Blame it on the eggnog, p.1
Blame It On the Eggnog, page 1
Blame It On The Eggnog
Samantha Baca
Table of Contents
Title Page
Blame It On The Eggnog (Sugarplum Falls, #2)
Copyright © 2022 by Samantha Baca.
One | Sunny
Two | Elliott
Three | Sunny
Four | Elliott
Five | Sunny
Six | Elliott
Seven | Sunny
Eight | Elliott
Nine | Sunny
Ten | Elliott
Eleven | Sunny
Twelve | Elliott
Thirteen | Sunny
Fourteen | Elliott
Fifteen | Sunny
Sixteen | Elliott
Seventeen | Sunny
Eighteen | Elliott
Nineteen | Sunny
Twenty | Elliott
Twenty-One | Sunny
Twenty-Two | Elliott
Twenty-Three | Sunny
Twenty-Four | Elliott
Twenty-Five | Sunny
Twenty-Six | Elliott
Epilogue | Sunny | Six Months Later
Other Books By Samantha Baca
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Sugarplum Falls Series (Can be read in any order)
Blame It On The Mistletoe
Blame It On The Eggnog
Blame It On The Candy Canes
Blame It On The Reindeer
Blame It On The Carols
Blame It On The Blizzard
Copyright © 2022 by Samantha Baca.
All rights reserved. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, this book has been pirated, and you are stealing. Please delete it from your device and support the author by purchasing a legal copy.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law. This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Cover Design: Richard Baca
Image (s): DepositPhotos
One
Sunny
“You’re late,” growled the six-foot-tall beast with piercing blue eyes and brown hair that was glaring at me.
Normally, I would have found him attractive with his broad shoulders and defined jawline, but his attitude alone was enough to turn me off.
“Sorry, there was a reindeer issue on Main Street.” I hung my purse on the coat rack behind the door and pulled my scarf from my neck.
“Reindeer?” He arched a perfectly groomed eyebrow.
“Yeah, there was a carrot fiasco, and one of the reindeer got loose. It was a big mess and blocked all lanes of traffic, hence my delay.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” he mumbled, pushing a strong hand through his neatly trimmed hair.
Elliott Weston was new to Sugarplum Falls and was currently the talk of the town, which was huge given that Christmas was in full force. One thing Sugarplum Falls prided itself on was its Christmas spirit, and that showed with how much the town decorated. I wasn’t going to be the town’s rat, but Elliott was soon going to go from being talked about because he was so good-looking to being talked about because he didn’t have a single decoration up—inside or outside. That was basically a sin in Sugarplum Falls.
“So,” I started, hoping to change the subject. “Your email said you’re looking for help with Alex five days a week. It also mentioned that you might have an occasional weekend where you would need me to watch him as well.”
“Yes,” he replied, walking briskly to the kitchen and leaving me to follow. “My job keeps me rather busy, however, I work from home, so I’m looking for someone who can take care of Alex while keeping the noise level to a minimum. If that means that you need to take him out of the house during my meetings, then so be it. I will handle any expenses that are incurred from those outings.”
“Okay,” I said, sitting down in the chair he pulled out before taking one at the other end of the long wooden table. “I understand that he’s three, and according to my notes, he’s not enrolled in preschool, correct?”
I looked up at him to find his eyes locked on me. I nervously tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and tried not to appear taken aback. I was basically the town’s nanny but had never met a parent who intimidated me as much as Elliott did.
“No, he’s not in preschool.”
I pulled my lips into a thin line and was about to look back at the notes I’d written on the email I printed out when Alex came running into the kitchen.
“Can we play Legos?” he asked, yanking on the sleeve of Elliott’s shirt that wrapped snugly around his bicep. I noticed a hint of tribal ink and looked away as he turned and picked the boy up to set him on the table.
“I’m talking with Sunny right now, but we can play when I’m done.”
Alex turned and looked at me, cuddling into his dad’s chest as he noticed the stranger in the kitchen.
“Can you say hi? Sunny is going to be your new nanny.”
I smiled warmly, hoping to show him that I was nice.
“But I want Magda,” Alex pouted and tucked his head into Elliott’s chest again.
“Magda was his nanny in Florida.”
I nodded but said nothing.
“Why don’t you go watch your movie, and I’ll come get you when we’re done?”
He set Alex back on the floor and patted his back before the boy ran off to the living room.
It was a large, spacious house with beautiful marble floors and brand-new appliances in the kitchen. I hadn’t seen the rest of the house yet, but I imagined it was just as gorgeous.
Once we were alone again, Elliott went back into business mode. He went over his schedule and his expectations while I rushed to jot everything down. I was used to working as a nanny for several different families at one time and only as needed.
