Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“Oh, wow. I haven’t even had a sip of my latte yet. It’s still too hot!” I laugh.
“Well, I’ll tell you what,” Craig says. “It’s still kind of early. Why don’t we go over to my place, you can let your latte cool down, and we can both actually get sips of our drinks this time?”
Bad idea. Don’t do it. That’s what Marissa would tell me. But Marissa isn’t here right now. She hasn’t had to deal with his charm, his gentleman-like behavior, his dashing good looks, or his height and how he stands tall over every other man around him. I wonder if she’d feel as warm and tingly around him as I do right now.
“Okay,” I reply as I stand up with my latte in hand. “But just these drinks. No cocktails or wine or any of that. Got it?”
Craig smiles. God he’s handsome.
“Got it.”
5
CRAIG
I can’t even explain what it feels like to have Daisy sitting beside me in my car on the way back to my apartment. Seeing her last night at the office party was shocking enough – especially while I was dressed as Santa – but now I’m even more shocked that she actually agreed to come home with me after the coffee shop closed. Especially after what I told her about my parents and why I ghosted her when I was supposed to pick her up for prom.
I thought for sure she was going to flip out on me and maybe even toss her latte in my face before storming out on me. But nope – she got in my car with me and now we’re headed back to my place.
I’m the luckiest dress-up-Santa in the world.
Daisy was always beautiful back when we were dating, but I can’t even believe how gorgeous she is now. I can barely keep my eyes on the road because all I want to do is stare at her.
Even under her winter layers, I can see her curves, her long legs that go up to her womanly hips, and her ample breasts beneath the coat protecting her from the winter’s chill. All I want to do is tug down her zipper just enough to fit my hand underneath so I can get a feel of her.
Before I even realize it, we’re at my place. I nearly go past the driveway because I’m so busy thinking about her. But I manage to pull in without looking like a drunk driver or something. I quickly hop out and go around to her side of the car and open her door for her. She smiles up at me as she gets out and takes my hand.
“Watch the ice,” I tell her.
“What a gentleman.” She smiles. God is she gorgeous. “But shouldn’t you have taken us here in a sleigh and landed us on a roof or something and skipped all the ice? After all, you are Santa.”
“My sleigh’s in the garage having some work done to it.” I grin as I lead her up the steps and inside. “Working the elves overtime. They’re very upset with me.”
Daisy laughs, and I feel my chest go warm. It’s amazing how much I like making her laugh or just seeing her smile. It’s like magic, and a very different sensation than I get when I bring my eyes to her hips as she walks past me into the apartment.
“So you can’t just be dressing up as Santa, right?” she asks, hanging her coat by the door. “I mean, it must be fun having girls fawn over you and wanting to sit on your lap, but it can’t be bringing in the bucks to afford a place like this.”
“Oh, so you like my apartment?” I ask. I do happen to live in one of the fanciest buildings in town that just went up at the beginning of this year.
“I’m not even going to answer that,” she replies, giving me a playful smile. “Seriously though, Craig. What do you do?”
We both kick off our shoes by the door and take a seat on the couch. I sip my green tea. It’s as bland as ever. Just as I like it. Daisy remembers suddenly that she has her latte in her hand and takes a sip. I watch her whole face light up.
“Good?” I ask.
She nods vigorously. “So good! Tastes just like Christmas!”
“Great.” I smile. “Well, back to what we were talking about, at school I got my law degree and will be heading to law school next year at Harvard.”
“Wow, smarty pants,” she teases.
“And regarding my family, I’m far more independent from them now. I make my own money in a small tech company that a few of my friends and I started up during our sophomore year helping advertisers optimize where to spend their money, and I just do the Santa thing for kicks.”