His legal team had quickly put the kibosh on the crap about historical value that local societies had spouted. Anyway, he couldn’t care less if the crown moldings had been handcrafted by early settlers of the area.
He wanted new. He wanted modern.
Squaring his shoulders, Tanner stepped inside his apartment and looked around. The size of the place surprised him. A large living room was separated by a breakfast bar from a decent-sized kitchen. The appliances were extremely outdated, but the apartment wasn’t as filthy as he was expecting.
Huge windows opened out at the grungy street, but Tanner saw potential for the neighborhood. Respectable businesses would come back if this building was replaced. Down the street, a new complex should be completed next year. Things were improving here.
Down a short hallway, he found a roomy bathroom, again with outdated fixtures, but still pretty clean. Then there were two bedrooms.
“Hello?”
Who in the world would be coming into his apartment? No one even knew he was here, not even his siblings. He hadn’t wanted to tell anyone. If his siblings got word that he was being forced to don a Santa suit, they’d be first in line to point cameras directly at him.
His only consolation was that the judge hadn’t listed where he was to do his community service when the reporters swarmed after the hearing was over. He wouldn’t doubt that they’d figure it out, though. This would be too juicy a photo op for them to pass up. He’d just keep his fingers crossed that it didn’t happen.
Walking back out to the living room, he found a petite blonde with bright blue eyes looking at him, a welcoming smile on her face. Before he was able to say anything, she spoke.
“Your door was open so I thought I’d see who was in here. They’ve frozen any of the apartments from being rented, so…” Her meaning was loud and clear. She thought he was a vagrant who had found a warm place to sleep.
She wasn’t the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree to be confronting someone who could be a criminal.
“I won’t be here long,” he replied, his manner stiff as he approached. “But I am living here for now. Do you always just walk into other people’s homes?”
She took a step back at his unpleasant tone. OK, he gave her a few points for at least being a bit nervous.
“Sorry about that, but like I said, your door was open. How long are you staying?” she asked as she looked around the empty room. Nothing in it except for one large duffel bag.
“That’s undetermined right now,” he told her. He’d learned never to give out too much information.
The woman looked at him with wide eyes and a wavering smile, but she still just stood there as if trying to determine whether she could trust him or not. What if he were a serial killer? Did she have no self-preservation instincts at all?
“I’ve lived here for two years. It’s a great place if you can get past the mice,” she said with a laugh. “At least there are a lot of storage areas.”
“Mice?” Tanner looked around uneasily.
“Yeah, but I’ve named them, so I’m not so scared of the little critters anymore.”
“Named them?” Tanner almost found it amusing that he kept repeating what she said.
“Yeah, you know, like in Cinderella. I would say they’d help you unpack, but you don’t have anything here. Were you making sure you liked the place first?”
Tanner realized that he hadn’t ordered a bed, a couch, anything. He wasn’t looking forward to being here, and he just hadn’t thought that far ahead. Of course, he would need some basics, even for only two weeks.
His assistant should have been on top of this. Maybe it was time to hire a new one.
“Everything will be delivered later this evening,” he replied as he moved toward the door.
“Oh, that must be nice, not having to move it yourself. I despise moving. It’s so physically and emotionally exhausting and then you always lose something in the process — every single time, no matter how organized you are or how carefully you label the boxes.”
“Yes, moving is unpleasant. Well, I have some phone calls to make…” he said, holding open the door she’d blown past when illegally entering his place.
“I’m sorry. I’ll leave you be. My name is Kyla, by the way, Kyla Ridgley.” She walked right up to him and held out her hand.
Tanner looked at it for a moment as if he didn’t know what to do, but then his manners kicked in and he held out his own hand. “Tanner,” he offered and nothing more.
“Well, it’s great to meet you, Tanner,” she said, and then her warm, slender hand was clasped in his.
Tanner nearly took a step back when their fingers touched. It felt like a spark had just ignited between the two of them.
“Um, great to meet you,” she whispered. She pulled her hand from his and rushed through the door.
When she slipped inside the apartment right across the hall from his, quickly closing the door behind her, Tanner stared for several moments at the space she’d been occupying.
Maybe his “jail” time had just become a lot more bearable.
With a slight smile lifting the corners of his lips, he picked up his phone to call his assistant.
Furniture was his first priority.
Then, he was going to find out a bit more about his new neighbor. A two-week fling might just make this situation a whole lot easier to swallow.
Chapter Three
Kyla leaned against her door and took a deep breath. Normally, men didn’t intimidate her. She’d grown up with a loving family, and had enjoyed high school and the first two years of college. She’d had a healthy dating life.
Then…boom.
Her picture-book world had fallen apart in the blink of an eye. On a family vacation, they’d all been driving down a mountain road after a fun day of snowboarding when their car had skidded on black ice.
She was the only survivor.
After a week in the hospital, she’d been released — with nowhere to go where she felt safe. Dropping out of school, she’d found herself at this apartment, both her place of refuge and a spot where she hoped to someday heal.
