Christmas Steele Read Online Free PDF Page A

expression was as neutral as his
tone. She couldn’t ask him what he was thinking because the clerk
had scanned his purchases and it was time to pay. Lacy absently
grabbed the grocery sack. Jason slipped his arm around her
shoulders again, leading her toward his car.
    “What’s been going on in your life, Red?” he
asked.
    Lacy thought of all her ingested popcorn and
three AM infomercials. “Oh, you know, a lot of late nights. What
about you?”
    “Work,” he said. “Every day. I’ve been
working a lot of overtime.”
    “Why? Is there that much crime at
Christmas?”
    “There’s a surprising amount,” he said. “But
that’s not why. I always volunteer to work extra shifts over the
holidays so the guys who have families can get it off.”
    “Don’t you want to see your family?” she
asked.
    He snorted a laugh. “No.”
    “What about your girlfriend?” she asked.
    “What about her?” They reached his car and
stopped outside the passenger door, facing each other.
    “Doesn’t she want to see you?” Lacy was proud
of the way she kept her voice neutral, but in case her eyes
betrayed her jealousy, she kept them focused on his chest.
    Jason wasn’t having any of that, though. He
tipped her face up so he could see her eyes. “When I find one, I’ll
ask her,” he said. His tone bordered on smugness, but Lacy was so
relieved she didn’t call him on it. “There is someone I really want
to see this Christmas, though,” he added, resting his hands on her
hips and tipping her back so she leaned against his car.
    She knew she was walking into a trap, but she
couldn’t help herself. “Who?” Her palms slithered up to rest
against his chest, the grocery sack dangling lifelessly from her
thumb.
    His lips curved into a devilish smile as he
dropped his gaze to her lips. “Santa. He’s been evading me for
twenty six years. I have a good feeling about this Christmas.”
    Lacy slowly shook her head. “Not gonna
happen, Jason. You have to be good to see Santa, and I’m pretty
sure you’re on the naughty list.”
    “Someone’s been spreading lies about me; I’m
angelic.” An expectant hush fell as the usual tension began to
bounce between them. They seemed to be waiting for something, but
neither knew what. “What do you want for Christmas, Red?” Jason
whispered, gently tracing his finger down her cheek.
    This, Lacy thought, without the
accompanying baggage and terror. “World peace,” she
replied.
    Jason chuckled, breaking the spell between
them. “Selfless of you,” he said, opening her door and waiting
until she was safely inside to close it.
     

Chapter 5
     
    Jason’s comment about Christmas reminded Lacy
of the beautiful locket she had received. Thinking of the intimate
inscription was enough to warm her cheeks, even though his car was
freezing. What was the tactful way to ask someone if he had bought
a locket declaring his love?
    “Have you finished your Christmas shopping?”
she tried.
    “Who do I have to buy for? Except you, I
guess,” he added thoughtfully, almost as an afterthought.
    Lacy frowned. Did that mean he had bought for
her or still needed to? Her mind reacted to that question with a
panicked tangent. She needed to buy him a present. What on earth
was she going to buy for him?
    “What do you want for Christmas, Jason?” she
asked.
    “World peace,” he replied, flashing her a
grin before returning his eyes to the road.
    “No, really,” she pressed.
    “A night off and a whole lot of sleep,” he
said, sounding weary.
    She reached over, resting her hand on his
leg. “You’re tired,” she said, her voice oozing sympathy.
    “Nothing gets by you, Red,” he said, though
he laid his hand on hers and gave it a squeeze. The warmth and
roughness of his palm distracted her again, causing her to wonder
of she had some specialized from of ADD, triggered by being near a
lot of testosterone. Why was it every time she got within ten feet
of Jason Cantor she couldn’t think