Read Online McDonald_NoELFngWay_GEN_Dec2015 by Donna McDonald - Free Book Online Page A

dear,” Cupid said, leaning away from the table. Had she ever thought of Blix in those terms. Cupid’s face heated as she put down the tea she wasn’t drinking to study her son’s tired face. “Wait… you’re dating Vixen? Since when, Dash? The woman practically ran out of the house Sunday night when she left. It’s only Thursday. Was that where you were Tuesday night when you asked me to stay?”
    “Yes. She’s doesn’t want anyone to know we’re seeing each other. We went to dinner,” Dash said, glad it wasn’t a lie. He wasn’t ready to confess to his mother that he’d spent thirty minutes eating dinner with her and several hours making love to her.
    “Does Vixen know what was in Nicky’s letter to Santa?”
    “I have no idea,” Cupid said, reaching out to pat her son’s arm. “Kids do this all the time, Dash. They ask for things parents can’t deliver. All parents survive. You will too. I bet this is more disturbing because you’ve been anticipating Nicky’s grief over Melody’s death to come up.”
    “Asking for a new mother is not the same thing as asking for a pony,” Dash argued. He ran a hand through his hair. “I care about Vixen. I like her a lot. I want to date her and see where this goes because she seems perfect in about a zillion ways. Now I don’t know if dating her is such a good idea. If we don’t work out, I could be held accountable for running off the mother Santa sent him.”
    “Dash…” Cupid stopped and tried to put herself in his shoes. “Maybe this could be as bad as you fear on the extreme end—I won’t say it couldn’t. Why don’t you sit down and talk to Nicky about his letter? I don’t think his request is the end of the world thing you’re making it out to be. You could even see it as a good sign that he’s ready to move on.”
    “This is bad timing, I agree, but my dating life needs to be put on hold for a month or so until this passes. Right now that feels like the end of the world since I just finally got Vixen to semi-forgive me. Now I have to figure out how to tell her that we can’t openly date until Nicky gives up on the idea of Santa delivering a mother to him. That solution sucks, but I think that’s the only way. She’s a parent herself. I’m sure she’ll understand me putting my son first.”
    “Dash… Vixen could misinterpret your reticence to deal with Nicky and her as something other than fatherly concern. Are you willing to take the risk with a relationship so new and fragile?”
    Dash sighed again. “What other choice do I have, Mom?”
    “Tell your son what he asked for wasn’t reasonable. Deal with the meltdown and then date the woman you want to date. In the end, your son will be happier because you’ll be happier.”
    Dash shook his head, thinking of how much hurt Nicky felt every time he remembered Melody was never coming back. He couldn’t put his son through that kind of pain again.
    ***
    Vixen was humming as she stacked more boxes of light-up Rudolph noses on the shelves.
    The cardboard cutout displaying the demo version worked well at generating interest, even if it was primarily for every child that walked through the door and giggled at the red flashing light. She had moved three-fourths of her stock of them in two weeks and hoped the remainder lasted the eight days left until Christmas.
    When the shop’s door monitor sounded, she turned to greet the customer coming inside. Instead, she met the gaze of the man she’d lost sleep over nearly every night lately. Despite his serious expression, she instantly thought of the fun and laughter. And the sex.
    Making love with Dash had been outstanding. Since Tuesday, she’d been having trouble remembering why she’d been so afraid to find out what Dash was like in bed.
    “Hey, Handsome. If I’d known you were coming, I’d have slipped into my elf costume. If you can wait a minute, the red heels are back in the storage area tucked away in my gym bag.”
    Dash released