Chapter 5
Luke
Downtown Holly Ridge is a Christmas fever dream. Everywhere I turn, there’s garland, twinkling lights, and people wearing Santa hats like it’s a mandatory uniform. It’s like the whole town has been swallowed by a Hallmark movie, and I’m the one guy who missed the memo.
I finish loading the last crate of sweet potatoes into the back of a café’s storage room, dusting my hands off before pulling my truck door open. I glance at the time—still early enough to swing by The North Star Lodge and witness whatever destruction Blitzen has unleashed upon Eve.
The thought alone makes my mood lighten considerably.
Blitzen is a force of nature. Stubborn. Chaotic. A furry menace with hooves. And Eve, with all her relentless optimism and Christmas cheer, has no idea what she signed up for. She wanted to prove she could handle reindeer?
Well, she was getting a first-class lesson in regret.
I pull onto Main Street, but something catches my eye before I can make it past the library. A huge crowd of kids surrounds the fountain in the town square, their giggles and shouts carrying through the crisp winter air. That’s weird. Storytime is usually inside the library, not out in the cold.
Then I see her.
Right in the center of it all, dressed in a ridiculous elf costume—striped tights, green dress, jingling shoes, and all—Eve stands in front of the fountain, holding Blitzen’s reins in one hand and a children’s book in the other.
I grip the steering wheel. What the hell?
Blitzen stands beside her perfectly still as she reads aloud from some storybook—The Happiest Elf or whatever overly cheery title it has. Blitzen’s ears twitch, but otherwise, she looks… calm. Obedient, even.
I blink, convinced I’m seeing things. My mind must be playing tricks on me.
Because my reindeer? The one who literally tried to eat my jacket yesterday? The one who kicked me into a pile of manure? She’s standing there like she’s some well-trained show pony.
And the kids? They are enchanted. They’re laughing, gasping at all the right moments, and some are even reaching out to take turns petting Blitzen’s nose like she’s the star attraction at a petting zoo. And Blitzen doesn’t even seem to mind.
Then I see it.
The unmistakable red-and-white stripes of a candy cane sticking out of Blitzen’s mouth as she chews and Eve, holding the next one out in her hand.
She finishes chomping on the one in her mouth, then happily takes the next one from the pinch of Eve’s fingers.
I swear under my breath.
That little menace is bribing my reindeer. With candy canes of all things.
I shove the truck door open and stalk toward the scene, half tempted to call out and put an end to this madness, but something stops me.
“But our reindeer aren’t hard to steer,” she reads in a voice that could easily be a narrator in a Christmas movie. “These eight know the way, year after year!”
The kids giggle at her silly voice and animated movements, acting out the story.
Eve is good at this. Like, ridiculously good. She reads with so much energy and expression that even I, a grown man who has zero interest in a book called The Happiest Elf, find myself mesmerized. The kids adore her. The parents watching from the sidelines look charmed.
Dammit, even Blitzen seems enchanted by Eve—though, to be fair, she probably just loves Eve because she’s a walking candy dispenser.
“Christmas isn’t about the toys,” Eve reads, her voice lifting in excitement. “It’s about spreading holiday cheer and joy! It’s about the love of family and friends. It’s the time of year to make amends. So no matter your gifts, be they big or small, they were made by the happiest elf of all!”
The kids erupt into applause, and Eve beams, taking an exaggerated bow before patting Blitzen’s neck.
“Give it up for my wonderful reindeer assistant who came all the way from the North Pole for today… Blitzen!” she announces. The kids cheer louder, and Blitzen—that traitor—even lifts her head proudly, like she’s eating up the attention.
I cross my arms, leaning against a lamppost as I wait for the show to end. The second Eve hands the book back to the librarian and waves to the kids, I make my move.
“Well, that was something,” I say, strolling up to her.
Eve spins around, and the moment her eyes meet mine, she grins. Grins. Like she’s just been waiting for me to show up.
