Page 150 of Santa Daddies
Sleigh Bells and Shibari
Sylvie Haas
Chapter One
Kace
I'm jamming out to Trans Siberian Orchestra, getting in the mood for the Krampusnacht festival as I turn onto the street where Loren, my best friend and business partner, got a rental house for the holidays.
He was evasive when I asked why he didn’t stay with his parents, but the rental gives me an easy place to crash for the couple of days I’m in town.
I slow the car, watching the house numbers… Should be two more houses down on the right.
A woman exits the house I expect to be Loren’s rental. She rushes to the car in the driveway, keys already in hand.
Damn! Her coat is unbuttoned, exposing her tight-fitting Christmas sweater and leggings. She’s all smiles and curves, exuding happiness like she’s in love with life… basically my dream girl. Or perhaps Loren’s–a detail he forgot to mention. With as fast as she drives away, I question if he asked her to be gone before I arrive. Does Santa have a naughty little secret?
That would be my luck since I’ve nearly given up hope of finding a woman to make a life with, and Loren never dates. Except maybe he does, secretly… with the first woman to stir something in me in a long time.
I’m a few minutes early, but there’s a virtual meeting to confirm all of the details for this evening’s parade, and Loren made it clear he didn’t want to suffer through the mandatory meeting alone.
Leaving my suitcase and Krampus costume in the car, I head to the front door in hopes of breathing in the scent of that gorgeous woman in case she’s notwithLoren.
Stepping onto the front porch, I’m wrapped in the scent of sugar cookies.Loren’s not likely to be baking. Everyone makes cookies for Santa, not vice versa. But if she dropped off cookies, he won’t be able to keep it a secret that he had someone over.
I enter the door’s access code and scan for the plate of cookies the second I step inside, hoping to snag a couple while finding out what Loren knows about her—like is she available?
What is wrong with me? Clearly a lot, since women don’t normally affect me like this.
“Cutting it a little close, don’t you think?” Loren grumbles.
Before revealing my sudden obsession over the woman I know virtually nothing about, I razz him. “I could say the same thing about that chick you just snuck out of here.”
“What? Oh!” Loren sets a transparent tote full of little red bags on the floor next to the Christmas tree.
A tree? That seems a bit much, but he loves Christmas.
He narrows his gaze at me then returns to the chair in front of the computer. “Thatchickwas Bellamie. She was dropping off goodie bags she made for the kids who will visit me tonight. Apparently, getting to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him their wishes isn’t enough.”
Fuck. Me. I recognize the name. “Bellamie? As in your stepsister?”
Loren failed to mention that she’s an absolute knockout.
“How many Bellamies do you think I know?”
The computer screen comes to life as the host starts letting people into the virtual meeting. She encourages everyone to drop a comment in the chat telling their role in tonight’s festivities and how far they traveled to get here.
I can only pay partial attention because my brain is consumed by my best friend’s younger stepsister.
He’s never once mentioned an attraction to her, which would be awkward at a family dinner, but could totally come up between guy friends. My thoughts are too many steps ahead–imagining her in my kitchen, my hot tub, my bed.
Laughter from the computer pulls me back to the moment. Sheesh, that’s more daydreaming than I’ve done in the last month.
“Where are the cookies?” I ask Loren, who’s busy reading everyone’s comments in the chat. I hope the cookies aren’t in the kiddie bags. I’d hate to sacrifice a gift to a kid so I could savor something Bellamie made.
“What cookies?” He doesn't even bother to look at me.
I don’t have time to explain myself since the parade organizer starts the meeting by sharing the checklist we were sent a week ago. Under the pretense of watching the screen, I step closer to the tote Bellamie dropped off and determine that the scent of cookies is fading.
