Chapter Ten
Ten
Was Sloan staring at her more than usual? Specifically, her mouth? Leslie couldn’t help pondering that question when they’d arrived at the Yuletide Toy Factory the next morning. He had just opened the car door for her, and now his gaze seemed to be glued to her lips.
The same thing had happened earlier over the breakfast they’d shared at the hotel. More than once she had looked up from her meal to find him staring at her. Namely, her mouth. Had he been reminded of the kiss they’d shared last night?
It had been a kiss she hadn’t expected, but she wasn’t surprised she’d gotten wrapped up in it like she had. Sloan had been a great kisser, and it was obvious nothing had changed. If anything, he was better at it.
He was older, more experienced, and the lips that had taken her mouth last night had contained a fire she hadn’t known back then.
The intensity of the way their mouths mated was the reason she hadn’t been able to settle into a peaceful sleep when they’d returned to the hotel.
Instead, she had lain awake most of the night reliving it.
As she walked beside Sloan, she wondered if he’d had a hard time sleeping like she had. Probably not. She was certain he had kissed a lot of women since her. That made her wonder how she compared.
She also wondered about something else. Had their kiss reminded him of how things had once been for them?
Did he now regret kissing her? If that was the case, then he could only get mad at himself, because he had initiated it.
Not her. But she’d gone along with it. Honestly, what had he expected?
She’d always been putty in his arms, especially when it came to his kisses.
However, his touch was another weakness of hers, she thought, when he touched her arm to escort her to the door of the building.
“This place is huge,” she said when they reached the entrance.
Before she could stop herself, she took a quick look over at him.
He looked handsome this morning. But then, Sloan always looked handsome.
“Yes, it is.”
Sloan knocked, and immediately the door swung open and a jolly-looking Mr. Yule stood there with a huge grin on his face.
“Welcome to Santa’s workshop,” he said, moving aside to let them in.
The moment she walked over the threshold, Leslie took it all in.
Although there were no elves, just regular people busy stocking boxes, it still reminded her of what Santa’s workshop should look like.
It might have something to do with the fact that everyone was wearing red Christmas hats with white cuffs.
There was another decorated Christmas tree and a group of life-size reindeer that seemed to be looking on the process with their approval.
“This is the packaging area. Next, I want to show you where everything is manufactured,” Mr. Yule said excitedly. “All our toys are made of wood,” he told them.
She raised a brow. “No plastic?”
“Not a bit,” Mr. Yule said, opening a huge door. They followed him in. “Wood lasts longer and is more durable,” the older man said. “However, because wood is heavier in weight, that has always been a major problem for us when it comes to shipping costs.”
“Not anymore,” Sloan said, scanning the area where the toys were being manufactured.
Leslie looked over at him. “Why will it no longer be a problem?” she asked.
Sloan glanced at her. “Since my family owns a transport company, the cost of shipping will no longer be a major issue.”
She nodded. “I see.” In a way she saw more than Sloan probably wanted her to. Just like she’d suspected, he was setting up the company for success and making sure they would be able to hold their own if Longshire ever got the mind to come after them again.
Mr. Yule looked at his watch. “I need to leave to get on my post as Santa at the Santa House. Make sure you two stop by to visit me there. My oldest son, Garland, will continue on with the tour.”
Leslie lifted a brow. “Garland?”
Mr. Yule laughed. “Yes, Garland. I also have sons named Cane, Kris, Nicholas and Sleigh. We told you about our daughter Merry last night. There’s also Holly, Star, Noel and Angel.”
Garland, a man in his fifties, who was smaller in stature than his father and whose beard wasn’t as massive and white, led them through the rest of the building. They watched toys being made and then, in another section, watched as toys were hand-painted.
At the end of the tour, Mrs. Yule prepared lunch. That’s when Leslie and Sloan got to meet the other adult Yule children and grandchildren, who all worked at the factory and who all had names connected with Christmas. They were appreciative of Sloan saving the family business.
When she and Sloan were back in the car after leaving the toy factory, he asked, “So what do you think?”
She glanced over at him. “I think it’s a tidy operation, and although most of the employees are related, they seem to work well together.”
