by Shara Azod
“I’m so sorry for staring,” the woman further startled him by saying after a few moments. Hell, he’d meant to say something, but she was just so…unique, he’d forgotten to. “You probably didn’t want anyone to know you’re filling in as Santa.”
Astute. Given the Santa pants he was wearing, she probably thought this was a one-time, or at most a sometimes thing.
“I won’t tell anyone, I swear. I’m so sorry for walking in on you,” the woman rushed on. “I’ll just go change somewhere else.”
God, he was loving that voice. It was all sugary sweet, but without any accent at all. The voice was real, and real was so rare in his world.
“No.” Finally finding his voice, he blurted out the one word, forgetting to clarify what he was saying no to.
“Uh, sorry?” Poor thing. She looked adorably confused, and he really couldn’t blame her.
“No, don’t leave. The locker room is big enough for two,” he clarified, gathering his shit together at long last. “And no, I’m not filling in. I’ve been the Santa here since I bought the place five years ago.”
Now he sounded like a saintly asshole. Great. Was there even such a thing? This little beauty had his world spinning way off its axis.
“But,” he added, determined not to forget he really needed to fire the man who’d dared to talk down to her earlier, “I really need to know who the jerk was talking to you just now.”
“Oh, that.” The woman shrugged, blushing hard. A real, honest-to-goodness blush. “That was nothing. Just a misunderstanding. Vivi probably didn’t tell him…well, maybe he was expecting another blonde?”
“You mean she didn’t mention that you’re black with the curves of a woman, not those of an underdeveloped teenager like your friend?” Leslie didn’t mean to reach out and touch her. It was just that he had to see if her cheeks felt as hot as they looked. Given the deep reddish color blooming on her face, he was pretty sure her flesh should be close to flaming.
And it was. Where the hell had this woman been all his life? And why had he instinctively trusted her with one of his most tightly held secrets? The last thing he wanted was paparazzi finding out and mobbing what should be a joyous time for the kids who visited him.
“I’m sure that wasn’t it.” But her eyes went down and to the left while she said that.
Wow, people really did that? Leslie was used to people lying to his face, but it was usually done with the utmost sincerity.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” He decided to switch gears; he would just have to find out the information some other way.
“Mikki. Mikki Washington.”
Cute. It suited her. And it was so much better than referring to her as “the woman” in his head.
“Tell you what, Mikki.” Leslie soothed two fingers over her heated, petal-soft cheek, unable to help himself. For some reason he just couldn’t seem to stop himself from touching her. “You get ready for the kids. I promise to keep my back turned while you dress, okay? Just promise me you’ll allow me to get that jerk after work.”
There went that wide-eyed stare again. When general fans gave him that look, it was annoying. Mikki made him feel anything but annoyed. When she looked at him, he actually felt special. Since his first film, he’d been very careful to remind himself daily he was just a man like any other. His profession just made him more visible than most. But Mikki made him feel special in a different way. A way he couldn’t really explain.
“You don’t have anything to make up for,” Mikki insisted. “And you really don’t have to keep your back turned. I know you won’t look. Why would you?” She laughed after that statement. “I mean, I’m not planning on getting completely naked, and you’ve seen a lot better, I’m sure.”
Not fucking likely.
“My mall, my management,” he shot back with a gentle smile. “I insist.”
“Oh.” Blinking, she nodded as if that made perfect sense. “Okay then, but you still don’t have to turn your back. Unless you want to. And I can understand why you’d want to—”
He kissed her. Just a gentle caress of lips, but he absolutely had to. Mikki Washington was just about the most adorable thing he’d seen in far too long.
“Good. Done,” he murmured against her lips. “After we delight the kiddies, I will take you out to make up for my obnoxious mall manager.”
“He wasn’t all that bad, I think I just shocked him.” Mikki laughed nervously. “I’m sure he didn’t mean half of what he said.”
