by Marie Fraser
Dash
A
Rayne Deare Dating Agency Novel
By: Marie Fraser
Dash
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Copyright 2017 Marie Fraser
All RIGHTS RESERVED. One or more global copyright treaties protect the information in this document. This Special Report is not intended to provide exact details or advice. This report is for informational purposes only. Author reserves the right to make any changes necessary to maintain the integrity of the information held within. This Special Report is not presented as legal or accounting advice. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owner.
NOTICE OF LIABILITY
In no event, shall the author or the publisher be responsible or liable for any loss of profits or other commercial or personal damages, including but not limited to special incidental, consequential, or any other damages, in connection with or arising out of furnishing, performance or use of this book.
All Characters, events and locations in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, dead or living, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Cover art:Sabrina Ihadadene
Dash
As one of the two reindeer closest to Mr. Claus when Christmas Eve comes, Dasher is charged with keeping the other eight reindeer calm until takeoff. Serene by nature, he’s just as cool and collected in his everyday life as he is during the holiday season, except for a few, very obvious changes.
During the holidays, he tends to prance around in his four-legged, hairy self. During the other eleven months of the year, however, he struts his stuff as a 5’11” brown eyed babe. Tall, dark and handsome; Dasher Holland-who goes by Dash to his friends and family-isn’t looking for love when it comes to find him.
Ashley Bogart is a sales clerk at a local retail outlet. Her love life is non-existent and she doesn’t want to say she’s desperate, but she’s so darn close it’s not even funny. Doing a random search of dating sites late one night, she comes across an unusual one that advertises itself as Mrs. C’s Rayne Deare Dating Agency. Curious, even if just for a laugh, she clicks on the site and is more than taken aback at the incredibly hot guys that grace the front page. One in particular is right up her alley and before she can talk herself out of it, she’s clicking on a picture that says “Dasher” under it.
Can Dasher convince Ashley that dating a shifter is worth the risk? Will Ashley be able to see past Dasher’s job description and peculiar December issues to see the man he is inside? Only time will tell when Dasher takes the reins.
Chapter One: Desperation
Ashely Bogart trudged into her job with about as much enthusiasm as a death row inmate going to the electric chair. She loathed her job, but trying to be thankful for her only source of income, she sighed and pasted on a smile. Today was the first of July and as always, her boss was ready with a ridiculous costume for her to wear, just so she could feel extra imbecilic while she advertised her store’s Christmas in July savings.
It took her twenty minutes to pull on the shoes, stockings, shirt and hat and another ten to adjust the massive elf ears that was the proverbial nail in her social coffin. Sighing, she stepped out into the heat of summer and inwardly cursed her regional manager and everyone above and below him. Why couldn’t she have found a nice retail cashiering position that only required her to be nice to her customers?
Two hours into her shift and sweat was trickling down her back faster than lightning takes to strike. She was miserable and plastering on a fake smile while she held a sign that read: 60% savings on all merchandise, was not endearing her to her job.
“You look like you could use a drink,” came a voice from behind her. Turning, Ashley just stared at possibly the hottest guy she’d ever seen.
Swallowing past the paste of saliva in her mouth she tried to smile. “I’m dying, if you want the truth,” she said. “But, a job’s a job.”
“True, but let’s face it, loving what you do is much better than just working to make a dime,” the hot guy said.
“Unfortunately, I’m in no position to gripe. I can’t afford to be picky.”
“Well, I certainly hope you find something you love to do. When you do, enjoy the hell out of it.”
“I will,” Ashley smiled. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he grinned, making her heartrate speed up. Despite the heat she breathed a sigh of relief when he walked into the store.
***
Dasher had to admit that Christmas in July sales had always intrigued him. What was the point of having Christmas in December if you were going to start celebrating in the middle of summer? Personally, not that anyone had asked him, but for himself, he liked that it was a winter holiday. Christmas just wasn’t the same when you were sweating in a terrible elf costume. Whoever thought that elves wore pointed shoes with bells on them had obviously never met a real elf.
Grinning, he picked up the few things he needed, added a soda and two waters to his tab and thanked the cashier. Stopping next to the woman he’d met in the elf costume, he smiled as she swung her sign. She was lean and petite with dark brown hair and a pretty set of blue eyes. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted a soda or water,” he said when she turned and her eyes showed surprise.
“Both,” she chuckled. “I don’t know who thinks up this sort of misery, but I’m over it.”
“Can’t say I blame you,” he grinned. He handed her a water and a soda, noticing the tingle that went up his arm when their hands touched.
“Thank you,” she said and he knew she meant it when she popped the top on the water and drank half the contents.
“You’re welcome,” he said. “Have a great day.”
“I will, thanks to you.”
“It’s the least I could do,” he said. “Your store is the only one that carries the specifics I need.”
“Then I’m happy we’re here.”
“That makes two of us,” he said. “I’ll catch ya later.”
“Okay,” Ashley said, feeling like an ass after he’d walked away.