“Luke!” she says, all innocence. “Blitzen and I were having such a lovely time together, I called the library and got our story time moved earlier so that Blitzen could join me.”
“Uh-huh.” I fell right into that damn trap. Not only did she successfully watch my most challenging reindeer today… but she turned it around and used it to win day one of the festival.
For free. She got to use one of my reindeers for free today. I glance at Blitzen. “How did you even get her here? I need a trailer to transport these guys around.”
She points behind her at the trail from the bottom of the hill up to her parent’s lodge. “We just took a little walk.”
“I see. And how exactly did my reindeer manage to become a model citizen within two hours?”
She tilts her head, feigning confusion. “Blitzen? Whatever do you mean? She’s a delight.”
“Really? A delight? Is that what you call her?”
“Yep.” She pats her nose affectionately. “And you know what else? Turns out, she loves Christmas cheer.”
I narrow my eyes. “Eve.”
“Yes, Luke?”
I reach into her pocket and pull out a candy cane.
She gasps dramatically. “Hey! That’s mine.”
I hold it up like evidence in a courtroom. “You’re bribing my reindeer. With candy.”
She places a hand on her chest. “I would never—”
I arch a brow.
She huffs. “Okay, fine. Maybe I gave her one. Or fifty.”
“Fifty? Please God, tell me you’re exaggerating.”
Her lips disappear into a thin, white line. “Ummmm…”
“Do you know how bad sugar is for her?” I tossed the candy cane into the trashcan beside me as Blitzen gave an irritated chuff.
“I googled it and it said in moderation, it would be fine.”
“And fifty is your definition of moderation?”
Her cheeks warm to a rosy shade of pink and she at least has the good sense to look momentarily guilty.
Just as quickly as I spot it, it vanishes.
“It worked, didn’t it?” She gestures to Blitzen, who’s still standing there calmly, looking far too pleased with herself.
“Besides, I switched it up with apples and carrots too. But she really loves the candy canes.”
I sigh, dragging a hand down my face. “Unbelievable.”
“Admit it,” she teases. “You’re impressed.”
I scowl. “I admit nothing.”
She smirks, and I hate how much I notice how damn pretty she looks when she does that. Even in that ridiculous elf outfit, she manages to be the most distracting thing in town.
Before I can say anything else, she thrusts Blitzen’s reins toward me. “Anyway, I guess I’ll give her back now. But don’t worry—I’ll see you bright and early at the farm tomorrow.”
I stare at her. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” she says cheerfully. “I start work tomorrow. To pay off the eight reindeer we’ll be renting.”
I shake my head. “Eve—”
She steps into me, folding her arms. “You and I made a deal. And I upheld my end of that deal,” she says, her face suddenly stern. “I already told you, Luke. We need all the reindeer for the festival. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
I glare at her for a long beat, then finally sigh. She’s right. A deal is a deal. “Be at the farm at five-thirty.”
“Wait. Five-thirty in the morning?”
It’s my turn to smirk. “Yep.”
She blinks, clearly recalculating all her life choices. “That’s so early.”
“Farming starts before sunrise, princess.”
She groans, muttering something under her breath which I promptly interrupt. “If it’s too early for you, we can call the whole thing off.”
She squares her shoulders. “Absolutely not. Five-thirty it is.”
I nod. “Good. And no candy canes.”
She flashes a mischievous smile. “No promises.”
I sigh. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.
I watch her walk away, the bells on her shoes jingling with every step. A group of kids run over to her and hug her around the waist. Laughing, she bends down and poses for some pictures and I hate to admit that my frozen heart warms at the sight.
Just a little.
I look at Blitzen who’s sniffing around my pockets for more candy canes. “Don’t even think about it,” I mutter as I lead my reindeer back over to the trailer.
Days on the farm are usually really dull. So maybe—just maybe—having Eve there will be… I don’t know. Fun?
Or maybe it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
With Eve Winters, it’s almost certainly the latter.