Page 40 of Santa of the Creek

Burl’s smile is wide, and he tips his head at Echo. “Good to finally meet you.”

“Morning, Burl,” Echo says, holding out his hand to shake the older guy’s.

It distracts me enough to take another breath. I hold out my hand too, just following Echo’s lead. Burl’s grip is firm, his hands calloused.

“You look like you’re buying for the entire year,” I say, seeking anything to distract us all from this awkward conversation.

Burt chuckles. “This is just the fun stuff. We’ve got a lot of guests over Christmas. You should join us. Hebe and Heather would be welcome too, Echo.”

“That’s kind of you,” Echo says, “but I think Randy’s gonna have me working every hour he can.”

I grimace. Echo’s already told me his shifts over the Christmas and New Year, and I’ll be lucky if I see him.

“You make sure you get time off to be with your boyfriend,” Burl says. “Just ‘cause Randy is a workaholic doesn’t mean to say you have to be. Okay, I have to go. Arlo promised me a ride home as my truck is in the shop.”

“Good to talk to you.” I smile at him, and for the first time, I mean it.

Will doesn’t bother to hide his amusement when we turn up on his doorstep. “So you need an elf costume to go with the Santa suit?”

I wrinkle my nose. “If I tell you the reason, is the whole town gonna know before the day is out?”

“Probably.” At least he’s honest.

Echo glances at me, and I shrug my shoulders.

“Long story short, Randy hired a children’s entertainer who is ill, so he asked me to step in.”

“He didn’t so much ask as demanded,” Echo growls.

“So I’m not an entertainer, but I do happen to know one who assured me with an elf costume and props we’ll make Randy a very happy boy.” I jab a thumb at Echo.

Will’s eyebrows rise. “You?”

“I’ve got skills you don’t know about,” Echo drawls.

“I’m sure that’s true, but I’ll let your boy here make the discoveries.” Will disappears for a moment.

“Boy?” I mouth.

Echo shakes his head. “Okay…um…no.”

I have no issue with relationships as long as it’s legal and consenting, yadda yadda, but I’m no one’s boy.

Then Will returns, holding out a garment bag. “It’s fine, nothing wrong with it, although it might smell a bit musty.”

Echo takes it. “Why have you never gotten rid of it?”

Will looks sheepish. “I forgot about it. I remember buying it for a party. Mav must have been about five. You don’t have to give it back. Keep it. Maybe you’ll do it again.”

“When hell freezes over,” I assure him.

But we thank him, and then we’re on our way.

I look at him in my Ford. “So we have the suit and the props, what now?”

Echo glances at the clock on the dash. “We go back to my place and practice our routine.”

I groan. This is going to be a complete disaster.