by Jessie Lane
“Yes!” Sarah said excitedly and jumped up from her chair. Nikki took the tray with their leftover food and garbage to the bin, watching Sarah from the corner of her eye the whole time.
“All right, munchkin, let’s do this,” Nikki said. Some of her trepidation must have crept into her voice because Sarah’s excitement faded just a bit. She gave Nikki a puzzled look with her head cocked, emphasizing the fact that her ponytails were just a little crooked.
“Don’t you want to see your friend, Nikki?”
“I do,” Nikki said. It was offered as a reassurance to Sarah, but it rang with a sincerity that unnerved her. She had to admit, whether she liked it or not, that he excited her, and not just physically. He was funny, cocky, sexy with an easy charm that, before her whole life had been upended, would have been exactly what she was looking for. “But I don’t know him really well yet, so I guess I’m just a little nervous.”
Sarah’s mouth formed an ‘O’ of surprise and her eyes widened comically. In a whisper that was at least a thousand times louder than her normal speaking voice, the little girl asked, “Is it a boyfriend?”
“It’s a friend who is a boy,” Nikki insisted. “That is not a boyfriend. Or a boy friend. He’s just a friend. Only a friend. Got it?”
Sarah grinned before popping her thumb back into her mouth and nodding happily. But looking down at Sarah, Nikki wasn’t so sure that her little sister understood after all. And why would she? She was three years old. As far as Sarah was concerned, everyone was their friend. She wasn’t even sure where Sarah had heard the term boyfriend, which was definitely something she would need to interrogate her about later.
Nikki took her sister’s other hand and walked toward the main entrance of the mall where the line for the carriage rides started. Joe was already there. She could feel him, smell him, sense him—every part of her was attuned to his presence already. What would it be like to have that kind of a connection to someone? The sort of attachment that only fate could bring into a person’s life? Not just a mate, but a soul mate.
Her parents had had that and Nikki couldn’t imagine having it for herself. Being so wrapped up in another person that others around you just didn’t matter anymore. She wouldn’t do that to Sarah and she wouldn’t do that to herself. No way was she ever going to be so locked in and tied to a single person that she’d forget her family. When she thought about her father’s final choice, Nikki got so angry. The corner had told her that her father had stayed in that car as it caught fire. Nikki knew it was because he wouldn’t leave his mate, even though she’d died instantly in the crash. Had his children really mattered so little to him?
The anger and bitterness boiled up inside her again. Every time she thought of it, of the fact that her father had chosen to stay in the vehicle and die with their mother rather than come back to them, she was overwhelmed. Yes, she got it. Mates were for life. But so were kids, dammit.
The line grew shorter, and Joe smiled and stepped forward as they drew nearer. “Hey there! I was beginning to think I’d been stood up.” He dropped to his knees in front of Sarah. “And hello to you, too. You must be Sarah. I’m Joe.”
The little girl cocked her head and then tugged her hand free of Nikki’s. She put her hand over Joe’s mouth, then nodded. “You’re not Joe. You’re Santa.”
Joe shook his head. “No way!”
The little girl rolled her eyes. “Not the real Santa, silly! The here Santa!”
Joe shushed her. “Not so loud. Not everyone is as smart as you to figure it out. I don’t want to get in trouble with the big man at the North Pole if he finds out I gave away his secret.”
Sarah leaned in and whispered, again at deafening volume, “What’s the secret?”
Joe grinned. “It takes a lot of energy to deliver all those presents on Christmas Eve night. So he rests up beforehand and has people like me come to the malls and other places to find out what all the little kids want!”
“I won’t tell,” she vowed.
Joe gave her a wink, just as the line moved forward again. He rose, looked at Nikki, and the heat in that single glance scorched her to her toes. She’d dressed for the occasion, even as she’d told herself she shouldn’t. The denim skirt and over-the-knee high-heeled boots were probably a little much for a carriage ride and hot chocolate, but they made her feel sexy. Beyond that, they made her feel powerful.
As they moved toward the next carriage that had pulled up, Sarah squealed in delight. “Can I pet the horse?”
Chapter Seven
Joe couldn’t help but smile at the little girl’s obvious delight. If she wanted to pet the horse, she’d pet the damn horse. It was the sort of thing he would have wanted to do as a kid and he wanted Sarah to have all those fun holiday memories. He turned to the driver. “Is that okay?”
The driver nodded. “Sure thing. Just stay behind the ears. He doesn’t like having his face messed with.”
Bending down, Joe wrapped his hands around Sarah’s waist and picked her up so that she could pet the animal. He couldn’t help but smile as the little girl giggled in glee as she ran her hands over the mane and down the neck of the horse, who was wearing a Christmas wreath.
After letting Sarah pet the horse a few times, he set her in the carriage and motioned for Nikki to get in. He watched with more than a little interest as Nikki climbed up, inadvertently sashaying her ass in front of his face. Now was not the time to get a boner though, so he pushed those thoughts aside and climbed in behind her.
Nikki rearranged their positions so that little Sarah was sitting between them and he had to forcibly hold in his laugh. His little mate was doing anything and everything she could to put space between them. It made Joe’s lion grouchy, but he assured his beast that they could be patient. If they were lucky, there would be plenty of touching and petting to please his lion soon enough.
