Page 52 of Santa of the Creek

I freeze at the voice, but Echo hangs onto me. “It’s okay,” he murmurs against my lips.

“Santa and the hot Elf are making out,” the woman says.

“Lucky for them,” another adds. “I haven’t had that much fun in thirty years. Not since my Tony passed.”

“Never mind, Jools. There’s always Jimmy.”

“Jimmy is half dead,” Jools snaps.

“So are we all, hon. At least we’re still breathing. It doesn’t stop me flirting with the fellas. Coffee?”

“Coffee,” she agrees. “I hope they have the ginger spice cake again.”

I hear shuffling footsteps as they leave us in peace and breathe a sigh of relief.

Echo chuckles against my lips. “I hope we get the chance to try for a long time.”

“Me too,” I agree. I kinda like the hot Elf, so I kiss him again.

Chapter Eleven

17th December

Echo

“Echo.”

Tom nudges me.

I’m serving a customer, so it takes me a moment to pay attention. “Yeah?”

“Dean’s here.”

I look up to see Dean in a booth with three other men, laughing and chatting. He hasn’t glanced my way yet.

I feel an unexpected stab of jealousy at him laughing with other men, then tell myself not to be ridiculous. They’re all dressed in navy blue cargo pants and matching polo shirts. Dean was training at the fire house that morning. He’d told me that before I left for work.

Then he looks over to me and I see the real smile, the one he reserves just for me.

The other men follow his gaze, and I see a look of surprise, then knowing smiles.

Dean seems to be oblivious as he gets up and heads over to me. “Hi there.”

I want to lean over the bar and kiss him, but I don’t know if he’d want me to do that. I see him looking at my mouth. He wants the same thing. He looks over his shoulder and at me. Then he leans over and kisses me.

The three men keep talking, and nothing happens.

“Hi,” I say softly, because I know he’s on the verge of freaking out right now.

He takes a deep breath. “They’re not even looking, are they?”

“Nope. You’re as boring as fuck. Just another gay guy in Collier’s Creek. Sorry, honey.”

“Language,” Randy snaps as he walks past.

“Sorry, boss.”

“Boring as fuck…” Dean mouths the last word in amusement. “Why do you even want to be with me?”