Until now.
He could feel Hot Mall Santa staring at him.Those dark, full eyebrows should come with a warning, and those eyes should wear a condom if they were going to completely penetrate Tom.
“It’s closed,” Hot Mall Santa said.He had a deep gravelly voice that practically dared Tom to sprout wood.
“What?”Tom asked.
“The Borders is closed.”
In his quest to be casual, Tom realized he was headed straight for the empty store.
“Oh,” Tom said.“That’s a surprise.”
“Borders went out of business a few years ago.”
“Oh.Right.”Tom didn’t know why, but he still went up to the store and pulled on the doors, like he had to stay in character for the sake of his pride.The doors were locked.“I guess you’re right.”
“So, what do you want for Christmas?”
“I’m too old to ask Santa for anything.”
Hot Mall Santa patted his lap.What a wonderful lap it was.He must do squats.No, lunges.
“I am definitely too old for that.”
“You’re never too old for Santa.”
“You have real kids to attend to.”Tom pointed to the empty line at Santa’s Workshop.Damn.“Business will pick up after Thanksgiving.”
“I could use the practice.”Hot Mall Santa patted his lap again.This guy had to be fucking with me.He knew that straight guys who weren’t openly homophobic all secretly reveled in toying with gay guys.
“I’ll pass.”
“Anything special you want?”
Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is you…inside me.
“Nope.”
Hot Mall Santa continued probing Tom with those penetrating eyes.“You sure?We all want something.”
And actually, Tom gave it some thought.He wanted to wash his feelings for Antonio out of his head.He needed a new crush, someone to pine over that wasn’t his boss, someone who could be a real romantic possibility.Tom had never had a serious boyfriend.He kept finding himself drawn to unattainable guys who were either straight or taken.He hoped there was someone out there who could make him feel the way he felt around Antonio, someone who he had a realistic shot of dating.
But until then, there was Hot Mall Santa, a perfect short-term fixation.
“Thanks, Santa.”
“You haven’t told me what you wanted.”His thick eyebrows lifted in curiosity.He was almost too beautiful to look at.
Almost.
“You’re Santa.You should know.”Tom turned around and headed for the food court.
CHAPTER3
Four weeks until Christmas
Thanksgiving weekend was predictably hectic.Tom thought turkey was supposed to make people sleepy, but it only made them hungrier for deals.Black Friday nearly destroyed him.Two co-workers “called out sick,” and he was stuck holding down the fort with Eddie, the assistant manager.Tom found himself managing up a lot when he was working with him.Eddie took smoke breaks nearly every hour, never checked other stores if they didn’t have something in stock, and for any cash register function the slightest bit complex, he called for Tom.