If I took this job, I would be working exclusively for him, which meant we would be spending a lot of time together. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for such a big step, but I shook his hand and agreed to be there bright and early tomorrow morning anyway.
Two
Elliott
When I picked Sunny to interview as the new nanny for Alex, I pictured an older woman with wrinkled skin who moved slowly and baked fresh chocolate chip cookies. I didn’t expect a young, busty blond with curves and legs for days. But after checking her resume, I realized Sunny graduated high school five years ago, which made her twenty-two or twenty-three, unless she was some child genius who graduated early.
I tried to stay professional and focus on the task at hand, but her dark blonde locks had me transfixed on her lips which were painted a light pink glossy color. They were full and pouty and begged to be kissed. Not that I would kiss her—she was far too young for me, and I was hiring her to take care of my son, not me.
Though I really wanted to play with her.
I played Legos with Alex for an hour before cleaning up and starting dinner. We had been in Sugarplum Falls for two weeks, and it felt like I was still trying to find stuff around the house. I rushed to get us unpacked, but that also meant that I didn’t remember where half of it went.
Finally, I found the spices that I was looking for and got started.
Alex was sitting at the kitchen table, coloring while I cooked. I loved the time I got with him, but lately, it felt like it was less and less. Work was getting busier, and soon, I would be working overtime again.
It was four weeks until Christmas, and our sales started booming right after Thanksgiving. Who knew that sex toys were the go-to gift for that special loved one? But every year, our reports showed the same spikes during Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day.
I turned on the radio mounted beneath one of the cabinets and found a station playing Christmas music. This year was going to be rough for Alex with so many changes, but I prayed that he was young and resilient enough to handle it without much pushback.
His mother and I had been separated for two years—pretty much right after his first birthday. She’d been gone since and hadn’t bothered to see him once. He didn’t remember much about her, but I still kept a few pictures of them together hung in his room so he could see her if he wanted to. While I couldn’t stand the woman, she was still his mother. I owed it to him to give him a chance to know who she was if he wanted to.
When we finally filed for divorce last month, I was furious that she demanded custody of Alex unless I gave her the house in Florida. I knew she didn’t want to be a mother and was just using him to get what she wanted, which made me hate her even more. Children should never be used as bargaining chips.
But when it came down to the nitty gritty, I agreed to give her the property in Florida, as well as the yacht, the BMW, and the dog. In exchange, I got full custody of Alex. At the end of the day, I would give up every penny I had to my name if it meant that I had my son.
I turned the stove off and moved the skillet from the burner.
“Alright, Buddy, it’s time for dinner. Clean up your mess and go wash your hands.”
“Okay, Daddy!” He jumped up and collected his crayons before putting them back in the box.
He was a great kid, and I loved that I didn’t have to fight with him to do the stuff I asked him to do.
I scoope d some hotdogs and potatoes onto his plate, added some ketchup, and then set it on the table while he washed his hands. I could hear him singing while the water ran and laughed. How could anyone not want to be around this cool little dude?
He came out a few minutes later and joined me at the table. We bowed our heads, said a prayer, and then started eating.
“So, what did you think of Sunny?” I asked.
He shrugged and pierced a piece of hotdog with his fork.
“She seems nice, doesn’t she?” I pressed, hoping that he would be open to having a new nanny.
He shrugged again and kept eating.
I knew it would be difficult for him not to have Magda around. Hell, if I could have gotten her in the divorce, I would have asked. He was closer to her than anyone else, and it broke my heart when I told him we were moving.
There was nothing keeping us in Florida. In fact, it was the hurricanes and his mother that pushed me as far from there as possible. When I looked into safe places to raise children, an article came up about Sugarplum Falls, Idaho. Not only was it hundreds of miles away from my ex-wife, Sharon, but it was also close to the company that manufactured our products which meant that I could pop in and check on things as needed.
I single handedly started Dark Vibes when I was twenty-two and turned it into the multi-billion-dollar company it is today after fifteen years of hard work and dedication. When people ask why I decided to start a sex toy company, I smile and tell them that I’ve always known what women want. That’s why 90% of our products are designed for them. Men are easy to please; women, on the other hand, deserve more attention.
Alex and I finished up dinner, and then I read him a story and put him to bed. I was having a hard time winding down for the night when I knew Sunny would be showing up at my door first thing in the morning. I tried to keep reminding myself that she was just coming to do a job and scolded my cock for getting so excited.
Three
Sunny
I arrived a few minutes early, nervous to start my first day.
The door opened, and Elliott stood on the other side wearing jeans and a tight-fitting polo, looking absolutely delicious.
“Good morning,” I said, stepping inside as he held the door open for me.
“Morning.”
