Page 38 of Sexted By Santa
I interrupted. “Tori will be at the holiday party with me, but nice try.”
“Oh, I—”
“Running late. Gotta go.”
I hung up just as a knock sounded on the door. I exhaled roughly and attempted to put on my game face. Christian hadn’t invited me to be his fake date so that I could fume over my mother all night.
11
CHRISTIAN
A fake date.I strolled up to Jaxson’s door, stomach fluttering as if I were a schoolgirl.Just a fake date.
I drew in a breath and rapped swiftly, trying to project a confidence I didn’t feel. The door opened, and I blinked into empty space, confused for a second.
“You’re the Santa guy.”
My gaze shot down to the four-foot-tall girl with dark curls floating about her face. I didn’t know what to say.
“Uh, um…”
“He has a name, Tori.” Jaxson’s amused voice saved me as he entered the room behind her. “Chris Kringle.”
He winked playfully—and my pulse skyrocketed. I hated it when people called me by that name. Only when Jaxson said it with that smile and wink, it wasn’t quite as irritating as it should have been. It felt a little like we were sharing a private joke.
Stop it, my subconscious protested.This is all an act.
Jaxson was a flirt—and a gorgeous one at that. It’d be all too easy to fall under his spell. I’d practically been entranced when I’d watched him climb up and down that ladder earlier this week, my gaze shamefully drawn to the denim stretching over a sculpted ass.
And then he thought I was senile,I thought sourly.
He’d been apologetic, even flattering, afterward. But it didn’t change the reality. I was much older than Jaxson. Too much older. I’d learned that lesson with Fynn. Even if he hadn’t put his foot in his mouth, I wouldn’t have stayed for dinner. I’d been too afraid I might do something foolish and try to kiss the man. At least if that happened tonight, I could say it was for show.
Because this was allpretend, after all.
Tori wrinkled her little nose. “Isn’t Chris Kringle another name for Santa?”
“Yes, it is. Thank you!” I said too enthusiastically, filled with vindication after the ruckus making such a claim had caused at the homeless shelter. Jaxson and Tori gave me matching, confused looks. “Er, um, yes. I had someone argue the point with me.”
“Well, they’re dumb,” Tori said with all the directness of the young.
“Tori,” Jaxson warned.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “But they shouldn’t argue with Santa.”
Ah, damn. I smiled at her loyalty, but I worried I might be stuck playing Santa even without the red coat.
“Let’s call him Christian, all right?” Jaxson said. “We’ve already talked about how all the Santas we see at events aren’t the real Santa. He’s busy at the North Pole.”
“Getting ready for Christmas!”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement—which I’d never realized was possible. But there was no missing the joy in them.
“I take it you like Christmas?” I asked tentatively.
“It’s the best holiday!”
I nodded. “Because of the gifts?”
