Chapter 6 Nora
NORA
Sabotage was in the air.
I could practically taste it as I stared at the empty glass case that should be filled to the brim with hot cocoa bombs.
It was my thing that I did every year. I would buy all various sorts of cocoa-shelled goodness: some with marshmallows inside, others coated with sprinkles, candy canes, and dusted in sugar.
There was even more variety after last year when I’d bought enough to clear the chocolate shop out, and people discovered the delicious holiday treat at the town festival.
Considering it was only December tenth, I knew this empty case was sabotage related to the competition and not perpetuated from a tourist group or the town gobbling them up.
I had the sneaking suspicion that one or both of my best friends had bought up all the cocoa bombs, leaving me with nothing for my big gathering tonight.
For the past week, there had been random little mishaps, here and there, that I’d been overlooking and tossing out as coincidence.
Somehow the power had been turned off at the community center, and at my storefront design shop, which was brand new.
Colson’s construction business was fine, thankfully, but when he had come to check the breakers, he said it was almost like the city had shut off the power to my two locations.
Odd that my best friend, Rae, had access to the town hall and city works’ offices.
Then all my yard décor was suddenly missing.
I had two reindeer, a Frosty the Snowman, and a big inflatable snow globe, all removed as if they’d never been there to begin with.
I wasn’t paying this competition too much notice because I figured it was a harmless game among friends, and I didn’t really care where we spent Christmas each year.
When Rae had suggested the prize, I was drunk and didn’t pay it too much mind, but now I had a strange feeling this was all part of her plan.
She’d gone too far with the cocoa bombs, that was directly interfering with one of my personal traditions and I wouldn’t stand for it.
I exited the sweet shop, pushing my double stroller, which held my two sleeping sons. The air was cold against my face as I hurried down the street. Colson would be home soon, and I’d be free to slip out unnoticed. I had to plan this down to the very last detail.
I knew that Haley had been decorating Liam’s gym, which would be part of the competition, judged by a group of Christmas enthusiasts, thanks to Rae’s City Hall connections.
Rae had decorated Davis’ shop, but I already knew she was going to try and utilize the big town festival as one of her challenges. The judges would be biased no doubt, after seeing whatever she came up with.
Which was exactly where I planned to hit her.
The first item on the agenda was to act completely unbothered as I walked down Main Street.
Especially as I passed Davis’ tourist shop and Rae’s family diner.
Plastering a smile on my face was key as I stopped to allow people to peek at my twins, gawking over how cute they are and how big they’ve grown.
My next step was to swing by City Hall.
It was no secret that Rae was still on the town council and even had her own key to the storage room, for full access to decorate for town functions.
I knew this because I had helped Rae decorate the last two Christmas seasons, in addition to the Spring Flings, Summer Sensations and Fall Frolic celebrations.
I knew exactly where her most coveted decorations were being held, and thanks to my previous partnership, I had credibility with the receptionist.
“Hey, Loretta.” I smiled, turning my stroller so she had full view of my adorable twins.
The elderly woman gasped and hovered over the desk.
“Oh my goodness. The boys are getting so big!”
“I know, they’re almost sitting up on their own now.” Another warm smile.
“How’s Leroy doing?” I inquired after her husband, knowing this would allow her to talk for roughly five full minutes without being interrupted.
I smiled, nodded, gasped at the appropriate times because her husband was always doing something to garner that reaction out of people.
Then I pulled my cell phone out and applied my most sincere disappointed face.
“Darn it, Loretta, that’s Rae texting me again. She’s asked if I might snag the key to the storage room, so I could start sorting through the decorations for the big festival. Think I could get that before I have to get the boys back?”
Loretta didn’t even think twice. She rolled backward in her office chair and swiveled, digging into a far drawer.
“I can’t wait to see what you girls come up with.” She smiled, handing me the keys. “I heard a rumor that Rae was up to something this year.”
Oh, she was, and I was determined to ruin whatever it was.
“I think everyone will be really excited.” I tucked the keys away and then gave her a warm goodbye before sauntering back out into the cold.
Thankfully, the boys were quiet and happy all bundled in their stroller, so it allowed me ample time to dart across the town square before being seen.
If I was going to pull this off, I would need Colson’s help.
