Cal (A Little Christmas Season Three)

3. Cal

Chapter 3

Cal

How did I not know that watching a hot Santa being all sweet and cuddly and posing for pictures would be such a turn-on?

By the time we finally handed a candy cane and printed photo to the last kid, I was grateful my elf leotard included an apron in front of my crotch so no one could see my very inappropriate boner.

Simon was just so sexy. Firm when the kids admitted to being naughty, sweet with those who were shy or a little bit scared of him, and generally, perfect.

At least, as far as I was concerned.

“Was that seriously only two hours?” Simon stood up and stretched, arching his back in the most inviting way. “I haven’t sat still in a chair for that long since I was in college.”

I chuckled. “Better than being on your feet.” I lifted one foot and pulled off the silly elf slipper. “These things are really cute, but definitely not supportive.” I dug my thumb into my arch, trying to work some blood flow back into it.

Santa Simon frowned and sat back down. He tapped his knee. “Give it here.”

“What?” I shifted my weight to my other foot, ready to obey if he was serious but unwilling to take that chance if he wasn’t. “You don’t have to.”

He raised an eyebrow and opened his palm, waiting for me to place my foot on it. “I know I don’t have to, but I’d like to help if you’ll let me.”

Hell yeah, I would. Instead of standing on my other foot, I pulled the little wooden stool right in front of him and sat down, then put my heel on the edge of his knee.

He cradled the back of my ankle and then massaged small circles into the base of my foot.

“Oh my Santa…” If I were in a more comfortable chair, I would’ve relaxed and probably fallen asleep. But since I was on a tiny stool, I had to keep my core tight to stay steady while doing my best to maximize the enjoyment of his impromptu massage. “That feels good.”

He scooted forward so my foot rested more comfortably on his thigh and then snapped his fingers to get my attention. “Other foot.”

Oh . “Okay.” I lifted my heel up, and it was a bit more awkward. I had to be careful to keep my torso balanced just right so I didn’t flop backward, but it was worth the workout to have him massaging my feet so expertly. “You’ve obviously done this before.”

Simon shrugged. “I took a few PT classes in college, so I understand the pressure points.” He squeezed the back of my ankle just right and my dick twitched enough that my little apron actually moved.

“Fuck! I mean, wow.” I awkwardly cleared my throat and moved one hand over the apron to keep it in place.

Simon’s gaze was locked on my hand over my lap as he slid his fingers back down to my heel. “Yeah, that one always gets me too.”

I smiled and relaxed a bit, feeling safe enough to joke around with him. “I guess I should be glad my foot is getting some action. That makes one of us.”

He looked up and raised an eyebrow. “No Mr. Elf waiting at home for you with milk and cookies?”

I moaned as his fingers rolled my toes and let my eyes drift shut. “Gawd, I wish. The only thing I love more than cookies is warm milk to go with them.”

Simon smirked. “I’ve usually got the other problem. Warm milk but no cookies.” Before I could ask what he meant, he gave my feet a final squeeze with his big palms then patted the sides of my calves. “Soak them in epsom salts tonight or they’re gonna feel even worse tomorrow.”

I nodded, unable to look away from the caring man. “Okay, thanks.” I put my bare feet on the ground then stood up. “Will I see you again tomorrow?”

He swallowed and stood up too, doing some kind of hip-shake-slash-crotch-adjustment that I was sure meant he was at least sporting a semi. “Yeah, same time, same place.”

“See you then!” I walked toward the little storage room in the back of the store. Before I ducked inside, I popped my head out and looked at Simon. “Thanks for the rub. I guess I owe you a tug next time.” I winked and disappeared before he could get another word in edgewise.

Flirting was fun. Much funner than the stress of dating and getting dumped. Maybe I’d just spend the rest of my life flirting and never have to worry about getting hurt again.

Just before I hopped into my car to go home, I remembered that I promised to do cookie decorating at work tomorrow. I loved being the activities director for an assisted living community because I had a generous budget to fulfill all my craft and artistic needs without ever having to dig into my own pocket. That was another reason why I decided to move, so I could work on site instead of working remote, like I had been for the past year. It was so much more fun to hang out with the seniors in person.

They were so much fun.

I couldn’t understand why so many of them had been all but abandoned by their family members. I’d have given anything to have a grandparent alive and healthy enough for me to hang out with. As the youngest in a huge family, my grandparents were very old and only one was still alive. At work, I was the only grandkid with thirty-seven grandparents doting over me. It was the greatest job ever.

And to make sure they continued to love me the most, I needed to stop by the market to get some essentials like butter and food coloring. There was no way I could bake cookies and have a decorating party tomorrow without them.

By the time I got home with all the ingredients I needed, I was amped up and hours away from falling asleep.

Instead of waiting to start baking in the morning, I dove right in, whipping up four dozen gingerbread people and four dozen sugar cookie ornaments before I started to get sleepy.

Since I didn’t have to be at work until ten, my plan had been to start baking in the morning, but I hated wasting time, and I really loved to be productive.

Before I went to bed, I pre-decorated six of each kind of cookie and put them in a separate container for Santa Simon, even though I knew it was a bad idea.

Taking a gift to the new Santa twenty-four hours after meeting him would probably earn me a restraining order. But I wasn’t always known for making good decisions, and Little Cal was always trying to push boundaries.

The rest of the cookies went with me to my found-family of grandmas and grandpas who hadn’t decorating cookies in decades. For most of them, they hadn’t done anything crafty since their own children were young.

George, Ernie, and Rosemary were at one table with gorgeous cookies plated in the middle.

I wandered from table to table to help where I was needed, but when I came to their table, I dropped into the empty chair. “Wow, those look amazing.” I picked up a gingerbread Santa and grinned, thinking about Simon. “This reminds me of a certain hot-ranger-turned-Santa I spent last night with.”

All three of my older friends stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at me.

Rosemary was the first to pry, which was surprising because the men tended to be the biggest gossips of all. “You were with the ranger last night? The handsome young man who did that presentation for us over the summer?”

I grinned and rubbed my hands together. “Yes, but sadly, not in the way you’re thinking. He’s playing Santa, and I’m volunteering as an elf, so we’ll be working together for the next few weeks.”

George shook his head. “Well, that’s a shame. Is there a rule about fraternization amongst the staff?”

“Well, no.” At least, I didn’t think there was. “But it would be wrong for the elf to hook up with Santa, right?”

They all looked at me like I was speaking Klingon, but it was Ernest who spoke up. “Who cares if we think it’s right or wrong? Just go for it, boy. People we want to spend time with don’t walk into our lives on a daily basis. When they do, we gotta dig in and hold on tight.”

I thought about it for a moment and then realized he was right. “Well, let’s hope he was serious when he said he liked cookies with his milk because I’m taking him a box of them tonight.”