McDonald_SS_GEN_Nov2014 Read Free Page A

physically interested in you. St. Nick and I stopped with the kiss, but I never forgot it. He kissed well. . .for a geek.”
    Megan sighed when her mother crossed her arms and grinned. Now she’d have two people teasing her over her lack of a love life.
    “Fascinating. Was the kiss Nicolas’s idea or yours?”
    Shaking her head at the futility of dodging the rest of her mother’s questions, Megan grinned back.
    “Mine, of course. I wanted to get my stupid first kiss over with so David would stop teasing me. Nicolas was twenty at the time, but he was still the safest man I knew to ask. It took me like an hour to talk him into it, but it ended up being worth it. It was a great first kiss. What? Why are smiling like that, Mom?”
    “Honey, you might want to think twice before you ask the older version of Nicolas for any similar favors. I think the eight years you were away might have made the man a little less safe.”
    Megan’s genuine laughter filled up the room. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m not in need of any more favors from Nicolas. Besides. . .I’m used to Marines. If I can deal with those macho men making passes, I’m sure I can deal with anything St. Nick might dish out.”
    “Okay. But remember, Megan, Nicolas playing Santa in a parade doesn’t mean he’s really St. Nick like you call him. I’m just saying he might not live up to his nickname next time you ask for a kiss.”
    “Lame warning, Mom. . .really lame warning. . .and totally not necessary. I have no intentions of asking St. Nick something so embarrassing again. For heaven's sake,” Megan exclaimed.
    She frowned when her mother shrugged her shoulders.
    “If you say so, Megan. All I’m saying is you better stay off Santa’s lap or you both might find yourselves on the naughty list this year.”
    Megan rolled her eyes and sighed. “This is why I never told you. Nothing between us ever went in any sort of serious direction. Neither Nicolas or I ever mentioned our kiss again after that day—I mean like ever . The kiss was just one of those crazy high school things you do and laugh about later in life. Nicolas is thirty. I’m twenty-six. I’m sure I’m just David’s younger sister to him now. I suppose after I keep his ass from getting shot, we might become a little more intimate. Who knows? I may end up being as good a friend to him as David is.”
    She could tell her mother was stifling other warnings she wanted to offer. In the end, the woman who looked just like her, merely smiled and waved as she left.
    “Mom—I know what your ‘we’ll see’ look means—but you’re wrong this time. You can stop worrying,” Megan declared, raising her voice as her mother walked farther away.
    Looking at her outfit in the mirror once more, she shook her head at the silliness of her mother’s warnings. She was glad now she hadn’t told her mother how the memory of her first kiss had been what kept her mentally calm during her time in the Afghan desert—for all three tours.
    A whole decade had passed since that innocent moment between Nicolas and her. While she maintained some idealized admiration for the man, they had each lived very different lives during those years she had served in the military. The idea of the two of them hooking up was fantasy worthy, but not likely in reality. Her embarrassment to still be thinking of their kiss was the primary reason she’d avoided him since her return.
    In her mind, it was no one’s business but hers that sex dreams of St. Nick were her own personal version of therapy for the mild case of post-traumatic stress her doctor had determined she had after the shooting. She for sure wasn’t ready to sacrifice those comforting dreams to the reality of dealing with a man who had probably forgotten her long ago.
    Unfortunately, there was no getting around having to see him in person during the next few weeks. Today she had promised her brother she would guard Nicolas with her life.

Chapter 2
    Nicolas waited