LITMIR.BIZ

      Celeste shook her head and tried to blink away the image she was sure she had to be imagining. But when she opened her eyes again, the unwanted vision stood clear as day in front of her still.

      This couldn’t be happening. “You’re the nasty Santa?”

      Her words came out harsher and louder than she’d intended. Every eye currently in the concierge lounge turned to stare at her. She distinctly heard a giggle of feminine laughter from behind her somewhere.

      To his credit, Reid Evanson looked as shocked as she was at the unexpected turn. Suddenly, the events of the morning seemed to make much more sense. She definitely hadn’t been imagining the waves of dislike emanating from the man playing jolly ol’ St. Nick.

      Well, the feeling went both ways.

      “What are you doing here?” she demanded.

      He thrust his hands into his pockets before answering. “You’re the one who asked for me.”

      He was being deliberately obtuse. Celeste tried to summon some semblance of calm. It didn’t help that the gentleman she’d spoken to earlier was shifting his amused gaze from one of them to the other. None of this was the least bit amusing.

      “I mean, what are you doing here on this resort?”

      “You two know each other?” the other man wanted to know.

      “We were acquainted once,” Reid answered briefly.

      Despite herself, she found herself studying him. He’d aged well. Clean shaven before, he currently sported a close-cropped beard slightly darker than the sandy blond hair on his head. He wore said hair longer, nearly touching his shoulders. Instead of the Santa suit from earlier, he now wore a formfitting T-shirt tucked into pleated khaki pants. It all showed off the physique of a man who clearly took care of himself. Had he always been so muscular?

      “Why did you ask for me?” Reid wanted to know.

      “I didn’t. I asked to see Santa Claus.” This time, the person behind her didn’t even bother to try to hide her laughter. Heaven help her, she knew how ridiculous she sounded. She had half a mind to let out a giggle herself.

      Without another word, he stepped around the long, highly polished counter and gently took her by the elbow.

      “Let’s discuss all this in my office.”

      His office? The room he led her to, if it held human emotions, would have no doubt been insulted to be referred to as such. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooked a scenic beach with a majestic view of the crystal-blue ocean into the horizon. Plush carpeting had her feet sinking in her flip-flops. A grand desk with three large monitors sat in the center of it all.

      “You run the resort,” she commented as he shut the door behind him.

      “I own it. Along with my partner, Alex Wiliston. “He was the gentleman you were speaking with earlier.”

      The pieces started to fall into place. She remembered now that Reid came from a wealthy family of hoteliers. Though the family business had suffered some losses recently, Reid had taken the helm from his father and turned things around. Last she’d heard, Evanson Properties had not only returned to a profitable enterprise, the company had expanded, all thanks to the prodigal son.

      “You decided to expand into the resort business, I take it,” Celeste said.

      Something flickered behind his eyes. He gave a small nod before answering. “The Caribbean specifically.”

      “I see. But earlier this morning…when I saw you…” Now she was just rambling.

      “Just filling in for an employee who couldn’t make it at the last minute.”

      “I see,” she repeated uselessly.

      Suddenly, it was all too much. Far from fleeing her unpleasant associations with the holiday as it related to her failed relationship, she’d somehow ended up face-to-face with someone who’d played a major role in the whole fiasco.

      Reid had been her ex-fiancé’s best man. And she knew he’d never thought her good enough for his buddy.