the mistletoe if they got a chance. His office seemed weighted with women and every year there was too much alcohol and too much skin, as far as I was concerned.

This year, I decided that if I couldn't beat them, I was going to join them. I bought myself a little red satin dress, sleeveless and short-shorter than anything I'd owned before. I didn't wear stockings with it, just a pair of black panties, and no bra. It was pretty low-cut, although I didn't have enough cleavage to make it stand out that much.

When I came down the stairs, John did a double take from the couch, putting down his paper and staring at me.

"You're gonna be cold," he told me, getting my coat from the closet.

"No, see," I said, picking up a sheer mesh shawl I'd left on the table and putting it over my shoulders.

He snorted. "I doubt that will keep you warm."

I smiled as he helped me on with my coat. "Well, you can… help keep me warm."

He kissed my neck, exposed because my long dark hair was put up, making me shiver. "I just might take you up on that later."

Kelly and Chris pulled their little Escort in next to John's dark blue Beemer Roadster just after we arrived.

"I thought you weren't coming," I called out to Kelly, pulling my coat together against the wind.

"Miss a night out of the house without the kidlet?" Kelly said, taking Chris' hand and tugging him with her toward me.

"Plus there's the free booze," Chris added, grinning.

"It's all on me," John said, taking my hand and starting toward the restaurant.

John had rented an entire room and hired a DJ-it looked like a set-up for a wedding, minus all the favors. There were probably thirty people there already, although we were a little early, and they were standing around with drinks in their hands or sitting at tables and talking. I let John take my coat and Kelly's eyes widened when she saw me.