Mistletoe Bachelors (4 page)

“This way, Madison.” Emma pointed the way down the hall. She skipped down the tiled
hallway.
“Okay,” she mumbled, straining to make it the extra remaining steps to the cafeteria.
“Here is fine.” Scott gestured for her to put her side down.
She placed her end on the floor with a thud and stepped back, rubbing her throbbing arms.
She would be sore tomorrow. She glanced around the cafeteria. Cole was nowhere in sight.
Typical man. Never around when there was work to do.
The young girls unloaded bags of decorations onto the cafeteria tables, and Madison took a
seat to catch her breath.
She removed her elf hat and shook her long dark hair.
Damn that thing was warm.
“You better put your hat back on before Santa gets here.” Amelia warned as she untangled a
set of colored lights.
“It’s a little early for San…” The words died on Madison’s lips as the sound of
Ho Ho Ho
came bellowing down the hallway followed by squeals and giggles from the children.
Emma’s eyes widened. “Too late he’s here!” Her mouth fell open in awe as she stared at the
cafeteria entrance.
Madison turned. Her eyes met Santa’s, and he winked.
Oh my God! Cole?
Dressed in red
velvet with a white fur trim and beard, fake belly and black shiny boots he was almost
unrecognizable.
“Quick Madison, put this on before he sees you.” Amelia handed her the hat.
Madison sighed and put the hat back on. Instant heat.
Cole must be sweating in that full suit.
Scott fastened the tree in the stand and waved at Santa.
“Okay everyone, it looks like the tree is all set. Let’s grab some decorations and get to work.
Ho Ho Ho
.” Cole grabbed a set of lights.
Madison remained seated as the young girls ran to join the others. She studied the scene
before her, and her heart swelled. Pajama clad children laughed and danced around the tree as
Santa teased and tickled them. Sadness filled her heart at the thought that this was most likely the
only tree these children would see this year. The prospect of going home for most was slim.
Bringing Christmas to them was their only option. Tears sprang to Madison’s eyes at the goodhearted nature of the Thompson family.
The Melissa Thompson Foundation
generated cancer
research funds in the millions every year, but Scott still felt it wasn’t enough. His girls may be
privileged, but they were far from spoiled. Their kindness and generosity proved overwhelming.
Her eyes met Cole’s, and she swallowed the lump in her throat. He smiled and gestured for
her to join them.
Madison hesitated. The assignment requirements were to observe, nothing more. Decorating
a tree had not been in her holiday plans. Too many memories.
She bit her lip. Maybe it was time to make some new memories. After all, these children
were making the best of their sad situation. Her problems paled in comparison
.
She grabbed a set
of silver bulbs and joined the group by the tree. “Okay Santa, where should I start?” Her eyes
met Cole’s, and her pulse raced at the kindness she saw. She had to give him credit. It took a
special kind of person to don a Santa suit. Maybe Cole Harris wasn’t so bad after all. Even more
reason to keep her distance.

Cole folded the Santa suit and placed it into a duffel bag. He slid into his jeans and buttoned
the top. Grabbing a hand towel, he dried the sweat from the back of his neck and bare chest.
Man
that suit was hot
. He pulled his sweater over his head and raked a hand through his hair. Every
year he said he wouldn’t do it, and every year Scott talked him into it. In truth, it wasn’t hard. He
would do anything to honor his sister’s memory, and the foundation was a huge contributor to
the children’s hospital.

He grinned as he caught sight of his reflection in the bathroom mirror. The Santa beard still
hung from his chin. He tugged it off and tossed it inside the bag. He gathered his coat and
camera bag and headed back toward the cafeteria.

From the doorway he could see Madison and the girls cleaning up the remainder of the loose
decorations and ribbons. She laughed at something Emma said, and warmth flowed through him
at the sight and sound. He’d suspected her tough exterior was only an inch thick. Underneath the
cynicism was a kind-hearted, warm person.
Something
—or more likely
someone
—had ruined the
holiday season for her. He suspected it was her ex-husband. Looking at her, you couldn’t tell.
She hummed Christmas carols as she worked.

He set up the tripod and positioned the camera. His job as Santa was done, now for the real
work. Extended projects and magazine photo-shoots were the next step in his career. This
assignment hadn’t been a dream come true. But his portfolio would benefit from a spread in one
of New York’s most popular women’s magazines. He snapped a few shots and smiled.

“We are about ready to head out.” Scott said a moment later, hiding a yawn behind a hand.
“The girls may still be going strong,” he laughed, watching them twirl until they were dizzy, “but
I’m exhausted.”

