Page 1 of Sleigh Rides With St. Nick

Chapter1

IVY

Christmas music blared from the speakers connected to my phone, and the tree twinkled with lights.From a distance, it looked kind of classy, but up close, it was decorated with all kinds of silly ornaments my roommate and I had accumulated over the years.

Laila came bustling out of her room wearing a form-fitting green dress and her heels still in her hand."Is Eloise not here yet?"

I shook my head."You can't expect her to be on time," I reminded her.

"She'll probably be working late," Laila responded with an amused smile."And by working, I mean hooking up with her secret work boyfriend."

"Obviously."I let out a sigh."If only it were that easy to find someone."

"I'm pretty sure you're supposed to go into work towork, not to hook up with anyone."Laila headed over to the other side of our open-plan kitchen-living room and poured us both a glass of wine."Unless you have something to tell me."

I laughed."Nope.My company is still full of stuck-up marketing executives."

"Aren'tyoua stuck-up marketing executive?"she asked as she handed me one of the glasses and I took a sip.

"Yep.But I've got my own account now.I start on Monday."

Laila frowned and sat down, stretching out her legs."This close to the holidays?"

"Yes.And get this, they're a toy company."

She raised an eyebrow."You'd have thought they'd come hiring months ago."

"Exactly.I dread to think what I'm walking into."I was about to sit down when the doorbell sounded, announcing the arrival of my oldest friend.

I made my way over to it, pulling it open to find her on the other side with a bottle of wine in one hand and a slightly chilled expression on her face.

"Ivy!"

"Hey, El," I said, letting her come inside before I hugged her.

"I hope you're ready to party," she said."I have had such a week at work."

Laila snorted."You mean you were almost caught with your boyfriend in the supply closet?"she teased.

"I didn't do anything with my boyfriend in a supply closet," Eloise countered.

"Ah, so you did do something with him at work still," I pointed out."Otherwise you wouldn't be so specific."I put her bottle of wine in the fridge and fixed her a glass from the open one.

She sat on the opposite end of the sofa from me and accepted the glass of wine I brought her.

Eloise's cheeks flamed red."Yes.Fine.We didsomethingat work."

"Intriguing.And do we get to know his name?"Laila asked."Or anything else?You've still not told us anything about him other than that you work with him and he gives good..."

"So, where are we going tonight?"Eloise's question was a little louder than it needed to be.

I smothered a laugh and leaned against the counter."No idea.There's a wine bar on Main Street that's supposed to be really good."

"Oh, or maybe the club, we haven't been dancing in ages," Laila responded.

Eloise cleared her throat."So, I do actually have another option."

"Go on?"Laila asked.

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