Romancing Rudy Raindear (Sexy Secret Santas) Read Free Page B

meal, along with large grease spots. His white pj bottoms had so many wrinkles they looked as if he hadn’t been out of them in days.
    “I work hard. This is the way I like to—”
    Again he stopped himself and looked over at the tree. “I hate Christmas.”
    His nose turned pink.
    “You want to tell me what’s wrong?”
    “You’ll think I’m nuts.”
    “Try me.”
    He sighed. “Okay, but it’s going to sound crazy.”
    “I doubt it.”
    His hands gripped the golden colored blanket. “Every time I even tell the whitest of lies, my nose turns red. It’s like some kind of barometer or something.”
    “And?”
    “Isn’t that enough?”
    “You’re leaving something out.”
    “No, I’m not.” He sneezed. “Okay. Yes. Gramps had it right. I’m on Santa’s Naughty List. There. I said it. Gramps and me, we’re both loony.” He stood and walked over to gaze out the window.
    She laughed, thinking how she wished she could tell him about Mrs. Claus and the Bells women, but that was something she could only tell to someone she knew would never, under any circumstances betray her trust. If that person betrayed her, she would lose her connection to Mrs. Claus forever.
    He turned back to her, disappointed stained his face. “I knew you’d think I’m crazy. You should probably leave.”
    She stood and went over to him. “I’m not laughing at you, I promise. It’s just that being from the Bells family nothing that happens in this town strikes me as crazy. Especially this time of year.”
    His forehead wrinkled. “What does that mean?”
    “I can’t tell you. It’s a secret, but if you’d just taste the cookies and tell me what’s missing, someday . . . maybe . . .”
    She grabbed the box of cookies off the dresser and handed it to him. He hesitated for a moment, staring into her eyes. She wanted to kiss him in the worst way, but now was most definitely not the time, so she went back and sat down in the chair.
    Box in hand, Rudy crashed on the bed and dug around inside the now open box, pulled out a gingerbread girl and deliberately bit off its head while staring at Jenny.
    Ouch!
    Jenny had a crush on Rudy ever since they first kissed under the mistletoe in Sugar Plums when they were five years old.
    It was Rudy’s idea, of course. Back then he continually tried to kiss her or see her panties. She liked to wear red ones, with three rows of ruffles on the backside just in case she ever gave him the pleasure, which she almost did on one occasion. It was Christmas Eve and they were helping Gramps pack up an extra large order of gingerbread boys and girls for the party in the town square. Jenny was all set to pick up the back of her skirt and shake her ruffled booty when Rudy’s gram walked in and spoiled the moment.
    That’s when she remembered seeing red ruffled adult panties at Always Christmas department store. She just might have to make a quick stop.
    She waited as he chewed and swallowed. “The sugar’s wrong, or missing. I can’t exactly tell, but this cookie is really bland.”
    “Can you fix it?”
    He shook his head. “Not this one. This one needs exactly the right ingredients.”
    She stood. “Then you need to get dressed and come help me find your grandma’s recipe book. It’s in the house somewhere, but Gramps can’t remember where she hid it.”
    “You don’t understand. When my grandmother hid something, it was hidden forever. It’s a waste of time.”
    She walked in closer, ready to do some major teasing. Knowing perfectly well that under all of Rudy’s newfound bravado still lurked the little boy who wanted to see her red, ruffley underpants. “Do you want to know my secret?”
    “Baby, I’ve been trying to know your secrets since we were five.”
    She ran her index finger down the bridge of his nose and across his lips. “Then Mr. Naughty, come help me find that book to save your grandpa’s bakery and you’ll learn all about me.”
    He reached out to pull her in closer,