So once the boys were buckled into their car seats, I pulled toward my husband’s construction company with an overeager smile.
Colson was between projects because of the winter season, which meant he was in his actual office for once. The reception desk was empty as Nadine, their usual desk attendant, was on sabbatical until February. Anyone else who would walk in would just be greeted by one of the foremen, or my husband.
Bypassing a few other offices, and a break room, I pushed the boys along until I reached the very last door in the hallway.
A brown lacquered wood acted as the door to my husband’s office and every time I entered this space, I smiled at the sleek letters that made out his name and position in the company.
Colson Hanes
CEO
“Knock—knock,” I said softly as I entered his office.
Colson’s blue eyes snapped up, catching on mine before dropping to the stroller. He immediately set the pile of paperwork he’d been staring at to the side and skirted the desk.
“Hey, babe, what are you doing here?”
His lips landed on mine, warm and full of delicious intent. Two years married and the butterflies he sent off in my chest still hadn’t dulled, nor had our frenzied desire.
As Cole’s long arm stretched toward the edge of his door, it quietly swung until clicking shut.
“So, what do I owe the pleasure of having my wife come down to my office, while our sons sleep soundly in the stroller?”
Unzipping my coat, I pulled my curls free and relished when Cole walked over and pulled me with him into one of the chairs facing his desk. With me in his lap, one hand went to my thigh, the other dove under my curls and began teasing them one at a time.
I loved when he played with my hair.
“Well, we were out and about and just wanted to stop and say hello.”
He remained quiet for a few moments longer, before making a humming sound.
“So, you, my dear wife, who hates the winter as much as a sunflower detests the dark, were just out on a fun little jaunt about the city with two teething babies in tow?”
Shit.
He knew me too well. I did hate the winter, and considering it was the crux of how our entire relationship began, there was no fooling him.
“Fine. You got me.” I leaned into his chest, allowing his arms to circle me. “I went to pick up the hot cocoa bombs for our decorating party with Maddy, Seraph and Mila.”
His hand slid up my back, pushing my curls over my shoulder.
“I could have done that for you, so you didn’t have to leave the house with the boys. I know that shop is small, did the stroller even fit?”
A laugh broke free from my chest. “I knocked down a thing of PEZ dispensers.”
Cole’s chest rumbled behind me.
“So you get any new flavors this year?”
Twisting in his lap, I threw my legs over the arm of the chair and slid my hands around Cole’s neck.
“They were out.”
His blue eyes searched my face, his hand moving to my waist to hold me against him.
“Like out—out?”
I nodded. “Completely out.”
My husband’s brows arched in surprise. “That’s…has that ever happened before?”
“Not that I’ve ever experienced, but I asked Bailey what happened, and she only said that a large online order was made and picked up by someone she didn’t recognize.”
“Weird.”
I tugged on Cole’s hair lightly, but effectively.
“Not weird, diabolical, and it’s either Haley or Rae. My money is on Haley…she has the kind of money to spend five dollars a pop on those freaking cocoa bombs and clear the racks.”
Colson clicked his tongue followed by a sigh. “You can’t really think that…it’s just a fun competition.”
I turned to face him more intently, capturing his strong jaw.
“Best Decked is not just a competition, babe, and it’s anything but friendly.
As an actual interior designer, I was immediately offended at the implication that anyone could out decorate me.
But leave it to my best friend to try, and pull poor Haley into it too. ”
“Best Decked?” Cole smirked.
I swatted at him, trying to leave his lap. “As in Deck the Halls.”
My husband laughed while tightening his hold.
“Come back, let me feel you up a bit before—”
Right as he said it, Kane started moving his head side to side, which would be followed by a voracious cry.
I glared at Cole, even as he winced.
“You had to say it. For that, you’re going to help me.”
“Of course I’m going to help. I always help.” He began unbuckling Kane, lifting him to his shoulder to soothe him.
I lifted a dark brow, maintaining eye contact as I pulled Tarryn into my chest.
“No, honey. You’re going to help me pull ahead in this competition.”
Cole paused his soothing pats on our son’s back and regarded me warily.
“And exactly how am I supposed to do that?”
I smiled broadly and lifted my shirt to nurse. “By breaking into Haley’s house, and City Hall, nothing major.”