“Yeah, that’s me, but I don’t have a wife. Yet.”
Her brows go up at the ‘yet’, “Girlfriend?”
I shake my head. I don’t think I’ve ever had a ‘girlfriend’. And it’s been years since I even looked at another woman with any kind of feelings other than work-related. She looks back down at the little slip of paper in her hand.
“Oh, I’m supposed to tell you, Janie sent me to help you this year.”
“Janie. That explains a lot.”
“It does?” I give her a nod. “Oh, good. Then are you ready?”
“Oh, I’m more than ready for you, baby. Are you ready for me?”
This was my sister’s doing. But I’m not a man who looks a gift horse in the mouth, so to speak. I’ve always been the type of man to take an opportunity when it comes and not to squander it. Mysister may have set this up as a prank or a joke, but Santa isn’t getting this elf back!
Chapter Three
Lumi
Itry not to squirm under his intense gaze. I’ve never seen eyes like his. They change with his mood and emotions. When I first saw them, they were darker, almost like a storm cloud. Now, they’re a light blue like a summer sky. What must they look like when he’s angry or sad? Or when he’s turned on?
Oh, God! That was not…I should apologize or…run as fast as I can. Running sounds like the perfect plan. I have never thought of someone like that, and I am absolutely sure it is frowned on to think of a client that way. I am a bad, naughty elf. Bad, bad, bad.
Before I can take off, he is leading me further into his home. He shows me into a large living room with a fireplace and multiple couches that look so soft and inviting.
“Can you wait in here while I call my sister?”
“Sister?” Why would he want to call his sister now? To tell her what a good laugh I gave him? To ask how he’s supposed to tell his girlfriend how stupid an idea this was?
“Janie.” Oh! Things start to fall into place.
“Oh, Janie’s your sister.”
“Yes. I told you, I don’t have a girlfriend, nor a wife. I’ve never been married, and I’m currently not dating. Yet.” He takes me over to one of the couches and waits for me to sit.
He has a funny way of adding that ‘yet’ to everything he says. He turns to leave but stops short and turns back to look at me.
“Don’t leave.”
“Um, okay.”
Like I could. I need this job too badly to run. Damn it.
I take my mind off my inappropriate thoughts and why I need to be here by taking in my surroundings. Even though this room should be warm and inviting, there’s something…empty about it. Like maybe it is seldom used or decorated to only look comforting. There are no family pictures or little things left lying around that would suggest a person lives in it.
Not that pictures necessarily make a place a home. There can be plenty of pictures, and the place not have a soul. I know all about that.
I don’t have long to wait. Luka is back before I can really get comfortable on the fluffy couch.
“Thank you for waiting. I had to thank my sister.”
“Are you being sarcastic or…?”
“Nope, no sarcasm needed. I am very thankful she sent you to me.”
I sit up a little straighter. “Um, you do know this isn’t like a…,” I wave my hand around and try desperately to find the right wording, “sexual thing, right? I’m just here to do holiday shopping and to decorate your house.”
“I’m very glad to hear it isn’t a sexual thing, sweetheart.”
