Santa Maybe (The Duchess Hotel #1)

Chapter 16

Sixteen

16 Days Until Christmas

On Sunday afternoon, Drew showed up at Rosie’s apartment dressed in his Santa gear. When she greeted him at the door, he couldn’t help but stare. Clad in the red-and-green elf costume he’d loaned her, she looked decidedly…sexy.

Clearly, the costume was a size too small for her curvy build—an observation he should have made much sooner. The green bodice strained against her full breasts, and the flared red skirt hugged her butt. Beneath the skirt, dark green tights accentuated her shapely thighs and calves. The only part of her outfit that wasn’t lust-inspiring was her black ankle boots.

Rosie placed her hands on her hips. “I know I look like ‘Santa’s sexy little helper,’ but this costume is obviously meant for someone smaller than I am.”

“Sorry. I didn’t think this through. Which is a huge fail, considering I work with people’s bodies all the time.” He took off his Santa hat and scraped a hand through his hair. “There’s no excuse for my ignorance. You don’t have to come.”

“Are you saying you don’t want me there? Do you know how hard it was to get this outfit on?”

“No, I’d love to have you join me. As long as you don’t…um…bend over. That skirt’s pretty short, and—”

“No problem. I’m covered.” With a laugh, she flipped up her skirt, revealing bike shorts underneath. “I won’t be flashing anyone today, I promise.”

He blew out a ragged breath. If he spent any more time staring at her, he might lose all self-control. They needed to leave—now.

“Okay,” he said. “Let’s get going. I stashed the sack of presents in the trunk of my car.”

On the drive, she switched the music to a holiday station and sang along enthusiastically. She’d been so busy this week that he was grateful to get a little time with her.

“You doing okay?” he asked. “I haven’t seen you at the gym since Monday.”

“I know, and I hate that,” she grumbled. “I was just getting into a good workout routine. But with the holiday events and all the new guests, I’ve been swamped.”

“Let me guess—the displaced guests from the Duke require an extra level of service?”

“Some of them have been great. But there are others who are upset that our hotel isn’t up to the Duke’s standards. It’s a lot for the front desk to deal with, so I’ve been running interference.”

It annoyed him that people would be so petty. And he hated the thought of anyone treating Rosie rudely. “I hope they aren’t being too obnoxious.”

“I can handle it. On the plus side, our numbers are looking good. But this past week, we did four happy hours. Then, yesterday, after our family event ended, I stayed until ten.”

He winced, imagining how tired she must have been. “Sorry I couldn’t stick around to help you clean up.”

“You did more than enough, playing Santa again. And I had plenty of help. I’m glad you got to take your sister out for her birthday. How’d it go?”

“Really well. I made reservations at our favorite Italian place and got there early enough to tell them it was Kate’s birthday. After dinner, the waitstaff brought her a piece of cheesecake with a candle on it and sang to her. Kind of a goofy gesture, but she appreciated it.” He was glad he’d carved out time for Kate, especially since their parents had neglected to call her. “I wish you could have come with me.”

“Me, too. After the Damsels helped me clean up, I spent hours in my office getting my inbox under control. And then Preston wanted me to come in today to deal with a bunch of other shit. I went in for a few hours this morning, but I’m glad I had an excuse to leave early.”

Drew didn’t want to nag her, but he couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. Not when it seemed like her boss was taking advantage of her. “I know you don’t mind working the extra hours, but he’s asking an awful lot of you. Have you told him how exhausted you are?”

Rather than respond defensively, she sighed in resignation. “No, but I doubt it would make a difference. He knows how much I want to keep my job, so he’s going to push me hard. In all fairness, he’s got a lot riding on this holiday initiative. When the owners hired him, they expected results.”

Even so, she shouldn’t be shouldering so much of the burden. At the last family dinner Drew had attended, Rosie’s parents had chastised her for spending too many hours at the hotel. Though he hadn’t sided with them, he was starting to wonder if they were right. No matter how much she loved her job, she was letting it take priority over everything else, even her own self-care.

As a trainer, he’d seen what happened when clients were so fixated on their careers that they didn’t make time for relaxation and physical activity. They often burned out and ended up miserable. He didn’t want that to happen to Rosie.

