Sweet Jesus.
I hadn’t even gone on vacation with a boyfriend, let alone a stranger.
“Where?”
His smile widened. “Just outside Lake Placid.”
“That’s upstate.”
“I had a feeling you were a smart woman. You know, seeing as we’re in the city, and there aren’t any cabins around here.”
I huffed out a breath. “There’s a big difference between Lake Placid and a cabin in Scarsdale, Mr. Murdock.”
“Linc.” He shrugged. “You know, since I just asked you to my place for illicit sex.”
Yeah, that thing about my unhinged jaw had nothing on me now.
He tipped his head back and let out a roar of laughter. “Your face is priceless. Look, I’m not expecting you to strip down and fuck me right here.” He moved into my space and my heart pounded between my ears and my damn legs at the same time.
Why couldn’t I be attracted to a guy like Jason?
Oh, wait—Jason was now in the tropics with my elf. Fuck Jason.
Rather, don’t fuck Jason.
Fuck Lincoln Murdock.
Yes, please.
No. That wasn’t what I wanted at all. Was it?
Maybe.
No, stupid little hormonal voice, you be quiet.
Fuck this situation and the fact that I was in it. I’d been so excited to have the Murdock contract that I’d signed off on the first draft. I should have slashed the Santa part from the three clauses I’d agreed to. No Santa, no deal.
I’d even made sure Jason was my Santa for the job before I signed. It wasn’t like I was a total idiot, but this was my reward for relying on anyone other than myself.
Linc lifted his hand to cup my cheek. “I’m not asking for something abhorrent, am I?” His thumb brushed across my lower lip.
“It’s more along the lines of how you asked, Mr. Murdock. The fact that you put a price on it. You should want to do this for the kids of the employees in your care.”
His hand dropped and the heat dissolved from his gaze. “Which is why I hired you to do so. It’s not my problem that your Santa took off with…what was it? Your elf?”
I clenched my jaw. “Yes.”
“I’m simply giving you a solution to your problem.”
“But not out of the goodness of your heart,” I said flatly.
His face went stony. “No.”
“It’s Christmas.” I stepped back. “That should be enough of a reason.”
“Take it or leave it, Miss Kane. It doesn’t matter to me. I certainly don’t mind saving a little money.”
“To put it in your pocket?” I asked. I could feel the splotchy red heat climbing my neck. Obviously, he didn’t care