Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 245(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 245(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
“We’d like to get together with you soon, too. Maybe take you out for a non-holiday dinner?” Rudy says.
“With the both of you?”
“Sure, if you’re up for it,” Nick says easily.
I give them both a smile. “I’d like that. I’d be happy to go out with you sometime.”
As these two gorgeous men smile back at me, my plans for a no-date December become a distant memory.
Chapter 4
I arrive at the park Saturday morning to find a beautiful display set up in one of the pavilions. There are towering stacks of festive gift boxes and at least half a dozen artificial Christmas trees, each decorated with ornaments. At the center of it all, a big fancy gold-painted chair is waiting for Santa.
“It’s like a winter wonderland. All that’s missing is snow,” I tell Lisa, who’s arranging boxes under a long table that’s covered with a red cloth.
“We thought about renting a snow machine, but it was pricey, and people will be bringing their children all dressed up for pictures,” she says. “The last thing we need are kids rolling around making snow angels.”
“Or having snowball fights,” says an older gentleman who’s arranging velvet-roped stanchions nearby, forming a place for people to wait in line.
It hardly ever snows on the island, and I’ve only seen one white Christmas in my life, years ago, when I was little.
“Your costume looks great,” Lisa says, eyeing me. “The rosy blush on your cheeks is a nice touch.”
“Thanks. I took inspiration from pictures I found online.” What I don’t tell her is that I also figured the cosmetic color will provide camouflage in case my fellow volunteers make me blush again. It seems like my cheeks heat every time I think about them, and I’m embarrassed to admit how often I’ve been thinking about them in the few days since I met them.
I haven’t seen any of them since the coffee date, but Nick and Rudy Frost texted on Thursday to wish me a happy Thanksgiving.
As Lisa and I are talking, the Winter brothers arrive, every bit as devastatingly handsome and dangerous looking as I remember. Their eyes scan me head to toe as they greet me with casual lifts of their chins.
“Red’s your color,” is all Felix says before giving half of his attention to Lisa, who picks up two packages from the far edge of the table.
“Here are your costumes. I hope they fit.”
Jasper opens the package and pulls out a bright green outfit, which is quite a contrast to the dark jeans and faded gray t-shirt currently hugging his body. He shakes his head, disgusted by the elf costume, and starts to pull off his t-shirt, giving me a dizzying view of abs so cut they look unreal. Surely, someone must have airbrushed all that definition onto his torso.
Drool pools in my mouth, but Lisa quickly spoils the fun. “Not here! Go change in the restroom in the community center.”
The brothers head in the direction she points them, and Lisa gets back to work, pulling ornament-shaped plastic frames from a box and lining them up on the table.
“What can I do to help?” I ask.
“Oh! I need to show you how the photos will work.” She digs into another box and produces a tablet, shows me how to use the photo software, and gives me instructions about the printer. As she’s telling me about the frames and requested donation amounts, Nick joins us—or should I say, an oversized merry elf joins us.
Nick’s wearing one of the green costumes, and he does a playful little jig, turning in a circle to show off the colorful outfit. There’s a green tunic with a red, pointed collar, a red and green cap, red-trimmed black shoe coverings that curl up at the toes, and—most striking—red, white and green candy-cane-striped leggings that fit like a second skin over his muscular calves and thighs.
As I’m checking him out, the Winter brothers reappear, dressed the same as Nick, but with moody scowls on their handsome faces.
Lisa nods approvingly after looking all three men over. To Felix and Jasper, she says, “Don’t forget to smile, boys.”
“Rudy’s waiting inside,” Nick tells Lisa, as he gestures toward the community center. “He figures you’ll want Santa to make a grand entrance when the time comes.”
“Perfect. Oh good, it looks like the lighting’s here.” She’s distracted by someone approaching with their arms full of equipment. Before she hurries off, she directs me to fill in the men about how the picture process will work.
“Next week, I’m going to play Santa,” Jasper grumbles, and Nick shrugs agreeably.
Felix pulls at his leggings, seemingly trying to make them more comfortable, but his actions only serve to draw my eye to his thick thighs. The men should look silly in these elf costumes, and I suppose, objectively, you could say they do, but somehow, they also look hot.