He parked outside the entrance of a nondescript, two-story building that resembled a small apartment complex. “A quick word about this place. It’s a temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children. But it’s unmarked and not located on any public maps. They want to keep it that way.”

She nodded. “Are they okay with you showing up? No offense, but you’re a guy, and a lot of them are probably running from awful husbands.”

“I might be a guy, but I’m also Santa. When I called last week, the staff made sure everyone staying at the shelter would be comfortable with my visit. Just to warn you—some of these families have been through a lot. Even so, you can’t cry in front of them. Our mission is to spread joy.”

“I’ll stay upbeat. I promise.”

Upon entering the shelter, they headed for the lobby. The first time Drew had seen it, he’d been pleasantly surprised. Even if the linoleum was scuffed and the furniture was slightly worn, the walls were covered with vibrant paintings—flowers, streetscapes, and mountain scenes. Rainbow-striped rugs and potted plants added more pops of color. But as welcoming as the place appeared, the people staying here had endured a lot of hardships. Last December, during his initial visit, he’d struggled to control his emotions. Playing the role of Santa hadn’t been easy when his heart was nearly breaking.

But he’d told himself if he could brighten someone’s day—even for an hour or two—then it was worth the effort.

An elderly white woman, whose gray hair bore a few purple streaks, stood behind the front desk. She gave him a warm smile. “Good afternoon, Santa. You’re right on time. I see you brought a helper with you.”

Rosie curtsied. “Pleased to meet you. Rosie the Elf at your service.”

“Aren’t you a cutie? Everyone’s been looking forward to this. A few of our volunteers even brought in cookies.” She pointed down the hall. “Santa, I believe you know the way?”

“I do, thanks.” He walked toward the shelter’s community room with Rosie. As they approached it, the sound of children was unmistakable. He paused for a few seconds and gave himself a tiny pep talk.

Remember, good vibes only. You’re Santa, you love kids, and you live to bring them joy.

Like the lobby, the community room was decorated with vivid paintings, colorful rugs, and potted plants. Most of the space was occupied by folding tables and chairs, along with a few shelves of books and games. Off to one side was an artificial Christmas tree decorated with lights and an assortment of homemade ornaments.

Waving at the families, Drew headed toward the tree and set his sack beside it. “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas, everyone! It’s so good to see all of you.”

By his count, about a dozen families were scattered around the room. Most of the children were on the younger side, though one woman was accompanied by two girls who looked like middle schoolers.

“Santa!” A little girl leapt to her feet in excitement. She couldn’t have been more than three, dressed in a faded Cinderella T-shirt and a plastic tiara.

“Are you bringing us presents?” another boy asked.

“That’s what I live for,” Drew said. “I’ve got something for everyone. First, I’d like you to meet Rosie the Elf. She’s my assistant manager, which means she’s in charge of bossing around the other elves at my workshop.”

With a grin, Rosie waved at the group. “Hi, there. I was so excited when Santa invited me to join him as his helper. I’ll bet you can’t wait to talk to him, right?”

When the kids agreed, Drew pulled up a chair next to the Christmas tree. “Before you tell me what you want, do you have any questions? Like, about my reindeer or my elves? Or my lightning-fast sleigh that travels around the world in just one night?”

Kids loved asking questions. Even if they didn’t always believe his answers, he could usually make them laugh.

“Is Rudolph really one of your reindeer?” a girl asked. “Or was he made up for that show?”

“Ah, Rudolph.” Drew gave a sad shake of his head. “He’s real, but the fame turned him into a total attention hog. He’s all, ‘Look at me and my brilliant nose,’ when the other reindeer work just as hard. Personally, my favorite is Dasher. He’s got the moves.”

* * *

As Drew’s helper, Rosie stood at his side, smiling as he fielded questions from the children. Though they ranged in age from two years old to twelve, he managed to get a laugh out of all of them. Sure, he’d probably done this dozens of times, but he didn’t seem bored or jaded. After each child took their turn talking to him, he gave them a gift bag filled with simple presents, like Hot Wheels cars, coloring books, Play-Doh, stickers, and small stuffed animals.

Through it all, Rosie regarded him with admiration. At the Duchess, his jolly version of Santa had gotten rave reviews, but today, he displayed an extra level of caring. Was he making up for what he’d lacked at home? Or was it just in his nature to be so thoughtful?

