Free The Nanny with the Skull Tattoos by Elizabeth Barone Page A

up for help through the Salvation Army. Hell, he mused with a sigh, he could have even started attending church. Several of his high school friends had received donated Christmas gifts in the past for their kids. He had let his stupid pride get in the way, he decided, and instead of planning ahead, he had relied on his stupid job.
    He groaned again. He didn’t want to blame Bill. No one could have predicted that one of their delivery trucks would get robbed. His boss was only doing what he had to do to keep his store open. Still, Max wished things were different.
    If he he had more time and were one of Santa’s elves, he could have built Chloe’s Christmas gifts with his two hands. His bank account was completely empty, though, and he refused to ask his parents for help. They would probably tell him that it was too late or, even worse, lecture him on saving money. Unless a Christmas miracle happened, it was too late, anyway. He had run out of time.
    At least Chloe would get presents from his family. She probably wouldn’t remember her second Christmas, anyway. When she was older, though, she would probably ask him about the lack of Christmas morning photos.
    Max wrenched the pillow off of his face and launched it across the bedroom. It hit the wall and fell to the floor. He snatched his phone from the end table and looked at the time. It was already almost eight in the morning. Chloe would be awake soon—if she wasn’t already—and it was Christmas Eve. He couldn’t expect Savannah to work when she probably had plans of her own.
    Forcing himself to sit up, he slid out of bed. Cool air swirled around his bare feet from the drafty window, and he shivered. He hadn’t done laundry yet, and he had no clean socks. With any luck, he could sneak in a load at his parents’ during Christmas Day dinner.
    Padding across the room, he retrieved his pillow from the floor and tossed it back onto the bed. Then, taking a deep breath, he left his bedroom.
    He found Chloe and Savannah on the couch in the living room, watching a Christmas movie on his laptop. “Are you streaming that illegally?” he asked.
    Savannah turned to look at him, an eyebrow raised. “Are you gonna turn me in?” she asked, her dimples showing.
    “I just want a heads up, in case we have to hire a lawyer,” he said, smiling.
    “Merry Christmas to you, too, Scrooge,” Savannah said, sitting up. She jerked a thumb toward the kitchen. “I figured I’d make pancakes this morning. Now that you’re awake, I’ll get started.”
    Max lifted a hand. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I’m sure you have somewhere better to be today.” He scooped Chloe from the couch and kissed her cheeks. She giggled and pushed his face away, squirming in his arms to see the computer screen.
    Savannah frowned. “You don’t want any of my famous pancakes?”
    “It’s okay, really,” he said. “You can have today and tomorrow off.”
    Her shoulders sagged. “Trying to get rid of me, huh?”
    “It’s not like that. I mean, don’t you wanna be with your family today?” He released Chloe. She toddled back over to the couch, her eyes never leaving the screen.
    Savannah snorted. “Yeah, so I can go to church with them? I’m good, thanks.”
    “It’s Christmas,” he said.
    “So?” She put her hands on her hips. “Are you gonna be with your family today?”
    “No,” Max said. He sighed. “My day is wide open.”
    “Then you’re going to need a good breakfast,” she said, brushing past him into the kitchen.
    Shaking his head, he followed her. Lately, all of their conversations seemed to happen in the kitchen. Every day, she was more and more like his girlfriend. He cleared his throat. “What about tomorrow?”
    “What about it?” she asked as she pulled out flour, milk, and eggs.
    “Do you have any plans with your family for tomorrow?” Max held the refrigerator door for her. When she moved to the counter, he snatched the canister of coffee from the