The 12 Dares of Christmas by Leigh W. Stuart

Author:Leigh W. Stuart [Stuart, Leigh W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-944728-29-8
Publisher: City Owl Press

Chapter 13

Lauren followed Gabe as they hurried through the boating show and out to his car. He peeled out of the underground garage, flipping the heater up to max.

“Tell me if it’s not warm enough,” he said. One hand strayed to her knee.

“It’s not warm enough,” she said, teeth chattering. She really needed a new coat. This unusual cold snap would be the death of her.

“Give it a minute, but if necessary I’ll make an emergency stop for skin-to-skin reheating.”

She snorted, smacking his shoulder. But not so hard they would swerve off the road and crash.

“No, truthfully, I have no idea where we are going, but I would really rather get you naked when we get wherever we are headed.”

“Take the next left,” she said and guided him to one of the only hotels in town. As soon as they arrived at the six-floor building, they ran laughing into the reception area.

They were still grinning at each other until the clerk announced they were booked solid until Sunday. Christmas Eve. Today was Friday.

“Booked solid? How is that possible?” Gabe asked, waving his hand in a question. The counter pen flew in the air. “How many people vacation here?”

“Between the boat show, the tree-decorating contest, and relatives who don’t want to sleep at their in-laws’, quite a few,” the woman replied in a slow drawl. She replaced the pen. “I know I wouldn’t stay with my mother-in-law if she had a bunker during the zombie apocalypse.”

“Right,” he said. “Any other places we could try?”

“There are a couple of dives out past Highway 75, if you don’t mind creepy-crawlies. Otherwise, the Portside Hotel is the only other clean one in town. They are more expensive, so you might get lucky,” she said in a tone that predicted they wouldn’t.

“Come on,” Lauren said, hooking her arm in his. “Let’s go over there. Give it a try.”

As they walked to the car, a frosty gust picked up, biting through her coat and stinging her face. Temperatures that evening were right at freezing, and it was supposed to snow some more. Another thought chilled her more than the wind, though.

He was with Shannon today.

“All right, Gabe, time to be honest. You told me you were with Shannon when I called her this afternoon to ask if she could be Mrs. Claus.”

“We were standing together, yes.”

“So do you have something going on with her?”

“Will you believe my answer?” he asked.

“Depends on what you say.”

“She called me because they found an article of clothing in the side room we were in for the cake. Asked if it was mine, and said if I was in town she could meet me and let me see it. That was it. You happened to call right as she was handing me a glove that did indeed belong to me.”

“I see. Can I trust you while you’re here in town? You won’t play games with others behind my back?”

Gabe stared, confusion wrinkling his forehead. “Just like that, you’re asking if I’ll be faithful for the next three days?”

“Yes.

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