Seducing Santa (Holiday Series Book One)

Chapter Six~Santa Baby

Grayson could not deny that his pants were starting to feel a bit tight as Holly sat down on his lap, her bottom resting on his left leg and her thighs over his right one. He had his arm wrapped around her and was pleased to feel how generous her hips were. She was not as bone-thin as most women tried to be, thinking that was what men wanted. No, he liked the more Marylin Monroe types, a little more to grab on to. She was shorter than him, Grayson still having to stare slightly down at her while Holly seemed to be avoiding looking directly at him. He longed to see those deep blue eyes of hers up close. Earlier, he had been unable to stop staring at them while giving her the eggnog. Her eyes held such intelligence and something much deeper that he wished to explore even more to find out what it was.

“So, What would you like for Christmas?” He asked, pleased when Holly finally turned to meet his gaze.

He could see her cheeks growing pinker and he found it so endearing that she was embarrassed. Emily had always been so guarded with her emotions and facial expressions, her parents had been strict and saw such things as weaknesses. Grayson quickly pushed thoughts of his deceased wife from his mind, not about to compare her to this woman he had just met.

It had been nearly four years since her passing and in that time Grayson never even had the slightest bit of attraction to anyone else. However, from the first moment he saw her sitting by the fireplace, applauding him for his performance, something that had been dormant for a very long time stirred within him.

“Um, do I really have to answer that?” she asked, reaching up and pushing a blonde curl behind her ear, nervously.

Grayson chuckled, glimpsing a few heads turning in their direction out of the corner of his eye. Most here had not heard him truly laugh in a long time, getting used to seeing the political smile he always had plastered on his face. There had not been much to laugh about over the past four years while he had been Mayor of Holiday. The Employment crisis had kept him pretty busy, trying to find a solution by searching for another business to take over the sawmill. It had been his family’s legacy but they had handed over the running of the business to a third party many years ago, entrusting them to keep their legacy alive.

However, two years into his Mayoral role and the new owners ran off with every last penny, leaving their workers high-and-dry. After doing an investigation, Grayson discovered there was a beetle infestation in the trees and that the company had cut its losses and run. Ever since then, Grayson had been working with specialists to try and see if he could exterminate the infestation but it was going to cost more money to fix the problem than just to cut down the entire forest and start over.

“Would you two like some eggnog?” Came a familiar voice, pulling Grayson from his thoughts.

He smiled at Olivia, the normal political smile he gave everyone. She was the owner of The Nook, the local bookstore and café in town, and one of his oldest friends. They had known each other since elementary school and dated very briefly in High School for about a week before he broke it off and started dating Emily instead.

They remained friends but he had a feeling that she never quite got over him. He had been the only guy she ever dated and a year after Emily’s passing she had started coming on strong. Always dropping by the office with a cup of coffee and a piece of coffee cake, his favorite. She had volunteered for this event and was going around serving appetizers and drinks, however, her timing at the moment was a bit suspicious.

“Oh yes! Thank you!” Replied Holly, taking one of the mason jar-looking glasses off the tray and having a very large drink from it.

Grayson took the other one, smiling at Olivia who gave him a strained smile in return before giving Holly one final look, stepping away reluctantly. Grayson turned his attention back to Holly who was already taking another large swig, lowering the glass and sporting a cute eggnog mustache. Grayson grinned and took a sip from his eggnog, it being the fourth one he had that night. He knew he should slow down, especially because he had work in the morning but for the first time in a long time, he was actually enjoying himself. He placed the eggnog on the table beside the chair, watching as Holly finished off hers, and glanced over at him with a shy smile, holding her empty glass awkwardly.

“I was thirsty.” She explained with a nervous giggle.

Grayson chuckled and took the glass from her, his fingers lightly brushing against hers as he did so. It was the first time they had touched and it felt like he had been zapped by an electric shock. His whole body felt more alive than it had in the past four years.

He set the glass down beside his and then grabbed a red napkin lifting it up to her face and dabbing it gently against her upper lip. She reached up to take the napkin from him, her hands accidentally grabbing at his and causing that electricity to course through his body again. He wondered if she was feeling it too, her blue eyes wide as she stared back at him and her cheeks now bright red.

