All She Wants for XXX-Mas: An Erotic Christmas Romance Story Read Free Page B

Christie giggled. “I beg your pardon?” she asked.
     
    Alice pushed her glasses up on her nose, and put her hand on her hip. She was smiling like she’d just figured out a secret, but her eyebrow was still raised in a puzzled look.  She pointed her coffee mug at Christie, waving it around as she spoke.
     
    “Now I may not know much,” began Alice, “but in my sixty-four years I think I’ve seen a thing or two. And one thing I know for sure is how to tell when someone’s gotten lucky last night. And damn, girl, you look like ‘last night’ happened more like ‘this morning.’ Now, no excuses – out with it! Who’s the guy, and more importantly, when can I get a piece of that?”
     
    Christie laughed out loud, rolling her eyes. “Alice, you have no shame,” she said.
     
    “You’re damn straight,” said Alice. “Now, come on – fess up! And don’t try telling me it was jolly old Saint Nicholas.”
     
    Just then, Michael stepped out of the back room. He noticed Alice and Christie talking, and shot them a quizzical look. When his eyes found Christie’s, he smiled at her for just a split-second before letting his face fall back into a neutral, un-readable expression. She felt a flash of heat run across her face. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t hold his gaze.
     
    Then, to her horror, Michael began to walk towards them. Oh, no , Christie thought. She tried her best to act casual as he approached, even if her insides were doing flips.
     
    “Hello, ladies!” said Michael, with a note of laughter in his voice. That damn cocky smile of his was back in full force. “And how are the two most beautiful women in the office doing today?”
     
    “Hey, Michael!” said Alice, oblivious to the look that had passed between him and Christie. “Help me out over here. I was just talking to Christie, trying to find out who the lucky guy is that’s been spiking her eggnog.”
     
    “Alice!” Christie cried.
     
    Michael turned to Christie, an amused expression on his face. “Oh, yeah?” he said, folding his arms across his chest. He was obviously enjoying this, and seemed perfectly capable of pretending nothing had happened between them.
     
    “Way to go, Christie!” Michael said. “I thought you looked happy this morning. He must have really been something special!”
     
    Christie rolled her eyes. Two could play at this game. “I’ve had better,” she said flatly, and smirked.
     
    Michael burst out laughing. “Is that so?” he said. He opened his mouth like he was about to add another snappy comment, but his normally quick wit seemed to be failing him.
     
    Christie loved turning the tables on him and seeing him at a loss for words. “What’s the matter, Michael?” she teased him. “Cat got your tongue?”
     
    Michael rubbed the back of his neck, and grinned warmly at Christie. He shrugged. He seemed to realize she’d gotten the better of him, and was ready to forfeit this round of verbal jousting. 
     
    “Something like that,” he said with a laugh. “Anyway, this is fun, but I’ve got some actual work to do. And besides,” he said, turning to Alice, “didn’t your mother ever tell you not to gossip?”
     
    Alice harrumphed. She wagged her finger at Michael. “Listen, honey, I’m retired,” she said. “Aside from this volunteer work, the most entertainment I get is from the soaps on TV. If I didn’t gossip, I’d have nothing to do all day.”
     
    Michael laughed again. “Well, if you’re looking for gossip, you should go find Rick – word around the office is he was up to no good last night.” He looked at Christie and gave her a mischievous grin.
     
    That piqued Alice’s interest. “Oh, really? All right!” said Alice. “It’s about time that boy got some booty. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some other-people’s-business to attend to. Have a lovely day, sweeties.” She hustled off to find Rick.
     
    As soon as Alice was out of earshot, Christie