Page 13 of A Holly Jolly Mix Up (Sweet Christmas Kisses #12)
Andrew
“Harrington,” bellows Captain the second I’m through the door.
“Yes, sir?” I pivot toward the tall, uniformed man.
“I have a…job for you today,” he says, but the tiny twitch of a smile on his face warns me that I’m not going to like this “assignment.”
Let me preface, I love this town. I love serving its townspeople.
The communities, the camaraderie, the way everyone’s lives intertwine.
But, even for my affection for this charming little town, there are certain.
..obligations that I could do without. Like being volunteered for community events by my oh-so-amusing captain.
We have a bet going around about who will be the next victim of his. We’ve all had to do some type of embarrassing task that no one wants to do. Today, however, my name seems to be on the chopping block. I can see it in the glint of his eye; he enjoys torturing us .
I search my mind for an excuse, anything at this point. “Cap, I gotta find these thieves. Maybe the new guy can help you out.”
“Randy gave me an update an hour ago on the case. Do you have new evidence or leads since then?”
Rats. I didn’t know he talked to Randy.
My shoulders slump. “No, sir.” I raise an eyebrow at him. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”
“Depends.” He grins. “Do you like spreading Christmas cheer?”
I groan inwardly. There’s only one upcoming event on our calendar where “spreading Christmas cheer” is a requirement.
“Santa?” I ask incredulously.
He nods smugly. “And Mrs. Claus.”
I groan, out loud this time.
“Isn’t it every man’s dream to play Santa Claus? It’s an honor,” he questions me with the cheesiest grin I’ve ever seen up close.
“An honor that involves wearing a polyester suit and a fake beard in front of the whole town for hours, Cap?” I retort, unable to keep the grimace off my face.
He chuckles, tipping back his chair. “You’ll survive, Harrington. Besides, think about the children.”
I rub my face and sigh. “And who’s my Mrs. Claus? ”
“We still need one. I could ask Jeanie from the admin office…”
“I think I have the perfect person. When’s the event?”
“In two hours.”
“Two hours?”
“I may have forgotten about it until the coordinator called this morning.” Captain sets down the two costumes in the chair. “But I know how much you love a good deed and getting out in our community,” he brightly adds.
No good deed goes unpunished.
So that’s how I find myself outside Jane’s bookstore twenty minutes later, shivering in the chilly afternoon air and clutching the red and white Claus’ suits like my life depends on it. Which, in a way, it does.
I’m willing to grovel, but I hope it won’t take much convincing to get Jane to spend a couple of hours with me. I mean, the woman adores Christmas, and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than giving back to the town we both love so much?
Besides, she likes me, right? I mean, we haven’t declared anything specific, but I think I’d know if she wasn’t interested.
With a deep breath, I push open the door and step inside the cozy shop. The bell chimes above my head, announcing my arrival. I scan the shelves for Jane but don’t see her anywhere.
“Good morning,” a woman behind the register greets me with a warm smile. “Welcome to Timeless Tales. Can I help you find something?”
“I’m looking for Jane,” I tell her as I tilt my head to the side. “I’m Andrew. Nice to meet you.”
She nods, recognition crossing her face. “Oh, yes, I saw you here for the “Cookies and Holiday Tales” event. I’m Tandy; I just recently moved to town. I don’t think we’ve formally met.”
“Welcome to Oakridge Hollow.” I smile warmly. “I am Jane’s…” I pause, unsure how to label our relationship.
We haven’t said anything out loud; we haven’t confessed anything besides being happy to reconnect after our wintery weekend. I want to make it clear to Jane that she and I are exclusive and that I’m all in. But for now, all that matters is that I have a Christmas emergency to attend to.
Tandy smiles wide. “She’s in the back doing inventory.” She thumbs over her shoulder.
I move past the rows of bookshelves to a small door that leads to the backroom, knocking lightly before I push it open.