The nerves that I felt before I saw him were now magnified to DEFCON 1.
“Alex is still sleeping. He should be up soon.”
“Okay,” I said, reminding myself that I had done this a thousand times and right now wasn’t any different. “I’ll look over our notes about his daily routine; however, if there’s anything specific you’d like me to handle first, please let me know. If not, I’ll wait for him to get up, and then we’ll get the day started.”
“Go ahead and let him sleep however long he wants to. He’s good about taking care of using the bathroom on his own when he wakes up, but sometimes he needs a gentle reminder.”
“Got it. Is there anything you’d like me to fix him for breakfast?”
“I went grocery shopping yesterday, so the fridge is fully stocked. Help yourself to whatever you’d like. As far as Alex, he can be a picky eater in the morning, so I usually let him tell me what he wants.”
“Sounds good. Would you like me to fix anything for you?”
His brow furrowed for a brief moment.
“No, that’s not necessary. Your job is to take care of Alex, not tend to me.”
I raised an eyebrow in irritation.
“You may not be used to small cities, Mr. Weston, but it’s just common courtesy to offer food to everyone in the house—whether it’s your job or not. It’s called being a decent human being.”
Elliott opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Alex walking down the hallway, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
“Hey, good morning, Buddy. How did you sleep?”
He knelt in front of him, getting to his eye level.
“Good.”
“I have to start my day, but Sunny is going to hang out with you and make some breakfast. Just let her know what you want, okay?”
Alex nodded and looked up at me, unsure whether to trust me, as Elliott ruffled his hair and then walked down the hall to his office.
Once I heard the door close, I squatted in front of him and held out my hand.
“We haven’t officially met,” I said. “I’m Sunny.”
His small hand fell lightly into mine as he shook it. It felt weird to be introduced to a kid like this, but their situation was different. When I would nanny for someone in town, it was always families that I already knew and children that I was familiar with. I hadn’t had a child who didn’t know me before, and I was worried that Alex would take a long time to open up to me.
“I’m Alex.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you, but I’m sure you’re curious about me. So, why don’t we get you ready for the day, and you can ask me any questions you have. We’ll be spending a lot of time together, so I want you to feel comfortable around me.”
He nodded and pulled his hand back.
“Alright, first things first,” I said, standing up and walking with him down the hallway to the bathroom. I smiled when he noticed the Converse shoes I was wearing, his little blue eyes staring at them in amazement. They were plain white when I bought them, but I’d painted different characters on them over the past few months and wore them whenever I was nannying. I had a few pairs that I’d done this with and took a chance on wearing my superhero ones today, hoping they would have characters that Alex might recognize.
I waited outside the bathroom while he closed the door and took care of his business. Once he was done, I had him give me a tour of the house. While I could have asked Elliott to show me around, I found that it built a better bond with the kids if I allowed them to show me. It gave them a sense of pride to show off what was important to them and made them feel included in what we were doing.
We headed into the kitchen, and I opened the fridge, scanning the contents to see what we were working with.
“What would you like for breakfast?” I asked, peeking around the door to look at him.
“Pancakes with the little sprinkles in them.”
“Sprinkles?”
He nodded.
This wasn’t my first rodeo, and Elliott had already warned me that Alex could be a picky eater. I closed the door and joined him at the table.
“That sounds fun. Can you tell me more about them?”
His eyes lit up as he went into great detail about the pancakes. Apparently, they were special pancakes that his other nanny used to make him. I asked as many questions as possible until I felt confident I could recreate what he was asking for.
I searched through the cabinets, hoping to find what I needed but came up empty handed. I hated the disappointed look on Alex’s face when I broke it to him that there were no sprinkles. I was feeling defeated until I found a bag of chocolate chips.
“Have you ever had chocolate smiley face pancakes?” I asked, shaking the bag in front of me.
He shook his head but didn’t have the enthusiasm I hoped for.
“Would you like to try some?”
“Okay,” he sighed with a shrug.
I opened the box of pancake mix and got started. I checked on Alex several times as he sat at the kitchen table and watched me. I offered for him to come help, but he declined. He needed time to get used to me, so I didn’t take it personally. It was a big step for him to try something new with the smiley face pancakes, so I wasn’t going to press my luck.
Once they were done, I plated one and set it in front of him, waiting for his reaction.
He looked at them and then smiled.
I sighed a breath of relief and sat down while he ate.
The day might’ve started a little shaky, but I was confident it would get better.
Four
Elliott
“What do you mean the vibrator isn’t vibrating? That’s literally its only job,” I muttered into the phone, annoyed that our product manager was reporting an issue with a new toy we were launching this week.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to ignore the throbbing headache that was forcing its way over my eyes.