The driver got up on his perch and suddenly the carriage started moving. They slowly passed the outlet mall and continued down a side street that led them toward the largest display of lights in the entire city. Joe looked down at Sarah as the carriage turned the corner and a brilliantly lighted Christmas street came into view. “Look at all the lights, Sarah.” He pointed out the strands wrapped around the light poles for the little girl.
Sarah stood on the seat and squealed with delight. Joe wrapped his arm around her waist so she wouldn’t fall as the carriage bounced over the road. It was then he got the feeling that someone was watching him. Looking over, he found Nikki observing him and gave her a smile before turning his attention back to the little girl.
“Do you like the white lights or the colored lights, Sarah?”
The exuberant child clapped wildly and squealed, “I love them all!”
They continued down the street, Joe pointing out the different street ornaments until the carriage came to a stop in front of the town’s very large Christmas tree. There, a group of carolers were singing “O Holy Night”. As he sat listening to the singers croon the lines, Sarah snuggled closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. The action was so simple, so innocent even, but to Joe it meant hope.
Hope that he could have a family after being alone for so very long. Hope that he could win over not only his mate, but the little girl that was quickly worming her way into his heart. Most of all, hope that this Christmas he wouldn’t be alone.
The carolers ended their song and the carriage started to move again. Back down the street they went, this time the little girl pointing out all of her favorite sights, while Joe silently sat there and enjoyed their time together. It was so peaceful, and felt so right, that he hated the ride to come to an end.
When the carriage came to a stop back at the place they had started, he was almost tempted to tip the guy to go another round, but his mate was already moving to get out.
Eager to keep up with her as she exited the carriage with her sister, he followed the two girls. Once they were on their feet, he stopped next to Nikki to point at the
little café across the street. “We can get hot cocoa there.” Looking down at Sarah, he asked, “You want some hot cocoa, sweetling?”
The little cub beamed at him.“Yes!”
Joe grabbed his mate’s free hand, then gently pulled her along before she had a second to protest and led the three of them across the street to the café. Once there, he opened the front door and waved them through the entryway. Pointing at a small table near the window, he said “I’ll get it. You girls sit there and I’ll be right over. Nikki, do you want coffee or cocoa?”
Slightly flustered looking, Nikki answered, “Coffee please.”
Joe gave her a wink. “A girl after my own coffee-addicted heart. Be right back, sweetheart.”
Chapter Eight
Nikki sat at the table, observing Joe as he walked away to the coffee counter to place their order. She had butterflies in her stomach and her heart actually skipped when she caught him looking back at her over his shoulder. The man was getting to her.
Damn, she was in trouble.
Watching Joe with Sarah while they had been on that carriage ride had been one of the sweetest things she had seen in her life. He had been so attentive and caring with her sister that it had warmed a small piece of her determinedly frozen heart. Part of her couldn’t help but wonder if it was too good to be true though.
Could this just be an act? A show he was putting on to get what he wanted? Would a man go that far to win over his mate?
She liked to think nobody would be that manipulative, but her cynical heart just couldn’t be sure. Nikki steeled her spine once more and reminded herself that she had to stay vigilant. She wasn’t falling for him. She wasn’t going to be anyone’s mate. Not ever.
“I like Joe.”
That little voice, that shy and sweet admission from her baby sister was the nail in the coffin. She had no intention of mating him and bringing him around Sarah, knowing full well that she planned to send him on his way, was wrong. That baby had lost enough. Sarah didn’t need to get attached to a male, even if it was Nikki’s mate. Her panther screamed in protest at the thought of leaving their mate behind, but she told her cat to be quiet. They had to think about what was best for their cub. “This is a one-time thing, Sarah. We’re only spending this evening with Joe. No more. So don’t get attached to him.”
The little girl looked up at her in stunned surprise. Her lower lip trembled and she immediately shoved her thumb in her mouth. Looking down at the table, she muttered around her thumb, “You’re mean!”
“Don’t pout. We’ve had a fun time and when this is done, we’re going home. Back to the two of us. Just me and you, kiddo. Okay?”
Sarah nodded, but her pout remained firmly in place as Joe returned, bearing three steaming Styrofoam cups. He placed them all in the middle of the table. “Let’s let that cool off just a little, sweetling.”
“Okay,” Sarah said, still talking around her thumb and refusing to make eye contact with anyone.
Joe looked at Nikki questioningly. “Did I miss something here?”
“No. But this isn’t a good idea. I can’t take the chance of her getting attached to you and you not sticking around. It was a dumb move on my part,” Nikki said. Her tone was sharp. Sharper than it had to be, but she needed to cut the ties that were already developing between them. She could feel herself becoming more bonded to him with every passing minute and it terrified her. “Thank you for the carriage ride and the hot cocoa, but I think we’re just going to Uber it back to the mall and get my car. It was nice meeting you, Joe.”
Again, her panther started screaming not to leave their mate, but Nikki ignored her. The animal didn’t get human logic. That didn’t mean that her panther wouldn’t make her pay for ignoring it. She felt like claws were raking down her insides, and her body was trying to shift of its own accord to let her panther free in protest.