“Okay, I’ll just grab a couple more, and then pack up.” Cole nodded, focusing the lens for
another shot.
Scott glanced in the direction the camera pointed and grinned. “Did you take
any
of me?”
“Nope.” Cole laughed. His brother-in-law knew him too well. He punched his shoulder.
“I can’t say I blame you this time. She is beautiful and the girls love her.”
Their eyes landed on Madison, where she sat reading a Christmas story to a group of sleepy
toddlers.
“From what I’ve gathered so far—she isn’t a fan of Christmas.” Cole shrugged and
dismantled the tripod.
“From what I’ve gathered, she isn’t big on you either,” Scott teased. “What did you do? Let
me guess, you hit on her already.”
Cole flushed. He couldn’t help it if he came on too strong. He liked her. Smart, sexy and so
far seemingly unattainable, what man wouldn’t be attracted and challenged by her? He reached
into his coat pocket and pulled out the Christmas story about the forgotten elf. “I submitted
this…just to meet her.” He handed the story to Scott.
Scott’s mouth dropped. “This is Amelia’s homework. She’s been looking everywhere for
this. It’s due at school next week.” He punched Cole playfully in the arm.
“Ow…Well, apparently it needs work.” He grinned.
Scott shook his head and sighed. “I’ll go get the girls. Pack it up.”
“Sure thing. Just a couple more.” He peered through the lens and smiled. There was
something about Madison he couldn’t explain, but whatever it was, it made him want to protect
her, make her forget her broken heart and help her past the walls she’d built so high around
herself. He suspected it would be a challenge, but he had three weeks to prove to her not all men
were bad. Maybe he could convince her to give Christmas a second chance as well. Studying her
smiling face from across the room, he grinned. Today was a good first step.

Madison opened her laptop and sat on the hotel bed later that evening. She planned to enter
the day’s notes on Scott Thompson and his family and then do some long overdue writing. Her
own manuscripts were neglected, with her hectic work schedule at the magazine. Thankfully,
she’d yet to hear from M and M publishing regarding her recent novel submission. She lacked
the time needed to devote to the editing process.

She flipped through her notebook to the scribbled notes she’d made throughout the day.
While her computer loaded, she glanced outside. A light dusting of snow collected on the city
below. Despite how depressing the season made her, the sight was beautiful, peaceful, magical.
New York during the holidays was a city unlike any other. Her laptop login appeared, and she
typed her password. She opened a new word document.

The sound of Cole’s shower running in the next room distracted her, and an image of him in
the Santa’s suit flashed across her mind. She smiled. An image of him naked in the shower
replaced the previous one, and her smile disappeared. Her cheeks flushed. She forced the image
from her mind, only to have it reappear.
Dammit. Okay, he’s hot. Extremely hot
. She didn’t need
to see the body beneath the clothes to know it was perfection. His arms were solid, and his
sculpted chest refused to be contained in the white t-shirt he’d been wearing that afternoon.

