A Kiss From Kringle (Novella) (Frosty's Snowmen Book 2) Read Free Page A

almost touched hers. “I like that.”
    She dragged her eyes off his chest up to meet his. “What?”
    “Honesty. Considering the circumstances I wasn’t expecting it.”
    “You mean because I pretended to be my sister?”
    “You have to admit getting caught in a lie isn’t the best first impression you could have made.”
    “I wasn’t looking to make one.”
    “No. You were trying to deceive everyone at Frosty’s Snowmen.”
    “With the best intentions.”
    “Well you know what they say…” He gripped her elbow and steered her in the opposite direction of the employees’ exit. “The road to hell is paved with good ones.”
    Leah glanced over her shoulder. “The staff exit is back there.”
    “We’re going out this way.”
    His grip wasn’t painful, but it was firm enough to let her know he wasn’t looking for an argument. “What’s this way?”
    “The service elevator that goes to the loading docks.”
    “Ah…” She looked over her shoulder again.
    “Don’t worry. There are plenty of people around. I’m not going to do anything nefarious to you in the back corridors of this place.”
    It was on the tip of her tongue to say ‘that’s a shame’. If it wasn’t for the sharp edge of her teeth biting into her cheek, she might very well have let the words out.
    “No comment?” He stopped in front of the lift and hit the down button.
    “I believe you.” The doors opened and she stepped inside, turned.
    He moved in on her, backed her up until she bumped into the rear wall of the elevator. The doors slid closed behind them, shutting them in, giving the illusion of intimacy. “You’re very trusting.”
    Leah shook her head. “I’m a good judge of character.”
    “And you don’t think I want to do nefarious things to you?”
    “No.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth. She licked her lips. “I didn’t say I didn’t think you wanted to, just that you won’t do it here.”
    Chris laughed and stepped back. “You are a good judge of character.” He pointed to the top right-hand corner of the elevator. “I’m not into exhibitionism.”
    “Oh.” She took in the security camera and wondered what the person on the other side thought of their little encounter. Would it look innocent from a third party’s perspective? It certainly didn’t feel innocent from hers. Her body had heated and tingled and tightened from his nearness. She was still flushed and short of breath while her pulse raced.
    They remained silent as the lift descended, while they walked through the dock area and out into the muggy air of another hot summer afternoon. It wasn’t until they were on the sidewalk, heading away from the arena that Chris spoke again.
    “I’m going to be totally honest with you, Leah.” He glanced at her. “I’m not going to fire your sister.”
    He’d said that before, but relief flowed through her, loosening the coil of anxiety cramping her stomach. “Thank you.”
    “Don’t thank me yet. It’s not because I’m a decent guy or for some charitable reason. It’s because of you.”
    “Me?”
    He paused and turned to face her. “You.”
    The way his gaze held hers sent heat licking through her veins, her heart beat harder in her chest, and suddenly she found it difficult to breathe at all. “I…”
    “There’s something between us. Tell me I’m wrong?”
    “Um…” She looked away from his intense stare and tried to suck in a deep breath. “I don’t know what to say to you.”
    “Am I wrong?” Had he moved closer? “Am I in this alone?”
    She shook her head. She couldn’t lie. Not after what she’d pulled today. “No.”
    “Have dinner with me. And yes, I’m asking you on a date. This has nothing to do with your sister or Santa’s Village or Frosty’s Snowmen.” He smiled. “Or the slightly illegal switch you made today.”
    “I’m sure it’s not illegal…” Dear God. Was it?
    “Doesn’t matter. I’m not going to do anything about it.”
    “Because you want