“Santa?”
He stopped in front of them, each movement leaving a small trail of fairy dust and magic hanging in the air for a moment.
“Fuck. Me.” Jared muttered softly as Santa turned to Candy and reached out a hand to touch one of the curls tumbling over her shoulder.
“Hello Candy. Have you been a good little girl this year? Or should I put you on my…very naughty list?”
She blinked, something about that voice…those eyes. Astonishment arced through her. “Rhod?”
He smiled and suddenly she could see past the lines and the beard to the sexy as hell man she’d left in her apartment earlier.
“Oh my, you’re…you’re Santa? The real Santa?”
“I am. The real deal. One of anyway. You think one man could deliver all the presents in one night? Even for an elf, that would be pushing it. There’s a whole clan of us, but keep that under your hat, okay?” He tapped the side of his nose and hefted the sack over his back as he looked at Jared. “I got it, bud. You’re off the hook.”
Then his voice grew in volume, the hint of the ho ho ho back. “Now, I hear there are some children here that I have presents for. Would you like to lead the way, little elf?”