Four for Christmas (Four #9)

Chapter 1

As I cross the animal shelter’s parking lot, a sudden gust of wind prompts me to pull my unzipped hoodie tighter around me. Some of the last golden leaves that were still hanging onto their branches are giving way, and despite the cold, I slow my pace to watch them swirl in the air.

I’m sad to see fall come to an end, especially since I’m not particularly excited about the Christmas season, even though it’s usually my favorite time of year.

As my focus shifts to the red, orange and mostly brown leaves that crunch underfoot, the sound of quickly approaching footsteps gives me a jolt.

Before I reach the shelter’s door, two men rush past to open it for me. At first, they’re just a blur of blue and gray wool with a fresh minty scent, but my heart skips a beat as they come into focus.

They’re both gorgeous, one with bright blue eyes and windswept blond hair, the other looking like a friendly lumberjack with his thick brown beard and even thicker muscles. They’re wearing tastefully-patterned seasonal sweaters that look so soft, I’m tempted to reach out to touch them.

Though their hair and eye colors are different—the lumberjack has sparkling green eyes and closer-cut brown hair—their matching warm smiles give me the idea that they’re brothers.

The blond is the one holding the door open, as the other man silently gestures for me to enter before them. I nod and thank them, my voice faltering, because they really are that good looking.

Inside, I tell the older woman at the counter that I’m here to meet with Lisa, the shelter director, about volunteering to help with Santa pictures, and a deep voice pipes up behind me. “So are we.”

My skin heats as I turn to confirm that it was the blond man who spoke. These two hunks are going to be volunteering with me?

“Perfect. She’s waiting for you.” The woman gestures to an open door on the other side of the lobby. “You can all go in.”

“Are you going to be our Mrs. Claus?” The blond man’s tone is flirtatious.

Their Mrs. Claus? I look up at him, blinking, as we head toward the office. “Are you playing Santa?”

When he nods, still grinning, I’m surprised.

I’d pictured an older man in the role, maybe even one with a real beard.

These guys look to be in their early thirties, just a couple years older than me.

As for me being Mrs. Claus, that’s a surprise, too.

I was told I’d be taking pictures and collecting donations.

“Holly, you’re here. C’mon in.” As Lisa gets to her feet behind her desk, she spots the men. “Oh good, you’re all here. Have you met, or do you know each other?”

Here on Four Points Island, it often seems as if everyone knows everyone else, but I’ve never seen these men. No way I’d have forgotten their beautiful smiling eyes.

When I shake my head, Lisa introduces me to the lumberjack, who’s named Rudy Frost, and his brother Nick.

Head nods would suffice for this type of introduction, and that’s what dark-haired Rudy is doing, but the blond, Nick, holds out his hand and gives mine a friendly shake, his warm fingers wrapping around my hand and squeezing gently.

That warmth instantly spreads to my chest, then my cheeks.

Rudy ends up following suit, smiling as his dark eyes assess me in a way that melts any remnant of the chill I’d still been feeling from the late November air.

“Nice to meet you both,” I manage to say, hoping that the butterflies in my stomach will calm down, since apparently, I’ll need to be able to work with these gorgeous men.

“Your costumes just arrived this morning,” Lisa says, searching her desk before picking up a box cutter.

She slices the packing tape on the box that’s at the top of a stack and pulls out a bulky, clear package holding something red.

“Santa suits,” she says, setting another identical package aside.

“I ordered two, so there’ll be an extra in case of pet or kid accidents, but you can each have one.

Just be sure to never be seen wearing them at the same time. ”

“Of course not,” Nick says, as Rudy nods his agreement.

Lisa pulls out another package and squints at the label.

“And here’s your dress, Holly. I bought one made from thin fabric, in case we have warm days, but I also ordered a matching fur-trimmed cloak you can wear in cooler weather.

There’s an apron too, with pockets to hold candy canes for the kids, and I have a curly white wig for you, though it’ll be a shame to hide your pretty hair. ”

I smile self-consciously as both Nick’s and Rudy’s eyes go to my wavy auburn hair. It’s long, and I hope it will all fit under the wig.

What will really be a shame is hiding these men’s handsome faces behind big white beards, and covering their bodies with bulky costumes. I have a feeling they’ll still be attractive despite the holiday disguises.

“Of course, you’re all young for your roles,” Lisa says, “but I really appreciate you offering to donate your time. These Santa pictures could bring in a lot of money for the shelter.”

“Glad to help,” Nick says.

“Absolutely,” I say. We’re only doing the pictures on the four Saturdays in December, but this year, I’m available almost anytime I’m not working.

Nick and Rudy smile at me. They’re almost always smiling, but they seem to give me a little extra.

“Fingers crossed for good weather,” Lisa is saying. “The park should be a great location for people to bring both kids and pets for pictures, and I hope we get a lot of passersby. We’ve put flyers up all around town, too.”

“People have been commenting about the flyer at our office,” Nick says with a chuckle, “and they don’t even know we’re the ones who’ll be playing Santa.”

Their office? I’m curious about where these men work, because I can’t picture them at a desk job. They look more like athletes or models.

As Lisa is handing me the stack of packages that comprise my costume, there’s a rhythmic “Shave and a Haircut” knock on her open door, and I swivel to find a man entering, immediately followed by another man who could almost be his twin.

They’re the epitome of tall, dark and handsome, with a heavy dash of dangerous thrown in, both in snug dark jeans and heavy black boots, one in a t-shirt, the other a leather jacket.

Their hair is nearly black, dark stubble shades their faces, and several pieces of tattoo work show at different spots where their skin is visible, like the base of their necks, one man’s arm, the other’s hand.

If you’d asked me a few minutes ago if men who look like this were my type, I’d have easily said no. My body, however, is saying otherwise, quite loudly. I’m grateful for my thick hoodie, because my nipples have just gone hard.

“We’re here for the volunteer meeting.” The man’s voice is rough like gravel and deep as the ocean.

“We’re here to play Santa,” his almost-twin announces in a similarly sexy voice.