Free Have Yourself a Naughty Little Santa by Karin Tabke

she’s here on vacation, which I don’t believe, but she’s hungry. Can you help her out?”
    Kim scowled and tried to smile at the tall, gracious, auburn-haired lady, who now studied her with less than appreciative, deep, hazel-colored eyes. “Of course.”
    Ricco turned to the doorway filled with kids and women and said, “Well? Come give your tio a hug!” A gangly boy of about twelve leapt forward and clung to Ricco’s neck like a noose, followed by an adorable (well, adorable if she was into kids) little girl with big dark eyes and thick golden curls. They were joined by another toddler boy and Krista, who squealed as she pressed against the horde that clung to Ricco’s legs, arms, and back. Tio Ricco.
    Heat filled Kimberly’s cheeks, and she felt like a complete and utter idiot. These were his sisters, not his concubines. Kim stepped back, as if she’d somehow been intruding on a private moment. A hard knot tightened in her belly. The sisters, all laughing and speaking in soft, melodic Spanish, peeled the kids from their uncle—all except the oldest boy. His dark eyes narrowed her way as Ricco carried him into the house. The boy looked at Kim as if she’d been an unwanted intruder. She felt like one.
    The chilled air whipped around her head, lifting her hair, and Kim shivered hard. A firm hand touched her elbow. She started and looked up to the wise eyes of Ricco’s mother. “My name is Leticia, but my friends call me Leti,” she said.
    Kim forced a smile. “I’m Kimberly.”
    “Welcome, Kimberly, but I warn you. The kids haven’t seen their uncle in a long time, and they are very selfish and quite aggressive with his time when he is here. I hope you don’t mind.”
    Kim hurried to assure her it was not. “Not at all. It’s not like that between us.”
    “Are you saying you aren’t involved with my son?”
    Kim nearly choked. Heat rose in her cheeks. Leti patted her hand. “I don’t mean to be so blunt, but you are the first girl he’s brought home…er, ever…and as you can plainly see”—Leti pointed to her smiling son, who was laughing and playing with the children—“my boy has a way not only with the children but the ladies as well. It cannot be resisted.”
    Kim removed Leti’s hand from her arm, then faced her. “Mrs. Maza. I am not romantically involved with your son. I’m here because—” She frowned. “I’m here to relax. And I can assure you there is nothing between us.”
    Leti smiled, the fine lines around her knowing dark green eyes crinkling. “If you say so.”
    Kimberly just shook her head. There was nothing between her and this woman’s son now, and there sure wasn’t going to be any in the future. And it didn’t matter what this woman thought. In a week she would be gone and the town a distant memory.
    Though she didn’t want to be there, the minute Kim entered the abode, casa Maza assaulted every sense she possessed, with its warmth, fragrant scents, and laughter. The one sister she had not met, who resembled Ricco like a twin, introduced herself as Jasmine before she ducked back into the cavernous kitchen and continued to chatter with the other women. Ricco wrestled with the kids, the sisters bustled around, setting the long dining room table, happily chatting amongst themselves. A phone rang from a back room, and Leti’s animated voice answered. Kim was all but forgotten. And it was okay with her. It gave her the time to look around and absorb her surroundings without being observed herself.
    The house, though smaller than the B&B by more than half the square footage, had an open, welcoming feeling to it. Cedar-paneled walls combined with painted drywall and thick woodwork gave the large, open family room an airy feeling. The large river rock fireplace that blazed in the corner drew her with its warmth. Krista screamed and waddled past her older cousin, who chased her on all fours, then she grabbed Kim’s leg, ducking behind her. The little hands digging