Nikki rose from the table, but as she reached for Sarah’s hand, Joe’s fingers closed over her wrist. His grip was firm but not painful. He wasn’t trying to hurt her, but she wasn’t going anywhere until he let her. What he didn’t realize was that one touch helped stop her shift. It grounded her…and she resented him for it.
“Don’t do this, Nikki. Don’t run from the good things. I know what that’s like. I’ve done my fair share of it,” he urged in a low whisper.
“I can’t risk it. Not for me and not for her,” Nikki insisted.
“It’s three days till Christmas. Give me three days, Nikki, to show you how good it can be.” The look in his eyes, the heat of his gaze resting on her and the need she saw in him, swayed her. Whatever else he might be, he was sincere.
Could she risk it? Could she give him three days without also giving him her heart?
God, she wanted to, she realized. She wanted three days of bliss with a hot, sexy man who made her feel alive—who made her feel like the girl she’d been before her whole life went to hell in a handbag. “Three days…and no biting?”
“Oh, there’ll be biting. Just not the permanent kind. Not unless you ask for it,” he purred.
Nikki shivered at the husky tone of his voice, the sensual promise of what was to come. Shifters were insatiable in bed. A shifter with his mate? She’d be lucky if she’d be able to walk when they were done.
That thought was more of an inducement than a deterrent.
“Fine. Three days. You can come to the house with us and once I get her to bed,” she said, pointing toward Sarah, who was no longer pouting but avidly listening to their every word, “we’ll talk ground rules. Fair enough?”
Joe stood and slipped his hand from her wrist, down until he was cupping her hand and they were palm to palm. “Fair enough,” he agreed with a handshake. When they parted, he picked up the cocoa and pried the lid off to check its temperature before handing it to Sarah. “That should be cool enough to sip now, but why don’t you let your sister check it out first?”
Nikki took the cup from him, sampled a little sip and nodded. “It’s fine.”
He put the lid back on, popped the tab out for the kiddo to drink through, and then handed it to her. “All right. Let’s grab another carriage and head back to the mall and your waiting car. I’ll follow you home on my bike.”
Sarah giggled. “You ride a bicycle?”
Joe laughed. “It’s got two wheels, sweetling, but it’s not a bicycle.”
Chapter Nine
Joe eased his motorcycle to a stop behind Nikki’s car. The car was so old and beat up it was practically a death trap. It was also leaking oil like a sieve. He had three days to do something about that.
His gut clenched when he moved his attention from his mate’s car to the house. It was dark except for a meager string of Christmas lights along the front of the house and around the front door.
His keen shifter sight could also see a shiny garland wreath hanging on the front door. Somehow he had imagined that Nikki’s house would have been more Christmas festive for Sarah. Something else he had three days to change.
Getting off his bike, he watched as Nikki and Sarah climbed out of the car and headed for the entrance. Nikki looked back at him to make sure he was following them as she unlocked the front door. The moment she walked through it, pulling Sarah along behind her, she flicked on a light, allowing him to see inside the home before entering it himself.
The inside was the sort of festive he had expected to see on the outside. Stepping through the doorway, he scoped the place out. Crayon colored drawings of elves and what he thought might be polar bears were taped on the walls. There were two knit stockings hanging from a fireplace and nutcrackers along the mantle.
There was just one thing missing. A Christmas tree.
After closing the door behind him, Joe took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack on the wall next to the front door. Sarah had already shed her coat and was bouncing around the living room, gibbering to Joe about her favorite things.
“Look, Joe, we have nutcrackers! Nikki says you can actuall
y crack real nuts with them.”
Holding in a snort, he shot an amused look over to his mate, who was turning an adorable shade of pink. The sight made him wish he could feel the heat of her skin against his own. Nikki shrugged, trying to play it off, but also moved forward to pick Sarah up and put her on her hip. “I think it’s time for you to go to bed, you little bugger.”
Sarah stuck out her bottom lip in an adorable little pout. “I don’t wanna.”
Nikki shook her head. “I know you don’t want to, but it’s way past your bed time. Now say goodnight to Joe.”
Sarah gave him a sad wave. “Night, Joe.” Then the little girl perked up as she asked, “See you tomorrow?”
He didn’t give his mate the chance to say no. “Yeah, sweetling, see you tomorrow. Good night and sweet dreams.”
Nikki raised an eyebrow in his direction then nodded toward the couch. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”
Sitting on the couch, he scanned the house again. It was in good shape, so at least he didn’t have to worry about the house like he did her car. Turning his attention back to the bare spot by the living room window, he pictured a Christmas tree there. He didn’t know why they didn’t have one, but he was sure as hell going to fix that tomorrow. Sarah deserved a tree. Not to mention it would be fun watching the little girl decorate it.
A feminine throat cleared, bringing his attention back to reality. Turning his head toward the sound, he found Nikki propped against a wall, watching him. “Penny for your thoughts?” she asked him sweetly.
Joe cocked his head as he took in her tantalizing form. “My thoughts are worth a hell of a lot more than a penny, sweetheart.”