Filthy Scrooge

about the people in his employ. Only about himself.

He shrugged. “It was a generous contract.”

It was, dammit. Which was why I couldn’t lose it. I would be able to finally breathe for the first time since I had opened the doors of Kandy Kane Dreams four years ago. I’d spent all of his deposit and then some. I was counting on the final payment or I’d be in the red even more than I was before I started the Murdock job.

There was really no answer other than yes.

I held out my hand. “You have yourself a deal.”

He took it, then dragged me into him. His mouth covered mine and there was no kindness in the kiss. No easing into him, or learning the shape and taste of him. I might have been a bit limited on my dealings with men, but I thought I’d hit all the checkmarks on kissing.

I was woefully uninformed.

His other hand slid along the small of my back and there was no mistaking his intent. His body was hard and uncompromising. His sweater soft as air. My arm slid up around his neck as I let myself fall into him. As with the entire situation, I didn’t have much of a choice.

This time it was my body making the decisions for me.

My brain shut off. His mouth was everything. Later I’d cringe about the whimper that hummed between us, but right now I didn’t care. He tasted dark and wild with a hit of peppermint. Candy cane.

I knew that taste anywhere. It was my namesake after all.

Somehow that made it even more absurd.

He tore his mouth away from mine, his shoulders heaving as he looked down at me. We were nearly the same height with the skyscraper heels of my boots. It was rare for me to have a man make me feel small. Then again, he was definitely a rare animal all around.

His eyes were dangerously blue even with his pupils dilated with lust.

For me.

Why?

Why was I questioning it? Maybe he was finally the right person who could rid me of my pesky virginity.

He certainly seemed to know what he was doing. I didn’t have to actually like him to be attracted to him evidently. I could walk away after the two days and we’d both get what we needed.

I took a shaky breath. “You have a Santa suit to don, sir.”

And just like that, the lust in his gaze fizzled to nothing.

He stepped back. “A deal’s a deal.”

I pushed back the stubborn curls that wouldn’t be tamed into braids away from my face. “I’ll let my assistant know.” I went to the door without another word. Mostly because I needed a moment to get my brain on straight. I opened the door.

“Oh, and Miss Kane?”

My fingers tightened on the knob, but I didn’t turn around. “Yes?”

“A Santa needs his elf. I’ll expect you in my office in twenty minutes.”

5

Scrooge

I followed my Hot Elf to the door. She hurried down the hallway, her heels making little clicks on the carpeting. I waited until I heard the elevator ding before I opened the door and crossed to my office.

Her scent was there. She smelled like goddamn Snickerdoodles. How was that possible?

The one cookie I loved of course. Everything else about her was a lure of epic proportions, so why not her scent?