“I noticed that as well and think of it as a positive,” Sloan said. “It’s obvious they take pride in the products their family produces.”
She thought so as well. When neither seemed to have anything else to add, she thought it would be a good time to bring up a subject she knew they’d been avoiding—their kiss.
Although she didn’t regret it, she knew it was something they should not do again.
“I think we need to talk about that kiss, Sloan.”
“What about it?”
“It shouldn’t happen again.”
He released a smooth chuckle. “It will happen again, Leslie. However, if it will make you feel better, I will let you initiate it next time.”
“Then I don’t have to worry about it happening again.”
“Okay.”
Okay? “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Okay means I don’t agree or disagree. Whatever happens will happen.”
When he pulled into the parking lot of Santa House, he switched off the car and said, “We’re leaving early in the morning.”
She lifted a brow. “I thought our flight didn’t take off until noon.”
“It doesn’t. I need to do a pit stop in Fairbanks for some papers.”
Leslie nodded. “At your office?”
“No, at my home.” He turned in his seat to face her. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“Should I have a problem with it?”
He shrugged. “I don’t see why you should when we’ll only be there for a few minutes.”
There was no need to tell him that a lot could happen behind closed doors in a few minutes. As if he’d read her thoughts, he said, “This time next week, we’ll be spending a week together in seclusion at the cabin on Kodiak Island. I hope you’re not nervous about being alone with me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I am alone with you now, Sloan. I was also alone with you on the flight here and will be alone with you on the flight back.”
Sloan smiled. All kinds of sensations flooded her stomach. Drawing in a quick breath, she broke eye contact with him and turned to unlock her door.
“I’ve got that,” he said, opening his own car door to sprint around the front of the car to open the door for her.
“Thanks.”
“You are welcome,” he said, taking her hand to help her out.
The moment their hands touched, she felt heat, even though they were wearing gloves.
It had snowed heavily last night and was snowing now with temperatures below zero.
Regardless of the fact that it was cold as the dickens on the outside, some kind of fire was consuming her on the inside.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know she was in trouble with Sloan.
She may have bitten off more than she could chew.
Sloan glanced around Santa House. It seemed a lot larger than he remembered as a child, and when he asked their tour guide about it, the young lady said that over the years, due to remodeling, it had nearly doubled in size.
He noticed a lot of parents and their kids were headed to where he knew Mr. Yule was holding court as Santa. Leslie headed to the gift shop, and he instinctively followed her.
“I want to buy one of those wooden train sets for Elan.”
He lifted a brow. “Who is Elan?”
“Carmen’s nine-year-old nephew.”
That told him nothing, since he had no idea who Carmen was, either. Evidently seeing the bemused look on his face, she added, “Carmen was my roommate at Howard, and someone I consider my best friend. She was my plus-one at Tyler and Keosha’s wedding.”
He nodded. “She lives in Alaska?”
“Heavens, no. She hates cold weather, but I managed to talk her into spending Thanksgiving with me. No easy feat, I assure you. Even with the weather, we got to spend ten fun days together while she was here.” Leslie smiled. “She claims she hasn’t thawed out yet.”
There had always been something about Leslie’s smile, and he was convinced that smile was what had captured his interest from the first. “And she has a nine-year-old nephew?”
“Yes. He’s her sister’s son. I think he will love the train.”
When they reached the shelves, he saw there were only two left, and he quickly pulled one off the shelf for Leslie. “Got it.”
“Thanks,” she said as they headed for the checkout counter. “I think it’s great that they’ll ship it for me, too.” It didn’t take long for her to pay for the item and complete shipping papers.
“Now,” he said, taking her hand, “let’s go see Santa. I am dying to know if you’ve been good this year.”
She threw back her head and laughed. “You, who once admitted to always getting into trouble as a child and whose last name is Outlaw, are curious as to whether I’ve been good this year?”
He couldn’t help laughing as well. “I guess that does sound rather amusing.”
“Yes, it does.”
While standing in line waiting their turn for Santa, a curious little girl standing in front of them, who looked to be about five years old, asked, “Where is your little boy or girl?”
Leslie smiled down at her. “We don’t have one. I’m here to see Santa for myself.”