Free Seducing Santa by Dahlia Rose Page B

skin. It seemed to glow as the sun’s rays kissed it a dark bronze color. This was a woman, and Nicholas felt the stirring of desire deep within him. Sand clung to her skin, and he found himself wishing he were every single grain that was stuck against her skin.
     
    “So are you going to stare all day or help me with this thing?” The soft lilt of her voice brought him back to the present. He noticed she had a rope wrapped around her hand keeping a Jet Ski in the shallow surf.
     
    “Of course. I’m sorry. I, um . . . got distracted.” Nicholas threw her a charming smile, and she in turn rolled her eyes.
     
    Together, they pulled the water machine into the soft sand. As soon as they did, the attractive beauty was on her knees. She lifted the seat and proceeded to mess with the its mechanics.
     
    “Should you be doing that?” Nicholas asked. Worry filled him as he watched her tinker with the machine.
     
    “Who else is going to do it?” Her voice held the sweetness of a lemon. Nicholas winced at the tone. “The idiot tourists who rented from me and proceeded to get water into the lines, and when it stalled, they bailed and left it in the ocean and went on board their cruise ship to drink some more?”
     
    “Okay, I guess you do know what you are doing,” Nicholas commented. “Can I do anything to help?’
     
    “Stay outta my way,” she muttered. Nicholas stared down at her until she looked up at him. She sighed all of a sudden and stood up wiping her hands on her very short shorts. “I’m sorry for being rude. This time of year is not my favorite. Thanks for helping me.”
     
    ‘You’re welcome . . .” Nicholas left the sentence open hoping for a name to be added on.
     
    She obliged him. “Neeva Monroe.
     
    Nicholas held out his hand to take hers in a handshake. “Nicholas Kringle.”
     
    She smiled when she heard his name. “Well, that name is one for the books. Isn’t that Santa Claus’s real name?”
     
    “One of many. I should know. I am the one and only.” Nicholas bowed low. When he looked at her again, she was staring at him with her mouth open.
     
    “So you’re telling me you are the old fat guy who delivers presents on Christmas Eve?” Neeva asked with skepticism in every word.
     
    “That’s only one form I can take,” Nicholas explained with ease.
     
    “Uh-huh and you are here on a beach a few days before Christmas because . . .”
     
    “Because I was burned out a little bit, so I jetted away for a while. I have my best guys on the job.” He grinned as her mouth dropped open.
     
    “Okay, and here I was thinking you were at least one normal sober tourist on this island for Christmas. It’s obvious I was wrong, and you’re nuts to boot,” Neeva said. “Well, see ya, and I hope you sober up okay.”
     
    “You don’t believe me?” Nicholas ran to catch up to her as she moved up the beach.
     
    “You thought I’d believe that you’re Santa Claus looking like you just stepped out of a model magazine onto our beach?” Neeva asked. Skepticism laced her every word. “Do you want to sell me the
Brooklyn
Bridge
too?”
     
    Nicholas scratched his head. “I don’t own the
Brooklyn
Bridge
. That thing freaks Rudolph out every year when he flies by it, so why would I want to sell it to you?”
     
    “You are a whack-a-doodle. Why are you telling this spiel of nonsense?” Neeva said. He could hear the amazement in her voice.
     
    “I love how you say nonsense. That accent is so sexy,” Nicholas replied with a smile. “I am telling you because I think I love you already, and we should never start a relationship with secrets.”
     
    “Listen, um, Nicholas, is it? You stay on that side of the sand, and I’ll stay over here. Thanks for the help.” Starting up the beach again, she threw a cautious gaze over her shoulder.
     
    “Aren’t you going to tell me Merry Christmas?” he called to her. His Nubian goddess, she would make a good Mrs.