Page 19 of Santa Daddies

I pointed at the tip of her nose where some whipped cream sat.

“Even if I didn’t, it still would have been incredible.” I cocked my head. “I’m thinking I might like to try Club Red someday.”

“The BDSM club?”

I nodded. “I wasn’t sure reality would live up to fantasy, but it did.” I bit my lip. “It was so much better.”

“And maybe you’ll bump into him there.” She winked.

A tray of muffins was pulled from the oven in the back, and the smell of cinnamon spice filled the air. I breathed it in as I stared at the water droplets trickling in paths down the big glass windows.

“Damn, it’s started raining,” Kayla whined noticing the rain.

“I told you I don’t want to see him again. Seeing him again will ruin the magic. Besides. He’s not from around here. At least I don’t think so. If he was, why would he be using the company condo?”

“Maybe so his conquests won’t know his address.” She paused a moment and looked back at me. “Why does a company that donates all of its proceeds to charity have a condo downtown Vancouver?”

“I don’t know. It’s a non-profit organization, so maybe his real job owns the condo and lets him use it to support the charity.”

“Maybe,” I said against the side of my cup before taking a sip of cocoa.

“Was the condo nice?”

“Gorgeous. The view alone was worth a few mil.”

“Must be a good job,” she said in a low sing-song tone.

“So what? I have a good job too.”

“Emily, hear me out. You find a unicorn like that, you try to keep him.” She dismissed my groan with a wave of her hand. “Just saying, hot, sex-god, good job, volunteers…”

“Are you finished with your Christmas shopping?” I asked, attempting to change the subject.

This time she groaned. “No. You have no idea how lucky you are to just have a small family.”

“Said no one with two siblings ever,” I offered in challenge.

“You know what I mean.” She slumped, setting her chin in her palm. “Two siblings, two of their spouses and two nieces that’s a manageable amount of Christmas shopping and bonus, you’ll all be at one of those sibling’s weddings, so no need to try to divide time. Try doing two divorced parents, their new spouses, three blood siblings and their six kids, and two step-siblings and their three kids.” She blew out and her lips buzzed. “It’s a shit-ton of shopping and a logistical nightmare.”

“I never thought of my parents dying happily married as such a Christmas bonus before.” I chuckled halfheartedly at my morbid joke.

Her eyes widened and she reached across the table to grab my hands. “Oh god, how insensitive of me. I’m so sorry.”

I shrugged. “It was a long time ago. I was only ten, and I was lucky enough to have siblings thirteen and fifteen years older than me, so we didn’t have to deal with the foster care system. Blake and Madeline were already married, so they took me in.”

“Ugh, I ruined our shopping trip.”

“No, you didn’t. And we don’t have time to put this off anyway. I leave in eight days, and we still need to find you something to wear to your father’s ten-year anniversary party.”

“And you something for any formal evenings.”

“I don’t think there will be anything formal besides the wedding, and I’m covered there. Being a bridesmaid made that easy.” I ran a hand across my forehead as if wiping sweat from my brow.

“Fine, hurry and drink up then.” Kayla pointed at my cup.

I did, although when I was finished, I was glad I wouldn’t be trying anything on, because it instantly made me feel bloated.

“Where should we go first?” she asked, tapping her chin. She wasn’t talking to me though.