Kiss Me at Midnight Read online

  Kiss Me at Midnight

  By D.M. Cupp

  Copyright 2012 D.M. Cupp

  Smashwords Edition

  Discover other titles by D.M. Cupp

  Business of the Heart

  Act of Love

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  About D.M. Cupp

  Contact D.M. Cupp

  Dedication

  I want to continue to thank my Family, Friends, and my Babe for their continued support of my crazy ideas and giving me the courage to pursue my dreams.

  To my Fans thank you for your continued support, comments, and loving my characters as much as I do.

  One

  “This sucks!” Jake Langston said sitting in the food court across from his friend Cassidy.

  “It’s not that bad,” Cassidy said reaching out and touching Jake’s forearm.

  “Really,” Jake asked with just the right amount of sarcasm. “I’m a college graduate and the only job I was able to get was a photographer in Santa’s workshop? This is not how I hoped to spend the holiday season. You know I hate the mall at this time of year.”

  “I know you do, but it’s only for a few weeks and you still have that chance to gain a position with that photographer’s company.”

  Jake sat in silent defeat for a moment. He was graduating college in seven days, and all his plans of having an amazing job lined up afterwards were nonexistent. He had pursued his passion of photography and had a good time during his internship, but that had just ended. He wasn’t stressed for money because he had been setting money aside so he wouldn’t be stressed when the internship ended and even though he wouldn’t have to wait until his next paycheck to arrive; he was now beginning to wonder when his next paycheck would come from a job he loved.

  “So when do you start?” Cassidy asked.

  “Friday morning,” Jake replied.

  “Well it’s only for a few weeks. I know you hate the job already, but it pays the bills. Right,” she asked.

  Cassidy had a way of pulling him from his bad moods. It was one reason the two got along so great. The two had met freshman year of college during an introduction course and became instant friends the moment they both saw this girl dressed to end up on the worse dress list and both replied ‘oh no she didn’t,’ in unison. A friendship was quickly formed and had been roommates the moment they had been allowed to move off campus.

  “You still coming over for dinner on Thursday,” Cassidy asked.

  “I wouldn’t miss it. Maybe I’ll eat so much turkey that I’ll get so full that I’ll sleep through this entire season.” Jake smiled grateful that he had someone to spend the holidays with.

  Cassidy’s family had opened their home to him since his family had disowned him when he came out to him at the end of his freshman year. It had been a time in his life that he thought he never would get through, but Cassidy had stuck by his side, and the family did again when he received an email from his sister that he hadn’t spoken to in four years informing him that his father had passed away.

  “It won’t be that bad. You know what I say ‘everything happens for a reason.’”

  “Well this must be for pure humiliation because you should see the uniform I have to wear. Not only do I work in Santa’s workshop, but apparently I’m one of Santa’s elves.”

  Cassidy almost choked on her sip of soda from laughter, “Warn a girl next time will you?” She said after swallowing the remaining drink and wiping up the spewed liquid on the table.

  “Well thanks for the moral support.”

  “I’m sorry it’s just the image I have. Do you have to –?”

  “Wear green tights?” He said finishing her sentence. “Yes, green tights, pointed ears, the works.” Jake was confident with his appearance, but not in a conceded way. He worked out from time to time, but never regularly to call him a gym bunny and he didn’t have a gym membership. He worked out at the gym equipment at the apartment and that worked great for him. It allowed him to maintain his muscle definition in his arms and legs toned.

  “I might just have to have my picture taken with Santa this year,” She said smiling. “You should make one sexy elf.”

  “Don’t you even think about it,” He said with a playful smirk.

  **

  “Madeline, are you almost ready?” Trent Brooks called from downstairs of his home. “Your breakfast is getting cold.”

  Trent walked back into the kitchen and picked up the three-day old paper. He never had time to read the paper anymore, and Saturday mornings had always been his time to sleep in and catch up on what was happening in the world around him. Now he had Madeline and his Saturday mornings had been swapped for ballet practice and soccer practice in the afternoons. Trent had never been more excited to see fall arrive in Austin when the weather would cool enough and Madeline only had ballet practice and he had a break from soccer until spring.

  “Good morning, Trent!” Madeline greeted bouncing into the kitchen and sitting down at the table to eat her now soggy bowl of cereal.

  “Well good morning princess. So glad you’ve decided to join me.”

  Madeline looked up from her bowl with a huge smile on her face. The eight year old hadn’t smiled like that in months and he was finally glad to see it return. He was afraid after the last few months that he would never see that smile again. The past six months had been an adjustment for the both of them.

  “This cereal is soggy.” She stated beginning to play with the cereal with her spoon.

