Kit (A Little Christmas Season Three)

Chapter 6

6

Parker

K it’s shivers went straight through to my bones. I put my arm over his shoulders to hold him closer. He curved into me, hiding his face in my beard.

It was a nice change from having my beard tugged, that was for sure. The backs of my ears ached even though I’d covered the elastic I seemed to be allergic to with silk ribbon.

“I’m not clear on what happened to the doggy,” I said.

“I—I lost him. I don’t have him.”

“And a boy named Nicky does?”

He nodded.

“I’m sorry, baby boy. These things happen. But don’t you worry. Santa knows all. Toys get lost. Toys break. But toys can be replaced, right?”

He glanced up with pretty brown eyes. “Sometimes. But not if it’s special. One of a kind.”

He was right. I’d bought that toy special for him. It wasn’t like the others Mr. Winterbourne had purchased wholesale as party favors.

“That’s true, sweetie. But I’m Santa, remember? I’ll see what I can do.”

“You’re the best.” He put his arms around me, hampered a bit by my belly, and hugged me.

A sensation went through me like being on a roller-coaster and dropping down fast on the big downhill track. I raised my gloved hand and patted the side of his head.

“Is this why you came back for a second turn, Kit?”

“I needed a lap. Someone who cares.”

“I’m glad you thought of me.”

He hugged harder. What a sweet boy. I was so glad to see him again.

A voice came from behind me. “Time’s up, Santa. Your shift is over.”

“Thanks, Corky.”

Corky took care of storing the set which consisted of the throne and the barricades that created the Christmas path. There was one more party. Then this stuff would go back to the props rental company.

Kit lifted his head. “You have to go now, Santa?”

“Back to my reindeer and elves.”

“That sounds nice.” He straightened his body. “I don’t want to keep you.”

He didn’t seem to want to leave, and I didn’t want to give him up just yet.

“I’m in no rush, Kit.”

“You aren’t?”

I shook my head.

When Kit smiled, his eyes changed to a light gold the color of a summer sunset. I leaned back in the throne and encouraged him to rest against me again. Corky got the message and started taking away the barricades and the path first. Guys spilled out into the new space, drinking, laughing, some of them hooking up and going off together toward the kink rooms downstairs.

I wished it was me and Kit, hand in hand, walking off. I’d take him wherever he wanted to go. I wanted to ask him out.

But was Kit affectionate only because I was Santa? We weren’t really meeting on equal terms.

For several minutes, I held him. We didn’t talk. It was more than that between us. I realized we needed to meet. A real meeting.

“Sweetheart,” I began. “I have a question.”

“Okay.”

“I’m going to break character for a moment. Is that okay?”

He looked up at me, his mouth open with a glint in his eye. “Does that mean you’re not the real Santa?”

“It means this. I’d like to see you. Outside of the club. If that’s okay.”

He sat up fast, nearly sliding off my lap. “What do you mean?”

“Like meet somewhere. For dinner. Or any meal. Or coffee.”

“Like a date?” he asked with a smile.

I shook my head. “No. Not like a date, but a real date.”

“I want to. Yes. Any time. I mean, I work during the day, but after?” His eyes were shining.

“Do you work on Sundays?” I asked.

“No. Tomorrow would be great!” He started to swing his legs and bounce.

I reached around him to keep him balanced. “How about lunch, then?”

“Yes. I’d love that. Where? What time?”

“How about noon at Rue’s Diner. Do you know it? They have great food there.”

“Yeah. I know it.” He started to pout.

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“Well, how will I know you?”

“Find a table and I’ll find you.”

The pout didn’t leave his face. “It’s not fair. You know who I am, but I don’t know who you are.”

“And when you find out, little boy, it will be our secret. Promise?”

“I promise.” He jumped up from my lap and faced me. “How did you know that was my real wish?”

I gave him my hearty ho ho ho. “I’m Santa. I know.”

He giggled.

“Now, you be a good boy and go home and go to bed. I’m sure it’s long past your bedtime. Get a good night’s sleep and we’ll meet tomorrow.”

“I can’t wait!”

“All right, then. Off you go.”

His smile vanished, but he obediently nodded.

Kit walked through the crowd, again without a candy cane or a toy. But this time he had a little skip to his step.

I smiled inside my beard. I had done the right thing breaking character. I knew it. Kit wasn’t just any little boy; he was special.

I’d forgotten the Sunday church crowd would make Rue’s quite busy. But I arrived early and got a booth right away. Before I sat, I looked around to make sure Kit hadn’t arrived before me. There was no sign of him, so I sat at an angle where I could keep an eye on the door.

When he walked through the entryway wearing his torn blue jeans and button up shirt beneath a parka, I stood and waved. He raised his eyebrows and headed past the host podium toward me.

“Kit.”

He gulped. “Santa?”

I nodded and motioned for him to sit.

“Wow. You look nothing like I thought you would.”

“What did you think I’d look like?”

He shrugged. “Maybe someone I recognized from the club. But I do recognize your eyes and forehead. And I figured you’d have brown hair because of your eyebrows, which is true.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Kit. On real terms now.” I held out my hand across the table. “My name is Parker.”

He took my hand in his and we shook.

“Parker,” he repeated. The light caught in his blond hair. “But I like Santa, too.”

“My first critical review,” I said. “Thank you.”

“You really are good. Your Santa costume is awesome. The best I’ve ever seen.”

“Believe it or not, I met someone at a Renaissance Faire who sewed it for me. The seamstresses who make garb at those events are the best of the best.”

“You go to Renaissance Faires?”

“I had a friend who was into it for a while. When I got the gig, I knew who to contact for the best. She came through. Mr. Winterbourne okayed the expense, which wasn’t cheap. I love the costume, too.”

Kit’s mouth pressed in a guilty smile. “When I met you, I was impressed.”

Praise from a little was one of my kinks. A job well done. “Thank you. And now?”

He ducked his head. So cute.

“Still impressed.”

“Good. Let’s order and then we can talk.” I picked up my menu. “Oh, and I’m buying.”

“Thank you.”

Just being around Kit, I was already getting into my daddy core. Some things were automatic, like paying for meals. But Kit made me go even deeper. I wanted to make sure he was cared for. Know his thoughts and feelings. Get him to trust. That was much more than a one-date trick.