Tales From Christmas Town

by Betty Hanawa, Roni Adams, Allie Standifer

  Apparently, whatever he had to say was even worse than being on the lam.

  "I thought you might have been a reporter or someone who wanted to marry me.” David turned back, a hint of a blush staining his high cheekbones.

  Holly's breath caught in her throat, almost making her choke. “Marry you? I don't even know you.” Was David a psychic? Had he read her graphic naughty thoughts of him in the shower, or picked up on her attraction?

  She took a small step back, her gazed raked over him from head to toe. Even though his blond hair was a mess, his face was scruffy, and he wore horribly wrinkled jeans, he was still remarkably sexy. And, the best part of all, he was tall and lean, with good-sized muscles. A very different look from the typical short dumpy male elves in Christmas Town.

  Her thoughts raced back to their brief embrace outside. The crush of her breasts against his well-defined pecks had taken her breath away. The memory of their touch caused a rush of sensations, and every nerve ending vibrated with electricity. Unfortunately, her body didn't register what her mind already knew. She couldn't stay around long enough to get to know him better. Getting home, back to her safe zone, was the priority now.

  She heaved a heavy sigh. “Don't get me wrong, you seem like a nice enough guy."

  He waved his hands in the air. “I know, I know. Any normal person who hasn't seen my show would think that sounds egotistical. Unfortunately, it's not. It's been my crazy reality for the last six months."

  Holly leaned against the armrest of the small plaid couch and rubbed her forehead. “I'm confused. What show? Why is the media after you?"

  David's cheerful grin disappeared and his brown eyes dimmed. He suddenly looked tired, as though all the joy had been sucked right out of his body.

  "Last Christmas my ex-fiancé dumped me. Said my children's books were silly and I would never get published.” He plopped down on the couch and rubbed his eyes. “Right after New Year's Eve, my best buddy signed me up for a television reality show called Marry a Single Guy. He thought the exposure would be good for my writing career, and I might meet the girl of my dreams.” Looking up, he added, “I was lonely and not quite in my right mind, so I went along with it."

  That he hadn't already found someone was a surprise. David was handsome, reasonably intelligent, and seemed genuine. As far as she was concerned, a perfect tri-fecta. “I take it you got on the show."

  He rolled his eyes. “Boy, did I. Worst mistake of my life. The network put cameras and microphones in every conceivable nook and cranny of my house and car. Where they couldn't put some type of recording device, they sent a camera man to follow me around.” David frowned. “The whole thing was a disaster."

  "I can imagine. I've never been on television, but I have a pretty good idea what you've been through. Being Santa's daughter isn't exactly low profile.” Dating the elf that changed careers from toy maker to dentist had been food for public fodder in Christmas Town for weeks until they broke up. And, how many times had her brother Noel caused a scandal for the family? His insistence on being called Leon and riding around in the chromed-up, supercharged Ducati was infamous.

  "To make matters worse, the show's producers constantly set me up with strange women they knew I wouldn't like. Just to get the show's ratings high.” David patted at the space on the sofa next to him. “Here, take a seat. Standing on those heels can't be comfortable."

  For a second or two she couldn't move. The couch was little more than a large love seat. Her body trembled with excitement at the prospect of sitting next to him. But her mind fretted and nagged. She should be trying to find a way to get home. She didn't belong here.

  Holly smiled, attempting to cover her nervousness and indecision.

  Since Daddy left nothing bad had happened. She was unhurt and nothing threatened here. Plus, every time she allowed her overactive imagination to run wild, she usually ended up feeling foolish. Being close to someone, especially a friendly, good-looking someone would be all right—until her family found her.

  Decision made, Holly sat on the overstuffed sofa. Her bottom sank pleasantly in the soft cushion, her thigh brushed against his. Crossing her legs would shift her body away, so she wouldn't be sitting quite so close. But, being near him was ... well, nice. “And were they?” She cringed. Her voice cracked like a hormonal teenage boy.

  "Huh? Oh.” He lifted his gaze from where their legs touched. “Yah, some of the highest. I hit instant celebrity. Was on every talk show and every magazine cover."

