Page 5 of Silver Santa

“I’m not looking to be impressed,” I said.

“What are you looking for?” she asked as she pulled the door from the stairwell open.

“I’m just looking to relax and ski,” I said louder than intended, and he heard me. He stopped, turned in our direction, and our eyes met. I held his stare until he broke it and disappeared inside the elevator.

“Men like him know what they want,” I whispered to no one.

As the elevator door closed, the sound that came out of Allie next shouldn’t be wished on one’s worst enemy. Yet, here she was, folding in half, emitting a sound like fingernails on a chalkboard, amplified by a thousand.

The high-pitched shriek made me jump. “We should get a doctor.”

I helped her stand up.

“No need. I’ll be okay. I just need to rest.”

“I know your appendix is gone…”

“I already said—it’s those nuggets inside me that need to come out. And I think they're coming out right now.”

She moaned like she was dying, but made it to the toilet in time. I held her hair as she threw up, then helped her into the shower, followed by her pajamas.

“Let me get you some tea. Stay here, okay?”

“Not yet. Maybe later.” Her voice was faint, and her lips pale. I ran my fingers through her hair and checked her burning forehead. A few more breaths passed before she was sound asleep. I grabbed an ice pack from the small fridge in our room, wrapped it in a towel, and set it gently over her forehead. I tucked her in, shed my nutcracker costume and put on a dress, and went to find tea, but when I opened the door, I bumped into a solid chest.

CHAPTER 2

JAMES

Her delicate scent hit me just before she bounced off my chest. She took a step back, her doe eyes looking momentarily lost. I realized I’d been standing too close and should have backed away, but now that we were here, I’d take advantage of every second her body was near mine.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there.” Her soft voice hummed, and her cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink.

Eavesdropping wasn’t in my nature, but the nutcracker was far more interesting than the twins. Hunter hired the escorts, forcing me to babysit women who came to the lodge for one reason—or maybe two—my dick and free skiing.

“No worries. I heard a cry.” My eyes darted toward the faint sounds of someone in distress. “Is everything okay in there?“

“Not really. My friend is sick.” She looked back over her shoulder. “She’s been having stomach issues all day, and it got worse tonight.”

“What can I do to help? We can call a doctor.”

“She needs to rest, and I’m on my way to get tea.”

“I’ll call for room service.”

I reached for my phone, but she stopped me with a hand on my wrist. The touch of her delicate, icy fingers on my skin alerted my senses, and my body stirred. She nodded in appreciation before quickly removing her hand.

“No need to bother staff members on Christmas. I can get it myself.”

Her unyielding eyes told me it was pointless to argue. Instead, I nodded, then touched the small of her back, guiding her down the hall before she changed her mind.

The elevator door opened, but she halted me with a question. “What were you doing near my room again?”

“I heard a painful wail and I was concerned.” The semi-lie burned in my throat. I was concerned, but I also wanted to see the nutcracker again.

“That was Allie,” she replied, satisfied with my lie.

Truth is, I was going to knock on the nutcracker’s door, either way. She’d captivated me the moment I saw her. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it felt like we’d met before.

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