Well at least now he knew who it was that had been talking to her. It had been a guess, since there were a couple of other people it could’ve been. For the first time since his sister had died, Leslie felt the holiday spirit and something more. Something he thought had died for him a long time ago.
Hope.
Chapter Four
Six long hours and over a hundred kids later, Leslie was aching. Not his muscles, not even his jaw from the deep “Ho, ho, hos” he’d had to bellow all day. He was aching because Santa’s helper had managed to thoroughly seduce him without sparing him more than a few glances all day.
Once the kids started lining up, there’d been no starry-eyed stares from Mikki. Instead she’d dedicated herself totally to all the children waiting to see Santa. And she was damn good at dealing with them too. With her calming crying babies, getting unruly toddlers to behave, even humoring skeptical older kids, the day had been a breeze. And she’d done it all with a genuine smile, no muttering under her breath as her predecessor had done.
Leslie found he hadn’t been able to watch her for very long. That fake red velvet outfit trimmed with equally fake fur fit a little too well, showcasing all her curves to great advantage. Leslie noticed more than a few dads leering at her, a few adjusting themselves discreetly. That really irked him. The idea of other men finding her attractive was fine, but visibly lusting after her was damn near intolerable. Jealousy was a foreign concept to him; he wasn’t quite sure how to take it.
When the line finally closed and all the children and their parents had gone, Leslie found he was unwilling to leave her to tidy up by herself. Usually he was gone as soon as the line closed, but now he lingered. Partially because he was half afraid someone might come along and snatch her up. Not literally, but he was taking no chances another man might make a move before he did. Also, he really wanted her to be there when he fired the man who’d disrespected her.
The mall manager had walked by several times during the day, his lips curled into a prominent sneer. Leslie had all day to come up with a plan, and he was sure he’d stumbled across a good one after three hours listening to the dreams of the kids who had come to see Santa. A quick call during their brief lunch break was all he needed to set the plan in motion. All he needed was for Mikki to cooperate.
Spying his attorney waiting just beyond the little white gate, he put his arm through Mikki’s, urging her without words to come with him.
“I have to finish cleaning the area.” Mikki cast a look back at the mess the kids had made with the cheap little plastic toys and candy wrappers they’d gotten from their visit to Santa. There were even some pictures with Santa littering the ground. Man, would those parents be pissed if it were ever revealed Leslie Brooks had been the Santa their child had visited, and they’d just thrown the picture on the ground like it was nothing. He’d even signed them, albeit as Santa.
“Do you think your friend Vivi ever stuck around to clean?”
That comment was awarded with a bright smile and an even brighter giggle. It was the first smile aimed directly at him, only for him. God, he hoped it wouldn’t be the last.
“No, she probably didn’t, but it seems rude to leave it all for the janitors.”
If he wasn’t already smitten, he would’ve been at that comment. How was it possible someone hadn’t snatched her up already?
“There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” he urged, really wanting to get away from the mall as soon as possible.
It s
hould have taken about thirty seconds to get to the little gate, but Leslie walked slowly, just wanting a little time alone with her. Sure, he’d have plenty later tonight—hopefully—but he’d been waiting all day to touch her.
“Mikki, this is my lawyer, Gavin Michaelson,” Leslie introduced her as soon as they made it to the gate. “Gavin, this is Miss Mikki Washington, who just might have stolen my heart.”
Shit, that was sappy. Gavin gave him a quizzical glance, but otherwise didn’t bat an eyelash. But then he was well paid not to. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Washington.” After the obligatory handshake, the attorney turned back to him, all business. “I have the nondisclosure agreement, along with the other thing you requested.”
It was amazing what money and fame could buy. Leslie merely nodded, not ready to let Mikki in what was about to happen just yet.
“Oh, right,” Mikki surprised both men by saying. She stopped, pulling her arm away from him, something that didn’t please him at all. “Do you have a pen? I’ll sign it right now.”
Gavin managed to look more perplexed than he had originally.