She knew it wasn’t her fault that her family was gone. But why was she the only one to live? Why wasn’t it her mother, who did charity work, or her father, who made a difference in the world though his teaching? Why couldn’t her brother have survived? He’d graduated from high school the previous June and, after college, planned to join the military as an officer.
No, she’d been the one to survive. The only one who still didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life. So now she found herself taking odd jobs, just trying to hang on, instead of really living.
She’d been left her parents’ home when they’d passed, along with a substantial inheritance, but she couldn’t find it in her heart to use the funds or to stay in that house. She hadn’t been there since the accident. She was too afraid to face the memories of those empty rooms. Seeing her dad wrestling with her brother on the living room floor, hearing their laughter and her mother’s sweet singing in the kitchen.
Never again would she and her brother wake up on Christmas morning and rush downstairs to open the gifts her parents had so lovingly picked out. The realization that these memories would play continually and vividly in her mind, although she would never see her family again in real life, made it all too overwhelming to face.
Kyla shook off the thoughts. It had been months since she’d allowed such painful memories to intrude so forcefully, but with Christmas only two weeks away, her family was front and center more than ever before.
After all, December 23rd was the day her life had been irrevocably changed. It didn’t look as if she’d ever again be able to enjoy the holiday she had once cherished.
Kyla was trying to put herself out in the world, trying to meet people. She wasn’t interested in dating, but the odd tingling her new neighbor had inspired, shocked her. He couldn’t have touched her heart — it was encased in ice. But he’d sti
ll had some effect on her, and considering his standoffish behavior, that made no sense at all.
Maybe it was because he’d been so cold in the way he spoke, and then so very hot to the touch.
No matter. She went straight to her kitchen. For the first time in two years she found herself wanting to bake. It was something she and her mother had done for years together, since before Kyla would have been any use at all except in licking the bowls.
They would spend all day in the kitchen together, baking goodies for family, friends and neighbors. It had been a tradition, one that had died the minute her mother’s heart had stopped beating.
As Kyla set out the items needed to make cookies, she found herself singing Christmas hymns, feeling a measure of peace that she had feared never to feel again.
Three hours later, she pulled out the last batch of gingerbread men and looked at her covered counters. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she painted frosting faces on the ones that had cooled off.
When she lifted one up and took a bite, a soft smile lit her face. It felt like her mom was right there beside her. Kyla closed her eyes to relish the warmth of the moment.
Reluctantly coming back to reality, Kyla whispered, “Merry Christmas, Mom,” before putting everything away, turning off the lights in the room, and getting ready for bed. Tomorrow she had work to do at the mall.
For now she was going to get lost in a good book while she waited for the forgetfulness of sleep to take her away.
*****
Tanner stretched luxuriously before climbing from the surprisingly comfortable bed. When he’d called about the furniture, furious that his assistant hadn’t thought about it, the man said that it was already arranged, and that everything should be there within the hour. He’d felt a bit bad about yelling at poor Sterling. Maybe it was time to give him a raise.
After a quick shower, Tanner walked into his living room. His assistant had done well there, too, with comfortable pieces that didn’t appear too out of place. Yes, the man was good. Opening his front door, he was happy to find the newspaper waiting for him, another point in his assistant’s favor. He grabbed it and went to sit down.
While he read his paper and drank a cup of coffee, Tanner leaned back, thinking this wasn’t going to be so bad. Yes, the apartment sucked, but he could get through his sentence.
It was only two weeks, after all.
Just as he stood up to grab his wallet and coat and head over to the mall, a mouse ran across the floor, less than a foot from where he was standing.
Normally not a man who scared easily, Tanner found himself jumping back and fighting the urge to shout. The creature squeezed behind his kitchen counters and disappeared.
Grabbing his phone, he dialed his assistant’s familiar number. “Get the damn rodent company out here today, Sterling; hell, get every pest-control company in the city out here. I want this building purged of all rodents and insects. If I see a single one when I get home tonight, find another job!”
He hung up before the guy could say anything. Tanner didn’t care if it took every exterminator in the forty-eight contiguous states — he wasn’t going another night sharing sleeping quarters with those disgusting creatures.
The thought made him think of his unusual neighbor. How in the world could she possibly name the damn things? What was wrong with her?
After throwing a leery glance at his cupboards, he walked out of the apartment. If he was late to his Santa gig, he had a feeling the cops would be showing up with guns drawn.
He could almost forget about the leash on his ankle. Almost, but not quite.
It took him only a few minutes to reach the mall by taxi, and then Tanner found himself in a stuffy changing area with the ugly-as-sin Santa suit hanging before him. Eyeing it as if it were a snake about to strike — or maybe a rabid rat — he finally got up his courage and ran his fingers gingerly down the red fabric, then watched the white faux fur instantly pouf back out after he squeezed it.
At least the suit didn’t appear to be as scratchy as his jailhouse clothes. That was some consolation. Sure, it was.