“Forget about Cole and focus.” She scanned her notes and typed in the information about
Scott Thompson and his family.
However, despite her best efforts, images of Cole demanded her attention. His wet jet-black
hair falling onto his forehead, his big muscular arms pushing it back off of his face. One
occupational hazard to being a romance novelist was she envisioned things in slow motion and
vividly.
She shifted on the bed and opened the file to her manuscript.
Okay time to get serious.
She
tied her long hair at the base of her neck and stared at the computer screen.
Hot water trickling down the length of Cole’s torso appeared.
Her pulse raced, and her cheeks flushed.
What was wrong with her
?
Why couldn’t she shake
the images of her co-worker’s body? Because he is sexier than Brad Pitt, and she hasn’t been
with a man in three years.
She let out a deep breath.
This was ridiculous
. She heard the water
shut off.
Oh thank God.
Feeling inspiration in an area she hadn’t in months, she flipped to a blank section of her
manuscript.
Insert Love Scene here
. Her fingers flew across the keyboard.
Richard turned the tap to hot, and stepped inside the steaming shower. He heard the key in
the front door. Mackenzie was home. Perfect timnkiyjvk…
Loud laughter from the room next door startled her. She jumped and put her hand to her
chest. She shot a glare toward the wall.
She continued typing. Back space, back space, back space…
timing. The sound of her
footsteps on the wooden staircase echoed throughout the house. His excitement grew with each
click clack of her stilettos. An image of her sexy legs flashed behind his closed lids as the hot
water trickled down his face.
More laughter interrupted her thoughts.
How the hell was she supposed to write a love scene with him laughing like a hyena next
door? Okay in fairness, it was a deep, sexy laugh, but still
. She waited. Just the muted sounds of
the voices on the television. She started again…
He ran his trembling hands through his wet blond hair
…
Blond hair? Hmm
. She hit the
search and replace function. Find
Blond
Replace With
Black
.
Much better
.
“Ha ha ha.” Came floating through the wall.
“Okay, that’s it.” Madison pushed the laptop aside and swung her legs over the side of the
bed. Pulling on her ugg-boot style slippers, she stood and tore open the hotel room door.
Marching out into the hall, she banged on Cole’s hotel room door.
“This is a surprise…”
“
What
are you laughing at?” She looked past him to the television. A familiar New York
Christmas scene flashed across the screen.
“
Home Alone Two
.” He moved aside, motioning for her to come in.
She cocked her head to the side and remained in the hallway. “Seriously? What are you,
twelve?”
“It’s a classic.” He glanced toward the screen. “This is the part where he sees the bad guys
in New York.” He sat on the bed, and once again gestured for her to come in.
“No, I can’t. I’m working.” She held the door open. “I just came over to ask you to keep the
laughing to a dull roar if you could.”
He didn’t take his eyes off of the screen. “Sure, sorry.” He gave a quick smile in her
direction. He picked up the remote control and adjusted the volume.
“Thanks.” She let the door close and headed back to her room. She wiggled the doorknob.
Locked. Shit.
She’d forgotten her room key. She glanced at her shorts and ugg slippered feet. She
couldn’t go down to the lobby of a five star hotel dressed like this
.
She rested her head against
the door and sighed. She’d call the front desk to have one brought up. Gritting her teeth she
pounded on Cole’s door again.
“Change your mind?”
“No. I um…locked myself out of my room.” She shifted from one foot to the other.
He smirked and leaned against the doorframe. “And you want to stay here tonight?”
“No!” Her eyes widened.
Cole laughed.
She felt foolish. Her face flushed. “Can I use your phone?” She pointed to the hotel phone
on the desk.
“Sure.” He moved aside to let her in.
“Thanks.” She picked up the phone and hit the button for the main desk.
“Front desk.”
“Hi. This is Madison Grey from room three forty-six. I locked myself out of the room, could
I have a key brought up? I’d come down, but I’m in my pajamas.” Heat radiated down her neck
under Cole’s scrutinizing gaze on her bare legs. She covered the mouthpiece. “Watch your
movie.” She nodded toward the television.
He laughed and turned his attention back to the television.
“No problem. We will be there shortly. Can you wait in the room you’re calling from?” The
desk clerk asked.
Not really
. Cole, in his pajama pants and bare chest were too much. “Sure…hurry…please.”
Embarrassed, she replaced the receiver and turned. “They’ll be here in a minute.” She folded her
arms across her body. A pajama party was the last thing she needed.
“No problem. Sit.” He tapped the bed next to him and shuffled over to make room.
“I’m okay.” She turned her attention to the screen.
Macauley Culkin ran through the streets of New York escaping the villains. Madison wished
she could trade places with him. The danger of
Central Park
was nothing compared to the
situation she found herself in. She shifted her weight and pulled out the desk chair and sat. Her
eyes never left the screen. Better to appear engrossed in the movie than openly drooling over
Cole’s six-pack abs and sculpted chest.
This movie was funny
. She crossed her legs and sat back
to enjoy the comedic scenes. She hadn’t seen it in years.
Fifteen minutes later, she jumped at the loud knock on Cole’s door.
“Your key.” Cole stood and opened the door.
Madison followed.
“Here you are Ms. Grey. Sorry for the wait,” the bellhop said.
“Thank you.” Madison took the key and exited the room.
Cole handed the bellhop a bill.
The man smiled and tucked it into his pocket.
“I’ll pay you back,” Madison said.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll expense it.” Cole laughed. “Sure you don’t want to stay and finish
watching the movie?”
Madison forced herself not to look anywhere but at the cardboard key. The temptation to say
yes,
too strong. “No, thanks.”
“Okay, goodnight.”
“Night,” she mumbled, letting herself into her room.
She sat on the bed and grabbed the laptop, her thoughts on anything but writing.
Get a grip
.
It’s not like you’ve never seen a shirtless man before
. She shook her head and retyped her login
on the laptop.
Not one that hot.
She scanned what she’d written, but images of Cole’s biceps and hairless chest blurred the
words. She sighed.
Loud laughter floated through the thin wall followed by a, “Sorry Madison.”
Madison closed the laptop and pulled back the bed sheets. She climbed into the bed and
fluffed the oversized, down-filled pillows behind her back. She grabbed the remote and flipped
to the program guide.
Home Alone Two
was on channel eight.
Why not?
Tis the season after all.