“I don’t know where you found her, but if I were you I’d keep her,” Gavin blurted out for what Leslie was sure was the first time in his professional career. “Just make sure you move far away from L.A.”
Leslie couldn’t help it—he had to laugh. A good, honest-to-God cleansing laugh; the kind he hadn’t been moved to in forever. Mikki was the only one out of the loop, looking for all the world like she’d just heard instructions on how to build a spaceship, then been asked to build it.
“The NDA isn’t for you, sweetheart,” Leslie explained, placing his arm through hers once more, then urging her to walk alongside him again. “Just trust me, okay?”
“Okay.”
The answer was immediate, without any reservation. Leslie stumbled just a little at the force of that one, miniscule word. Okay, she trusted him, and he hadn’t done a damn thing to earn that trust.
Mikki Washington was a rare find indeed, and one he didn’t think he would be able to let go.
Chapter Five
When Mikki saw where they were headed, she immediately wanted to run in the other direction. General Manager Davis Wright read the little plaque on the door. Despite what she’d said to Leslie earlier, the man was heinous. His hatred for her had come at her full force in his gaze as well as his words. The last person on earth she ever wanted to see again was Mr. Wright. And Vivi had sworn the man was a sweetheart. But Leslie seemed determined, and he wasn’t letting his grip on her arm go. The man she’d worshipped on screen was a little more frightening in person when he was pissed, his gray eyes burning with intensity, his generous lips set in a straight line. And to think, she’d once thought that look was sexy.
“Maybe I should stay in the waiting area,” Mikki offered nervously. This was all her fault. If she had said no to Vivi, none of this would ever had happened.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I won’t let anything happen to you.” Leslie threw her one of his killer grins. God, those dimples were like craters. “Besides, I need you with me.”
Mikki nodded automatically, then immediately wanted to kick herself. Confrontations were not her thing. But when Leslie Brooks called her “sweetheart,” she found she was willing to brave things she usually would run from, like an angry middle-aged mall manager who hated her on sight. She knew why—she just didn’t want to deal with it. Didn’t seem worth it. When Leslie and his attorney breezed past the sputtering secretary, Mikki cringed. This was going to be ugly, no two ways about it.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Davis Wright was not a good-looking man. Balding on the top of his head, what was left of his hair was dirt brown and oily looking. His skin was pale, pasty even. Furious for being interrupted by what he assumed was the mall Santa, his skin went bright red, even the top of his head.
When his eyes landed on Mikki, they narrowed menacingly. She tried to shrink back from the glare, but Leslie was right there, holding her steady. “Buck up, sweetheart. I’m right here,” he whispered in her ear.
“Did you catch that one trying to steal something? Probably trying to make off with the money from the Santa line,” Mr. Wright gloated. “I told you I’d be watching you, girl—”
“Mr. Wright,” Gavin cut in before Mr. Wright could really get going. “I’m going to have to ask you to sign this nondisclosure agreement.” Setting his briefcase on top of Mr. Wright’s haphazard stacks of paper, he calmly pulled out the agreement and placed it in front of the other man. “After you sign, we can discuss the reason for this meeting.”
“Meeting?” the manager jeered. “I don’t meet with seasonal workers. The two of you are fired.” He pointed directly at Mikki and Leslie. “There are plenty of people who’d love this—”
His tirade died in his throat as Leslie removed the hat, wig, and beard, placing them on the desk. It would’ve been funny if this weren’t so serious.
“Mr….Mr. Brooks-I-I-” All Mr. Wright’s former blustering bravado dissipated as if it had never been. The mall manager was all sniveling sycophant all of the sudden. Mikki would’ve giggled if she wasn’t so confused and afraid as to what might happen. “I’m very sorry, sir, for this woman.” Oh, boy, the man wasn’t very bright was he? “I would have never—“
“Sign the agreement.” Leslie’s voice was cold, his stare steely. Mikki couldn’t suppress the little feminine thrill at the purely male display of dominance.
