Page 8 of Dr. Scandal Claus

I sped up my strokes again, imagining her scent, her taste, her moans in my ears as I made her come over and over. Her fingers gripped at my hair, digging into my scalp as I licked andsucked every part of her. I could taste her on my tongue, imagine her juices coating my chin as I came, white hot pleasure shooting through my body.

I gasped for air as I came, bucking up into my hand once, twice, and then collapsing back onto the bed. My heart pounded in my ears as I tried to catch my breath. I lay there panting for air, holding the full condom on my dick so it wouldn't leak. My body thrummed with a surge of relaxation and endorphins as I pulled off the condom and stared at it, spent but still aching for more. It was the biggest load I'd ever seen, proof that I didn't get laid enough.

I tied it shut, tossed it into the bin, and rolled over feeling slightly drunk. If Scarlett had me this worked up just thinking about her, how would my body react if we hit it off, and would I be able to console myself if we didn't? It was a good thing I had a little too much to drink. I knew I wouldn't sleep without it. I already wanted to touch myself again, and I had more than twelve hours to wait until I got to speak to her again.

7

SCARLETT

It was bitterly cold for just a few days before Christmas and it wasn't just the weather. Nellie had been distant with me, answering in one-word responses and avoiding eye contact. When I got to the bakery to help her finish up the baking that was originally my responsibility, she was like ice. I had totally forgotten she was supposed to have plans, which we'd previously discussed but I'd forgotten. I felt horrible for dumping everything on her and let her go home in spite of needing her help.

The rest of the night was exhausting. I got no sleep and my ovens were baking all night long. I was running on fumes, and coffee time with Nick was looking more and more like a pit stop in the Daytona 500. I needed that coffee and a chance to sit down; I just hoped my eyes didn't shut prematurely. I still had to take the afternoon shift here at the Christmas market booth to relieve Nellie, who asked for the morning shift so she could do some last-minute shopping this afternoon.

I set the last tray of muffins on the shelves in the back of the booth and turned to Nellie who had her back to me. I could tell she was angry, and she had every right to be. It was obviousto me that I needed to hire more help, but I couldn't afford it. I wasn't one of those shop owners who refused to pay her people and kept all the profit. I just didn't have very good health insurance and with Ethan's hospital bill looming on the horizon, I just couldn't hire more help.

That left me in the lurch when he had appointments and especially when he was in the hospital. Nellie understood it, but it was cramping her style. I was the business owner, so naturally I assumed responsibility for long hours and late nights, waking up at two in the morning after a few hours of sleep to bake all the day's prep before rushing home to get Ethan off to school, then coming back only to catch a twenty-minute nap before working ten hours.

Nellie had spent too long experiencing what it was like to be the owner without getting to enjoy the benefit of knowing she was in charge. She wasn't, and I didn't know how to make it up to her.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the envelope I had scrawled her name on. It held five hundred dollars cash, which was nothing compared to her sacrifice to help and support me. But it was a token of my appreciation, and I hoped it helped her forgive me for leaving her hanging all week.

"Hey, can we talk for a second?" I asked her. I had already checked on Ethan and knew he was doing well with the sitter this morning. He was upset he couldn't come but with the weather I didn't think it was a good idea.

"Yeah, what's up?" she asked, but not in her normal cheery tone. She turned to face me and I saw the fatigue in her eyes.

"I wanted to give you this and thank you for working so hard for me. I know it hasn't been easy with me missing work so much these past few weeks. And I'm really sorry about your plans last night." She never told me what those plans were, but given herfrustration and the negative response, I figured they were pretty important.

Nellie took the envelope and narrowed her eyes at me in confusion, then folded it open and peeked into it. Her eyebrows rose in surprise, and she said, "What's this for?"

"I know I can't buy your loyalty and service, but I know how stressful this job is. I'm so sorry I wasn't able to help you more this week. I want to say I'm sorry. Please forgive me." I kept my shoulders held tense until she nodded, but she didn't smile. We'd had some tough weeks over the past eight years, but this one topped them all. I'd really done it.

"I forgive you." She sighed and stuffed the envelope into her apron pocket and frowned. "Unfortunately, I can't get time back, Scarlett. Money can never replace lost time…"

"I'll make it up to you…?" I said, hoping we could work out a truce.

"I have to have Easter weekend off. My family is going out of state…Make that happen for me and we're good." The first hint of a smile curled the corners of her mouth and I grinned.

"Deal!" I gave her a quick hug and said, "I'll be back. I have to get to my coffee date. I'll be back in an hour and then you can have the rest of the day off, paid."

Nellie smiled at me and turned back to her task as I untied my apron and tossed it onto the back table. I had to get across the square to meet Nicholas, and now that the hard part of my morning was over, I was ready to tackle the next bit. I was nervous but excited. Nick and I had really hit it off back in the day and I hoped we'd have that same chemistry, but I was still guarded.

When he pulled me aside at that appointment and asked me directly if I was the woman he slept with years ago in a one-night stand, I couldn't lie. I wasn't a liar. I had been so panicked too, but only because I thought he was going to ask me if Ethanwas his son. When he didn't, I felt so at ease in his presence I swooned.

Now I felt nervous butterflies at the idea of seeing if there was still a spark between us, even if the town did talk about us. What happened eight years ago was old news. I was willing to put it behind me and see if we had a shot if Nick was, and though it might draw some gossip, I knew my bakery was doing well enough now that even the rumor mill couldn't bring us down.

I checked my makeup in the mirror of a large panel van before strutting up to the coffee shop. Nick stood with two cups of coffee in his hands. Steam rose from the cups inviting me to take one, but not as inviting as his smile.

"Hey," I said, reaching out to accept the paper cup he offered me.

"Good morning. I hope you like hazelnut." Nick flashed a smile at me and the same warmth I felt when we flirted at that party years ago came back to fill me with electricity.

"It's Christmas and you pick hazelnut? Not peppermint, wintergreen, or even pumpkin?" I chuckled and he shrugged a shoulder.

"I'm more of a black coffee guy, myself." He nodded at an empty table and we walked over and sat down. I'd forgotten how tall he was, towering over me, but I didn't mind being the short girl. I also didn't mind how attractive he was. His black trench coat didn't have a stray hair on it, and the red scarf he had wrapped around his neck made the blue color of his eyes pop.

"So you own that bakery?" he asked me with confidence. I was glad he'd started with the topic of my job.

"Yeah," I said smiling. I noticed a few people staring at us, giving me dirty looks, but Nick just ignored them. I didn't know if he didn't see them or if he'd just gotten used to it over the years. "I've owned it for eight years." Thinking about my journey to being a business owner only reminded me of why I'd avoidedhim to begin with, and I felt my cheeks warm as I became more conscious of the people around us staring.

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