Bad Santa by Mia Madison

Author:Mia Madison [Madison, Mia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-20T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Flynn

I tie Jackson’s lead to a post in the sheltered area outside the cafe. “Sorry you can’t come in.” I give him a treat from my pocket and stroke him behind his ear. He rubs himself against my leg.

“You could bring him back to my place instead if you like,” Rachel says.

“Or I could show you my house?”

“Your evil lair.” She smiles.

“The very same. Though I never invite the women I date back there. Friends and family only.”

She raises her eyebrows and laughs. Does she know I think of her as more than a friend, even though we only made the friends rule today?

“Don’t your dates wonder why they never get to see your place? And angle for an invitation?”

“They do, but they don’t succeed. I have a list of ready-made excuses up my sleeve. Most of them being I live in a complete pigsty, and I can’t invite anyone there. I tell them they would be turned off in an instant.”

“Is that why you’re inviting me?”

“No. Not at all.” I kiss her on the nose. I love the sprinkling of freckles she has there.

“In that case, I can’t wait to see your pigsty.”

Jackson is happy to have his lead untied, and we drive home.

*

I hope I set this up so Rachel isn’t expecting too much. My cottage is just on the edge of town, easy walking for everything, but not so close the neighbors are right on top of me.

We go in the back door, and I let Jackson into the utility room so he can have a drink and vacuum up his dinner as he always does after a good walk. I take Rachel through the kitchen and open the door into the living room.

“Wow,” she says and laughs. “Some pigsty! This is gorgeous.”

“I’m glad you like it.” I’ve spent a lot of time and a fair amount of cash remodeling my old cottage.

“Now I know the real reason why you never invite women here.” She looks around, smiling.

“Why?”

“They might never want to leave. Tell me, what will you do if I don’t want to go?” There’s a challenge in her voice.

Is she trying to scare me? Right now, it only sounds good that she might want to stay.

“I might have to carry you out over my shoulder,” I say.

“Like a stone age firefighter? Be careful, I might like that,” she says.

“Right then.” I pick her up, and she’s over my shoulder in a classic fireman’s lift before I think twice. I carry her around my living room, and she bursts out laughing before hammering on my back.

“Put me down. I didn’t mean it.”

“I think you did,” I tease and bend to kiss her.

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