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He catches Damon’s attention as the others file out of the room. Damon hangs back and Nick waits until the room is clear before he speaks. ‘Damon, I want you to watch Scarlett while I’m gone. Until we find out who is doing all this, she sticks by you or me.’
‘I can do that.’
‘Thanks. I’d better get ready to go. We’ll have time to figure this out once I’m back.’
He takes Scarlett’s hand again, as they walk out of the meeting room and enter the lift to the bottom level. He’s a little reassured to know that Damon has her back. He trusts his friend more than anyone else on the planet.
As long as he makes it back in one piece, he’ll find the bastards responsible, and kill them. At least that way he knows she’ll be safe.
He’s exhausted anddesperately needs to go to bed, but for the first time in his thirty-five years in this job, he’s not in any rush to go home. Scarlett is there and he wants to see her, but as soon as he gets back, he’ll have to bring her home.
It’s for the best though. Best for her.
He forces himself to smile as he brings the sleigh down, landing just inside the huge double doors of the workshop. Nick climbs down from the sleigh and smiles at Eve who, as always, is waiting for him.
‘You made good time.’
‘Wanted to get back.’
She smirks as she glances over to Scarlett. ‘I’ll bet.’ She steps aside and Nick walks over to Scarlett, wrapping his arms around her. ‘Hey. You okay?’
‘I know you’re Santa, but when you do things like that, it hits me again.’
‘It’s the sleigh right?’
Scarlett laughs, looking over his shoulder at the downright intimidating reindeer. ‘Among other things.’
His smile drops as he takes her hand. ‘You ready to head?’ Her nod is as enthusiastic as he feels. But this is the only way. He’s going to be out of it for a few days. The rest of the team will watch over her while she goes back to her life. Now Christmas is over for another year, she won’t be in any danger. ‘We’d better go. These grumpy fleabags will need a break in a bit,’ he says pointing at the reindeer.
‘You know that’s not really a good way to make friends with them. And I’d want to be friends with them if you depend on them to do your job.’
Nick walks over to the two reindeer at the front. They’re the same height as him, before you take their fierce antlers into account.
‘We’re mates aren’t we?’ He holds out his hand and one of them sniffs it before turning away. He glares at the animal, barely resisting cursing at it. Scarlett is right. If he’s going to get them on side maybe he should make more of an effort with them. He’ll worry about it later.
‘Looks like you’re great friends,’ she says, laughing at him.
‘It’s only been thirty-five years. You can’t rush these things.’
She joins him at the head of the nearest reindeer and holds out her hand.
‘If she bites you don’t blame me,’ Nick says, as she moves her hand closer.
But instead of biting her, the reindeer sniffs her hands then licks it, before nuzzling its nose against her arm. Scarlett rubs the animal’s neck, laughing when it rests its head on her shoulder.
‘What the fuck!’
Scarlett hugs the neck of the reindeer, laughing again when it nibbles on her hair. ‘Stop! That tickles.’
Nick takes a step back and crosses his arms as he glares over at them. ‘Thirty-five fucking years, and I get a snort on a good day. Why do you get a hug?’
‘Because I don’t call them fleabags or...what was the other term? Oh yeah. Fuckers. I don’t think I’d warm to you if you called me that.’
He may be pissed his relationship with the reindeer isn’t the best, but watching them behave this way with Scarlett warms his heart in a way he wasn’t expecting. His moody, stubborn reindeer are acting like a bunch of cute and cuddle reindeer around this magnificent woman. Seems they all have a soft spot for her.
He stifles a yawn behind his hand. Fucking exhaustion is creeping up on him already. But there’s no way he’s letting anyone else take Scarlett home. ‘Has Flint left?’ he asks Eve, as another reindeer moves in to give Scarlett a hug.
Eve nods. ‘He left for Scarlett's about an hour ago. He wanted to make sure everything is clear.’
