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I pass the Sheriff’s office and my mind goes right back to James. When we returned from fixing the fence, I left the guys and headed up to the house. I may or may not have put a little sway in my step, and when I turned back, I couldn’t help but smirk when I caught him looking at my ass. One that Dani says is to kill for, but I have to disagree.
I pull into a parking spot behind the courthouse and grab my things to walk in. Once inside the building, I head up to my mother’s office. We had a brief discussion when I stopped by the house the other day and have come to an agreement that she will no longer sign me up for things. I let it go on to long and never really stood my ground, but when I laid it out, Mom understood.
I step out of the elevator and make my way down the hall. Her door is open, so I walk in as she is ending her call. I take a seat in front of her and she gives me a weary smile. “What’s wrong?”
She sighs, “Not much, just a Santa situation.”
“What?” Confusion clear on my face. We can’t have the Christmas festival without a Santa. I hope she has a backup plan that does not include me. Ugh! I honestly wish that I wasn’t having to deal with this, but I see the frustration on Mom’s face, and I want to help her. Before I can try to help her salvage the problem, her desk phone rings.
“Sheriff,” she greets the caller. I grab my cell from my purse and adjust in the chair, figuring I have a few minutes to kill while she talks with the Sheriff about the Santa problem. “I see,” she pauses and looks over at me. “I think he would make a great Santa. Tell him to suit up and meet us at Town Square.”
She stands up, ending the call, and grabs her cell. She’s at the door before I even have time to grab my things. “Everything work out?” I ask as we step out of her office and head for the elevators.
“Sure is. The new Santa will be at the square by the time we get there.”
Wow, that’s fast. I wonder who it will be. I was prepared to deal with Sheriff West, but before I can question about who the new Santa is, her cell rings and she takes another call.
4
James
I walk across the square to the tent that is set up behind the North Pole scenery, cursing myself for letting the Sheriff talk me into helping out. He played the guilt trip of helping Kathy out, knowing that I would help her since she was like a mother to me.
I mean, it’s not his fault he has the flu. And any good citizen would know that if you’re sick, you need to stay away from crowds. Especially a shit ton of kids.
I pull the tent flap back and stop in my tracks when I see Holly in the corner on her phone. My eyes travel her body that is encased in a red dress, showing off curves I want to trail with my fingers, my mouth. What is she doing here?
She doesn’t notice me, so I take my fill and bite my tongue when she turns around and I see the way her ass fills the dress as she bends to drop her phone in her purse. I take a quick look around and see other men looking at her. Probably fantasizing about her, just like I am. Hell no. Not on my watch.
I walk further into the tent and her head pops up. She eyes me wearily, and I just stare back. I must look like a fool in this outfit, white beard and Santa hat. When she tilts her head, I know she’s about to figure it out, so I raise my eyebrow and give her a smirk. Not that she can see it, but recognition dawns on her face.
“James? You’re the new Santa?” Her hand slides from my tricep to my elbow, the touch innocent in her eyes; not in mine. “This is so soft, much better than this,” she points to her dress. I toss my bag next to hers, taking a step closer.
“I see nothing wrong with it, Holls,” I reply, silently adding, but it would look better on my floor. I hold that in, trying to be a gentleman. Her checks blush, and I tell myself to stop making her uncomfortable.
I take another step closer and lean in, eye level with her. “James,” she whispers, her teeth scrapping across her lower lip. I want to bad to take a taste, but then I remember where we are. In a crowded tent, towns people all around. Hell, her mother is somewhere in here, and I’m in a goddamn Santa suit.
I take a step back and watch her eyes dim for a second, barely noticeable. “I need to go check in with Kathy,” I tell her. She nods and I spin on my heel; leaving her temptation at my back.
I can’t give in. There’s too much at stake and I’m not the right man for her.
Once checked in, I follow the directions and get the evening started. It’s uncomfortable at first. There’s tension between Holly and I. Something that I have never felt before, but we can’t show it because kids are around.
The kids take up our time and I find myself laughing more and more. A lot of the kids know her from the school, so I get to see her interact with current and past students. And some things that the kids ask for Christmas are funny as hell, while others get me choked up.
I know that some of the kids don’t have that great of home lives; probably similar to mine. But it’s heartbreaking when a child asks for more blankets since the house is cold, or diapers for their younger sibling.
We didn’t have much, and I know what that’s like; so I try to remember those kids and when we take quick breaks, I ask Holly about them. She tells me what she can, and I absorb it like a sponge. It may not be much, but I want to make their Christmas mornings when they see something they needed on their doorstep.
As the festival dies down, the parents shuffle the kids away and the older crowd wanders around. I know that Jake and Damien are headed to the bar downtown, and I have plans to meet them for a drink afterwards.
When Kathy gives us the okay to leave, I hustle into the tent behind Holly. My eyes were once again on her ass.
“I don’t know about you, but I need a drink after all that.” She laughs as I pick up our bags and her purse and hand it to her. “Want to grab a drink?” It’s not out of left field, at least I think it isn’t. We’ve been to the bar before, but it’s always been in a group setting.
“Yeah, why not? I’m starved too. Road House?” she asks and I nod. “But I need to change out of this.” She waves her hands up and down, indicating her dress and my eyes follow. Her phone beeps and her fingers fly over the screen, while I look my fill.
“Same. Think the courthouse is open?”
