‘Thank heavens for that!’ he exclaimed, tossing his bag onto a chair and shrugging off his heavy quilted jacket. ‘I was just beginning to wonder what I’d let myself in for.’
Katie wasn’t sure what he meant by that. However, a glance at the clock warned her that she didn’t have the time to investigate it right then. She quickly took the robes off the hanger and handed them to him.
‘These should fit you length-wise but you’re a lot slimmer than Jim so I’m going to have to pad you out round the middle. Can you start getting ready while I see what I can find?’
‘Will do.’
He obediently dragged his sweater over his head and Katie hastily averted her eyes when she was suddenly presented with the sight of a very tanned and very muscular abdomen. She quickly left the room, trying to blot out the image of that fit male body because she had more important things to worry about than her new Santa’s superb physique.
Five minutes later she was on her way back with a couple of pillows and some bandages that she’d borrowed from the orthopaedic ward. There were just ten minutes left before the concert was due to start and she muttered a silent prayer that Nick would be dressed as she backed into the room. The timing of the concert was crucial if they weren’t to disrupt the whole routine of the hospital. The day staff were due to go off duty at six o’clock when the night staff would take over. Several of the carol singers were on night duty, herself included, so it was vital that they finished on time. It was little wonder that her stomach was churning with nerves when she turned to see how Nick was faring, but she needn’t have worried. Not only had he changed into the robes but he’d put on the wig and the beard as well. He looked so stupendous, in fact, that Katie gaped at him in amazement and he chuckled.
‘So how do I look?’ He performed a slow twirl, his hazel eyes gleaming with laughter as he turned to face her again. ‘Think I’ll pass muster with the kids?’
‘Oh, definitely!’ Katie could barely contain her delight. ‘You look absolutely fantastic. You’d think those robes had been made specially for you, in fact. All you need now is the padding and you’ll be the perfect Santa every child dreams about.’
‘We aim to please.’
He swept her a laughing bow and her breath caught when she realised all of a sudden just how handsome he was. Even with that ridiculous beard there was no hiding the fact that he was an extremely good-looking man so that she was all fingers and thumbs as she set about fashioning a paunch for him.
‘Here, let me help you. It’s a bit tricky trying to do it all by yourself. If I hold the pillows in place you can just wrap those bandages around me.’
Nick quickly unbuttoned his robe and held the pillows against his tanned midriff. Katie took a steadying breath before she started to wind the bandage neatly around his waist. This wasn’t the right moment to panic, she told herself sternly. She didn’t have the time!
‘You may need to fasten them on a bit higher up as well.’ Nick jiggled about, grimacing when the pillows immediately doubled over in the middle. ‘See what I mean? Wrap some of that bandage round my chest as well. That should do the trick.’
Katie sucked in another breath as she set about bandaging the pillows to his upper torso. It was harder to reach around him now because he was so much broader around the chest and a spasm of awareness shot through her when her fingers encountered warm, bare flesh. It was a relief when the last bit of bandage had been fastened into place.
‘That’s better.’ Nick buttoned up the robe, nodding his approval as he patted his newly acquired paunch. ‘I look a bit more like the kind of Father Christmas the kids will be expecting, don’t I?’
‘You look great,’ Katie muttered, quickly moving away. She’d fitted all the male members of staff for their costumes but not once had she felt as aware of them as she’d felt of Nick just now and it was rather alarming to have to admit it. She’d promised herself that she wouldn’t rush into another relationship after what had happened with David. The next time she got involved with someone she would take her time and get to know him properly. Maybe there was an excuse for what she’d done because she’d been so lonely after her parents had died that she’d not been thinking clearly. However, she intended to learn from her mistake and not repeat it.
She cleared her throat, hoping that Nick couldn’t tell how jittery she felt. ‘You just need to put your hood on now and then you’re ready.’
‘Right.’ Nick pulled the hood over his head then looked at her. ‘How’s that?’
‘I’m not sure…I think your wig’s a bit crooked.’
‘Better?’ he asked, quickly adjusting it.
‘No, it’s still not right. It looks as though it’s drooping over your right eye.’
‘You’d better do it, then.’
He sat down on a chair, obviously expecting her to adjust the wig to her own satisfaction. Katie went and stood in front of him, hoping he couldn’t tell how loath she was to touch him in case the same thing happened again. Using the very tips of her fingers, she tweaked the wig into place then hastily stepped back when he reached for the mirror.
‘That’s better,’ he declared, studying his reflection from various angles. ‘What about the beard, though? It looks a bit uneven to me. Maybe you should fix that as well?’
‘It’s fine,’ she assured him because she really couldn’t face the thought of having to set to work on his beard next…
She bit her lip because she could just imagine how stressful it would be to smooth that cotton wool around his mouth. What on earth was the matter with her? she wondered desperately. Why was she having all these crazy thoughts about a stranger? It was impossible to say so it was a relief when Vicky poked her head round the door.
‘How did you get on, Katie? Did you manage to find—? Oh, wow!’
Katie summoned a smile as Vicky came into the room. ‘So what do you think of our new Santa?’
‘Brilliant!’ Vicky declared in obvious admiration. ‘I don’t know who you are in real life, Santa, but I’d let you bounce me on your knee any day of the week!’
‘Thank you.’ Nick grinned at her, his teeth gleaming whitely even through the snowy folds of his beard. ‘I could return the compliment. In fact, the next time I need a fairy to assist me you’ll be at the very top of my list!’
Katie quickly battened down her irritation when Vicky giggled. There was no point wishing that she’d been wearing one of the fairy costumes because that would be stupid. She headed for the door, deeming it wiser to stick to the task at hand. ‘It’s time to make a start so shall we go and find the others?’
Vicky hurriedly followed her out of the room. However, Katie couldn’t help noticing that she hung back so she could walk with Nick. They passed a couple of late visitors who were leaving and she gritted her teeth when she heard Nick give a booming ‘ho-ho-ho’ as he wished them a merry Christmas. He seemed to be adapting to the role rather too easily, she thought sourly, then realised how perverse that thought was. The fact that Nick seemed to have a preference for fairies rather than elves wasn’t a good enough reason to wish he’d make a hash of things!
The idea was so ridiculous that Katie chuckled then hurriedly turned it into a cough when she saw Nick staring at her. ‘Bit of frog in the throat,’ she explained, leading the way into the staffroom where the rest of the party was waiting. She quickly introduced Nick to everyone by telling them simply that he’d offered to play the part of Santa without going into detail. If he did demand payment then she’d have to work something out, but she wasn’t going to spoil everyone’s afternoon by mentioning money.
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