Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
“Was that a reindeer we saw on the second level?” Devon asks Stetson as soon as we join him and Jayson in the living room. The floor to ceiling windows showcase an incredible view of the fjord, even in the dark that is the North Pole in Christmas.
“Yes, it was.” Stetson says.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I believe Christmas is a big holiday for you?” Devon smiles amiably.
I gaze out the windows. It’s clear today, surprisingly, the snow just stopped and the sky is lit up brightly with all the stars.
Just like my heart when I set eyes on Stetson.
His dirty blonde hair looks like he was rolling around in bed doing all the naughty things he keeps teasing. His ruggedly handsome face is guarded, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking. I can only tell what I’m thinking and it’s simple: this guy is an arctic cowboy sex god.
I’m convinced.
He’s wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt, and he couldn’t look more delicious.
I played it casual too—blue jeans and a white t-shirt.
I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard.
I did do my hair and put some make-up on, and Grace said I looked great.
Trust me, if she didn’t like my vibe, she’d be more than thrilled to tell me.
“You might say it’s a family tradition,” he replies cordially.
“I imagine it must be,” Devon looks around at the impossibly gorgeous view. “You parked in the perfect spot.”
“We know the area well,” Stetson explains. “Now can I offer you all a drink?”
He motions to one of the servers who comes over.
Grace surprises both Devon and I and orders us a gin martini.
And by us, I mean her and I.
“Go big or go home,” she tells me with a smile.
“I’d prefer if I didn’t have to carry you both home,” Devon pins his wife with his gaze.
“I’ll take care of Charlie.” Stetson says this with such force and knowing that my legs immediately turn to Jell-o.
“I’m sure you will,” Grace cocks a brow at him.
He folds his arms across his chest and smiles at her.
“She’s in good hands.”
Grace stares at him with the intensity of a mama polar bear defending her cub.
“That remains to be seen.”
“Fair,” he says with a nod.
“Grace,” Devon shakes his head in admonishment then smiles apologetically at Stetson. “They’ve been best friends since infancy.”
“I know,” he replies.
He does? Did I tell him that? Funny, I don’t remember saying anything.
“A protective friend is a gift,” Stetson says.
Jayson says something under his breath that I can’t quite decipher but that I know Stetson finds amusing because he smiles in his direction.
Before anymore can be said, the server brings back the drinks.
I’m ready for mine.
Stetson holds out his drink and we all lift ours as well.
“Cheers,” he says as his hot gaze crashes into mine.
“Cheers,” I manage before taking a healthy sip.
My throat burns and I fight with everything I have not to grimace into the drink. It might be too early for gin, but hell, I’m here for it.
“So the dwarves…” Devon can’t help himself. I’m surprised he lasted this long honestly.
“They work for me,” Stetson says as if that’s an actual explanation. What is with this guy and no details?
“Is the pre-requisite to work for you to be little and buff?” Grace asks curiously. Good. Someone needs to dig. I’m grateful I have friends as nosy as me.
“Something like that,” Jayson says. “They’ve worked for the family for years.”
“Years?” I ask curiously.
“Yes,” Stetson says, pulling my gaze back to his. “Since the moment the shop opened.”
“And you sell toys for a living?” I lift a brow in amusement. How does that make them so rich? “Feels very Santa Claus adjacent.”
“It’s a little more than just adjacent,” Jayson says.
Grace, Devon and I laugh in disbelief, but Stetson and Jayson just watch us. I guess they don’t think the comment was as funny as we do. Maybe they get that a lot in the toy industry.
“I’m going to assume the reindeer I saw walking around is named, Rudolph?” Grace jokes as she takes another sip of her drink.
“Quite right,” Jayson replies with an assertive nod like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Again, we’re the only ones laughing.
“Wait!” I look at Stetson and the room grows deathly quiet. “He’s not serious, is he? You didn’t really name the reindeer, Rudolph?”
Stetson takes a second before responding.
“Yes, I did,” he says proudly and with zero embarrassment. “He happens to be my favorite reindeer. And what else would we call him? Doug?”
Crickets.
Like a shit ton of them.
Okay that’s fair, I guess. Doug for a reindeer would be weird.
I don’t even dare look over at Grace or God forgive, Devon. I can only imagine what he must be thinking.
“Can I interest you in a cigar?” Stetson asks Devon breaking into all the thoughts circling the room.
“I’d love one,” Devon seems relieved to follow him over to the glass enclosed cigar room. It’s as impressive as the rest of the yacht. Jayson follows behind them.
“Blessed be, that he left too,” Grace whispers furiously to me. “I think we found the hot one’s flaw.”
“What’s that?”
I know exactly what it is, but I want her to say it.
“He’s got a weird Christmas fetish. It’s his kink!”
“You think?” I question her as I look around, not wanting to believe what is completely obvious and staring me in the face. “Maybe he just has really fond childhood memories of Christmas?”
“He has bare-chested dwarves walking around what can only be described as an extremely festively decorated sex yacht.” Grace looks around the living area with wide eyes and I have to wonder if she’s already buzzed.
I might be.
Is it though? A sex yacht? An Only Fan yacht for Christmas?
Dwarves and Reindeer? My imagination is so not set up for this.
But with what he said last night, I can’t believe it’s anything like that.
I just can’t. I trusted him in those moments, and he knew things, said things.
Nope. I refuse it. He just likes Christmas. The end.
“And let’s not forget he just told us about his reindeer named, Rudolph!” Grace takes a sip before handing her empty glass to the server.
“I’ll have another,” she says then turns toward me and without missing a beat, “have a good time with him tonight but don’t get your hopes up. Mine are most certainly dashed.”
“You’re being very judgy,” I feel the need to defend Stetson and his fetish. I like Christmas too. I can get on board with this.
Kind of.
Then the thought hits me. Oh God… what if he wants me to dress up like Mrs. Claus and sit on his lap?
Weird, but I’ll totally do it. Am I that desperate to get laid? What if he asks me to feed him cookies then lick the crumbs? Shit. I loathe hot milk. Is that my hard limit? Hot milk? Cocoa? Will there be candy cane spanking involved? See, my overactive imagination isn’t helping right now.
“I’m being judgy?” She looks at me in shock. “That’s rude.”
“Facts.”
I stick my tongue out at her.
“I’m giving him a chance.”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine.”
“I think you mean to say, bah-humbug.”
We clink our glasses together while I mumble my safe word under my breath. “Santa.” Yup, it works.
Here goes nothing.