Chapter Four
Shaun
I couldn’t say what possessed me to offer to take Theo to the Christmas Market. Maybe I just wanted an excuse to go myself. That and he was really cute… Whatever the reason, we got off the bus and followed the crowd in the direction of holiday music and delicious smells.
Theo’s enthusiasm for the Christmas Market was almost infectious. He practically danced from stall to stall, ooo-ing and ahh-ing over the wares, beaming from ear to ear like a child in a… well, like a child at a Christmas Market.
Unfortunately, I was convinced that he was yet another spy hired by my father.
His insistence to grill me about Christmas was evidence of that.
As we looked for a vendor with masks, I wondered if Theo’s excitement was genuine or if he was putting on an act.
As much I as loved Christmas, I didn’t think even I got this giddy at markets.
Maybe he was faking it all to get me to lower my guard.
So, I did my best to act indifferent. But, even though I knew my father had hired this guy, and even though I was growing increasingly pissed about it, Theo was… adorable. Every once in a while I forgot it was all for show and caught myself smiling at his enthusiasm and enjoying the market.
At last we found some masks. Theo actually gasped when he found one of a reindeer.
It was brown, but edged with red and white velvet.
A pair of short antlers curved up from the sides and the whole thing was completed by a red set of velvet reins, draped over the shoulders of the mannequin wearing it.
“Oh, this is amazing,” Theo breathed, running his fingers over it.
I already had a boring, plain mask, but while I waited for him to make his purchase, a snow leopard mask caught my eye.
My father couldn’t get mad about that, could he?
He certainly couldn’t complain that a snow leopard was too Christmasy.
Just as I talked myself out of it, Theo returned with his carefully wrapped package.
“That’s beautiful!” he said. “I love snow leopards. They’re so graceful and… and fluffy.”
I laughed and caught myself right before thanking him. He was human, after all, I couldn’t go and tell him I was a snow leopard.
“Going to buy it?”
“Why not?” I said, losing my argument with myself.
After my mask was paid for, we headed for the sweater section.
The entire way there I intended to drop off Theo and do my own errands, but I felt compelled to stay with him.
By the time we had browsed a dozen stalls, and each bought a sweater, we were both hungry.
We followed our noses to the food court and ate lunch together.
After that we browsed until we heard the call that the final bus was heading up to the resort.
“Oh crap,” I groaned. “I forgot to get my toothpaste.” How had I lost track of the time that badly?!
“Is that what you needed to buy?” Theo asked.
“Among other things, but that’s the pressing one.” I could get by without everything else I had forgotten, but I needed toothpaste before bed.
“You could swing by my room for a dollop… if you… if you want,” he said shyly.
“Oh, thanks!”
“I’m surprised the lodge doesn’t sell any.”
“Yeah…” I considered it. The lodge didn’t have a shop at all. There was nothing but a rack of t-shirts and postcards in the lobby, and some board wax and other ski supplies in the rental area. “I should do something about that…”
The ambient music cut off and a voice replaced it. “Last call! The last bus for Balsam Haven leaves in five minutes.”
“Oh no!” we cried.
As we jogged together toward the exit, it started snowing lightly. Like several other patrons, we decided to take a short cut through a skating rink. I couldn’t say who reached out first, but my hand caught Theo’s and we half-slid, half-ran across the ice together, laughing and skidding as we went.
We went past several more rows of vendors and all the way to the bus stop before I realized we were still holding hands. I let go quickly and acted like I was checking my bags. We lined up to board and ended up being separated.
For just a moment, I considered trying to swap seats.
“What the hell are you doing, Shaun?” I hissed to myself.
But I knew. I had gone and fallen for him. Shit. He was human. It would never work. Bad idea.
Besides, he was spying on me for my father!
It seemed like his enthusiasm for Christmas was genuine; although I couldn’t imagine how he reconciled a love for Christmas with keeping tabs on me to make sure I grinched my way through the holidays.
I wondered what my father had told him. And what he was being paid.
He hadn’t batted an eye at the price of the expensive handmade mask or sweater.
As the bus started making its way up to the lodge, I told myself to steer clear of Theo. But I couldn’t shake the memories of the day. His seemingly real joy at the market. The feel of his hand in mine. The way he held it as we ran over the ice. How he smiled and laughed…
He probably wasn’t even gay, I told myself.