  “Well if you had come down when you told me to pour your milk it wouldn’t be soggy now would it?” He grinned back at her. He stood and refilled his coffee mug and took a sip as he leaned against the counter. “If you’re going to just play with it are you ready for me to put your hair up into a bun for ballet?”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  Trent had never considered himself the father type. He was always great with kids but handing them back to the parents was the best part. Being fully responsible for them; well that was something Trent never thought he would be doing. Trent had been focused on his career and never had time for a relationship to develop into more than a casual fling. The other guy would want more and Trent would never have more time to give, and the other guy would move on.

  Now Trent was attending ballet recitals, PTA meetings, and running carpool one day a week. Trent’s life had been turned upside down, but through the ashes his life had changed…he had changed.

  “Alright princess let’s get that hair into a bun so we can get you to practice. We got to get you ready for the holiday recital in a few weeks.” Trent said shaking himself out of his thoughts and into the present.

  Two

  Jake stared into his bathroom mirror looking at his reflection now actual
ly wearing his elves uniform for his first day in Santa’s Workshop. The tights curved his legs and definitely showed his muscle definition. Jake began striking “sexy” poses in the mirror, but still knew that he would get strange looks for customers once he went into public.

  “Look at that sexy elf!” Cassidy whistled as Jake walked into the living room grabbing his keys.

  “I thought you would still be asleep.”

  “And miss your first day of work in your little elf customer? Not a chance in the world.” She smiled.

  “You are getting way too much enjoyment out of this to be my best friend. You know that?”

  “I’m just trying to prepare you for when you go into public.”

  “You’re very thoughtful then,” he replied knowing that she was more enjoying his humiliation, but not in a vindictive manner, but in an ‘I’m your best friend so I have the right to poke fun at your embarrassing moment with the understanding that you will do the same’ manner. “See you when I get home later.” He said turning and walking out the apartment. It was an hour until the mall opened Santa’s Workshop for the holiday season and he needed to meet everyone and maneuver the crowds that had already been at the mall for the day after Thanksgiving sales.

  **

  Trent had sat in the waiting area of the ballet school while Madeline had class for the hour. He passed the time by checking his emails and trying to decide what to get Madeline for Christmas. She was the type of kid that was every parent’s dream. She never wanted for much and when he would ask her what she wanted for Christmas her response was always, ‘you don’t have to get me anything. You’ve already done so much.’ It always broke his heart when she would respond in that manner. He was determined to give her a wonderful Christmas.

  The door that led to the classroom pushed open and out danced Madeline practicing her newest ballet moved that she had learned.

  “Did you have fun?” He asked.

  “Yes, Ms Amy said I was getting very good.” She said picking up her jacket that had been folded up next to him.

  “Well I can’t wait to see you in the recital. I bet you will be the best one on stage.”

  She looked up at him with her big brown eyes, “You have to say that,” she giggled.

  She looked more like her mother every day, “How about we go get our picture taken with Santa?”

  “Trent not in my ballet leotard I don’t want to look stupid,” she whined.

  “Well lucky for you I brought a change of clothes for you.” He said holding up a plastic bag.

  Her facial expression switched back to excite in an instant, “I’ll be right back,” she said taking the bag with her to the dressing room to change.

  He was relieved that she still believed in Santa. He knew children changed their interest on a moment’s notice, and was glad their annual tradition could continue.

  **

  “So these are the dressing rooms,” one of the mall office associates pointed out on this brief tour. “Make sure you smile and give Santa a few minutes to speak to the children and then take the shot. Remember to stay in character when on the floor, breaks need to be taken in the lounge, and you may leave for lunch, but you must change.”

  “Okay,” Jake replied trying to remember all the countless details the lady was reciting.

  A minute later the lady opened a door and the two entered a room with two other people dress as elves and an older man dressed as Santa. The group exchanged greetings, and was told that they would need to be ready in five minutes.

  Jake sat down and spoke to the other elves with small chit-chat. His mood didn’t improve when he learned the other two elves were high school seniors and were doing this for their first job. Jake simply wanted to crawl in the corner and die, but at least he was the photographer and they had to watch the line of kids all day.

  **

  “Come on!” Madeline hurried pulling Trent by the hand.

  “I’m coming. What’s the big hurry?”

  “I have to see Santa before the line gets too long. I have to tell him what I want.”

  Trent had to smile at the innocents of the gesture.

  The two waited in line for the past forty minutes as the line slowly progressed.

  “So what are you going to ask Santa for Christmas?”

  “I can’t tell you because you’re not Santa.”

