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Looking at her, he felt joy. Like he pretty much always did when he was near Noelle. Brady swallowed and struggled to figure out what to say as her fingers curled around his arm.
She glanced down at her hand. Her eyes widened, as if she hadn’t even realized she’d reached out to hold him. “But you might not want to come back. I’m sure you’re busy, and I certainly appreciated the help tonight.” Her hand jerked away from him. “There’s a changing room to the right.” Noelle pointed down the empty hallway. “You can use it to ditch the costume. I bet you’ll feel a whole lot better after you do.”
He caught her hand. “I’ll be here for the distribution.”
Her smile bloomed again.
“I’ll be here for anything you need,” he added. Yep, Brady hoped she’d get the double meaning on that one.
“That’s so wonderful! Thank you, I—”
“Well, isn’t that sweet,” a woman’s amused but cool voice chimed in. “Santa and Mrs. Claus are under the mistletoe together.”
Noelle’s body jerked. Then her head snapped back as she looked up. An expression of absolute horror crossed her pretty face as she stared above them. Then she stumbled away in a retreat, definitely movingoutof the mistletoe range.
“No? Not in the mood for a kiss?” The woman laughed. “I can certainly step in to do the deed. Happy to help out.” The bells around her wrists jingled as she advanced.
Addison Lane. One of the ladies who’d come to tell Santa what she wanted that year as he sat on the big, black throne of a chair and tried to spot Noelle in the crowd. Noelle hadn’t come to see him during his Santa duty, despite his most fervent of wishes.
“He doesn’t need help, Addison,” Noelle chimed in to say. “But trust me, we all appreciate how much of a giver you are.”
Addison’s gaze cut to Noelle.
“Addison works at another real estate company in town,” Noelle explained. “Addison, have you met Brady Breckridge?”
“Only if you count when I sat on his lap.” Addison winked at Brady.
He saw Noelle roll her eyes.
“Brady Breckridge…” Addison seemed to taste his name. “Don’t you own that delightful Victorian on the edge of town? Such a big house for a man who is…single?”
He tugged off his beard. “The house is Noelle’s.”
Addison gaped.
Noelle looked back at him. A little furrow appeared between her eyes.
“I mean, the listing is hers.” Truth be told, he’d always kind of imagined Noelle living in the house, with him. But this wasn’t the moment to get into all of that.
“Isn’t that wonderful for her?” Addison’s voice had turned brittle. She slid a card from her bag and grabbed Brady’s hand. Pressing the card against his palm, she said, “If you decide you want more of a shark on your side, call me.” She glanced upward and a slow smile curved her plump lips. “Oh, I guess I’m under the mistletoe now.” Her gaze returned to him. “And I’m not the type to run away.”
Run away?His gaze darted past her. Sure enough, Noelle had turned away and was cutting through the crowd.Running?Dammit. “Noelle!” Brady chased after her.
***
Jealousy sucked. She did not handle it well, even though Noelle should have been used to the emotion by now. She’d certainly felt the painful bite a few times over the years when she’d seen Brady with other women.
Addison wants him.The woman’s expression had been clear to read, and then when she’d sidled under the mistletoe to get close to Brady—too much.Noelle hadn’t been able to witness another moment.
A strong, black-gloved hand closed around her wrist. “Why are you running from me?”
She stopped in her tracks as Brady’s voice washed over her. Warm. Deep. Sexy. Her head turned so she could glance back at him. A man should not be that gorgeous in the old, thick Santa suit. The red should look garish, and the fake white fur should seem silly. Only, it didn’t. Because the red just somehow made his tan skin glow even more and his blue eyes didn’t twinkle—nope, no twinkle there—but they gleamed with fierce intent. He gripped the white beard and his hat in his other hand, and his thick, dark hair appeared tousled and sexy.
Healwayslooked sexy. That was the problem. To her, he’d always been hot.
Now she was sexually attracted to Santa. How wonderful.
“Noelle?”
