Page 5 of Mountain Man's Naughty Elf
"You know him?"
"Not personally. Know of him." His expression darkened. "Don't trust politicians."
That made two of us. "Well, right now he's probably looking for me and the USB drive, so..."
The mountain man considered me for a moment longer, then walked to the window. He pushed aside the curtain to reveal a wall of swirling white. "Conditions are getting worse. Roads will be impassable by now."
My heart sank. "So I'm stuck here?"
"We both are." He didn't sound thrilled about this development.
"I'm Pepper, by the way. Pepper Prescott." I offered a smile that he didn't return.
"Pax," he said simply. "Pax Forrester."
"Nice to meet you, Pax. Sorry about the circumstances."
He grunted in response, then gestured to my still-soaking wet costume. "You need dry clothes."
I looked down at myself. The green and red outfit was plastered to my skin, and I was still shivering despite the cabin's warmth. "That would be amazing, if you have something I could borrow."
Pax disappeared again, returning with a stack of clothing. "Bathroom's down the hall, first door on the left. These will be too big."
"Too big is better than soaking wet." I accepted the clothes gratefully. "Thank you."
As I turned to go change, he added, "Weather report says the storm will last at least through tomorrow."
I stopped in my tracks. "Tomorrow? But I need to—"
"Not happening." His tone left no room for argument. "No one's going anywhere in this."
I looked out at the blizzard, then back at my reluctant host. Stuck for at least a day with the grumpiest, most Christmas-averse mountain man in Colorado, while wearing his clothes, hiding from my corrupt ex, with evidence stuffed in my elf hat.
Merry Christmas to me.
Chapter Two
“Deck the Halls (Whether You Want To Or Not)"
Pax
Butter melting in a hot pan. Sugar caramelizing. The sharp bite of cinnamon. The unfamiliar scents infiltrated my sleep, yanking me from the black void of dreamlessness. My cabin never smelled like this—like someone else's home.
Then I remembered. The sprite. The woman I'd reluctantly let in from the storm. Pepper.
