Yuletide Mischief by Dahlia Rose Read Free Book Online

Please say I can, please. I’ll do everything Santa said and more, I promise.”
    “Yes, you may, but Santa has to realize that now all these kids might want pets too,” Carmen said.
    Santa—aka Loki—nodded. “This is why I came up with a plan. In the laundry room, children, hurry now.”
    They all scrambled out of the dining room and ran down the hall, even Vivi who had no idea what to expect. The kids made it to the door of the laundry room before her and their squeals of delight made her move quickly. In the corner of the large laundry room there was now a green pen and inside were seven rabbits. Santa reappeared and the kids gasped.
    “Now these are all your rabbits. Care for them and love them. In the spring, Vivienne and Ms. Carmen will have an outside hutch for them so they can play in the sun,” Santa explained. He opened the cage and gently pulled out a gray-and-black bunny and handed it to Sandy. “He is especially yours because he needed a friend. His mommy left him, and he’s very lonely even though he’s with so many others just like him.”
    Sandy took him and nuzzled his fur. “I know how he feels. We will keep each other company.”
    “Good. That is what I want to hear,” he said gently. “Now, let’s go back to the main room and we can open more presents. And watch the elves; they have a thing for candy canes.”
    It was off to the races again as the children rushed back to the dining room. Loki winked at Vivi before he disappeared and she took her time walking back. He understood Sandy more than anyone realized, probably because of his upbringing more than likely. She remembered him mentioning the woman who had raised him, but did not say anything about his mother. Vivi now understood that even though she gave Sandy a home, the child needed something of her own. She felt alone even though she had so many in the same situation at Sunrise House.
    Back in the dining room, there were oohs and ahhs as the teenage girls opened new updated cell phones and gift cards. The boys, no matter what age, were completely enamored with the handheld PlayStation Vitas and the assortment of games that came with them. Dolls, trucks, remote-control helicopters, and more were opened by the younger children.
    Loki gave them their hearts desires and something that could never be replaced. All the children she’d tried to help, taken from broken homes and abused, had a new sense of wonder in their lives—lives that were jaded and marred from birth by people who cared more about themselves and their next fix than their children who needed protection and care.
    It was in that place in time, watching Loki playing with the children, talking to them gently, and making sure Sandy was okay and happy, Vivi knew she’d fallen hard for the prince of chaos and mischief. What better gift for a man who thought he was not worthy of love than to give him her heart?
    * * * *
    “I don’t see why we have to slide around on thin blades, basically what look like knives attached to shoes on ice,” Vivi muttered.
    “You make it sound so wonderful,” Loki murmured drily. “I happen to enjoy this very human sport. This is something we used to do when I was a child. It was one of the only times I felt… Uh, it was fun.”
    He was helping her lace her skates, and she cupped his cheeks with her glove-covered hands and brought his face up so she could stare into his electric-green eyes. “One of these days you will let me in and be surprised that I won’t judge you.”
    “Maybe.” He finished with her skates and stood and pulled her into his arms. “But right now, we’re skating.”
    “Fine,” Vivi grumbled. “When I fall and fracture my backside, you better show the appropriate amount of remorse.”
    “I’ll kiss your boo-boo,” Loki teased.
    She gave him a look and then laughed. “Did you just say you would kiss my butt?”
    He skated a circle around her and then slipped his hands around her waist from behind. He spoke