Page 20 of Stocking Stuffers
She smiled, oddly pleased, then glanced up to catch Karen and Andie watching them, assessing them. Sasha didn’t like that at all. The newlyweds were plotting.
“Alrighty, guests!” Valerie said from the front of the room. Both Perry and Sasha jerked, and Perry yanked his hand away. “As you can see, a few people weren’t able to make it home due to the weather after last night’s private party, and we’re stranded until at least tomorrow. The interstate is closed down from here all the way into the city, so we’re stuck. Luckily, I’ve been planning Christmassy snowed-in activities in my head for years!”
The teenager groaned so Sasha didn’t have to.Ah, a kindred spirit.
Valerie didn’t slow down for one second. “I have a bunch of made-for-TV Christmas movies cued up in the den. I’ll be baking gingersnaps and sugar cookies later today, and anyone can join me. We’ll also have an ornament-making station here in the breakfast room after lunch. Lastly, if you want to brave the blizzard to sled in the backyard, the hill down to the carriage house is fantastic. Of course, you’re welcome to get up to your own brand of fun. There are board games, books, magazines, and DVDs in the den that are yours for the taking. You have free reign of the entire house, except for other people’s rooms, so make yourself at home.”
Everyone broke apart after that. Perry stood and stretched, giving Sasha an eye-level view of his treasure trail, which she managed not to lick. Barely.
Maybe they could fuck all day.
No one was watching so she lightly traced his hipbone with a fingertip. He jumped a mile, then grinned at her.
“I think I’m going to head back to my room,” she said, giving him a pointed look. “Maybe braid my hair or take a nap.” Never mind that her hair was way too short for braids and she’d just woken up from an awesome night’s sleep.
He nodded. “Yeah, braids. I’m good with that.”
“Great.”
She stood from her seat at the table, ready to escape for some playtime. Maybe she’d show Perry the Rimmy after all. She was pretty sure she had one that hadn’t sold the night before. She could expense it.
Valerie appeared beside her and looped her arms through Sasha’s and Perry’s elbows.
“Perry, guess which movie I have ready to go first this morning. It’s your favorite.”
“My Amnesiac Christmas?”
“Yep!”
Sasha stared at Perry in horror and admiration. He was kind of a weirdo, and she kind of liked that.
He smiled shyly. “What? I love tropes.”
Valerie laughed and pushed them toward the den. “You better get in there to watch it before Karen puts on ESPN. I promised Louise Christmas movies, but she’ll be too shy to speak up if someone changes the channel.”
Perry shot Valerie a mock glare. “You need to promise Louise something else. Like a date.”
So itwaslike that. Sasha had wondered.
“Shhh.I’m working on it,” Valerie said, matching his semi-seriousness. “These things take finesse. She’s skittish. Now get out of here. I need to clean up.”
“I could help you,” Sasha said. She’d rather do the dishes than watch Christmas movies. And she hated dishes. In fact, maybe being snowed-in here in the Christmas-verse was worth it to escape the mountain of dishes at her own place.
“Nah, you go on. I prefer to clean on my own. Gives me time to think.” Valerie playfully pushed them from the room.
“I hope this isn’t a trend,” Sasha said glumly as they trudged into the den.
“What?” Perry asked.
“Getting cock blocked.”
Unfortunately, it was a trend.
Every time Sasha and Perry tried to sneak away in the coming hours, they were pulled into a different Winter Wonderland activity. Sasha gritted her teeth through two Christmas movies—My Amnesiac ChristmasandToyland’s Secret Baby. They got talked into icing sugar cookies next, then Karen and Andie dragged them into the sitting room with the piano to sing carols with Valerie and Louise.
After an off-key, and off-color, rendition of “Santa Baby,”Sasha tried to edge toward the exit. She was not a singer, and she certainly wasn’t enjoying this.
As if sensing her escape, Andie turned around from the keyboard and said to Sasha, “You trade places with Karen.”
