Chapter 2 Donovan
DONOVAN
“Ican’t believe I let you talk me into this,” I grumbled as I straightened the fake white beard on my face. It was itchy, and the bright red Santa costume was too hot. I momentarily considered telling my best friend to fuck off and do it himself.
“Donny, you are a lifesaver,” Vance declared, clamping a hand on my shoulder and giving it a grateful squeeze.
“I was originally going to play the part, but Charlie would know instantly it was me,” he explained, answering my unasked question.
He was right. His little girl was smart as a tack, and the moment he disappeared and Santa showed up, she would put two and two together.
I sighed, scratching at my cheeks before plopping the Santa hat on my head.
“You’re gonna do great,” Vance mused with a smirk and a patronizing pat on my shoulder.
I was doing this motherfucker a favor, and he had the nerve to laugh at me.
I punched him in the gut with only about half my strength.
He doubled over, letting out a grunt mixed with a chuckle as I headed for the door.
I was about to sneak out the back so I could head around to the front door and surprise the kids when I caught sight of Emily coming out of the bathroom.
My step faltered as I took her in. It hadn’t escaped my notice how much she’d grown up over the last few years.
No longer the gangly limbed teenager who did a piss-poor job of hiding the crush she had on me; she was a woman.
One with curves and luscious lips made for kissing and…
I shook those thoughts away. She was Vance’s sister-in-law and too damn young for me.
Although, that twelve-year age gap worked for Vance and Delilah.
But Emily was practically his little sister, and he was protective of her.
Still, it was getting harder and harder to not let myself get too close when she was around, to keep her firmly in the friends only department.
I just had to remind myself that Vance would string me up by my balls if I even thought about touching her.
I didn’t have the best track record with women, and he knew it.
But damn if I didn’t appreciate those candy stripe tights hugging her shapely legs.
I wanted nothing more than to lift the green and red dress hiding her ass from view and slip it over her head to reveal those perky tits.
Fuck me, she was irresistible, and I had to spend the next hour pretending like I didn’t want her bouncing up and down on my North Pole.