Kissing Kris Kringle Read Online Free PDF Page B

talking about him.
    “Like what?” he asked with feigned innocence.
    “The sink. The window. The front door. Everything but the bathtub.”
    “What’s wrong with the bathtub?”
    “It doesn’t drain,” she said absently. “I don’t get it. It’s like I have a guardian angel out there. Joy said it’s a Secret Santa.”
    As she spoke, her gaze came to rest on him and he saw dawning suspicion in her blue eyes. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” she asked.
    Kris shrugged. “I’ve been pretty busy, Holly, what with sitting here all day and then the deliveries….”
    “Business has been amazing,” she said, instantly distracted.
    “I know,” he answered. “It’s like we all have a Secret Santa out there.”
    She laughed at that, and the absolute delight he saw on her face cleared all the lines of worry. He couldn’t have stopped himself if he’d wanted to—which he didn’t. He caught her wrist, stopping her when she would have turned away. And then, right there, beneath the giant town Christmas tree, in front of at least a hundred eager tourists waiting to see Santa, he kissed Holly McClaussen. Kissed her hard and deep. Kissed her with promise and possession.
    The crowd cheered. The children wanted to know if she was Mrs. Claus. Kris’s heart felt like it might stop beating when he finally let her go. Holly looked dazed, delighted and entirely discomfited.
    It was a good look for her.
    In what felt like a blink, the next few days flew by and suddenly, it was Christmas Eve.
    Kris had to get up extra early to take care of dispatching his deliveries. He had all of his drivers working overtime—much to their delight—and he’d even had to give up a couple of deliveries to UPS—a problem he wouldn’t have dreamed of a few weeks ago. Then he’d rush over to the next town so he could do a little Christmas shopping of his own. He’d finished the list he’d been running in his head of repairs at Holly’s house—the bathtub now drained like it should, the heater had been checked and all the doors and windows opened and closed snuggly but without strain. Shopping was all he had left to do. That, and don his Santa suit for the last time that year.
    Everyone in North Pole was excited about the celebration planned for today. His Santa chair had been relocated to the gazebo centered in the town square and, in the brilliant glow of the giant spruce, all the other trees had been decorated too. Snow—so long awaited—had finally begun to fall that morning. Fat flakes fluttered from a gray velvet sky and frosted the ground in a wintry icing. It looked more beautiful than any snowfall he’d ever seen.
    As he thought about it, Kris realized it had been growing steadily colder all week. He should have been freezing sitting outside in it for hours on end, but not once had he felt the chill. Smiling at the bit of Christmas magic that had kept him warm, he came to a stop in front of Holly who was waiting for him at the gazebo. Today she wore a gold sweater that clung to her breasts like a dream and a black skirt that hugged her hips and flattered her legs. Miniature golden Christmas balls hung from her earlobes and a bright red bow adorned her hair. Her eyes held a sparkle that warmed him from inside out.
    “Good morning,” he said.
    “I was worried you’d finally gotten fed up with your Santa gig and quit,” she said. But her eyes told a different story. She’d been waiting for him—not because of the kids so anxious to see him, but because Holly had missed him. Because she’d wanted to see him, too.
    “Wild reindeer couldn’t keep me away,” he told her, his voice dropping so that only she could hear him. “What are you doing after the big celebration, Holly?”
    She looked startled. “It’s Christmas Eve. I’m doing what every other parent is doing. Wrapping presents. Getting everything ready for tomorrow.”
    “Would you like some help with that? I have great