But the moment I saw him at the masquerade, sporting a suit and looking all handsome and mysterious in his mask, my knees went weak.
“Damn it,” I muttered to myself, walking toward him even though I knew I shouldn’t. “That mask suits you,” I said. It had looked whimsical and almost silly in the shop, but it looked perfect on Theo.
“Thanks, stranger,” he said with a grin. He studied me a moment and his smirk turned almost tender. “So does yours. Your eyes are…”
“Are what?” I couldn’t resist asking.
Theo chuckled softly. “They’re the same color as a real snow leopard’s eyes. You couldn’t have picked a better mask.” He reached up and stroked the soft, faux fur over my cheek, before yanking his hand away and blushing. “Um…” He cleared his throat. “Sorry?”
Oh gods, maybe he was gay. Why was I being tested like this?
“It’s fine.” Hoping that I looked like I was joking, I ran a finger over one velvet covered antler and tried to laugh.
We stood there awkwardly for a moment. He’s human and he’s working for my father. He’s human and working for my father. He’s human and…
“You wanna dance?” Theo asked, completely shutting down my mantra.
“I-I’d love to,” I stammered.
He held out a hand and I let him lead me to the dance floor.
As we danced, he made it really, really hard to forget I wasn’t supposed to like him.
I barely remembered to keep up my Scrooge act.
He put a hand on my waist and I hardly had to think about where my feet were supposed to go as he led me around the room.
“I love this song,” he commented as a catchy Nutcracker song came on.
“Tchaikovsky wrote some good music,” I said, still trying to avoid any Christmas appreciation.
It was hard to tell with his mask, but I could swear, just for a moment, his eyes narrowed in annoyance.
“I’m going to take a break,” I said. I smiled, but as soon as I turned away from him I glared, hating how my hands felt cold without his.
Theo was, well, great. Whatever my father had told him, whatever he was being paid for this, I had decided there was no way it was all an act. He genuinely enjoyed the holidays.
If only the circumstances were different.
Dancing with him had even felt like dancing with an alpha. The way he took command and led without being asked… In fact, even though I had been the one giving a sort-of-tour of the Christmas Market, I had felt like I was safe with an alpha mate the entire day.
Ugh, this sucked.
I got a drink, gathered myself, and went to find Theo again.
Sure, this wouldn’t last. But why couldn’t I enjoy it while it did?
As long as I didn’t screw up the Christmas thing, my father couldn’t take the resort.
What leg would he stand on? I had danced with a cute guy?
I had shown him around? I bought a mask for the masquerade.
A masquerade that I hadn’t planned or decorated or had any say in, for that matter.
I bought a sweater because it was cold and I packed quickly.
I had even chosen a fairly neutral sweater. No, my father would have nothing on me.
Theo seemed happy to dance with me again. Much to my delight, he kept the prodding about Christmas to a minimum.
We stayed a lot later than I had planned to and were some of the last attendees left as the final song played.
“You still want that toothpaste?” he asked me.
“Oh.” I had totally forgotten. “Yeah, please.”
Halfway to his room, I realized we were still holding hands. We didn’t let go until we were inside his room. He grabbed the toothpaste and offered it to me.
“Thanks,” I said. I reached up to take it, but my fingers closed partially over his and time seemed to stop.
He was so close I could kiss him.
And why shouldn’t I? We’d never see each other again. Humans didn’t make good mates, but they were fine for a holiday fling.
Of course, the fact he had been hired by my father was a bit of a problem.
Or was it? I almost laughed out loud. Oh, boy would my father lose it if I hooked up with his spy.
It probably hadn’t even crossed his mind; shifters and humans rarely had chemistry.
It would serve him right for having someone spy on me.
Not that I wanted Theo caught in the middle. Then again… he could spy all he liked and still fool around with me. Maybe he’d even feel guilty about it and confess. Hm. Hook up with a great guy and a way to get back at my dad. About to have my gingerbread and eat it too.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed the reins attached to his mask and pulled him toward me. Theo’s eyes widened in surprise. I hesitated. Then he grinned and leaned in the rest of the way.