A Hot Aussie Christmas

By Constance Masters

At almost twenty-one, Emma White's life is a mess. Leaving a note to her parents, she ran away at sixteen determined to make it as an actress. Four years later and nothing has improved. It's Christmas, it's hot and she is secretly living in the store where she works as a Santa's helper in Santa's Grotto.

Toby is twenty-eight years old. He's rich and single. After suspecting someone is robbing the store, he waits to see what's going on. He comes across Emma who has made herself right at home. She is obviously down on her luck, so instead of calling the police he takes her to task himself.

Unsure of what to do with Emma, Toby takes her to stay with him for a while. It doesn't take long for the two to start a steamy affair. Things seem to be going smoothly, but how will this hot Aussie react when he finds out about her missing past?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blushing
• Release date: Dec 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781627503082

Constance Masters

I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother and an author. I guess my love of writing began when I was in school. It was the subject I loved most.I love my family, writing, reading, crime shows, reality television, chocolate and champagne. Mostly I love to laugh!Don’t miss these exciting titles by Constance Masters and Blushing Books!A Hot Aussie ChristmasThe Grass Could Be GreenerDouble TroubleAn Unexpected HusbandBecky’s Last Chance

Book preview

A Hot Aussie Christmas

By

Constance Masters

Copyright 2013 Constance Masters

Published by Blushing Books at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Published by Blushing Books a subsidiary of:

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The trademark Blushing Books is registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Masters, Constance

A Hot Aussie Christmas

eBook ISBN: 978-1-62750-3082

Cover Art by Owlight Designs

All rights reserved.

This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

About the Author

Sample of The Grass Could Be Greener by Constance Masters

Chapter 1

Merry Christmas! Emma said to another spoiled child as she held out a candy cane.

The little blonde cherub snatched it from her hand ungratefully and tore off the wrapper.

This was the job, walking up and down the line in Santa's grotto passing out lollies to the families that were waiting to have their photo taken with the big man himself. Some were entranced with the moveable figures and the little people that had been hired to play the elves. Most of the adults had sour faces after standing in the long hot queue listening to the constant drum of whinging kids. Even for the parents that had well behaved children there was the sound next to them or behind them of someone else's dissatisfied child.

I don't like peppermint, a cranky little boy said to her before spitting it on her pointy shoes.

She sighed and looked down at the overly large green felt shoes with the bells on the toes. What was she anyway? One of Santa's helpers apparently, even though she was average sized. The irony was that this grotto was overrun with little people acting as elves but they were up on the ledges pretending to build toys. Tough gig. A little girl smiled and tugged on her green felt helper shirt.

Merry Christmas, the cute little blonde said sweetly. You're pretty.

Oh thank you. Emma said patting the little girls head and delving down to the bottom of the basket. You're pretty too. She winked at the child before passing her a cherry-flavored candy cane. So she probably wasn't supposed to pick and choose, but it seemed like the right thing to do to reward the nice kids with the better tasting treat.

I want one of those ones, the bratty spitter said.

Sorry Honey, that was the last one. She gave him her best fake smile before moving down the line without feeling even a little bit guilty. She was a helper wasn't she? Santa had a Naughty and Nice List and so did she.

The line was dwindling now and Emma was feeling grateful. It was so hot in her costume. She could see everyone else was feeling the same. Santa was shifting uncomfortably in his sleigh and pulling at his beard and the elves looked like they were drooping like a bunch of flowers without water.

You okay? she asked Jack. Jack was her friend and the only person other than his wife that knew of her situation. The little person had caught her hiding out on her second night here and he hadn't told. That had earned her trust and trust wasn't something she gave away easily.

I'll live. It wouldn't kill them to turn up the air con a little though would it?

I know. Why can't we ever embrace the idea of an Australian Christmas photo with Santa in board shorts on the beach?

Because Santa doesn't live in Australia; he lives at the North Pole! Veronica said sternly. Haven't you got some more canes to hand out? She stomped back to her table, shooting an angry glance at Emma as she went.

She doesn't like me.

Yes she does. Jack weighed his words. She thinks I should tell on you.

Oh yeah, she must be really over the moon about me. I can feel her love from here.

Now, now, it's not like that, Veronica thinks it would be for your own good. That it would force you to go back to your family. And we need this job Emma. We don't need to get blacklisted by an agency.

