Jill Shalvis - Kiss Me,Katie! Hug Me, Holly!

S HE WAS REALLY going to do it, she was going to seduce Santa Claus. It wasnt that she had a thing for guys in a white beard and red suit, although she did have to admit, she liked the belly laugh.

But what Katie Wilkins really wanted was the man beneath the costume. Mr. Perfect from the executive offices down the hall. He was everything she wanted in a man: mature, polishedsafe. So safe that shed known him all year and he hadnt once made a move on her.

She hoped to change that tonight.

The holiday party was in full swing around her, even though Christmas was still three weeks away. Christmas carols blared out of speakers hanging from the rafters of the hangar, and everyone from the airplane mechanics to Mr. Riggs, the director of Wells Aircraftthe small, private airport where they all workedwas ready to party with the proper festive spirit.

The spiked punch helped.

Or thats what Katie figured when she saw Mrs. Giddeon, their usually prim receptionist, with an empty glass in one hand and Mr. Riggs in the other, a decisively naughty gleam in her eye as she dragged him toward the mistletoe hanging from the nose of a jet parked in the far corner.

Then there were Dale, Jake and Evan, the linemen, and usually the most polite of young men, cheering and egging on Julie, Cassandra and Eloise, three of the women in her office, who were at the moment exhibiting go-go dancing skills to the tune of Jingle Bell Rock.

Katie shook her head in amazement. She hadnt imagined this when shed volunteered to decorate. Shed known everyone had been working hard, trying to keep up with the expansion plans that had them putting in long hours and stressful times with new clients. But to totally let loose? Was she the only grown-up here?

It felt like it.

And yet, from deep inside her came a yearning to join them, to brush off years of restraint, down a glass of spiked punch and toss caution to the wind.

Which brought her back to jumping Santas bones.

Katie glanced across the huge hangar, wildly decorated with gold and silver streamers, red and green ornaments, and of course the pathetic four-foot Christmas tree. Pathetic because, this being Southern California, and a drought year at that, the poor tree looked as though it were on its last legs.

Next to the straining tree stood Santa. Tall, smiling and charismatic. Because she knew who was under the suit, Matt Osborne, a.k.a. Mr. Perfect, her heart sighed.

Go for it, a little voice whispered in her head. Do it. Kiss him.

As a rule, Katie didnt feel the holiday spirit. She wasnt exactly Scrooge, but the truth was, shed been Christmas cursed. It had all started when she was six. Her neighbor, Holly Stone, got the Barbie vacation house and Katie didnt. Then, when they were twelve, and still neighbors, Holly cheated at her holiday party spin-the-bottle game in order to kiss the boy Katie had a crush on. The topper had come three years ago, when theyd been twenty-oneno longer neighbors, but in the small town of San Limo there was no escaping anyoneand Holly had stolen Katies fianc.

Her own fault really. Katie knew she was too careful, too methodicaltoo much like an accountant, darn it. Yes, she was happy enough, financially stable, yadda yadda.

But she was also dateless.

This was the year that would change. No more bad luck. She was going to see to it herself. She was going to make a Christmas wish, a really good one, and make sure it came true.

What she would wish for would be different from anything shed ever wished for before. Not a new adding machine, not a new pair of slippers, not a new set of I.R.S. regulations. No, this year she wanted a knockout kiss from Matt Osborne; sophisticated, handsome, intelligent, and all-around perfect guy.

Youre not going to chicken out, are you?

Katie rolled her eyes, then because that was an irrationally childish gesture, she carefully schooled her features into indifference before turning to face Holly, aforementioned arch rival, and unfortunate co-worker. Holly was decked out in a sexy little silver-sequined number that blared self-confidence, and a perfect size-six frame, to the world.

I never chicken out, Katie said.

Holly laughed deeply. We dont have time to go down that road.

I dont see you kissing anyone.

Im not the one with a boring sex life.

Nonexistent was more like it, Katie thought.

Besides Holly examined her perfect manicure, which was neon red and topped with ten different, and very wicked, appliqus of Santa in compromising situations. If I wanted to kiss Matt, Id just go right up to him, grab him and plant one on him. Im not shy.