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Chapter 1

Holly

I f I hear oneto hurl That’s it I hate this time of year It’s cold, it’s miserable, and people are just plain rude I tried Christ today—I really did Fifteen round, people pushing and shoving, gettingcarts, and I was done

Which is why I’ to show for my trouble Some woman inside the departize; she just huffed, like I was the one who caused the accident

I find a bench close to the park and sit down to inspect the da and wince at what I see My stocking is torn and there are these gigantic runs in the nylon going upThe heel of my foot is bloody and has been ripped open at the exact spot the back of ainst My favorite pair of heels didn’t exactly escape hell either They’re scuffed and have serious dae If I had it to do over I wouldn’t have walked away I would have given that lady a dirty look and thrown er

“Looks like you’ve been traht I turn and look at hi in me stills Chills run down my back and the voice see instant awareness throughmy body hum with need Which is unusual for two reasons One, I’ve been on a break froeneral for the last five years My last breakup was not good—so not good that the thought of trusting another male scares the hell out of me The last and most obvious reason is the one that takes precedence, however I don’t know thisa Santa outfit

Great, I’ve reeled in a nut job

“Do I know you?” I sound like a cranky old bitch right now, but I’ethe is

“I’m Santa, can’t you tell?” he says, drolly

I resta Santa suit, a cheesy red one that looks like it’s made out of crushed velvet and that’s trie; ‘tis the season and all that What doesn’t fit the part, however, is when he yanks off the beard and hat and pulls off the white gloves, I can see that his large, masculine hands are covered in ink

I draw one I see he’s sporting a black beard with a bit of gray sprinkled in Dark, almost obsidian eyes stare down atand yet at the saarette and then lights it, cupping his hand against the cool New York wind