Chapter 1 #3
She looked about her disapprovingly. His workshop didn’t display any of her expertly recommended decorations for the season.
It felt like a personal slight. To overcome her annoyance, she began to twirl and dance in time to the music in her head, taking in the scent of fir and pine in the air thanks to the fresh garland that hung from the eaves.
The twinkling lights woven through the branches sparkled joyfully, creating a cozy vibe.
She spotted dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, and pinecones nestled in the fat swags of greenery and grudgingly accepted that it was a nice touch.
On the mantel were brightly painted figurines of Santa and his elves making toys and trails of red velvet bows and dangling ornaments.
Cora scoffed at the Santa—she’d never believed in him, of course—but the overall effect suited this shop.
She began to sing out loud as she shimmied and spun past the crackling fire and hand-embroidered stockings hung from the mantel.
All of the handmade toys on the shelves sat in neat rows with only a delicate ribbon tied to them and a discreet price tag.
She walked through the aisles unconsciously trailing her fingers over her favorite pieces and belting out the song to hide her annoyance at how long she was being kept waiting.
“All I want for Christmas is yooooooou!”
“Wow, really?” came a familiar deep, rumbling voice. “A few years ago, you couldn’t manage more than a single sentence in a very discourteous email.”
She let out a high-pitched screech. “You scared me!”
He might be her nemesis, but Nicholas Bari could still rock a flannel and a pair of jeans in the kind of way that should be illegal. Her eyes dropped involuntarily to his ass, but she managed to cover up the action by smoothing her hair and fluttering her eyelashes. Phew.
“Sorry. I guess you were expecting applause.”
She rolled her eyes. His blue eyes twinkled, no doubt because he’d caught her off guard, the bastard. She watched rosiness bloom in his cheeks and hoped it wasn’t because he’d spotted her checking out his ass. But damn, he looked ruggedly sensual.
Everything that normally didn’t appeal to her. And it still didn’t, she told herself. If her pulse hammered in her throat, it was because he’d scared her half to death. Or because of the animosity he stirred up in her.
“I was. As usual, you’ve disappointed me.”
“Why are you here, Ms. Quill? If you’re trying to soften me up, you can keep those sickly-sweet marshmallow drinks at home.
Health is important to me.” Was he intentionally lifting his shirt to reveal his abs, because if so…
Damn him and his hair that was way too thick and curling around his face like he was some kind of rugged angel.
“Sounds like you could use a little sweetness,” she said with a forced smile. This was going about as well as she’d expected.
“Noted. Again, why are you here?”
Taking a deep breath, she launched into the speech she’d practiced in the car on the way here.
“As you know, Winter Wonderland is the Christmas event for families all over Vermont, New York, Massachusetts and beyond. We get national coverage. This year’s festival is set to be another record breaker.
Since I’ve taken over, the event has grown bigger and better. ”
“And you thought you’d stop by and personally give me the update?” he asked, leaning against the counter.
Her eyes traveled down his long legs to take in the battered leather boots and then back up, up, up…
His muscly physique was more defined than she remembered.
His skin was tattooed, heavily, and she caught herself following the dark lines as they disappeared beneath the rolled-up cuffs of his shirt that pulled taut against his biceps.
She tore her eyes away and tried not to think of how polished Nick looked when he made an effort. Damn him!
“You got me. I’m driving around town with marshmallow mochas and spreading the news like it’s the 1900s instead of using social media like everyone else.” Double damn! She wasn’t going to be sarcastic.
He stood there watching her with his judgy stare. Her gaze dropped. “Sorry. You bring out the worst in me.”
“I’m sure I’m not the only one,” he said in a neutral voice.
“Are you going to stop?”
He shrugged.
“What is that? Is that supposed to be a response? Whatever. I’m going to get straight to the point. I have an amazing offer to make you. We’d like you to be our preeminent toymaker.”
“Oh, ho, ho. How the tables have turned. What’s changed? Five years ago, you couldn’t wait to get rid of me.”
“Time’s passed. That’s all water under the bridge. We’re going in a new direction,” she said breezily. He wasn’t buying it, but she wasn’t about to admit that he was her only hope for saving Christmas this year.
“What is this new direction exactly? I thought my toys were too old-fashioned for your Winter Wonderland,” he said. “Convince me.”
Convince him?
What an asshole!
How about, you could earn a fortune and it looks like your traditional little shop could use an update?
Breathe. Think before you speak.
It took four deep breaths.
“Convince you? You’re a toymaker. You know how important this time of year is to families. They’re all scrambling to plan a holiday and create memories and traditions their children will cherish for years to come. I’m offering you, Nick, a chance to be part of that. Even you won’t say no to that.”
The fate of Winter Wonderland hung in the balance. Time seemed to stand still as he considered her words.
One last try.
“I need you to be my featured toymaker. And I need an answer today.”
She swallowed audibly.
“Please.”