Epiphany (Santa's Helpers 5)

Santa's Helpers: Epiphany
Mychael Black
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2012 Mychael Black

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Kael Selwyn stared at the plastic-wrapped pile of green fabric in his hand and contemplated hurling it at the back of his manager's head. But winter wasn't the best time to be unemployed, so he swallowed the urge. What paragon of brilliance came up with this idea, anyway?

Sighing, Kael resigned himself to his fate and escaped into the men's bathroom. He locked himself in the handicapped stall, briefly wondering if he could fit through the floor drain. Fuck it. He stripped off his clothes and wiggled into the costume. The bright green material hugged every single inch, which would've been perfect if he'd been going to a rave -- and in black. Right now, though, it only proved that elven men were quite... well-endowed. Flesh-colored, plastic elf ears dropped out of the folded red hat. Kael rolled his eyes and tossed the ears into the garbage. Then he tucked his longish, ponytailed hair behind his own -- real -- pointed ears and put on the hat.

He purposely ignored the mirror and stuffed his clothes in a corner of the manager's office before heading back onto the floor. His coworkers all seemed rather content in their seasonal attire. The men were dressed like obscene elves, while the women wore the skimpiest Mrs. Claus outfits allowed by law. Thank the gods the restaurant catered more toward adults; Kael didn't think any child should be traumatized by the wait staff.

The place already swarmed with patrons. Most of them seemed to be shoppers, if the bags around their feet and in empty chairs were any indication. Order book in hand, Kael headed for the first table seated in his section. The guy had a menu in hand, head bent down while he looked over the choices.

"Welcome to Grady's. I'm Kael and I'll be your server. Can I get you something to drink while you look over the menu?"

The guy looked up, and Kael wished with all his heart that he could sink into the floorboards. The man's smile only made the humiliation complete. It figured the cute one would sit in his section -- today out of all days.

"Nice outfit."

Kael scowled. "It's not out of choice, believe me."

"You're not the Christmas type?"

Kael gestured to one pointed ear, eyebrow raised. "Most of us don't celebrate it."

"Ah." The man returned his gaze to the menu, giving Kael a welcome relief from eyes the color of milk chocolate. "I'll start with a Pepsi. Do you have a favorite appetizer?"

Kael wrote down the drink order and shrugged. "I like the mozzarella cheese sticks, but I hear the potato skins are good, too."

"Then I'll get the combo appetizer platter. Hopefully I'll figure out the rest of my meal by the time you come back."

With a nod, Kael hurried off before he went up in flames.

* * *

Ryan Garrett gave up the pretense of perusing the menu in favor of watching the sweetest ass on the planet walk away from his table. Kael... And a true elf at that. Even though elves first came out of hiding decades ago, most people still fawned over them. Ryan had a few elven friends who avoided crowds just for that reason alone. He couldn't blame them, really. This elf, though, caught his attention. Slim yet toned body, black hair that seemed to be just past his shoulders, and alluring pale green eyes -- Kael exuded sex appeal on every level...