Around her, the mothers were smiling, but a few looked haggard. Some held their children tightly in their arms, like they were afraid to let go. Rosie couldn’t imagine being in a situation like this. She’d been lucky to grow up in a home where she’d always received plenty of love.

When Drew was done, she organized a few rounds of holiday bingo and gave out grocery store gift cards to the moms in attendance. She also tried to lead them in a sing-along, but most people only knew the words to “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Drew joined in loudly, seemingly unbothered that he was totally off-key.

By the time they left, the day had caught up with her. All the late nights of work, the hours behind her computer, and the emotional impact of visiting the shelter had drained her. On the drive back to her apartment, she let her head rest against the passenger-side window and closed her eyes.

“Are you all right?” Drew asked.

“Just tired. And thinking about the shelter. It’s such a dismal situation. Not the place itself, which seems nice and nurturing. But the circumstances.”

“I agree. It makes me grateful for what I’ve got. Maybe life dealt me a shitty hand when I was younger, but now I have a great job and a lot of friends in my corner. That’s what matters.”

I could fall in love with this guy.

The thought hit her, lightning-fast, and she tried to brush it away just as quickly. Romantic love was the last thing she needed right now. What with the demands of her job, she barely had time for herself, let alone another person. And Drew didn’t want romance, either. All he needed from her was friendship and a date for his ex’s wedding.

When they got to her apartment, she invited him in. “If you don’t mind waiting, I can take off the elf costume and give it back to you. Unless you want me to wash it first?”

He stepped inside and took off his boots. “Don’t worry about it. I can do it later since it needs to be washed on delicate and hung out to dry.”

“Just as well since I’m way behind on my own laundry. Do you want anything to drink? A glass of water? A can of cider? I’ve got some pear cider in the fridge.”

“I’m good, thanks.” He glanced around her apartment. “Is this place all yours? No roommates?”

“Just me. I was able to afford it when I got promoted to assistant manager. Before that, I shared a three-bedroom apartment with a couple of friends, but one of them got married, and the other moved to Vancouver.”

It wasn’t much—just a one-bedroom place that was barely 700 square feet, with a galley kitchen, a tiny living room, and an even tinier balcony. But the building was located in Cook Street Village, a safe, walkable neighborhood filled with cute restaurants, pubs, and shops. She’d enhanced the small living space with a hodgepodge of vintage prints, Mexican ceramics, candles, and colorful throw blankets.

He walked over to a tall bookcase, where she’d filled one shelf with framed photographs of her family. “It’s nice. I’ll bet you love coming here at the end of the day.”

“I do. It’s my little refuge. Hang tight, and I’ll be back in a sec.”

She went into her bedroom and shut the door behind her. After shucking off her boots, she removed her bike shorts and the ugly green tights and set them beside the bed. But when she reached for the zipper in the back of the dress, she couldn’t get it to budge. She yanked on it a little harder and…nothing. Cursing, she sat down on her bed to get more leverage. Still stuck. She was tempted to pull harder but didn’t want to rip the fabric and ruin the costume. Giving a grunt of frustration, she stood and opened the door to her room.

“Drew? Can you help me with the zipper?”

“Sure.” He walked over to the doorway. By now, he’d taken off his hat and beard but was still wearing the Santa suit.

She turned around so her back was to him. “Can you undo it? I think it got caught on the fabric.”

Standing beside her, his warmth was palpable. As he reached for the zipper, his hand brushed the back of her neck, making her shiver. His touch felt so good that she wished he’d take his sweet time, but he freed the zipper easily. He tugged on it again, only to have it snag halfway down her back.

“It’s still stuck,” he muttered. “Hold still, and I’ll try to unzip you without wrecking the whole costume.”

Other than her bra, she wasn’t wearing anything under the bodice, which meant her bare back was exposed to him. She sucked in her breath, quivering as his fingers grazed her skin. A flare of need flooded her entire body. She wanted him to keep touching her but without the confining costume in the way.

He pulled down the zipper until it landed above the waistline of her panties. “I think you’re good, but I’ll let you finish changing. I don’t want to do something we’ll both regret.”

She swallowed, her mouth dry. Turning to face him, she inched the costume past her hips until it pooled at her bare feet. “What if I won’t regret it?”