  His face flushed a deep shade of red. He tugged at the banded collar of his sweatshirt.

  "It was fun for a while,” he continued, “but things got out of control. Women chased me twenty-four hours a day. The press stalked me wherever I went. Finally decided I had had enough and came here. Unless Hell freezes over, I'm never going back to that craziness. Never."

  David raised his arms high over his head and stretched. When he lowered them, one returned to the armrest. The other he draped across the back of the couch, behind Holly. “When I saw you on the roof, I thought the network execs found me, and you were the latest woman thrown my way."

  Breathing was impossible. With her heart racing a mile a minute and blood rushing through her veins to her head, passing out herself didn't feel too far away.

  She reclined into the sofa, steadying herself, and licked dry lips. “Don't worry. I promise not to chase you."

  "That's too bad.” He leaned toward her, his brown eyes never leaving hers. “You actually seem like the kind of girl I might like."

  Before she could form another thought, he reached his arm over her shoulder and pressed warm lips against hers. She closed her eyes, allowing all of her senses to bask in the moment. He smelled of clean linen sheets, and his mouth tasted like winter-fresh mint.

  He pulled her closer, wrapping her further into his hold. For the first time in a very long time, she felt completely safe.

  Chapter Four

  What he was doing was beyond him. The sexy woman—no female elf—in the red, fur-lined, next-to-nothing Christmas outfit was Santa Claus's daughter. He was supposed to be staying away from women, even elven women. The entire female species were nothing but trouble. Hadn't he had enough craziness?

  Apparently not.

  His ability to think straight was lost when the pretty little thing held his face after he blacked out. She smelled so good, a cross between vanilla and gingerbread. When she sat next to him and touched his leg with hers, all his resolve against women flew away like the winds blowing outside his door. Pure molten lava had run through his veins at that moment, and nothing seemed better than giving in to heated, lust-driven impulse.

  He had to kiss her, to see if she tasted as delicious as she smelled. And, man did she ever.

  David licked his lips, savoring the last of her sweetness. “I tell you what. If that is how all of Santa's daughters kiss, we regular guys are really missing out on some good stuff."

  He bent to kiss Holly again, but she used her hands as a barrier, keeping him away. “What's the matter? Did I say something wrong?"

  Her bright blue eyes widened.

  "Oh, no. It's just ... “she tucked a short brown lock of hair behind her ear and looked away.

  With one hand, he cupped her chin and turned her face to his. He searched her baby blues, looking for some clue of what was suddenly bothering her. “It's just what?"

  She glanced at her hands, refusing to look him in the eye. “Did you kiss many of girls on your show? I mean, I imagine you did if a lot of pretty women were after you. I couldn't blame you if you did. Big temptation."

  Finally, a woman with a real conscience. David held back a grin.

  Holly, evidently, wasn't like the girls he had met on his program. Those ‘ladies’ literally threw themselves at him, not caring what they exposed on national television, or that they made complete asses of themselves. True, all the skin and trampiness made for excellent ratings, but those girls did nothing more than turn him off. Not th
at he wanted someone frumpy or unattractive. Just someone pretty and nice. Someone he could actually connect with.

  He brushed a thumb down her cheek. Her creamy skin was amazingly soft and warm. “I only kissed two girls while I was on the program."

  A frown tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Only two? That's hard to believe."

  David nodded. “Yep. Only two. My mom and Chaos over there."

  At the mention of her name, Chaos raised her head and twitched her ears. The big black dog scratched her own head with a long back foot, then lay her head back down on her front two legs.

  "This is so embarrassing. I should have noticed. I guess I'm just a little of sorts being in a strange place.” Holly looked to where Chaos lay on the floor, and then turned back. “Chaos is a girl?"

  This time Chaos not only perked up her head, she also let loose a huge, whiny yawn.

