A Cold Night with Hot Santa

By Sloane Peterson

When your parents name you Mary Christmas, most people expect you to have at least a little bit of a holiday spirit. 

 

But not me.

 

I'm working late at the veterinary clinic on Christmas Eve, alone with myself and a building full of animals-
exactly the way that I like it. 

 

Things take an unexpected turn, however, when a crazy man shows up outside the doors to the clinic. 

He claims that his name is Chris Cringle, and he wants me to do a checkup on one of his sick reindeer...

I know, right? 

 

But I find myself strangely drawn in by this man. It doesn't hurt that I'm totally alone on Christmas, and even if this guy is insane, he also happens to be insanely handsome.

He's strong, sharp cheeked, blue eyed, and silver haired. I feel a strange attraction to him, a pull unlike any I've ever experienced toward any other man. 

 

He must feel the same way towards me, I decide, because in no time at all he's bamboozled me into joining him on his sleigh, accompanying him on his mission to spread joy to children all over the world. 

 

It might be crazy, but I think I'm about to have the very best Christmas of my entire life...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sloane Peterson
• Release date: Dec 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9798223543602

Book preview

Chapter One

Reindeer Games

Hi there Bailey! Hey there big guy!

RUFF!

"Yeah, I know..."

RUFF!

Aw, I know Bailey, I know... Awww, come here, big guy!

I assaulted the cascading folds of the bloodhound’s abundant neck with rubs and scratches. He slobbered all over me, his sad eyes nevertheless glowing happily to see me now that I’d stooped down to his level.

I know, I said, scratching behind his ears. I know, no one wants to be alone on Christmas. It’s not fair that you have to be locked up alone in here all by yourself, listening to all those other dogs through the walls... I bet you feel like you’re missing out, don’t you?

Bailey whined.

Awwww, I said. I know. I would let you all out this second if I could. I would give you totally free run of the place if it was up to me.

Bailey gave a baleful growl when I tried to pull my hand away, and I quickly brought it back behind his ear. He calmed back down.

Mommy and daddy will be back, I told him. They’ll only be gone a few days. You’ll see! Until then I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for the holidays, and I’m stuck with you. So we’re just going to have to get used to one another. Sound like a deal?

Bailey let out a last, defeated whimper. He let me have my arm back, then let his wrinkly long face sink to the cool tile floor.

Now don’t be like that, I said. "I’m not that bad! Here, I’ll prove it to you." 

I drew out a hand and offered the pup a juicy red pellet of meat from between my fingers. Instantly he perked up, ears lifting, his nostrils going wild at the scent of my offering.

Huh? I told you, didn’t I? I said, grinning at his reaction. I might be your captor for the next several days, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still try to spread a little holiday cheer...

Bailey cautiously approached. His nostrils dilated more and more as he approached, as though the concept of meat was enticing, yet somehow totally foreign to him. At last his rippling chins wobbled down, and I giggled as I felt the heat of his tongue wrapping around the tips of my fingers, quickly stealing away the morsel.

"Hehehe! Are you a lizard or something, Bailey?"

I absently wiped my wet fingers on my pant leg, and watched as Bailey smacked his lips around the treat, his teeth clacking together as he chewed.

Almost, I thought. Almost...

And, PTOO!

Clack, clack, clack went the little white heartworm pill, bouncing happily along the tile floor.

Darn it! I cried, I was so close!

Bailey gave a little bit of a grumble, ran that long pink tongue over his lips a couple of times, and then swallowed, staring up at me.

Bailey, that was the entire point of me giving you that meat in the first place. I guess I’ve got to wake up pretty early in the morning to fool you, huh?

He sneezed.

Yeah, yeah, I said, picking up the little goobery pill from the floor. "Well I’m sorry. I know you don’t like it, but you aren’t getting away with this that easily... I need you to be a good boy Bailey, and take your medicine.

I reached for him again, shoving the pill in his face. He turned his head away, naturally, and tried to back away. I grabbed him by the collar, and turned him back to face me. I pressed the heartworm pill forward between his lips, and it was stopped by the locked gate of his sharp yellow teeth.

Come on, pooch! Be a good boy... Pleeeeease?

He let out a grumble of protest, turned away a couple of times, and finally I managed to pop the pill in through a gap in his incisors.

Haha! I said triumphantly. He was about to spit it back out again when I grabbed him gently by the muzzle. I tilted his head back, still holding his mouth shut. He twitched a little, trying to free himself, but I didn’t have to hold him too hard to keep him from doing so.

Come on! I begged. Come on, please just swallow! I promise it will all be over just as soon as you do!

His eyes turned watery, and his muzzle twitched. He bared his teeth threateningly, making me worry he might try to snap at me. But finally he took in a powerful gulp, and I felt his throat gurgling against me.

I quickly drew my hands back, not wanting him to be pissed off at me any longer than he had to be.

"There! That’s a good boy! That’s a good boy! See,