Chapter 9 #2
When Kate entered the kitchen, Chloe had a huge grin on her face. “Sounds like you were having way too much fun in there.”
“I really hope this wasn’t your idea.”
“Who, me?”
Kate walked past her, picked up the last tray of sugar cookies, and carried them to the ballroom. Chloe’s laughter filled the kitchen.
Why did she ever think keeping Nick in the friend zone would be easy?
* * *
Santa entered the ballroom from the side door nearest his chair with a cheery “Ho Ho Ho” and a “Merry Christmas!”
Kate may have been irritated before, but now she couldn’t erase the smile on her face.
The children were happy and waving to Santa.
The chatter was almost deafening. There must have been over fifty kids lined up to see Nick—Ha!
Nick playing St. Nick, how perfect. And maybe not only because of his name.
He looked at ease with the children, smiling and laughing.
He was taking the job seriously and making it look easy.
Cole sidled up to her and knocked shoulders. She stayed focused on Nick interacting with the children and said, “I’m mad at you.”
“You’re mad at me?”
“Yes.” Kate kept her eyes on Nick. “You bailed on your brother, and suddenly I’m helping Nick into the costume and stuck in a compromising position.”
Cole chuckled. “You’re blaming me?” He pointed at the bake sale table, where the elder twins wore matching grins.
“Yep,” she said. “I’m sure half the town has already heard about it.”
He put an arm around her shoulder, brought her in closer, and nodded toward Nick. “Are you still claiming to be just friends, because the look he’s giving me right now suggests no one will find my body.”
“He’s mad at you too.”
“So, if I kissed you right now, he wouldn’t spring out of that chair and tackle me to the ground?”
Kate stepped out of his hold, faced him, and crossed her arms over her chest.
Cole held up his hands in surrender. “Don’t worry. I want to live.” He went to join Chloe, who was chatting with the kids waiting in line.
Was Cole right? Did Nick have feelings for her?
* * *
Kate placed her hands on her lower back and stretched.
Bending over the table, helping children decorate their cutout cookies, was fun but backbreaking.
The little hands were smeared with colors and sticky to the touch.
She had a rag nearby for a quick wash when needed.
Overall, the children enjoyed the decorating and were rewarded with a cookie to take home.
While wiping down the table and setting out new frosting bags, she glanced at Nick.
On his lap sat an adorable little boy with red hair and bright blue eyes. The same boy she’d met in the diner.
Levi—that was his name. Levi seemed to scrutinize Nick. He became animated when Chloe took his picture. His mother, Rachel, sat on Nick’s other knee and draped her arm around Nick’s neck, laughing. The scene was straight out of a Hallmark commercial. A happy family.
“Levi, give Santa a kiss on the cheek. You too, Rachel, so I can get another picture,” Chloe instructed.
Nick’s face lit up, his smile widening. Then he laughed, enjoying the beautiful strawberry blonde and her adorable son.
Don’t be jealous, Kate repeated over and over to herself.
She glanced away from the gag-me-now scene just in time to see an over-sugared child squirt the contents of a green frosting bag on top of his sister’s head.
The mother shrieked, drawing Kate’s attention from the lovefest happening with Santa and his family.
Emma rushed over from the bake sale table to help clean the crying little girl. “Oh, honey, it’ll be fine. We’re going to get you all cleaned up, and then I have something special for you. Come with me.”
She took the little girl by the hand and led her to the bathroom while the mom chastised her son. Kate and Elsie helped clean up the table and floor.
When Emma and the girl walked back into the ballroom, the little girl held up a large Santa sucker, stuck out her red-stained tongue at her brother, and licked the sugary treat with a devilish smile on her lips.
“All taken care of.” Emma slipped another sucker into the mother’s coat pocket. “Just in case. It’s smaller, but it’s something if you need to keep the peace.”
The mother thanked them both and bundled her children into their winter gear.
“Come sit, Kate. Looks like Levi is the last to make a cookie. You need a break,” Emma said. “Have you eaten anything today?”
Kate pulled out a chair and sat next to Emma. “No, not yet. It sure feels good to sit.”
Elsie joined them. “Only a few minutes left, and Nick will be done for the day.”
Ruth came bustling through the door with a wheeled cart and a bucket of soapy water. “I’m sorry I haven’t been much help. I ended up at the front desk. But I’m here to help clean up.”
Elsie placed a hand on Ruth’s. “We’ve got this if you have other things to do. We have plenty of people on the cleanup crew.”
“Nonsense. It’s the least I can do. Then we’ll head into the Blue Ox and the first round is on me. I think we could all use one.”
“I know I could, but first we have to help this little boy decorate his cookie,” Emma said.
Rachel, holding her son’s hand, stepped up to the table. “Sorry we’re late. Levi had an appointment I couldn’t reschedule.”
Kate stood. “Hi, Levi. Can I help you decorate a cookie?”
Levi scooted closer to his mom’s leg, but nodded. Rachel pulled out a chair for him, and Kate placed a few colors in front of him on the table. Pretty soon, Emma, Elsie, and Ruth all joined in and decorated their own cookies.
Rachel sat next to Kate. “It’s nice to see you again, Kate.”
“You too.”
Rachel lowered her voice. “Levi discovered Nick is Santa, but he made sure Levi knew he was only a helper filling in for the ‘big guy.’”
“You’re going to have some lovely pictures,” Kate said.
“I think so. Chloe said she’d email them to me.”
Nick came up behind Levi and placed a white-gloved hand on his shoulder.
Chloe went to the ballroom doors and pulled them shut.
“Okay. We have successfully pulled off another Santa Days.” She pulled off her hat and removed her pointy ears and laid them on the table.
Levi’s eyes grew large. Chloe tossed him an ear, and the entire table laughed when he poked at it like it would come alive and bite him.
“I’m going to change,” Nick said.
All the ladies looked at Nick with fear. “Don’t worry, this little guy figured out I’m only helping Santa.” He ruffled Levi’s hair. “The real Santa is busy watching over the North Pole so the toys will be ready for Christmas.”
Levi finished smearing red and green frosting over his cookie while Ruth placed the leftover icing into the fridge and Elsie and Emma packed the last of the cookies into airtight containers.
The office door opened, and Nick appeared with the Santa suit in a garment bag over his shoulder. “I’ll bring this to laundry,” he said to the room of ladies.
“Thank you, Nick,” said Ruth. “We’re finishing up and heading to the Blue Ox for drinks. Rachel and Levi are saving us a table. Will you be joining us?”
Nick placed a quick kiss on his mom’s cheek. “I’m calling it a day. I need a shower, and I’m beat.”
Nick needed to get away from Kate. Part of him wanted to hang out and share another laugh or two with her, but that’s why joining the group was a bad idea.
Concern etched his mom’s face. “At least place an order to go.”
“Nah. I’ll call in an order from Rosie’s and pick it up on my way out of town.”
With a mischievous wink at Kate he said, “I’ll text you later.”
Then he got the hell out of there before he screwed up again, and the entire gang noticed he wasn’t immune to Kate.