Sleeping With Santa by Debra Druzy Read Free Book Online Page A

don’t make any promises Santa can’t keep.”
    When they pulled into the driveway, Nick got out and opened her door. He hung his hand on the roof and lingered like he was waiting for something more than just her to slide out of the backseat. Her phone number, perhaps?
    Under the bright streetlight, his dark eyes were a friendly-ferocious combination, which gave his features an edgy air of danger. This is what he must look like at the end of a date. Smoldering. Kissable. Irresistible. She wasn’t accustomed to this breed of masculinity.
    “I’ll see you around,” he whispered in the wind, and she wanted to say she hoped so, but not in front of the chief.
    She ran to the door with headlights shining behind her until she was safe inside.
    Peeking between the drapes, she watched the red taillights until they were out of sight. Maybe out of sight, but never far from her mind, not since the day they met.
    Was she completely out of her mind for considering, even for a single second, getting involved with this man?
    With her fingertip, Lily wrote the answer on the foggy glass. “Yes.”
    Then, recalling her mother’s advice, she swiped the word away with a swift fist and an excruciating, “No!”

Chapter Six
    Lily’s unrelenting refusal to go out with Nick gave a mile-wide stubborn streak new meaning—wider than the Long Island Sound. She played hard-to-get with a competitive edge. He was tempted to toss her over his shoulder caveman-style. But waiting her out was the better plan, so he dug down deep for the patience to endure the ride.
    To take his mind off the rejection, he’d immerse himself in work. A few chimney inspections and fire alarms remained on the list. And a first aid class was coming up. There was plenty of time to get his mind around the Santa role.
    Once he did what he had to do, he could do what he wanted to do, which was thumb through the brochure for his custom camper. He hadn’t been this excited since getting the new plow for his truck last year.
    And he hadn’t been this excited for a woman in…forever.
    The bunkroom was empty most nights, so it was almost like having his own place. But it was nothing like his own place since he couldn’t invite a lady over. Not that he had anyone in mind other than Lily, and she wasn’t budging.
    A few more weeks and it’ll be here—the ultimate Christmas present he dreamed of since he was a kid. Even more so during the past few years as his mid-life crisis started creeping up early.
    But that’s what happens when you’re married at twenty-two and divorced by twenty-four.
    What’s worse is stuck in a relationship with your ex-wife because she’s your best buddy’s sister.
    Tristan swore he never reported Nick’s business to Claudine, but he must . How else did she keep getting his cell phone number every time he changed it? The psycho-bitch popped up on his caller ID but never left a message.
    Thank God he didn’t have kids with her.
    But they did share a godchild. And for that reason alone, he felt obligated to be civil to her on the few annual occasions they saw each other.
    Thinking of bitches…it was laughable that Lily considered herself one. If she only knew Claudine, he bet she’d laugh. too.
    Sweet little Lily—she was probably a tiger in bed—Tiger Lily.
    He’d felt larger than life, wandering around Brawny’s with her petite frame tucked under his arm. It was hard to control his fantasy of bending that curvaceous bod every which way.
    Maybe he was the crazy one thinking a nice girl like her would want to date this lonesome loser.
    Wait a minute—this lonesome loser’s worth some buku bucks!
    Maybe if she knew about his money she’d change her mind. Then again, he didn’t want the bankbook to be the deciding factor in his love life.
    She didn’t seem to mind the age-gap, which he anticipated would be the bigger issue.
    The only problem appeared to be his job.
    But she was just getting to know him. There was still time to tally up