“It’s time for the live auction! Can the raffle winners come join the audience again so we can begin? “Came Evelyn’s voice over the speaker, causing Holly to jerk her hand away suddenly and snatch the napkin.

She jumped off his lap so quickly that Grayson did not even have a chance to stop her, not really wanting her to leave but knowing he still had a duty to fulfill. When Evelyn had asked him if he would auction off a date with him, he had actually turned her down at first, but she was a hard woman to say no to. Especially when she threw in how it was for the families and he was the most eligible bachelor in town. Also, when she explained that Isabelle would be auctioning off a date as well and be dressed up as Mrs. Claus he finally caved. At least this way he was not the only one having to suffer through Evelyn’s crazy ideas. Isabelle came back into the room, the couple that had gone with her looking very relaxed and cozier than they had before they went in. Isabelle’s massages were pure magic and her little Heath and Beauty Spa in town called Mysterious Magic had a very fitting name. Most would go to her with their ailments before making their way to Doc’s, which the Doctor found infuriating to no end. They would often fight with each other but in the end, would set their differences aside for the patient.

“Well, here we go,” Isabelle said, while both she and Grayson went to go stand beside each other.

“Alright, ladies and gentlemen! Tonight we have two major items up for bid. Two all-expenses-paid nights out on the town with either of these two lovelies here to my left! This is obviously for all the singles here or if you just want to just hang out! Don’t be shy! Alright Isabelle, ladies first!” Evelyn announced while motioning her closer.

“Wish me luck,” Isabelle whispered before walking over to Evelyn.

Once the auction began, a lot of women actually began bidding for Isabelle. It made sense because she was friends with practically everyone in town. Her closest friend was his younger sister, Rosie, who seemed to be bidding the highest right now. God help him if she won because he knew they would both end up at his door completely drunk.

They had been doing it since they were teenagers, always sneaking off to his house to not get caught by their parents. Rosie still lived with them but only because she was taking care of them, their father not doing too well. So, every time she and Isabelle went out they inevitably ended up sleeping it off in his guest room. Even though they were both grown adults and their parents wouldn’t judge them for it.

“Sold for five hundred to Rosie Holiday!” Evelyn announced making Grayson groan silently.

“Welp! Guess I will be seeing you soon!” Isabelle teased while making her way through the crowd to join her friend.

Once she made it over they both embraced and then looked in his direction, sticking their tongues out. He chuckled slightly and shook his head before scanning the crowd having lost where Holly went. He was tall and able to look over most of the people’s heads but he did not catch sight of her curly blonde head. Had she left?

“Next Up! A date with Grayson! Now ladies, get those checkbooks ready!” Evelyn advised, making Grayson want to roll his eyes but was doing his best to keep a smile plastered across his face.

“Let’s start the bidding at one hundred! Do I hear one-fifty?” Evelyn announced.

“One-fifty!” Came a voice among the crowd.

“Two Hundred!”

“Two-Twenty-five!”

“Three hundred!” Called out a voice he recognized, Olivia.

He hoped someone would outbid her as the numbers kept going up. Every time someone made an offer Olivia was quick to bid again. It was not that he did not like Olivia, they had been friends for a very long time, but he did not want to give her mixed signals. He had been trying to drop hints that he was not interested without flat-out rejecting her but she was not good at subtlety.

If he was obligated to go out on this date with her then he might be put in a situation where he would really have to make it clear to her that he was not interested and he hated the idea of hurting her feelings. She really had been there for him after the passing of his wife, always coming over with another casserole or lasagna. He may have starved those first few months if it had not been for her. Which was why he didn’t want to do anything to make her feel like he did not appreciate her kindness.

“Eight hundred!” Olivia bid again, this time the room falling silent.

“Eight hundred going once, going twice—" Evelyn announced, making Grayson feel a bit queasy.

“One thousand!” Came a voice from all the way at the back of the room.

Grayson quickly looked up and saw Holly holding the door open that led out onto the back patio. Her whole face had gone red as everyone turned to stare at her, along with Olivia who looked to be glaring daggers in her direction.

“Sold to the pretty blonde in the back!” Evelyn declared.

Grayson smiled, a genuine smile, as he went and made his way through the crowd, everyone moving out of his way as he headed straight toward the winner.