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A few swipes and taps later, he had the app downloaded and a new page ready to go. Let it be said I’ll do just about anything to be left alone, even set up a silly dating profile to get these two out of here so I can get back to work. Alone. Just how I prefer it.
“We definitely can’t use your real name. It would be in the headlines of every newspaper in the country in ten minutes. What should we call you?”
West stepped around to give his opinion, and I realized that these two were seriously going to do this. With or without me. With the way things were going, I’d definitely find myself the subject of North Pole’s newspaper headlines. I could see it now—Billionaire Hotelier Arrested for Solicitation in Santa’s Village.
“Give it here.” The way I saw it, I could make this where I’ll be receiving notifications all day long or make my profile so fucked up no one in their right mind will want to click my name.
I snatched the tablet from Porter and started typing:Scrooge seeks Christmas virgin for a little screwging through the holidays only. Available three evenings per week for fast, dirty fucks. Experienced women need NOT apply. Must be ready and willing to submit to any and all of my commands.
I pressed enter and handed the tablet back to my assistant, fighting to keep the smug grin off my face. No woman in her right mind would be desperate enough to answer that ad. I’d just bought myself some time to keep these two off my back so I could get to work.
“Done.” I gave a curt nod, settled back in my chair and took another deep, satisfying sip of my coffee. I couldn’t wait for this damn holiday to be over.
Chapter Two
Wynter
Icupped my coffee mug with two white reindeer painted around a background of red as I sat at a tiny bistro table in the employee lounge. Everyone I saw today had those brown, bland disposable paper cups but I preferred my more festive one. I found my smiles where I could these days.
I gripped it tighter, trying to warm up my near-frozen fingers The latest snowstorm chilled me through and through. Though I loved living in a town where the running theme was Christmas and Santa, the California girl in me sometimes misses the sunshine and sand. But I wanted adventure, damn it. And snow. I got both. Trying to turn my car on this morning proved pointless when snow engulfed it, leaving only the antenna sticking out like a periscope. Comical really. If I wasn’t half frozen.
I ran my gaze over the room and shook my head ruefully. The Luna was the finest hotel this side of the country, but you couldn’t tell that from the employee lounge. It looked like where bargain basement decorations went to die a horrible holiday death. Someone had tacked up globs of silver and green tinsel, deep green garland and purple twinkle lights along the windowless walls in the shape of a tree on one side of the room and a big fat Santa on the other. Random cardboard Santas and Rudolphs were taped at odd angles to cupboard doors and I really didn’t know which was worse to look at. It was a long way from the evergreens and holly decking out the rest of the hotel.
“Hey, Wynter, sweetie. Love the mug.” My boss’s assistant slid into a seat at the table behind me. I’ve always found him to be cute with his raven black hair and blue eyes, but in a boyish brotherly kind of way. I never went for the bowtie loafer-wearing types.
West, another of the head honchos, joined him, giving me a polite smile as he settled into the chair across from Porter. Between the two I would definitely lean toward the clean shave and well-built physique of West.
West had no idea who I was even though we crossed paths often enough. I had that effect on people. Against my desire, I am the invisible woman no one really takes into account. I held in a sigh as my heart gave a tight squeeze in my chest. Nothing like being alone and totally forgettable to the people around you, especially this time of year.
I wiggled my toes in my boots. They were made to keep my feet warm and dry, not make a fashion statement, but somehow the boots failed their purpose. I needed dry socks.
This time I allowed a slight sigh to escape me. Not like anyone would be paying attention. How sad was it that I spent my days in the most exciting city in the world given how many people flock here each year, and the most I had to look forward to was toasty warm toes? I scowled into my coffee. Aren’t I a real Christmas case of the blues.
“Have you checked Jolly Nights? Did Mateo get any takers?” West asked.
“Hold on, I’m signing into his account now.” Porter lowered his voice. “Why’d he have to specify a virgin? He’d be swamped with responses otherwise.”
I leaned back in my chair a bit.
West snorted. “That’s not his only problem. Using Scrooge as his screen name isn’t going to help him get laid.”
I sat up a bit straighter in my chair, ears growing warm. Jolly Nights? Scrooge?
“Keep your voice down, man,” Porter whispered roughly.
The room was dead silent with only the gurgle of the coffeepot in the corner going off before West spoke up.
“Relax. Nobody’s going to hear us.”
“Wynter is sitting right behind you, man. Shut the fuck up.”
West finally lowered his voice, but in a room this silent it didn’t make a difference.
“Come on. She’s sweet, but in a Church potluck kind of way. I hardly think she’s on Jolly Nights.”
Burn. Damn.
“Good point,” Porter agreed.