  David did his best to hold back his own, but the forces of nature would not be controlled. Not only did he yawn, he stretched his arms, slightly flexing his biceps. Heck. Didn't hurt for Holly to know he was packing some pretty big guns underneath the sleeves of his sweatshirt. Might even warm her up to him a little more. A few more of her sweet kisses would be one of the best Christmas presents he got this year.

  "Yes, she is.” David twitched his eyebrows and pantomimed a cigar in his mouth, a la Groucho Marx. “So is my mother. At least, that's what Mom tells everyone. I can't speak from personal experience."

  Holly laughed a laugh that could only be described as a melodious tinkle from a small silver bell. Pure music to his ears.

  He now had a new mission in life. Hearing more of her gentle laughter.

  David returned his arm around her shoulder. “Seeing how we're stuck here for a while, why don't you start the fire up again and whip us up some more of your hot chocolate. I'll entertain you with amusing anecdotes from previous Christmas disasters. Trust me, I've got dozens."

  * * * *

  Holly glanced out the sliding glass doors. Heavy snow flew past, and was piling up on the deck. The blowing winds whistled and howled in the night air.

  David was right. They certainly weren't going anywhere tonight. Not in this blizzard. If she were lucky, Noel or her father would find her sometime tomorrow—after all the Christmas presents were delivered and the weather wasn't quite so bad.

  If she was lucky.

  If they could find her.

  What if her dad or brother couldn't find her? She'd left her special cell phone in her bag on the sleigh. No way she could call Christmas Town on a regular phone to let them know where she was. Dad was so sick when he left, he may or may not remember this stop. She might be stuck south of the North Pole forever, never being able to see her family and home again.

  The familiar press of anxiety was back again, with a vengeance. Holly sucked in and exhaled several deep gulps of air, filling her compressed chest. “I need to get home.” Her lungs ached so badly she barely got the words out.

  "Whoa now, little princess. What's wrong?” David pulled her closer and rubbed her arm. “You seem upset."

  The urgent need to have something familiar around was nearly paralyzing. The only thing keeping her from falling into a full-fledged panic attack was David. His gentle manner and compassion were the threads tying her to sanity.

  What could she do?

  As much as she enjoyed David's company and wanted to get to know him better, the last thing she wanted was to share her dark concerns. Having people laugh at her or throw pity her way was worse than hand-packing sand in Etch-A-Sketches. But, this far from home, she was completely out of her element, with no way of knowing what to do next.

  David was literally her lifeline. She had to trust him to help her.

  Holly gulped, swallowing her pride. “I ... I always feel anxiousness whenever I'm left alone or I'm around people I don't know. In reality, it's more like panic."

  She shifted her gaze to the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree—too embarrassed to look David in the eye. “Ever since I was a little girl and Daddy left to deliver toys, I was afraid I might never see him again.” She looked back and drew in another deep breath, quieting her racing heart. “I worried myself sick thinking about what might happen to him. Unfortunately, I now get a little freaked out when I'm not around familiar things or family."

  "I see.” He leaned back, creating a space between them. “Do I freak you out?"

  Actually, he didn't. David was great. Besides being funny and quirky, he had her thinking thoughts she hadn't had in a long time. Way too long. Like what that scruffy beard of his would feel like rubbing against the inside of her thighs, and whether or not the rumors about human men having bigger penises than elven men were true.

  Plus, being around David felt better than snuggling up in Mom's old quilt. Very warm, very safe. His bulging muscles kept him from being as soft as the blanket, but that old quilt sure couldn't kiss like David. And, for the brief moment their lips touched and he'd held her, she completely forgot about the situation and her fears. Hard to obsess about being away from family and things familiar with two strong arms holding her tight.

  Holly shook her head and smiled. “No. You don't make me nervous at all. You're wonderful. The best thing to happen to me in a long time.” She took his hand. Her palm looked so small against his. “I just don't know how or when my family will find me, and take me back home."

  He entwined his fingers with hers and squeezed. “Don't worry. I'm not family, but as long as I'm around, I'll make sure you're never alone.” He reached for her and held her close to his chest.