  Trent continued to smile holding her jacket in his arms. Ten minutes later the two finally were next in line. For the past ten minutes he was close enough to catch a glimpse of the photographer and for some reason his stomach flipped at the young man that appeared to only be a few years younger. It had been years since his stomach had flipped at the sight of another guy before, and it had been months since his last fling. With Madeline in the house he didn’t feel comfortable bringing guys home because he didn’t want to introduce her to men that may not be around for a long period of time.

  “Hi and welcome to Santa’s Workshop,” the young man dressed as an elf standing behind the velvet rope greeted.

  “Hello,” Madeline greeted back.

  The young man knelt down to Madeline’s level, “Hi, I’m Charlie, are you ready to meet Santa?”

  “Well I’ve met him before. We get our pictures taken every year with him, but I really want to tell him what I want for Christmas.”

  “Oh yeah, well get ready little miss, Santa’s waiting just for you.” Charlie said unclasping the velvet rope allowing the two to pass through.

  Santa laughed as Madeline and Trent approached him, “Merry Christmas little lady, do you want to sit on Santa’s knee?”

  “Okay,” Madeline replied bravely for an eight year old.

  Trent lifted Madeline onto Santa’s knee and took a step back so the two could talk and so he could get a better view of the photographer. Trent felt a twitch in his pants and had to look away. He couldn’t get caught excited in Santa’s Workshop. Simply getting hard in public was embarrassing enough, but around Santa Workshop how would he explain that one, ‘sorry Santa one of your elves turned me on and gave me a woody.’

  “So what would you like for Christmas?” Santa asked regaining Trent’s attention. He had to learn what Madeline wanted since she wasn’t going to make it easy for him and tell him.

  “Well it really isn’t for me, but more for Trent,” she said pointing over her shoulder.

  Trent felt his face flush.

  “Oh okay, well what would you like me to get Trent,” Santa asked looking over at him.

  “Well the last few months have been really hard on both of us, and he has given up a lot for me, and I was wondering if you would be able to find him a boyfriend?” Madeline answered matter-of-factly.

  “Well that’s some request,” Santa responded looking up at Trent and smiling.

  Trent felt his entire face flush a deeper red, and he didn’t even think that was possible.

  “I’ll see what I can do little lady. Are you ready to take a picture?”

  “Yeah, come on Trent get in here.” Madeline said waving him closer.

  The photographer told the three to say ‘Christmas’ on the count of three. Trent helped Madeline down from Santa’s lap and walked towards the photographer.

  “The picture should be ready in about fifteen to twenty minutes,” he informed.

  “Thanks,” Trent said the butterflies returning and doing a dance in his stomach.

  Trent and Madeline walked around the mall looking at windows and enjoying each other’s company while they waited for the picture to develop. Trent had looked down at his watch and saw that it had been nearly two and a half hours since they had taken their picture with Santa.

  **

  The first four and half hours flew by and it was already time for lunch. Jake was standing at the register ringing up the last few customers that had just picked up their photos and posted the ‘Gone to Lunch’ sign when the gentleman and girl he noticed from a few hours ago walked up to the table.

  “Excuse me, I se
e you’re about to go to lunch, and we lost track of time, but could we pick up our photo we took earlier?”

  Jake looked up at the man and even though he was hungry he couldn’t help but smile, “Sure, do you have your ticket stub?”

  The man reached into his pockets and retrieved the stub and handed it to Jake. The man’s fingers gently brushed against Jake’s and he felt a tingle against his skin that surged through his body. Jake retrieved the photo and scanned the stub at the register.

  “Name,” Jake asked.

  “Excuse me?”

  “We have to enter your name and you sign your name electronically to show you received your photo.” Jake explained calmly.

  “Oh, yeah, Trent Brooks.” Trent responded handing him the money for the photo.

  “Well Trent Brooks y’all have a Merry Christmas,” Jake wished handing Trent his receipt and lord knows why but a piece of paper with his number scribbled on it.

  He didn’t even know if the guy was gay, but felt the guy wouldn’t overact being that he was in a crowded mall and with his little girl. He probably was married and this was his daughter or maybe he was divorced and this was his weekend with his little girl. The scenarios continued to play themselves out in his head.

  Trent began to walk away and looked down at the receipt and saw the additional piece of paper with a number and the name Jake. He turned and saw Jake walking away from the shop and through a mall door that lead to the backroom.

  Three

  “You gave him your number?” Cassidy asked sitting next to Jake on their couch in the living room.

  Jake flipped through channels as he recounted the events from his first day on the job. He also was in shock that he had given his number to some random guy.

  “You never do that!” Cassidy exclaimed.

  “I know I don’t. I’ve never even done that when we’ve gone out to the club. It’s different when someone asks you for your number, but I just gave it to him, and to top it off he was there with his little girl.”