Read Online Poles Apart by Marion Ueckermann - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marion Ueckermann
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on
what this is all about.”
Niklas chuckled. “Don’t be late.
Punctuality is paramount tonight.” He tapped the screen and cut the call. Yes,
his plan should work well. Being Santa and himself at the same time would be no
problem at all. All Sarah Jones needed was a moment.
Chapter 7
Unable
to suppress his smile, Niklas steered the wooden sleigh through the snow from
his house to Sarah’s. The six reindeer pulling them looked so good he feared
they might take off into the sky. Jingling a tune, the bells around their necks
announced their arrival.
On the seat beside Niklas stood Risto,
legs pinned against the curved dashboard, barking their way across the open white
terrain. Risto had a thing about reindeer, and Niklas still couldn’t figure out
if his dog loved or hated them.
Mila lay on the backseat, head resting on
her front paws, while Alexis crouched on the floor beside her. Out of sight.
Niklas spurred the reindeer on, twice around
Sarah’s cabin, accompanied by his loud ha-ha-ha, Risto’s incessant barking, and
the jingling of bells. If that didn’t draw her attention, nothing would.
As he pulled to a stop outside the cabin,
the front door flew open. Pale light trickled onto the dark porch. Sarah’s face
appeared in the doorway then disappeared for a moment before the porch
brightened as she flipped the light switch. Reappearing, she waved.
Santa-clad Niklas bounded out the
sleigh, Risto in hot pursuit. The dog took off across the snow as Mila gave a
whimper, stopping Niklas in his tracks. He turned, swept her up in his arms and
carried her to the top of the steps. She waddled across the porch, stopping at
Sarah’s feet.
Sarah bent down and ruffled the fur
around Mila’s neck. “Hey, girl, it’s good to see you again.”
Mila rubbed her nose against Sarah’s leg
then eased past her into the cabin.
At the sound of Risto’s bark, Niklas
turned. The male retriever took the stairs two at a time and way too fast.
Landing on the icy porch, he skidded past Niklas toward Sarah, bowling her over
before coming to a stop inside the cabin.
“Risto,” Niklas shouted.
Sarah quickly righted herself to a
sitting position.
The dog scurried over to Sarah, his eyes
darting between her and Niklas, tail between his legs. Giving Sarah a ‘sorry’ lick
on the cheek, he sat. With a whine, he pawed the air.
Niklas stifled his laugh, remembering
his Santa voice before he spoke. “I’m sorry. I guess my retriever misjudged the
icy porch.” He held out a hand and pulled Sarah to her feet.
“It’s all right, Nick. No damage done.”
She gestured toward the door. “Please, come inside.”
Pushing the Santa spectacles up his
nose, Niklas patted the beard. All still in place. He stepped inside. Mila had
already made herself comfortable on the rug.
“Thank you, Miss No. I hope you don’t
mind that my dogs are with me. With Mila heavily pregnant, I need her beside me
all the time. She could go into labor any day now, so I take her along to work.”
He chuckled. “Which you already know.”
“Of course I don’t mind. And please, call
me Sarah. Sarah Jones from South Africa.”
“Sarah. A beautiful name. Princess,
isn’t it?”
A smile played on her lips. “Do you know
the meaning of everyone in the world’s names?”
Only those I can’t get out of my mind. Niklas buried the thought and answered in the only manner Santa could. “Most.”
Then he changed the subject lest she quiz him.
“The sleigh ride was cold tonight.
Something warm will go down well. Is that hot chocolate ready?”
“Coming right up.” She turned and
disappeared into the kitchen.
Niklas followed, stopping in the
doorway. He glanced at the small Christmas decoration dangling before his eyes,
thankful the overgrown fake beard hid his smile. He knew a popular Christmas
song he’d love to make come true right now, though he’d have to substitute the
word ‘Mamma’ for ‘Sarah’. Instead he turned and walked to
what this is all about.”
Niklas chuckled. “Don’t be late.
Punctuality is paramount tonight.” He tapped the screen and cut the call. Yes,
his plan should work well. Being Santa and himself at the same time would be no
problem at all. All Sarah Jones needed was a moment.
Chapter 7
Unable
to suppress his smile, Niklas steered the wooden sleigh through the snow from
his house to Sarah’s. The six reindeer pulling them looked so good he feared
they might take off into the sky. Jingling a tune, the bells around their necks
announced their arrival.
On the seat beside Niklas stood Risto,
legs pinned against the curved dashboard, barking their way across the open white
terrain. Risto had a thing about reindeer, and Niklas still couldn’t figure out
if his dog loved or hated them.
Mila lay on the backseat, head resting on
her front paws, while Alexis crouched on the floor beside her. Out of sight.
Niklas spurred the reindeer on, twice around
Sarah’s cabin, accompanied by his loud ha-ha-ha, Risto’s incessant barking, and
the jingling of bells. If that didn’t draw her attention, nothing would.
As he pulled to a stop outside the cabin,
the front door flew open. Pale light trickled onto the dark porch. Sarah’s face
appeared in the doorway then disappeared for a moment before the porch
brightened as she flipped the light switch. Reappearing, she waved.
Santa-clad Niklas bounded out the
sleigh, Risto in hot pursuit. The dog took off across the snow as Mila gave a
whimper, stopping Niklas in his tracks. He turned, swept her up in his arms and
carried her to the top of the steps. She waddled across the porch, stopping at
Sarah’s feet.
Sarah bent down and ruffled the fur
around Mila’s neck. “Hey, girl, it’s good to see you again.”
Mila rubbed her nose against Sarah’s leg
then eased past her into the cabin.
At the sound of Risto’s bark, Niklas
turned. The male retriever took the stairs two at a time and way too fast.
Landing on the icy porch, he skidded past Niklas toward Sarah, bowling her over
before coming to a stop inside the cabin.
“Risto,” Niklas shouted.
Sarah quickly righted herself to a
sitting position.
The dog scurried over to Sarah, his eyes
darting between her and Niklas, tail between his legs. Giving Sarah a ‘sorry’ lick
on the cheek, he sat. With a whine, he pawed the air.
Niklas stifled his laugh, remembering
his Santa voice before he spoke. “I’m sorry. I guess my retriever misjudged the
icy porch.” He held out a hand and pulled Sarah to her feet.
“It’s all right, Nick. No damage done.”
She gestured toward the door. “Please, come inside.”
Pushing the Santa spectacles up his
nose, Niklas patted the beard. All still in place. He stepped inside. Mila had
already made herself comfortable on the rug.
“Thank you, Miss No. I hope you don’t
mind that my dogs are with me. With Mila heavily pregnant, I need her beside me
all the time. She could go into labor any day now, so I take her along to work.”
He chuckled. “Which you already know.”
“Of course I don’t mind. And please, call
me Sarah. Sarah Jones from South Africa.”
“Sarah. A beautiful name. Princess,
isn’t it?”
A smile played on her lips. “Do you know
the meaning of everyone in the world’s names?”
Only those I can’t get out of my mind. Niklas buried the thought and answered in the only manner Santa could. “Most.”
Then he changed the subject lest she quiz him.
“The sleigh ride was cold tonight.
Something warm will go down well. Is that hot chocolate ready?”
“Coming right up.” She turned and
disappeared into the kitchen.
Niklas followed, stopping in the
doorway. He glanced at the small Christmas decoration dangling before his eyes,
thankful the overgrown fake beard hid his smile. He knew a popular Christmas
song he’d love to make come true right now, though he’d have to substitute the
word ‘Mamma’ for ‘Sarah’. Instead he turned and walked to
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