid. I’d already attacked him once in his damn Santa suit. And that was before I knew what he could do with…well, with his sack of tricks.
