Read Online Santa's Posse by Rosemarie Naramore - Free Book Online

today.”
    “Great.  Also, if
you don’t mind, we’ll continue to send out letters as the holidays approach.”
    “Sounds like a
plan,” she said agreeably.
    An awkward silence
ensued, and she smiled nervously.  He smiled in return, and then chuckled. 
“Are you free for lunch?” he asked.
    She reached for
her calendar.  Her lunch hour was clear, but…  Should she really consider
joining him for lunch?  She really needed to focus on her job, and if she were
to start meeting him for lunch, people might start talking and…
    “Want to join me?”
he asked, interrupting her thoughts.
    “For what?” she
said obtusely.
    “For lunch,” he
answered, laughing.
    She colored in
embarrassment.  Should she join him?  Saturday, during the movie, she had
convinced herself she should probably steer clear of him—at least on a personal
level.  She couldn’t avoid seeing him at work, but he was simply too much a
distraction when she really needed focus in her life. 
    Indeed, it would
be the prudent thing to do—steering clear of the handsome commander.  It was
definitely the thing to do.    
    “Sure, where?” she
said, and then nearly crumpled onto her desktop.  Sure , where?  Not
exactly prudent words.
    “Food court,
noon,” he said, as if it was as obvious as the nose on her face where they
should meet. 
    “There are about
thirty restaurants at that food court,” she reminded him.  “I could actually
spend the better part of my lunch hour looking for you if you don’t tell me
where to meet you.  Well, provided you’re sitting down.  I mean, if you’re
standing, you’re tall, so I’d probably spot you eventually…”  Kellie nearly
groaned.  Why was she suddenly such a motor mouth?
    Miles appeared
deep in thought.  “How about the same place we had lunch Friday?”
    “Speaking of that,
you paid Friday, so it’s my turn to pay today,” Kellie said.
    “Wait, no,” he
said, holding up a hand, “you bought pizza.  And you paid for the movie.”
    “But you assembled
my bed.”
    Jill chose that exact
moment to pop her head into the office.  Apparently, she’d overheard Kellie’s
remark, since her eyebrows shot up questioningly.  She glanced from Kellie to
Miles, and then broke into a surprised smile. 
    “Yes, Jill,” Kellie
said.
    Jill passed her a
note.  “Your eleven ‘o clock just called.  He can’t make it until eleven-thirty.”
    “Hmmm,” she said,
and glanced at Miles, “I may be a few minutes late meeting you for lunch.”
    Jill’s eyes
widened, as did the smile on her face.  She eyed Kellie speculatively, until she
gave her a pointed look in return.  “Is that all, Jill?”
    “Mmm hmmm,” the
older woman said, and then backed through the doorway.
    “I should get back
to work,” Miles said.
    Kellie nodded as
he rose from his chair.  She stood up too, and to her surprise, he rounded the
desk.  He towered over her, staring down at her face, and she wondered what he
intended to do.  Surely he wasn’t going to kiss her, she thought in alarm.  She
was at work.  She hardly knew him.  She wasn’t looking for a boyfriend.  A
million excuses ran through her mind—excuses as to why she didn’t want him to
kiss her, but when he didn’t—kiss her, that is—she felt a vague sense of
disappointment. 
    She realized with
a sheepish awareness that he wasn’t harboring any romantic notions, but was
assessing the damage to her forehead.  Despite her attempt to cover the
bruising with makeup, the bump was still apparent.  He visibly winced.
    “That’s really
bad.”  He reached out to gently probe the injury.  “You must have really hit me
hard.”
    “Maybe you should
let up on the military presses,” she teased.
    He flexed a strong
arm for her benefit, and then actually reddened when he realized what he’d
done.  “I try to stay in shape,” he admitted, “but who knew my pecs were lethal
weapons?”
    “Well, I wouldn’t go
that far,” she