It wouldn't. Emma narrowed her eyes. I would live under a bridge first.

Okay, calm down, I didn't say I was going to tell; I just said that that's what she wanted. You know though, that even if you manage to get away with this, the grotto comes down on Christmas Eve.

I'm hoping to have enough money by then to find something. She scowled as the small angry woman watched her suspiciously. What if Veronica tells?

She won't.

How can you be sure?

I can be sure. He shot his wife a look that made Emma's belly curl and Veronica put her head down and went quietly back to work. Jack patted her hand. It'll all work out. You know you have me if you need to talk, and Veronica for that matter. I know she has a bit of a tough shell but she's a softie really.

Thanks Jack. You're a real friend.

You're welcome. Do you have something to eat?

I'll find something. Don't you worry about me.

* * * * *

Emma waved goodbye to the last of the Christmas Grotto staff and walked towards the exit doors. With a quick look around her to make sure no one was around to notice, she darted into the ladies room and leaned against the door, her heart thumping while she listened to the footsteps of the workers as they left the department store for the day.

Thank God, she whispered when she was finally alone. She was bone tired and hungry. Maybe she could try and get up to the cafeteria floor see what was left over in the fridges.

When she thought enough time had gone over, she opened the door and slipped out of the ladies room. Over the last couple of weeks she'd had plenty of time to figure out where the security cameras were and she knew that the cleaners did their work in the mornings. All she had to do was hide in one of the large packages under the Christmas tree at the opening of the grotto; they didn't ever touch those. She also knew the times when security did their walk-throughs but it was too risky to try another floor; the layout of the cameras could be different. She shelved the idea of visiting the cafeteria, as too risky. It would have to be a hunt on this floor again. The idea of another bit of chocolate or shortbread nearly sickened her, but it was better than starving.

* * * * *

That girl should be home with her family, not sleeping inside a shop like some kind of bum, Veronica said as she and Jack walked through the employee parking station. It was hot and she was glad they'd shed their elf suits before they had to face the humid summer evening.

She isn't a bum. She's just a stubborn kid.

Uh huh. Which is why she should could come clean that she's broke and go home to her mama.

I'm sure she will when she's ready.

Well, I hope you're right, Veronica sighed, If she gets caught and they find out that we knew what she was doing and we didn't say anything, then we could all lose our jobs.

That won't happen, Jack insisted.

Well it'll be a jolly old Christmas if it does. Veronica slid into the car and slammed her door.

Jack tried to hide his annoyance at Veronica’s anger. The girl was obviously down on her luck, and he wished his wife could find a little more sympathy for their co-worker. I don't like what she's doing either, Honey, but I don't know what else to do. I even offered for her to come stay with us but she won't. She thinks you don't like her.

I never said that I didn't like her, Veronica argued. I'm just scared, that's all.

Tomorrow I'll think of something, he promised.

You’d better, Veronica grumbled.

Jack was about to pull out of the now abandoned Jackson's Department Store car park when a familiar silver Maserati convertible slid into its executive spot.

Oh shit, Jack said.

See? I told you. Let's hope Emma hears him coming so she can hide.

I wonder what he's doing here, Jack wondered.

Maybe you should get out now and tell him you think someone's been sleeping in there.

You can't seriously be thinking I should do that, Jack objected. What if he calls the police and has her arrested? At least this way she has a chance of not getting caught.

I don't want her to get arrested. I just want all of us to keep our jobs.

Then I guess we just have to go home and hope for the best. It's Christmas, the season of hope. Things will work out. If she escapes getting caught this time, then I'll have a big chat tomorrow and insist that she either comes to stay with us or goes home.

Veronica rolled her eyes. Whatever, Jack. But at the moment, we need to get the kids from daycare.

Yes, we do. Whatever happens, it's going to be tomorrow's problem now.

* * * * *

Toby Jackson used his swipe pass to let himself into the building and turn off the alarm. At a meeting today, one of the department heads had expressed security concerns. One of the kiosk owners had reported small amounts of food items had been disappearing from the shelves. She was, she said, sure she’d fully stocked the shelves the night before.

Toby had gone through the security tapes personally. It wasn't the few boxes of chocolates or packets of cookies that worried him. It was the fact that someone had managed to either sneak in or stay on after closing. If they could steal small items then