  She leaned into his warm, tender embrace and closed her eyes, shutting out any feelings of anxiousness. Other than the storm blowing outside, his steady, regular heartbeat was the last sound she heard.

  Chapter Five

  From the cabin's deck, David watched the sun set over the snow covered mountains. Above, deep, dark blue faded to pale yellow and orange in the cloudless sky. The woodsy smell of pine rode thick on the wind.

  David lifted his face, feeling the last of the sun's rays warm his skin. He breathed in the frigid, fresh air, enjoying the cold tingle in his lungs.

  On his granddad's property everything seemed clearer. Little wonder why this little log cabin in the mountains had been the first place he thought to come when his life started spinning out of control. Here, the insane rat race of television and the media didn't exist. Here, the trees and the rocks didn't know him from Adam. He could walk around unrecognized and live his life in peace. Here, women weren't clamoring to meet him and banging down his door, trying to get in.

  A smile spread from ear to ear.

  Nope. No women up here in the mountains. Just an abandoned, sexy-as-all-get-out female elf with a heart of pure gold.

  He glanced through the sliding glass doors. Holly sat on a rug next to the Christmas tree, wearing a pair of his sweats and an old football jersey. Chaos was curled up next to her. The dog's big black head lay in Holly's lap.

  Heat rolled from his chest to his gut. Heaven help him, the woman was smokin’ hot. Just seeing her walking around in his too-big jersey was enough to make him want to jump her petite bones.

  She had been at the cabin three days. Though his goal in coming here was to get away from women, being around Holly and getting to know her better had him rethinking his objective. She was the first woman in a long time that he could talk to and hang out with without feeling used or uncomfortable.

  With little else to do, they had swapped stories—her elf tales were particularly incredible—exchanged dark secrets, and spent late evenings together in front of the fire kissing. Every time he was near her, tasting her sweet lips and feeling her soft curves, his restraint had been put to the test.

  Up to now, he had taken things slow with Holly. Partially because of her fears. She trusted him to care for her until she found her way home. Partially because she was a nice girl. The kind a guy takes home to meet mom. The type of woman he had been looking for. W
ell, except for the elf part. Hadn't anticipated being attracted to Santa's daughter.

  No doubt about it, he wanted her, and sleeping on the coach again, horny, hard, and frustrated wasn't something to look forward to. Just how long did he have to be the good guy and keep his hands to himself?

  What was he thinking? He was holed up in Granddad's cabin for two reasons. She, or at least her kind, was one of those reasons.

  Holly stood, brushed off her backside, and made her way across the small living room to the porch. Chaos was only two steps behind.

  David's jeans suddenly became uncomfortable. He adjusted his boy and raised his gaze to the heavens. He was more pathetic than he realized. How could just watching Holly sashay from one room to another give him a hard-on? Even the cool mountain winds couldn't keep ‘little Elvis’ down.

  He couldn't go on like this. His self-control was fading faster than this evening's sunset.

  The sliding door opened and Holly stepped through. “Hey, stranger. What's going on out here?"

  Though she was usually very warm, the cold air was definitely having an effect. Two pointed nipples poked through the flimsy cotton jersey. They were practically screaming to be noticed, saying, “Hello David. Can we come out and play with you?"

  Why you sure can, little ladies. Just let me help you out of that old shirt.

  The ache in his groin intensified. His stiff penis pressed without mercy against the unyielding denim of his pants. If he didn't get some relief soon, he'd surely go mad. He was already having imaginary conversations with her boobs, for crying out loud.

  He checked the shirttail covering the front of his pants, making sure his bulge was hidden. No need scaring the girl with his mighty monster. “Nothing much. Just checking out the scenery.” If she knew the view he was taking in was her large, ripe breasts, she would probably snap those fingers, magic up a pair of gardening sheers, and cut his big boy right off. She didn't look like she had any Bobbit in her, but one never knew.

  Holly moved past him and leaned over the railing of the porch. “It is beautiful here. Reminds me a little of my family's place. Course, not as many trees up that way.” She turned back. “We all live a big house a few miles from Christmas Town. Not too far from the toy shop."