“Andrew!” Jane beams at me, looking up from her inventory sheets. “Did you need something? ”
I hold up the Santa and Mrs. Claus outfits, shaking them slightly for emphasis. “Yes, actually.” I grin sheepishly. “You.”
Jane looks at me quizzically before glancing at the outfits I’m holding. She bursts into laughter, clutching her sides as she bends over the table.
“No way,” she says once her laughing fits subside, wiping tears from her eyes. “You want me to be Mrs. Claus?”
“I’m afraid so,” I reply solemnly.
Jane props an elbow on the table, resting her chin on it and assessing me. “And why should I agree to this?” she teases, a mischievous spark lighting up in those expressive green eyes.
“Because it’s for a good cause,” I reply. “Think of the children, Jane.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she says, glancing around, that spark still in her eyes.
I pout. “And me. Cause if I have to do this, at least join me to make it more bearable.”
She straightens, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, I have this bookshop to run. And an old lady’s cat to rescue from a tree. And a pie to bake for Mrs. Haroldson down the street who’s still recovering from her hip surgery. Not to mention— ”
“Sarcasm becomes you, Jane Brooks,” I interrupt, holding up a hand and grinning at her exaggerated list of excuses. “Three hours is all I need. I offer charming company and an unlimited supply of candy canes.” I’m practically begging now.
“Oh, you should have led with that. I’ll do nearly anything for a candy cane.” She winks.
“Wow, not even for me, huh?” I grumble.
“Maybe a little for you,” she teases with a wiggle of her eyebrows that has my heart skipping a beat. She grabs the costume from me. “Let’s go Santy Claus.”
She walks to the bathroom to get changed. She comes and does a little twirl before asking how she looks. I’m breathless. I didn’t know polyester suits could look so good, but Jane keeps proving me wrong.
We make a good team, Jane and I. She has a natural knack for drawing people in with her wit and charm, making even the shyest kids feel comfortable enough to share their Christmas wishes.
“Andrew, you’re doing great!” she encourages quietly, patting my knee as another kid trots away with a candy cane in hand.
I raise an eyebrow at her and talk softly so the kids don’t hear me. “It’s not as if I have to do much. Just sit here, nod, and occasionally utter ‘ Ho Ho Ho.’”
Jane laughs, the sound bubbling from her like the soft jingle of sleigh bells.
We take a quick water break in a makeshift tent. While it’s cold outside, these costumes are stuffy and hot.
“This wig is so itchy,” Jane complains as she takes off her wig and plops down on the little bench next to me.
“I have sweat pouring down my back,” I confess as I wiggle about. “My captain owes me big time.”
The event coordinator peeks her head in.
“That man hasn’t done this job himself in about eight years.
Every year since he’s talked somebody new into taking his spot.
I guess there are perks to being the boss.
” She chuckles. “Just a few minutes break then we’ll finish the second half. ” She nods then leaves.
I notice Jane bite down hard on her lips at that. I can tell she wants to say something but is working hard to hold it back. Her adorable, flushed face turns to me, and my eyes capture hers.
“Out with it, Mrs. Claus,” I challenge, leaning towards her.
“You got played by the captain.”
“I know I did, and this isn’t the first time. But at least I get to spend time with you,” I tell her, my voice dropping to a whisper .
Jane rolls her eyes, but I can see the blush rising on her cheeks. It’s not the heat of the tent that makes her rosy either. “Time to get back to the children, Santa.”
I stand up, dreading having to go back out there when all I want to do is wrap my arm around her waist, pull her in close, and kiss her. Tell her that I have fallen for her in a way I never knew was possible.
But the timing isn’t right, and we have a job to do, so I offer her my hand, helping her up. She stands, our fingers still intertwined. We’re about to walk out of the tent when she pulls me down toward her.
“I’m glad it’s you, too,” she whispers, sending shivers down my spine.
She walks out of the tent first, leaving me to regain my composure. A few simple words, but the meaning behind them makes my heart flutter in my chest.