Sleeping With Santa Read Online Free PDF

seemed to be a lot more stars hanging in the inky sky over Scenic View than he ever noticed in Star Harbor. He tried thinking more about the sliver of moonlight peeking between the tall bare trees, and less about the slip of a girl laid up in a hospital bed.
    He ought to wait in the SUV—at least he could meditate behind the steering wheel parked in the dark. A little hand-solo action would take the edge off, killing the need for a drink and sexual release in one shot.
    Knowing Lily wasn’t well made him feel guilty for having a rock-hard reaction right now. Ever since the moment he laid eyes on the sweet, young thing, all he wanted to do was bury himself inside her. That smoking-hot body and hair like flames. She came off a little shy. He liked shy. Shy made the most interesting challenge.
    “Maybe she just thinks I’m some creepy old dude. I’m not that old, am I?” He consulted with the universe as a great gust of wet wind rolled off the Long Island Sound, rattling the branches, churning the leaves on the ground. “I take that as a yes.” He sighed in defeat and hunkered down, pulling up the leather collar.
    He didn’t feel like a creepy old guy for being attracted to her. Didn’t feel like a jerk while he was meditating about her. He felt pretty good, actually.
    The question was—what did she feel?
    Maybe he misread her vibes. Who knows? There’s a first time for everything.
    Unsettled and overtired, he went inside, sat in the same stiff chair to wait some more.
    Minutes felt like hours.
    Hours felt like eternity.
    “Hey, Nick, wake up.” He heard the voice in a dream before realizing it was for real. It took him a moment to gather his wits before reflexively socking the guy shaking his shoulder. It was a good thing he opened his eyes to see it was Maresca. “Are ya sleeping?”
    “Just resting my eyes.” He rubbed them with the heels of his hands.
    “You mind sticking around here a little longer while I take the Barbieris home?”
    “No problem. How’s Lily?” Nick kept the desire out of his voice.
    “She says she wants to go home, but they’re gonna keep her overnight for observation. Once they have her room ready, they’ll let you know. Call me and I’ll pick you up.”
    “Is her next of kin coming down?”
    “Her parents are deceased. And I don’t think she’s seeing anyone.”
    Bob concurred.
    Bingo! Fireworks went off behind Nick’s bleary eyes.
    “Well…” Sophia chimed in. “If you count my nephew in California—I’m setting her up with him. He’ll be coming to town for Christmas. He owns three beauty salons. He’s perfect for her...”
    “Sophia,” Maresca said gently, “we’re not talking about potential first dates.”
    “Don’t listen to her.” Bob grunted, taking Sophia by the elbow. “We’ll meet you outside, Chief.”
    “Why dontcha go sit back there with her?” Maresca jutted his jaw in the direction of the ER doors. “The chairs are more comfortable.”
    “I’m fine right here.” Nick slumped against the hard molded plastic and jammed his fists in his jacket pockets.
    “Suit yourself.” Maresca disappeared out the automatic doors.
    Another eternal hour passed until a nurse emerged to confirm Lily had been assigned a room.
    Finally, Nick could leave.
    But his boots wouldn’t budge over the threshold.
    Instead, he headed for the double doors to the ER, using his fire department ID-card to bypass security bells and whistle, and peeked into room 314.
    She was awake under an ivory blanket, with wires connecting her to a monitor. At least her pallor looked a little better.
    “Nick?” The beeping of her heart rate escalated. He deciphered the terror in her wide eyes, like he was the Devil or the Big Bad Wolf. “What are you doing here?”
    “The chief asked me to check on you.”
    Where were his manners? He could have simply asked how she’s feeling. Better yet, he could have started with hello. But her elevated vitals threw off his game, making it