Free The 6'1" Grinch by Tiffany White Page B

male in line waiting with the children to see Santa. All around him fathers were standing patiently, while mothers combed children’s hair and straightened their clothing—over and over again as the children continued hopping around. The din from the crowd was so loud he could barely make out Aaron Neville’s “Christmas Song” on the mall’s sound system.
    If anyone had told him he’d willingly be at a mall five days before Christmas, he would have bet a considerable sum otherwise—and lost. He expected to see hives break out on his arm at any time. Last Christmas Marcy had insisted on him shopping with her while she selected the expensive gifts she wanted from him. She hadn’t returned the pricey baubles when she’d broken their engagement and had even claimed possession of some of his things.
    â€œI know one thing I’m going to ask Santa for,” Elena said, as Noel winced in remembrance. “I’m going to ask him to bring me the Barbie in the pink dress.”
    Hollie shot Noel a look that told him he was in trouble. But hell, he already knew that. He was standing in a crowded mall with a woman who was something between a ballerina and a kick boxer and a child who would grow up under her influence. “Under the influence” gained a whole new meaning when he thought of Hollie. Under her influence he’d had a dream so sexy he’d woken up embarrassed.
    â€œI’m sure Santa will bring you your Barbie,” Noel assured Elena, to Hollie’s raised eyebrow. “What else are you going to wish for?”
    â€œI know, I want some rings like Hollie’s.”
    Hollie twisted the gold-and-gemstone stack rings on her ring finger of her right hand. Seeing Noel’s interest, she explained, “Elena’s coveted these since I bought than this past summer. I told her they don’t make them in her small size, so every time she comes over she asks me if they’re old yet.”
    â€œOld?” Noel looked puzzled
    â€œIt’s a scam of hers. When she spends the night she goes through my jewelry piece by piece and asks if each one is old. She gets to take anything that’s old home with her. You may have noticed she’s into jewelry in a big way.”
    â€œYeah. Some husband is going to be perpetually broke when she gets married—”
    â€œWhat are you going to wish for?” Elena interrupted, looking at Noel.
    â€œThat Hollie will sell me her house.”
    Elena appeared stricken. “No! You can’t move away, Auntie Hollie.” The child grabbed Hollie’s hand and clung to her, a tear trailing from her wide pale eyes.
    â€œDon’t worry, I’m not moving,” she assured the child.
    â€œBut—”
    â€œWe’re going to find Noel a house he really, really likes. He was only teasing about wanting my house.”
    Noel didn’t want to push the matter in front of the upset child. After all, Hollie could move closer to Sarah and Elena. The child would love that. There was even room for Hollie to move in with Sarah and Elena until she found something.
    He didn’t have anywhere to go.
    Unless you counted the impersonal hotel room he was staying in.
    â€œAnd what are you going to wish for?” Noel asked Hollie.
    â€œThat a grinch doesn’t spoil my Christmas,” she answered, frowning at him.
    â€œWhat’s a grinch, Auntie Hollie?”
    â€œSomeone who doesn’t like Christmas.”
    â€œOh, you made that up. Everybody loves Christmas.” The child didn’t even wait for confirmation of her belief. She tugged on Hollie’s hand to move them up in line as a flash went off when the child in front of them had his picture taken on Santa’s lap.
    Noel studied the Santa as the little boy climbed down off his lap and Elena moved to take his place, and thought Santa looked a little seedy, shabby. The whole thing commercial. But Hollie didn’t see