Page 1 of Wrapped Up By the Mountain Man

CHAPTER ONE

Luke

I wasn’tthe kind of person who liked attention. Flying under the radar was more my speed. Until I got comfortable. Then it was like someone flipped a switch.

Things I was most comfortable with?

My precious apple orchard, my cat Mr. Pickles, and playing Santa every year in Appleridge’s Christmas village. Okay, maybe only the past two years ever since Mr. Jones retired. But it felt like the perfect fit for me. I loved kids, and being disguised as Santa made the attention part easy—hardly anyone recognized me under the red suit, padded stomach, and long white beard. Or I liked to pretend they did anyway.

Mrs. Jones joined me as Mrs. Claus the past two years, but she said it wasn’t the same without her partner in crime, so this year, they hired a new Mrs. Claus.

One I’d yet to meet but the rumor was she was a friend of Mrs. Jones.

“Hey, Luke! Ready to start the fun?” Marty, who ran the Appleridge Inn, was head of the Christmas village and in chargeof running the Santa event. Every night up until Christmas, Santa and Mrs. Claus greet children, take pictures, and enjoy hot cocoa. It was only a few hours each night for a couple of weeks, but it really brought the entire Christmas village together.

“Yep!” I said as I adjusted my long white beard. We stood inside the makeshift gingerbread house display behind Santa’s and Mrs. Claus’s chairs. Since it was only meant for a display, a table and chairs were set up as a lounge break area.

Two local teenagers were dressed as elves and another woman dressed as an elf fiddled with her camera.

“Just waiting on Mrs. Claus, I see.” Marty looked around, seemingly satisfied with the event. He looked at his watch. “About ten minutes to go. C’mon, elves, time to get the kids lined up.” The two teenagers scampered behind Marty and followed him to where the line formed.

The camera woman disappeared out front, leaving me alone, so I took advantage and adjusted my Santa suit. A new company supplied the suit this year, and while they took my measurements, I could tell the pants were a little off. I quickly undid the belt, pulled them down, and adjusted my boxers as fast as I could, hoping to get more comfortable.

Just as I went to lift my pants back up, I heard a loud shriek, then a fit of giggles. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

I whirled around, my pants falling back down in the process, but somehow, I managed to grab them and yank them back in place. “Shit!” I muttered. Yet as soon as my eyes landed on her, I realized I no longer cared about my pants.

Sexy curves, full hips and breasts, and auburn hair—all my favorite features. But the cherry on top was her sexy as fuck glasses. She reminded me of a hot, smart, librarian type, and my dick doubled in size at the thought of bending her over the table and fucking the shit out of her.

She’s gotta be Mrs. Claus, right?

Fuck, my horny ass needed to relax. We were here to work, not flirt.

“I didn’t realize anyone would be changing, and there really wasn’t a place to knock. I’m sorry again. Listen, I’ll leave and come back so?—”

“No, it’s okay. I might just have to charge you.” I winked as I tried my hardest to focus on her face and nothing lower.

She threw her head back and laughed. “Charge me? For what? I didn’t even get to see anything!”

Oh, I liked her. I really liked her.

“Are you saying you wanted to?”

“Calm it down there, Santa. There’re children around,” she teased. “I take it we’re working together, right?” She held up her wig and dress. “I’m playing Mrs. Claus.”

“Then we sure are.” I held out my white-gloved hand, and when she placed hers in mine, I could feel the heat of our skin through the thin material. I barely shook her hand before I pulled back quickly, afraid of what her touch might cause me to do. The last thing I needed was to fuck up this gig. It brought in the extra money I needed during my apple orchard’s slow season.

But she didn’t release my hand at first. She held on and squeezed my fingers before finally letting go.

Something inside me shifted. Clicked into place. Uprighted itself. I didn’t fucking know, but suddenly, I looked forward to playing Santa more than I ever have before. “Real name is Luke. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice meeting you as well, Luke. I’m Bea. Short for nothing. Just Bea.” She grinned, and my heart picked up speed.

“Well then, short for nothing Bea, I’ll give you some privacy to change. See you out there.”

“Okay.” Bea smiled, and it radiated warmth through me.

Who was this woman?

---