Page 27 of Shy Santa

Bear walked into the kitchen and placed his gun on the island while I got myself under control. “Do you girls want breakfast? I’m not the best cook, but I do make a great omelet and fried potatoes.”

“I had an apple.” Alice-Grace pulled out the stool and sat at the counter.

“That’s a snack, not breakfast.” Bear bent at the waist and pulled out a frying pan.

“Did you and Ms. Addy have a sleepover?”

Bear froze with his fine ass pointed at us. Panic rose to strangle me, her words sinking in. What should I say?

“Why do you ask?” Bear set the pan on the stove and turned around.

“When I got up, I checked your room since I was in mine. You and Ms. Addy were hugging in your bed.” She tilted her head, the picture of innocence, but that mischievous glint sparkled in her eye. “You guys didn’t have shirts on.”

Oh God, could this get any worse? I knew Bear was hesitant about bringing women into his daughter’s life and to have her seen us in bed together and naked? This wouldn’t go well for us.

Bear went about grabbing supplies, a red flush creeping up his neck. “I got home super late last night, and you and Ms. Addy were zonked out on the couch. She was too tired to drive home, so she stayed the night. Both of us were too tired to make up the futon for a couple hours’ sleep. So, she crashed in my room.”

“Oh… I thought you liked her.” She seemed to deflate, her shoulders curving in, her brows drawn together. “That you guys had special snuggles last night.”

Twisting around, Bear faced her. “I do like her. She’s really nice.” He narrowed his eyes, glancing between us. “What’s this about Ace?”

“Nothing.” She hopped off the stool and ran out of the kitchen.

“I should leave.” I took a small step to the side, clutching my purse to my chest.

Bear’s head snapped my way. “Don’t run off too.” He sighed and fidgeted with the ingredients on the counter. “Just stay here and I’ll go talk to her. See what’s going on.”

I wasn’t good with these situations. The walk of shame was bad enough but being seen by his kid was worse than being a teen caught sneaking in after curfew.

Bear must have seen something in my face because he held his hands up. “Seriously, please stay and have breakfast with us. It’s nice to have you here.” The tips of his ears turned bright red.

“Fine,” I huffed and moved to sit on the stools at the counter. “But those omelets better be worth it.”

The lame joke had Bear shaking his head. “The best you’ve ever had. But give me a few to talk to Ace. She’s being kinda weird this morning.”

“Go talk to her.” I set my bag down. “I’ll chop up that fruit while I wait. I’m a decent cook, but Uncle Gerald taught me how not to cut myself while slicing and dicing like a pro.”

A small grin tugged at the corners of Bear’s mouth. “Thanks Addy.”

I fell into those hazel eyes. Memories of last night being spread before him flashed in my head. The way his eyes devoured me sent a fresh round of tingles to my sore lady bits.

Bear nodded like he decided something and turned in search of Alice-Grace.

CHAPTER16

Bear

You wouldn’t think a little girl could almost disappear in our house, but that’s what Ace did. I searched all downstairs and upstairs.

My heart pounded in my chest at the idea she might have run off. If she did, I don’t know what I’d do. Ace didn’t know the town, and while it’s not below zero, it was fucking cold outside.

Standing at the top of the stairs, I listened hard. Trying to think of where I’d go if I was a kid. I hadn’t shown her all the hidden nooks I’d found when I was pissed off after Gran brought me here. But that didn’t mean she hadn’t found a few on her own.

A small, muffled sniffle caught my attention.

I opened the door to Gran’s old room, which was the guest room. I hadn’t checked here earlier because it had no hidden spots.

But there sat Ace in the window seat, her arms wrapped around her legs and head propped on her knees.

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