Christmas Miracle Read Online Free

killer grins. God, those dimples were like craters. “Besides, I need you with me.”
    Mikki nodded automatically, then immediately wanted to kick herself. Confrontations were not her thing. But when Leslie Brooks called her “sweetheart,” she found she was willing to brave things she usually would run from, like an angry middle-aged mall manager who hated her on sight. She knew why—she just didn’t want to deal with it. Didn’t seem worth it. When Leslie and his attorney breezed past the sputtering secretary, Mikki cringed. This was going to be ugly, no two ways about it.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Davis Wright was not a good-looking man. Balding on the top of his head, what was left of his hair was dirt brown and oily looking. His skin was pale, pasty even. Furious for being interrupted by what he assumed was the mall Santa, his skin went bright red, even the top of his head.
    When his eyes landed on Mikki, they narrowed menacingly. She tried to shrink back from the glare, but Leslie was right there, holding her steady. “Buck up, sweetheart. I’m right here,” he whispered in her ear.
    “Did you catch that one trying to steal something? Probably trying to make off with the money from the Santa line,” Mr. Wright gloated. “I told you I’d be watching you, girl—”
    “Mr. Wright,” Gavin cut in before Mr. Wright could really get going. “I’m going to have to ask you to sign this nondisclosure agreement.” Setting his briefcase on top of Mr. Wright’s haphazard stacks of paper, he calmly pulled out the agreement and placed it in front of the other man. “After you sign, we can discuss the reason for this meeting.”
    “Meeting?” the manager jeered. “I don’t meet with seasonal workers. The two of you are fired.” He pointed directly at Mikki and Leslie. “There are plenty of people who’d love this—”
    His tirade died in his throat as Leslie removed the hat, wig, and beard, placing them on the desk. It would’ve been funny if this weren’t so serious.
    “Mr … .Mr. Brooks-I-I-” All Mr. Wright’s former blustering bravado dissipated as if it had never been. The mall manager was all sniveling sycophant all of the sudden. Mikki would’ve giggled if she wasn’t so confused and afraid as to what might happen. “I’m very sorry, sir, for this woman.” Oh, boy, the man wasn’t very bright was he? “I would have never—“
    “Sign the agreement.” Leslie’s voice was cold, his stare steely. Mikki couldn’t suppress the little feminine thrill at the purely male display of dominance.
    Mr. Wright rushed to do Leslie’s bidding, scribbling his name across the bottom of the page with a shaky hand. The poor, dumb bastard actually smiled expectantly when he was finished.
    “Mr. Wright, I just happened to be inside the locker room when you spoke to my girlfriend earlier today,” Leslie moved his arm to Mikki’s shoulder, pulling her in even closer so their bodies were pressed tightly together. Intimately tight. If it weren’t for his iron hold, she might have crumbled right there at his feet. This was all too surreal.
    I’m going to crawl into a hole and die, Mikki thought to herself. Ommigod, if this ever got out …
    But that was what the NDA was for. Mikki felt mildly relieved Mr. Wright had actually signed it. It would just be too embarrassing if the world knew Leslie Brooks had pretended she was his girlfriend just because some dude was rude to her. It was sweet on his part, but could she be more pathetic?
    “M-m-m-m-Mr. Brooks, I had no idea that she—that you—that … ” Mr. Wright’s face had turned from puce to purple, spittle flying from his thin, bloodless lips as his eyes nearly bulged from his face.
    “Really, it doesn’t matter whether or not Mikki is my girlfriend,” Leslie continued as if Mr. Wright hadn’t spoken. The things you said when you spoke to her do not reflect the values I am known for. This is my mall, therefore a