After getting into the suit, Tanner turned toward the mirror and looked at himself with a disgusted snort.
“You have got to be kidding me,” he gasped. But at least no one would recognize him. The freaking thing even came with bushy glue-on eyebrows.
The added padding around his body made him feel like a stuffed animal, and probably look like one, too. He was surprised the mall didn’t insist that he wear blush for a hint of jolliness; he certainly didn’t have any otherwise. He had one reason to be thankful; with the fluffy mustache and beard, he didn’t have to worry about smiling.
He had nothing to smile about.
“Keep trying to get me out of this,” Tanner snapped into his phone.
“We’re working on it, sir,” his attorney replied.
Hanging up, Tanner made his way to the door. He couldn’t be late for his first day of community service, now, could he?
Stepping into the main mall, Tanner was immediately surrounded by kids who were out shopping with their parents.
“Santa!” a large group of them cried; they tugged free of their parents’ hands and rushed forward. Hell, he hadn’t even made it to his “throne” yet, and already he was suffering an onslaught of grubby fingers.
“Ho, ho, ho,” he replied a bit menacingly, and he kept on moving forward. This was community service and he would do his job — but nothing said he had to like it.
Tanner turned the corner and beheld his new prison, which was decked out with so many sparkling decorations, he knew he’d end up with a headache before the day was out.
His elves began lining the children up as he took his seat and tried to prepare himself for the next eight hours. This was going to be an excruciatingly long day.
“Hello, Santa. Are you ready for your first visitor?”
Tanner’s head whipped around as he recognized that voice.
Once again, he found himself caught in the bold blue gaze of his neighbor. What had her name been? Kyla! Wow, he was stunned that he remembered.
She’d been wearing a baggy sweatshirt before; Kyla now had on a fitted elf costume that did her body far more justice.
Taking his time, he looked at her from head to toe, appreciating all the nice curves the costume did nothing to hide. His idle thought of spending a couple of weeks with his neighbor warming his bed just became a serious plan.
“Bring them up,” he said, his voice deep with instant lust.
She paused and he knew she had no clue that he was the neighbor with whom she had met the afternoon before. Why not have a bit of fun with her?
“Do you want to sit on Santa’s lap?” he asked, grinning widely enough that she could see his teeth through all the fake hair.
He expected some sarcastic reply, something to show she was irritated with the dirty old man hitting on her. What he got instead took his breath away.
She leaned in close so none of the children could hear. “I’ve always had a Santa fantasy,” she practically purred, making his heart rate soar before she doused him in cold water. “Too bad you won’t get to hear what it is.” With that she smiled and walked away.
Mmm, the things he would do with his neighbor. His attitude just improved tenfold. When the first kid landed a bit too hard on his lap, he didn’t even growl.
“I want a Barbie doll, and her Dream House, and an iPod, and…” The kid went on and on until she ran out of breath. With a pat on her head, Tanner handed her a coloring book and then took the next kid, and the next, and the next.
By hour six, Tanner wasn’t feeling nearly as happy as when he’d first discovered his hot Santa’s helper. By closing, he was downright pissy.
This was going to be a hellacious two weeks. Even though he got to enjoy the view of his enticing neighbor’s backside, it didn’t make up for ordeals like these.
Chapter Four
Three days.
It had been three
long days and nights, and Tanner hadn’t managed to get two seconds alone with his neighbor. Today was the day. He’d been avoiding letting her know that he was Santa, but she was good at avoiding things, too — or rather at avoiding him. He hadn’t seen her in the apartment building since the day he moved in.
He’d paced the long, freezing-cold hallways, and he’d already called in to have the heating fixed. They were sure taking their sweet time getting the problem solved, though. How had his tenants put up with this for so long? But there he paced, hoping she’d come out.
She never did.
So here he was at the mall an hour early, with a cup of coffee in his hand. He’d strike up a conversation, ask her out on a date, and they’d go from there.
Oh, hell. What in the bleeping world had he been thinking? He couldn’t ask her out on a date. He wasn’t allowed to go anywhere but the stupid mall and the even stupider apartments. How was he supposed to get her into his bed when he wasn’t able to use his best moves?
Wait!
He didn’t need to buy her an expensive dinner to get her beneath him. He was great-looking and charming, wasn’t he? And he knew how to get a girl. Not that he’d had to do much chasing.
Women naturally chased after him.
As a matter of fact, he couldn’t remember a time he’d had to be the pursuer. This could be fun.
Stepping into the break room, which also happened to be the changing area, he smiled when he found Kyla sitting on the bench, her costume in hand as she rubbed at her eyes sleepily.
“Good morning,” he said.
Her head snapped up and she eyed him warily.
“What are you doing here?” She glanced over at the door as if he were a stalker ready to pounce and she was ensuring a safe exit strategy.
He’d never had that reaction before.
It wasn’t quite the ego boost he’d been expecting from her.
Hot, Sexy & Bad Page 7