Mr. Wright rushed to do Leslie’s bidding, scribbling his name across the bottom of the page with a shaky hand. The poor, dumb bastard actually smiled expectantly when he was finished.
“Mr. Wright, I just happened to be inside the locker room when you spoke to my girlfriend earlier today,” Leslie moved his arm to Mikki’s shoulder, pulling her in even closer so their bodies were pressed tightly together. Intimately tight. If it weren’t for his iron hold, she might have crumbled right there at his feet. This was all too surreal.
I’m going to crawl into a hole and die, Mikki thought to herself. Ommigod, if this ever got out…
But that was what the NDA was for. Mikki felt mildly relieved Mr. Wright had actually signed it. It would just be too embarrassing if the world knew Leslie Brooks had pretended she was his girlfriend just because some dude was rude to her. It was sweet on his part, but could she be more pathetic?
“M-m-m-m-Mr. Brooks, I had no idea that she—that you—that…” Mr. Wright’s face had turned from puce to purple, spittle flying from his thin, bloodless lips as his eyes nearly bulged from his face.
“Really, it doesn’t matter whether or not Mikki is my girlfriend,” Leslie continued as if Mr. Wright hadn’t spoken. The things you said when you spoke to her do not reflect the values I am known for. This is my mall, therefore a representation of myself. The fact that you said them to my woman only made it worse.
My woman. Leslie Trace Brooks had called her “my woman!” Mikki knew if she lived a hundred years, nothing would ever sound as good as those two words coming from his lips. A mega movie star had called her his woman. Plus he added an extra squeeze on her trembling frame as he spoke. Cherry on top of an already awesome cake. This might all be pretend, but the embrace felt very real. Of course, he was an actor; it was his job to project emotions where there were none. She mustn’t let it go to her head, but it was impossible not to enjoy the moment.
“Mr. Wright,” Gavin cut in smoothly, pulling an envelope from the open briefcase. “This is your severance. Given the reason for termination, I’m sure you’ll agree it is more than generous. You have, after all, violated the very strict code of conduct you signed upon your own employment here. You will need to vacate the premises by mall closing.”
“But—but it’s Christmas!” Mr. Wright choked out, his knuckles gone completely white from the death grip he had on his chair.
“Which is the only reason you’re being paid at all,” Leslie informed him, scorn heavy in his voice and all
over his face. “And I wouldn’t bother applying to any other mall in Southern California. I strongly suggest you either change professions or move.”
With that, Leslie led Mikki from the still stuttering mall manager’s now former office.
Wow, that felt really good. It may be cruel, but Mikki took selfish pleasure in the odious man’s comeuppance. And even knowing it was just for show, she tucked herself firmly against the crook of Leslie’s arm. She just wanted to pretend a little bit longer.
Chapter Six
“How about leaving your car here and getting started on our date right now?” Truthfully, Leslie just didn’t want to let Mikki out of his sight. There was something about her that made him feel maybe the world wasn’t a completely jaded place.
Being near her made him feel excited and anxious, but the good kind of anxiety. The kind one got from anticipation of something new and exciting. Damn, he was sounding like a teenage boy with his first crush. There was just something about Mikki that was fresh. Like a country spring morning.
“It’s not my car,” she admitted shyly. “It’s Vivi’s. I really have to drop it off. How about I meet you somewhere?”
Leslie was sympathetic to her nervousness, but not so much that he’d let her out of his sight. There were serious vines of skittishness coming from her. He recognized the signs; it was exactly how he felt. On the set of his first movie, he’d been seriously on the verge of running back to Iowa. Well, he’d just help her make the right decision.
“I’ll follow you,” he pressed. No way he was letting her slip through his fingers.
Watching the way Mikki chewed at her bottom lip in indecision only made Leslie’s growing infatuation more acute. It was endearing as hell. And it was making his dick unbearably hard. God, what was this woman doing to him? He was strolling in a mall, dressed in a Santa costume, begging a woman to let him take her out on a date.
