sport today, haven’t I? Have a drink with me.”
Well. I run that over in my head.
Hot chocolate is the least threatening of all the drinks, isn’t it? Nothing bad has ever come from having a hot chocolate with someone, probably in the entire history of hot chocolate.
“We’ll have to bring the Santa costume,” I say in place of yes.
“Kinky.” He winks, but playfully. Smiling as he steps through the office door and starts unbuttoning the Santa jacket.
I roll my eyes. “It belongs to the community center. Jillian will kill me if I misplace it.”
“Can’t have that,” he agrees.
“There’s a coffee shop just across the street,” I suggest as we step outside of the library. There’s a light dusting of snow falling and Teddy is carrying the Santa suit under his arm. There’s Christmas music playing from a sound system wired along Main Street. Believe it or not, the town doesn’t play Christmas music year-round on Main Street. November first to December thirty-first only. So even though I live in a Christmas-themed town, it really does feel extra-special this time of year. The snow doesn’t hurt either.
I live in a small house, just a couple of blocks from the library, so I left my car at home and walked earlier today. That’s part of the charm of living downtown in a small town. You can walk everywhere, even with a little snow. We don’t need cars now either, the library being just a block off of Main Street.
“The North Pole Café?”
“Yup.” They serve drinks in old-fashioned Santa mugs year-round. It’s the best.
“Do you think Santa has a job during his off time?” Teddy asks while we walk, our feet crunching over a layer of snow packed down onto the sidewalks. There’s nothing better than that sound, in my opinion.
“Like a side hustle?” I’m smiling when I ask it, because I love ridiculous theoretical conversations.
“Yeah. Three hundred and sixty-four days off seems excessive.”
“Does he really have three hundred sixty-four days off though? I imagine it’s a full-time gig, overseeing the toy-making and keeping track of everyone on the naughty list.”
“Is the naughty list something you’re familiar with, Noel?”
He’s just opened the door for me at the café. I turn to face him, sure there’s a slight blush on my face but hopeful my cheeks are already red from our brief walk.
“You don’t think I’m naughty list material?”
“I’ve heard you’re the headmistress of the nice list.”
Hmm, headmistress. That has a nice ring to it, even if it’s leader of the good girls.
“Wow, I had no idea I had a reputation,” I tease back.
“Small towns, everyone is always talking.”
When we get to the counter, Teddy insists on paying, which is nice. He also insists on adding a couple of sandwiches and two frosted sugar cookies to the order, “just in case you decide you’re hungry.”
Of course I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten since I left my house hours ago.
Which means he’s sort of manipulated me into having dinner, but he’s so charming about it I don’t even mind. Secretly… I’m sort of thrilled. What’s not to like about him, exactly? He’s handsome and charming and there’s something between us that’s just easy. I’m drawn to him and spending time with him is fun. Teddy is fun. And what’s better than having a casual dinner with a man who interests you and who adds dessert without being asked? With a man who referred to you as sexy?
Not much is better than that, my friends.
We grab a table and settle in like a couple of writers with charged laptops and deadlines. Which is to say, our behinds don’t leave those seats for far too long.
“So you’re staying in town for a while?” I ask. I shouldn’t ask. It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. Not to me. We’re not doing anything, he and I.
“The rest of the month.” He nods his head slightly, a long pause while he looks at me. “Or maybe longer.”
Good Lord, he’s a flirt. I swallow and remind myself of this fact because the way he just looked at me when he said that has caused a dozen tiny reindeer to practice their Christmas Eve flight pattern in my stomach.
“I’d forgotten how charming Reindeer Falls is,” he adds when I don’t say anything, but he’s still looking at me with that thoughtfully sexy look he has down pat.
I grip the Santa mug filled with hot cocoa between my fingers before taking a sip, a dab of whipped cream sticking to my upper lip. I