Page 28 of The Christmas Tree Farm

When she glanced back at Bennett, his gaze was fixed on her mouth and the candy cane she was sliding in and out between her lips. Whoops. She slid it out with a distinct pop and Bennett blinked like he was emerging from a trance.

He cleared his throat. ‘Uh… What are you asking for yourself?’

‘For myself?’ Kira’s laugh came out harsher than she meant it to. ‘I’ve had plenty my whole life. Too much, really. So I’ll just settle for the essentials this year. Heat. Some new windows would be nice. Maybe fix that leaky…’ She trailed off, realizing she was just listing all the shit that was wrong with her house. She was probably triggering all the fix-it impulses in Bennett’s brain.

But to his credit and Kira’s surprise, he just nodded.

‘And… I wouldn’t be mad if he threw in some cozy socks. Can never have too many of those,’ she added, and Bennett smiled.

They were nearly at Santa’s candy-covered house now and the little girl ahead of them was standing in front of him listing all her wishes out on her fingers, one by one. The back of her dress was streaked with dirt, but even Kira had to admit that she still looked cute as she stood beside Santa for her picture.

And then it was their turn.

An elf ushered them into the small house and over to Santa’s giant chair. He was a pretty convincing Santa. Round belly, rosy cheeks, even his white beard was real. He would do.

‘Hello, uh … Santa.’

‘Ho, ho, ho! And what would you like for Christmas, young lady?’

Okay, apparently we’re staying in character.

‘Um, right. Well, I own the Christmas-tree farm and we’ve just reopened, and I was hoping to hire you, actually.’

The old man chuckled, holding his belly and Kira couldn’t really remember how she’d gone from her life of parties and blowing her parents’ money to negotiating with a man who thought he was Santa in a house decorated with fake candy. Oh, wait, reckless decisions about real estate.

‘Here’s my card,’ Santa said, pulling a business card with holly around the edges from his pocket. ‘Give the office a call and I’m sure we can work something out.’

He smiled. ‘Now, what do you two want for Christmas?’ he asked, raising his big bushy brows at her and Bennett. ‘Perhaps some jewelry?’

Kira just rolled her eyes and pointed to Bennett. ‘I’ll take a pair of socks, but this guy wants snow.’

‘Ho, ho, ho, that’s a tall order but I’ll do my best.’

‘Thanks, Santa,’ Bennett said as they left the gingerbread cottage. As much as Kira hated being cold, it was nice to be out of the stuffy house. It smelled like wet wool and children in there.

‘Oh, you didn’t get to ask Santa for your other gift,’ she teased as they walked away.

‘That’s okay. I decided I don’t really need Santa’s help with it.’

‘Really?’

His arm brushed against hers as they walked. ‘Yeah, I should probably do it on my own.’

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and a secret smile played around his lips. They paused when they got to the edge of the square, back to the craft booths.

‘Too kinky, huh?’

He laughed. ‘Yeah, that’s it. Too kinky for Santa.’ He stepped closer. His warm body obviously exerted too much gravitational pull on her because she stepped closer, too.

‘Well, I hope you get what you want,’ she whispered.

The corner of Bennett’s lips tipped up in a smile. ‘Me, too,’ he said.

ChapterEight

Adistant buzzing pulled Kira from her nest of blankets. It was dark and freezing in the room she was currently using as a bedroom. She’d tried all three at this point and this one won out as just slightly warmer than the others.

The buzzing persisted.