***
Why hadn’t she asked his name? And why in god’s name hadn’t she given him her number?
“Because you’ve been out of the game for way too long, girl,” she chided herself. After work, Ashley stopped by her favorite pizza joint, ordered a single supreme and a 2-liter of her favorite beverage. She watched a movie while she ate, took a shower and chilled in front of her computer, wondering what the hot guy she’d met earlier was doing…probably a pretty blonde, Ashley thought, blowing out her frustration.
Typing dating sites into her search engine, Ashley laughed outright when a Christmas themed site popped up first on her results. Of course, there would be a Christmas themed dating site ranking number one in the middle summer, she chuckled. For kicks Ashley clicked on the Enter button. Giving a low whistle, she had to admit that whoever ran the site, knew some extremely hot men. Scrolling through the names and faces, Ashley’s grin only widened when she landed on Mr. Hot from earlier in the afternoon. “No way,” she said, clapping her hands in disbelief. The face said, Dasher under it and finding that peculiar, she clicked on the picture.
Hi, I’m Dasher Holland. I work seasonally, mainly during the Christmas season and while I love almost all holidays, Christmas is definitely my favorite. I’m desperately in need of some
thing more permanent in my life, even if I don’t like to admit it. And while I enjoy hanging out with friends and loved ones, I prefer keeping my love life under wraps. Message me if you’re interested-Dash.
Ashley thought he sounded nice, especially considering she’d already run into him and he’d certainly seemed genuine. Even as she rolled her eyes, she clicked on the message board and scrolled off her interests, availability and attached a photo. She clicked send before she could talk herself out of it.
***
Dasher was sitting in his apartment in the Artic when his email beeped at him. Setting his soda down, he pulled his laptop onto his thighs and scrolled over to his email. When it said, message from Mrs. C’s Rayne Deare Dating Agency he chuckled. Over the last several weeks he’d received at least a dozen emails from women who were interested in dating him. Unfortunately, he wasn’t keen on any of them, not that they weren’t great sounding women. He simply wasn’t into the whole internet dating scene. Still, he always clicked them open, perusing the women who wrote him.
Opening the tab for the message, Dash sat up straighter when a pair of baby blues stared back at him. Mix in the dark hair and the lop-sided grin and he knew he was staring at the women he’d met earlier in the day. How had she found him? He wondered. He read her quick message, smiled when she thanked him for the soda again and hit reply before he reminded himself that he didn’t do the internet dating thing.
Hi Ashley, he began. You’re most welcome for the soda. I have no idea how you managed to find my online presence as it’s nearly non-existent. However, that be said, I’d really enjoy taking you out. How about this Saturday? I’ll pick you up at seven-if you give me your address.
-Dasher “Dash” Holland
He sent his reply and then closed his laptop so it wouldn’t alert him to a reply until at least the next morning.
When he woke the next day, Dash woke himself up in the shower, luxuriating for an hour in the warmth of the hot water. Then he fixed his staple beverage, coffee so dark it was practically just grounds with a splash of milk and heavy on the sugar. Sitting himself in front of his laptop, he booted up just to see if she had replied.
“By the bells of Christmas!” he hollered when he saw she had replied.
Hi Dash! I have to work on Saturday, thanks to the world of retail, but am off work at 6. If you give me an hour to shed my elf persona then I would be ready at 7. Will that work for you? Just let me know,
-Ashley
He had a date!
Saturday came and Dash couldn’t explain the nervous excitement that ran through him as he made his way into Canada. With Ashley’s address in hand he parked in front of her apartment complex and headed for the door, thermos in hand. He rang her number and smiled when she answered.
“Hello!” came her jubilant voice. “I’ll be right down.”
Ten minutes later, Dash was floored by the woman who came to the door. Dressed to the nines in a barely there cocktail dress and matching shoes, Ashley was a knockout in Dash’s opinion. “You look phenomenal,” he said as her eyes lit up.
“Thanks,” she smiled. “I’m just glad I don’t have to go out tonight in my elf costume.” He laughed and leaned closer, catching a hint of the perfume she’d put on.
“I won’t tell if you don’t,” he grinned. “But it’s rather a sexy costume.”
“If you say so,” she laughed. She took his offered arm and together they headed toward his car. “you didn’t drive?”
“Oh,” he said. “I did. I just didn’t drive a car.”
Turning her head, Ashley saw a beautiful sleigh with two reindeer strapped to it. “You brought a sled with reindeer?” Before he could tell her not to, she reached out and ran her hand along the muzzle of the deer closest to her. “I’ve never seen one in real life, let alone this close. They’re beautiful animals.”
“Most people underestimate them,” he grinned, winking at Cupid and Comet. He’d owe them huge for tonight and he knew they wouldn’t let him forget it. “Mind your fingers though, they’ll bite if they’re hungry enough.”
She pulled back and he chuckled, helping her into her seat. “This is already the best date I’ve been on in forever.”
