Santa Actually by Rosa Lucas

November 9, 2026

The Santa I climbed on Friday is the billionaire firing half my office by Monday.The rules of the Naughty or Nice Audit are pull a dare from the velvet stocking, no chickening out.My dare? March across a packed London pub, dressed as the world’s least family-friendly elf, climb onto the lap of the brooding Santa, and claim a kiss under a sprig of plastic mistletoe.Easy.Except the man under the fake beard is six-foot-three of scowling, gorgeous, growly Irishman with no business looking that good in a Santa suit.One reckless night in a five-star hotel later, I float into Monday morning’s emergency work meeting with my festive spirit thoroughly restored . . . and there he is.Lorcan Fitzpatrick. Billionaire private equity shark. The ruthless “corporate butcher” who just bought my publishing company and plans to slash half the staff by New Year.I didn’t sleep with a random Santa.I slept with my new boss.Grumpy, off-limits, ten years older, and holding my beloved career in his big hands. The man who decides whether I spend January drawing comics or moving back into Mum’s box room.Oh, and one tiny detail. The Christmas edition of my spicy comic goes to print in ten days . . . starring a filthy Santa who looks exactly like him.If he recognizes himself, I’m done for.Santa Actually is a standalone, steamy holiday romcom novella featuring a grumpy billionaire boss x sunshine heroine, one-night stand to forced proximity, age gap, off-limits workplace tension, a growly Irish hero, all the Christmas feels, and a swoon-worthy happily-ever-after.