Page 7 of The Daddy Claus

As the chilly air assails me from all sides, a shiver runs through me, and I debate going back to bed. I could lay under my snuggly covers all day long and forget about my problems. Speaking of which, I glance out the side of my eye and see the little white stick taunting me. I almost look at the result, but I’m not ready. I haven’t built up the courage. Yet.

It’s too cold to walk around in a thin towel so I head to my bedroom to find something to wear. As I’m dressing, I glance over at the bathroom door, working up the nerve to look. “Get it over with already,” I grumble to myself.

My cellphone dings as I take a step toward the bathroom, and I breathe a sigh of relief at my reprieve.

Gabs

You aren’t getting out of coming.

So stop trying to figure out a way to cancel and get your rear end ready.

My best friend knows me.Almost too well. I sit on the edge of the bed, searching my groggy mind for the right words.

Me

I’ll be there at eleven.

What the heck?That wasn’t what I meant to send. It’s like my fingers took over for my brain and typed it out before my sleep-deprived, stressed-to-the-limit mind could catch up.

Gabs

See you then. I’ll send Jordan over to pick you up if you’re late.

God.Her message reminds me of why I’m trying to find a way to avoid this Sterling family celebration. Jordan Sterling, the much older, billionaire, philanthropist, and hockey team owner who stole my heart five years ago.

He’s also the man who has no idea I’ve been secretly obsessing over him since the day Gabbi introduced me to her older brothers. Eighteen-year-old me almost melted into a puddle of goo when the tall, dark, devastatingly handsome older man smiled at me.

Over the last five years, I’ve fantasized about throwing caution to the wind and jumping his bones countless times. But there was always one big thing standing in my way—my best friend, Gabbi. I couldn’t risk my friendship with her.

I reread her message before replying.

Me

That was downright mean.

Within five seconds,my phone rings and Gabbi’s face flashes across the screen.

“I already said I’m coming,” I answer, grumbling. My sleepless night and the anticipation of what the little white stick will say cause my reply to be a little grumpier than I’d intended. “I’m getting ready right now.” Even though it’s barely eight o’clock and I have three hours before I’m expected, it’s going to take me that long to work up the nerve to face Jordan.

“Merry Christmas to you, too.” She doesn’t let me get away with my snarkiness.

“Merry Christmas, Gabbi. I can’t believe you’re up and calling me at this time of the morning.”

“Atlas is in the shower.” I really didn’t need to know that. “So, I thought I’d make sure you aren’t trying to avoid our family celebration. Jordan promised to get us a nice big tree to decorate.”

She already knows why I’m reluctant to attend the freaking Christmas party at the Sterling mansion. The thought of facing her older brother is giving me indigestion. I can’t believe I offered the big jerk my heart on a silver platter, and he threw it back in my face when he suggested we “figure out” how to have a secret fling. Maybe he didn’t know it was me because of the masquerade mask, but I recognized Jordan behind his disguise the moment he walked up to me.

“I promise I’ll be there.” I can’t risk hurting my best friend again, no matter how much it crushes me to see him. I’m not sure I’ll survive being in the same room with Jordan, remembering what it feels like to have his muscular body wrapped around mine, and knowing it will never happen again.

“And don’t forget to wear your ugly Christmas sweater,” Gabbi interrupts my doom and gloom to tell me goodbye.

It all started when I lost my freaking mind four weeks ago. I stopped by Curvology, the plus-size boutique in Silver Spoon Falls, for a new dress. Jazzy Matheson, who owns the store with her two sisters, offered me her ticket to the Masquerade Party at The Sterling Rope. I had no business going to the party at the exclusive BDSM club Gabbi’s other brother, Roman, owns, but that didn’t stop me.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I bought a slinky white dress and matching mask and crashed the party. When Jordan showed up, I threw caution to the wind and practically threw myself at him. Ouch.

Unfortunately, my bad decisions didn’t end there. Gabbi realized right away that there was something going on with me, and it didn’t take her long to figure out what my secret was. Only she had no idea who I’d given my virginity to. I didn’t want to admit to my best friend that I’d tricked and slept with her brother, so I pulled a name out of thin air. Atlas Jacks, the goalie for the Silver Spoon Falls Falcons hockey team.

As the lead physical therapist for the Silver Spoon Falls Falcons hockey team, I spend my days dealing with pain-in-the-rear athletes, and his was the first name that came to mind when Gabbi asked me who I’d slept with. Of course, she also jumped to the conclusion he’d run out on me afterward, and I conveniently neglected to correct her.

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