Reindeer and Restraints (Christmas Cherry Auction #15)

Chapter 1

Walker

I kneel next to the reindeer trailer, hoping Jeremy has good news on the repairs. There's only an hour left before we need to start loading the animals for the Krampusnacht parade. "Hey, Jeremy, am I going to need to track down a different trailer for tonight?"

He rolls out from underneath. "You're back in business."

"Seriously?" I step back as he stands and wipes his grease-covered hands on his coveralls.

"Call it a Christmas miracle but I tracked down a loose bolt."

"That's it? Thanks for coming out on such short notice. I thought we were screwed."

"Glad to help a friend out."

"I owe you big time. Santa's sleigh can't pull itself. And I sure as hell didn't want to be a no-show for our first Krampusnacht parade here.”

Jeremy chuckles, tools clanking as he packs up. "What's the deal with Krampus?"

"Some people are into mythology."

"I don't think that's why my sister's obsessed."

"What do you mean?" I keep my cool exterior.

I'm obsessed with his half-sister, Jolene, even though I've only seen pictures of her.

Having only been in town a few months, my focus has been on getting the reindeer ranch and children's exploration area established.

And since I live on the property, I don't run into many people—exactly how I like it.

"She's been going on and on about getting punished by Krampus."

Now he really has my attention. "Punished?"

"She's a piece of work, got a lot more of our mom's personality than I do." He shakes his head, grabs his tool bags and heads back to his truck. "Always on the lookout for the next adventure. That girl needs to get her head out of the clouds."

She doesn't exactly sound like my type, but it doesn't stop my dick from wanting to give her an adventure.

Can I pursue this conversation without freaking my best friend out by letting on that I have a thing for his sister?

"What exactly happens at this parade? The Christmas parades I've been to don't involve punishments. "

He raises an eyebrow at me and sets his bag in the bed of the truck. "You don't know much about Krampus, do you?"

"Are my reindeer going to be safe?"

He waves off my concern. "They'll be safe, the punishments are all in fun. Krampus hands out bags of coal to the kids, but some of the women, like my sister, enjoy getting spanked or getting tied up and dragged through the parade."

He has no idea what my stoic facade is hiding. If anyone's going to tie up and spank Jolene, it's going to be me.

He continues, "And that's what my sister is hoping for. I think she's read one too many monster romances."

"Monster romance?" I don't have a clue what this is other than the obvious, but do women really fantasize about sex with monsters?

Jeremy straightens, eyebrow arched. "Apparently the idea that women want slow and gentle lovemaking is a little off the mark… at least sometimes, for some women."

I'm too dumbstruck to do anything.

"And on that note, I'll leave you to your preparations." Jeremy opens the driver's door and gets in.

Why did I assume Jolene was sweet and innocent just because she's his little sister? A much bigger question burns, but I don't know how to ask without crossing a line. "Wait, I was wondering about something else."

He laughs. "You mean, your question of the day wasn't about women wanting Santa's dark counterpart to rail them?"

I bite back the growl rising in my throat. If I let on how bad I want to pin Jolene down and make her arch and gasp under me, Jeremy might crawl right back under my trailer and incapacitate it.

Feral doesn't cover how I feel about her. And if she's as adventurous and feisty as he's letting on, she might be bold enough to be in the Christmas Cherry Auction. The thought of her on stage, auctioning off that first time to the highest bidder twists my gut.

Jeremy might know if she's one of this year's virgins.

Focusing my sights on the corral where my reindeer are waiting to be loaded, I stay as casual as I can manage. "Speaking of crazy things that happen in this town, I heard there's a virgin auction."

He hesitates. "More proof to me that I don't understand women. But it's their body, their call, right?"

"Right." Frustration bubbles through me. How do I reconcile that truth with my need to make Jolene mine? "I've heard the women go for millions. How many millionaires are there in this town?"

"Millionaires… billionaires… I can't keep track.

The auction's been drawing attention. It's not just guys from here anymore.

I don't get it—at least in reality shows like The Bachelor, they go on dates.

Or Love is Blind, they talk through walls.

Hell, even in Naked Attraction, they strip down, eyeball the goods, and ask a couple questions.

Makes more sense than jumping straight to sex for your first hello. "

Needing to cover how uncomfortable this is making me, I say, "You'd know compatibility in one department right off the bat."

He shrugs.

I watch the reindeer pace, their breaths visible in the chill.

He's not giving any indication Jolene's in it.

Am I getting my answer about the possibility of her participating?

I think of one last question that should help me tread next to my real question.

If he knows she's in it, surely he won't be going.

Needing to watch his expression for any hint of discomfort, I face him. "You going to it?"

"Don't make that kind of money turning wrenches. You'd have to spot me a chunk of your inheritance."

I grumble, not entirely sure what I was about to say. There's no way I'd go to the auction with him when the only woman I'd want to win is his sister.

"Just kidding man, I'm not interested. You could check with our brother, Hudson if you want company, but I think he's getting serious about someone, been talking about settling down."

Jeremy had walked me through his family dynamic a while back. I double-check my memory. "Let me get your family straight… You and Jolene have the same mom, right?"

He nods. "Different dads."

"And your mom married a third guy, Hudson's dad?"

"Yeah, but Hudson's just our stepbrother. We don't share any biological parents with him. There's too much going on with steps and halves, we just refer to each other as brothers and sisters. Our family tree is complicated."

I want nothing more than to tangle up in Jolene's world.