Page 14 of Filthy Rich Santas

“And if I have to be at that stuffy party full of uptight people, I’m going to do it in a loud, red dress that makes me feel like a queen,” I murmur to myself as I zip up the garment bag and then look around to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything.

I tuck an extra sketch pad into the side pocket of my suitcase, attach the garment bag to the handle, and park them both just inside the door to my apartment before heading back to my room for the bag of gifts I wrapped for my family.

A knock sounds as I pluck the bag from the closet, and I almost trip over my own feet in surprise as I head back to the door to answer it. I really haven’t had time to make a lot of friends here in L.A. yet, and since I’m not expecting any delivery, for the life of me, I can’t think who it might be.

My heart stutters a little when I pull open the door. Of course, the three men waiting on the other side of it have always made it do that.

“What are you guys doing here?” I ask, feeling unaccountably breathless.

Ryder and Tristan both grin at me, while Beckett stands with his arms crossed over his chest behind them.

“I’ve got that,” Ryder says, plucking the bag of gifts out of my hand instead of answering my question.

Tristan’s big body brushes up against mine in the doorway as he leans past me and grabs my packed suitcase from behind me. “Is this all of it?”

“All of what?”

“Everything you’re taking.”

It takes me a beat, but then I remember that I did mention this trip to him, the other day when he surprised me at work. Well, he overheard.

“Yes. Well, mostly,” I say, snatching up my keys, purse, and headphones from the little table I keep by the front door. I jiggle the keys at him. “As you can see, I’m about to hit the road.”

Ryder smirks. “So are we.”

“And I’d really like to beat traffic on the 101,” Beckett grumbles, making me feel guilty for a second before I remember that they’re the ones who decided to stop by and see me on their way to wherever it is they’re going.

“Come on then,” Tristan says cheerfully, heading down the hallway with my suitcase.

“Wait,” I say when Beckett turns and follows him, quickly locking up my apartment then hurrying after them. “Where are you guys going? You don’t have to carry my stuff down. I?—”

Ryder’s low laughter from behind me makes me stumble. He steadies me with a hand to the small of my back. “Slow down, love. We’re all headed to the same place. No one’s going to leave without you.”

My cheeks blaze at the endearment, but I ignore the little leap my heart takes when I hear it since that’s just the way Ryder is. He’s always been a charmer, and I have no doubt at all that any woman he speaks to is instantly his “love.”

It’s the other thing he said that piques my curiosity. “What do you mean we’re all headed to the same place? The parking lot?”

He laughs again and urges me forward with the hand he still has on my back, the bag of gifts still tucked under his other arm. “No, to New Hampshire.”

I stop completely, turning to face him. “But… what? You’re all headed back home for Christmas too?”

He nods. “Yep, and you heard Beckett. We don’t want to get stuck in traffic.”

“Are you guys headed to the airport?”

He grins down at me as we catch up with the other two, standing next to Beckett’s oversized SUV. Beckett is already in the driver’s seat, and Tristan is in the process of wedging my suitcase into the back, beside three others.

“We’re driving with you,” Ryder says, tossing the bag of gifts he carried down for me in too, just before Tristan closes the back.

“But—” I start, my heart racing.

“No buts,” Tristan cuts me off, opening the front passenger door. “You want shotgun?”

“I, um… wait. The three of you really want to drive all the way across the country with me?”

Tristan grins at me. “Absolutely.”

“Sounds like a good time,” Ryder adds, making butterflies erupt in my stomach.

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