What the Sleigh? by Mina Carter Read Free Book Online Page B

checked rifle to the side with the rest, and ignored the fact her cheeks burned. “Screw you, Darrick.”
    “Fuck me. He did, didn’t he?” The pixie blinked, the rifle he was holding clattering against the table just enough to let her know she’d surprised him. Recovering himself, he put it down carefully, the last one to be checked, and turned to her.
    Gripping her upper arms, he turned her to face him, his expression serious and the look in his eyes concerned. “Careful girl. Watch yourself. That one’s a playboy through and through.”
    Rudi blinked back the sudden heat of tears. Darrick was rough and ready, always up for a shouting match or a brawl in a back alley, but here he was, worried about her.
    To cover, she snorted again with amusement. “Says the guy who treats ‘em mean to keep ‘em keen. What happened with Angela, or was it Amber this week?”
    He shook her shoulders with a mock growl. “Seriously, you’re my best girl. I don’t want you hurt. Or I bust kneecaps, okay?”
    She smiled, reaching up to brush her hands over his heavily stubbled cheeks. “It’s all good. Honestly. The past is in the past and we can get past it.”
    He crossed his eyes. “Okay, way too many uses of the word past there. Does that mean we’re somewhere into next week or three weeks last Tuesday?”
    She laughed and pushed him away, slapping his shoulder. “Now you sound like that damn seer, Ris—”
    They both turned as the door to the main offices opened. Iliona stepped through it, her voice unmistakable, but it was the small figure behind her and the telltale ring of Christmas magic in the air which made Rudi stiffen.
    “Fuck me,” she whispered, hoping she was wrong.
    No such luck. Iliona turned to them, a broad smile on her face. “Ah, I’m glad I’ve found you both here. I’d like to introduce a member of Nick’s team from the Pole. She was apparently a little delayed in getting here, but I’m so glad she made it before you guys leave. Darrick, Rudi…this is—”
    “Ginger Snaps,” Rudi cut her off as the other woman stepped out from behind Iliona. It was only through sheer force of will she managed to bite back the rage surging through her. After everything Nick had said last night, he’d brought his bitch down here from the Pole. “We’ve met.”
    She looked directly at the other woman, not letting her expression falter from cast iron bitch one iota. “Pack your shit and be ready to move in thirty, or we leave without you.”
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    There was temper, there was anger, and then there was downright fury on par with the hottest levels of hell itself. Nick was working on the latter, steam virtually rising from his skin as he sat off stage in Santa’s Grotto, waiting for his cue to go on.
    Ginger had followed him and somehow convinced Iliona that she… he…they… had always intended to work as a team. Nothing could be further from the truth. He couldn’t stand the woman. Yes, admittedly, he’d had a short fling with her after Rudi had left, but it hadn’t taken long for it to fizzle out. On his side at least. On hers… even five years later she was still chasing him. The stupid elf wouldn’t get the message he wasn’t interested.
    And now, the woman’s bullheadedness was fucking up the reparations he was trying to make with Rudi. Nick sighed, running a hand through his still dark hair. He hadn’t shifted yet, wouldn’t until just before he needed to go on because of the effect on Rudi. He knew it hurt her, and he wouldn’t do that to her.
    She hadn’t even been able to look at him on the journey over here, keeping her attention on the road ahead. Which wouldn’t have been so bad, but she wasn’t driving. Instead, the pixie, Darrick had been behind the wheel. Not that that had stopped him shooting glares of dire retribution at Nick through the rear view mirror. The sole consolation of the awful, awkward journey was the fact Ginger had been traveling in a different