Free A Little Christmas Romance by H. M. Ward Page B

“Tell me you’re kidding.”
    Tilting his head back , he narrows his gaze and slips his hands into his pockets. “Well, I didn’t hit tweet yet, but I could.” There it is. This beautiful man wants something from me.
    Frack . “What’ll it cost me?”
    “A picture with me, a nd maybe dinner.”
    I look at him like he’s insane and point out the obvious. “It’s Christmas Eve.”
    “Yes, I realize that. If it wasn’t, we’d need to do an intervention , because you look like you recently escaped from the Keebler factory, Brooke.”
    I roll my eyes and tell the cashier to let him through. “Fine, but I’m not sitting on your lap.”
    “Like I’d offer,” he retorts, dryly.
    Santa quietly vacates his seat and goes to stand by Brit. Chris and I stand shoulder to shoulder and look straight ahead at the camera. They all watch us with knowing smiles, but they don’t know reindeer turds. Chris isn’t Mr. Relationship and I’m not looking for a one-nighter. As it is, life is hard. I don’t need another person who’ll use me and run. Besides, Chris doesn’t think of me like that. The entire time I knew him, he never put a move on me. We’re the definition of platonic.
    As the photographer gets the camera ready, I mention, “I bet that’s one you haven’t done yet. Sex with an elf.” A satisfied smile lines my lips, as Blane, the camera guy, tells us to smile.
    Chris ch ooses that moment to whisper in my ear, “Actually, I’d hoped to add an elf to my list tonight.”
    My jaw drops as the shutter snaps. Turning quickly, I punch his arm and laugh. “Jackass.”
    Still smiling, Chris watches me as I walk away, waiting to be rewarded for paying fifty bucks for the worst picture of us in existence. But, he doesn’t say anything. Chris just smiles at me, and waits for his prints on the other side of Santa’s Workshop. 
     

CHAPTER 3
     
     
    A few more stragglers bring in their sleepy kids right before we close. When the last one is finished, I glance around for Chris, but he’s gone. The smile slips off my face and I don’t know if I’m relieved or disappointed. Either way, that’s that. Chris is gone and I can head to the Christmas party from hell.
    “Who was that?” Brittani finally asks as we clean up and get ready to close.
    “Someone from high school.”
    “He was so hot. Do you think he was serious?” Okay, this conversation just crossed into Uncomfortable Land. I avoid her gaze as I bend over and unplug a reindeer. “Brooke, are you going to sleep with him?”
    Before I stand up, I answer, “Of course not. He was only kidding, besides, he’s long gone.”
    “No, he’s not. He’s sitting right over there, waiting for you.” What? Brittani points, and I follow her finger to a bench across the corridor. Chris is sitting there with his long legs kicked out in front of him, crossed at the ankle. “You go ahead. I’ll close up.” She smiles at me.
    I want to protest, but I also want to talk to him some more. Maybe she’s not an evil elf, after all. “Thanks, Brit. Merry Christmas.”
    “You too.”
    I grab my purse and saunter across the mall to where he’s sitting. Folding my arms across my chest, I stick out my hip, and glare at him. “Why are you still here?”
    “Why do you look so hot?” I roll my eyes and turn to leave. Chris jumps up and is next to me be fore I’m two steps down the hallway that leads to my car. “Brooke, wait.” He touches my elbow and sends a current straight through my heart. I don’t mean to, but I shake him off. What the hell was that? His blue eyes slip over my face, like he’s worried that he won’t see me again. “Let me take you to dinner. We can catch up. You can tell me about the one ring to rule them all, and I can tell you how much I’ve missed you.” He was always charming, but this is a bit much. It feels like he wants to say more, but he doesn’t.
    I laugh, but it’s of the nervous, defensive, variety. Chris looks at me like he