Santa Search And Rescue — Bethany Sefchick

It's a few days before Christmas and something big has crash-landed in Julia Logan's backyard. About to lose her job and unable to find another one, she doesn't need this kind of headache, especially when all she can think about is how alone she'll be for the holidays. Right now, all she wants is nothing more than to indulge in a quiet evening of self-pity. When she risks a peek into her backyard, however, there's no one there, not even George, her always-drunk next-door neighbor. Not a darn thing in sight. Well, except for a sleek black belt with a shiny gold buckle. That looks like the kind of thing a thief might take and then accidentally drop, right? Suddenly, Julia is afraid her quiet night might not be so quiet after all.

Alexander Berry is in the middle of the worst crisis of his career as Santa's Head Elf. The big guy himself has crashed somewhere in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area during a pre-Christmas test flight and he's not responding to radio calls. In fact, there's nothing but silence, not even a blip on the GPS, and that's not good. Gathering the Santa Search and Rescue team of commando elves, Alex is forced to track Santa down the hard way, and the only piece of information he has to go on is the belt Julia currently has in her possession.

Can Alex find Santa before Christmas is ruined? Will Julia's living room forever be occupied by camo-wearing, gun wielding elves on a mission to find Big Red himself? And can Julia and Alex find a love connection that lasts beyond Christmas Eve, even if one is human and one an elf?

This 23,030-word short story is written in the modern, adult romance style for a hotter read. It may not be appropriate for younger audiences.