“I haven’t been dating much either,” he said. “From October through December my schedule is beyond hectic,” he said. “And I’m not saying that as a put-off. I just thought you should know that I might not be extremely available if we should decide we want this to go any further.”
“I’m okay with hectic schedules,” she said, her blue eyes clear and focused. “Thankfully I’m not the clingy type. I realize that you have your life and I have mine, deciding to share what we do is up to us as individuals.”
“True,” Dash said, agreeing. He covered her lap with a blanket and clicked the reins. “Watch this.”
Chapter Two: Unexpected Niceties
Ashley had never in her life expected to ride in a sleigh, let alone one with reindeer that was driven by the hottest man she’d ever seen. Covered by a blanket with a steaming cup of hot chocolate in her hands, she smiled to herself. Life had finally come through, if even for just one night.
Dash clicked the reins and off they went, but it was the way the reindeer moved that mesmerized her. Then they simply left her speechless when their hooves simply lifted off the pavement and into the air. “Sweet Mother,” she breathed. “We’re flying. These are flying reindeer?”
“They’re a special class of nine reindeer total, but yes, each can fly individually and together. Although truth be told, they prefer to do the work in at least pairs of two.”
“What are their names?”
“These two?” he laughed. “Comet is the one you petted. Cupid is on my side.”
“Comet and Cupid,” she sighed. “Like Santa Claus’ reindeer.”
“Uh-huh,” he said, grinning with pride.
“So, you’re telling me that Santa Claus has nine reindeer and-oh holy Jesus. You’re Dasher, as in Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen...”
“That’d be me,” he said. “Although I only prance around as a reindeer during Christmas Eve and only on special occasions when I have to. Other than that, we pretty much all rather enjoy just being men.”
“I can’t…this isn’t happening,” she said. Dash put his hand over hers.
“I know it can be a little crazy to take in,” he said. “But I promise you, you’ll have the best night of your life tonight, if you’ll relax and try to enjoy yourself.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“Somewhere no other non-shifting human outside Santa’s close circle has ever been.”
Dasher clicked the reins again and Ashley gripped the bar in front of her with all her might. Still, she couldn’t help the elation that swamped her when they seemed to fly through the air with effortless speed. Finally looking up she saw the beautiful Aurora Borealis and sighed. “They’re breathtaking.”
“Surely, you’ve seen them before,” Dash said. “Living so close to the Arctic.”
“Well sure I’ve seen them, but not like this. I feel like I could reach out and touch them they’re so close.”
“Well if you think that’s impressive, just wait until we land.”
The flight took considerably less time than Ashely thought it should have, even if she didn’t know where they were going. All too soon they were landing and Ashley knew she would never have another date like this in her entire life. Snow glistened everywhere and she shivered as Dash wrapped a huge bearskin parka around her. “I should have told you to wear something a little more weather appropriate,” he grinned. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“If I had known where we were going, I’d have packed every stitch of clothing I own,” she grinned.
“Think you can ride a reindeer in that getup?”
“No,” she said, her eyes serious. “This dress cost me nearly a week’s salary.”
“We’ll do it the manual way then,” Dash said, unhitching Cupid and Comet, who
promptly changed into their two-legged selves when Dasher gave them their cover-ups.
“Oh, I think I’m going to faint,” Ashley said, staring at the two men who had, a minute ago, been furry four-legged mammals.
“You’re made of tougher stuff than that,” Dash said, promptly pressing a kiss to her stunned mouth. “And just in case you aren’t, I’ll catch you.”
Her pretty blue eyes turned his way and Dash felt his body react in as natural a way as any man. He was only male after all, it wasn’t as if he could just turn off the need or want. Tipping her face up, he smiled. “Okay now?”
“If I said, no, would you kiss me again?”
“Darling,” he drawled. “If you want me to kiss you again, all you have to do is say so.”
“I’m fine,” she sighed. “I think. Kiss me again just so I can be sure.”
Dash took her mouth now in studied slowness, letting himself indulge in the flavor of her lips. He would have pressed her for more if Comet and Cupid hadn’t made a fuss by clearing their throats repeatedly. Grinning, Dash winked at her before turning to his friends. “You’re just jealous.”
“Well I won’t argue with that,” Comet said with a smile. The four walked over to what Ashley would have called a sort of conveyer belt, but when Comet took a sled and grinned at her, she wasn’t expecting what happened next.
“See you on the other side everyone.”
“What’s he doing?” Ashley whispered, stepping closer to Dash.
“Just watch,” he said, pulling her just a little closer. Ashley watched as Comet pushed a button and nearly disappeared right before her eyes. The only sign she had that told her he was alright was his jubilant show of elation. When Cupid did the same thing, Ashley knew that things were going to get uncomfortable.
“I can’t do…whatever it is that thing does.”
“We’ll go together,” Dash said, taking her hand and rubbing his thumb over the back of her palm in a comforting gesture. “I’d never let a newbie go it alone.”
“No,” she said, pulling back. “You don’t understand. I get wicked motion sickness on anything that isn’t a car.”