by Robyn Neeley
Rolling her eyes, she gave him a playful swat. “I’ll let that slide.”
“That’s what you do with it.” Miles chuckled.
“Stop it. No.” She linked arms with his. “What every girl needs is a fun male best friend to experience life’s highs and lows with. We’re going to sell the dolls as a girl-and-boy package deal. Everyone should have a best friend close by to lean on while they’re searching for their soul mate.”
“That’s a fabulous idea,” Olivia said, clicking her heels. Lauren noticed that that act seemed to drain the color from Drew’s face. What was going on with him? Yeah, he hated Christmas, but it was just a silly costume.
Lauren clapped her hands, directing her orders to Olivia and Miles. “Okay, what I need you two to do is ham it up with the kids. Obviously if a boy wants a doll, we’re not going to turn the sale away, but focus hard on the girls. Let’s try to see if we can sell at least half the dolls we have here.” She turned to Drew. “Does that sound good?”
“Yeah, it does.” He loosened his collar underneath his sweater and turned to the crowd. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Miles and Olivia took their places, instantly getting into character. In no time, kids swarmed all around them, playing with the dolls. Drew and Lauren spent the next hour talking to the parents while the kids enjoyed the merriment brought on by the elves.
Lauren snapped a picture of a young girl holding up her new boy and girl dolls. “Your dolls are going to be best friends.” She turned to Drew who’d come up beside her. “It’s working.”
“This is wonderful,” he agreed. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Just doing my job.” She shrugged.
“Right.” He looked away.
What was still bothering him? “Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. Just a lot going on.” He smiled, showing a dimple. “Listen, I need to step out for a minute.”
“Do you want my car?” She reached for her purse, but he stopped her.
“No, I just need some fresh air.” He sighed. “There’s too much Christmas cheer in here. You understand.”
“Okay.” She wasn’t quite buying his excuse. Something had happened earlier to put him in this mood.
He put on his coat and buttoned it up. “Thank you again for today.”
“I didn’t do anything.” She smiled up at him.
“You believe in this toy.”
“I believe in you. When we get back to the cabin, I’m going to call a meeting with our team first thing Monday morning to create a new marketing strategy. Christmas might be too late, but there’s always Valentine’s Day.”
“I think that’s a great idea.”
“That’s why your brother pays me the big bucks.” She laughed and nodded toward Olivia’s direction. She and Miles were now reenacting a scene from Romeo and Juliet with the dolls. “I think there is someone else who deserves some credit.”
“She really did come through.” He laughed sarcastically. “I can’t believe Miles was your muse for this idea. He’s never going to let me forget it, is he?”
“Probably not.” She reached for his hand. “Go get some air and then we’ll turn this around together.”
“Together,” he repeated, but she wasn’t convinced he agreed. Without another word, he maneuvered through the crowd toward the exit.
Lauren bit her bottom lip. Something was troubling Drew. They were in this incredibly happy place, selling the dolls. He should be elated, not sprinting for the door.
Just once she wanted him to feel again honest-to-goodness Christmas cheer. The kind that made you want to sing old-time carols at the top of your lungs and believe that anything was possible.
She reached in her purse and pulled out her snowflake. Turning it over, she finally knew in her heart the wish she wanted to make. “I wish Drew could experience the magic of Christmas.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Drew took a seat on the empty bench and gazed up at the beautiful Christmas tree. He’d walked the three blocks not planning on ending up at this spot, but as soon as he turned the street corner, he had this weird sense he wasn’t in control anymore of his destination.
Seeing Olivia in that elf costume had nearly knocked the wind out of him. It was a stupid coloring book. That’s what he’d repeated over and over on his walk. Olivia was not his soul mate. She couldn’t be.
He raked his hands through his hair remembering the red and white tights and sparkly shoes. Candy Cane Sparkly Toes existed and she was now helping to sell his toy.
He cared for Olivia, but she wasn’t the one.
“Mind if I join you, Drew?”
Drew looked up and his mouth dropped at the sight in front of him. “Santa?” It was the man who worked at JDL Toys in New York.
The old man chuckled and took a seat. He propped up his cane next to him. “It’s good to see you again, Drew.”
“What are you doing here?” He raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Did my brother send you?”
“Someone in your family did, but it wasn’t Luke.”
“My dad?”
The old man smiled and nodded to the tree. “It’s magnificent, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. It’s a beauty. Why doesn’t anyone decorate it?”
“They do. Just before you got here the town held its annual Wishing Tree Festival. The tree is decorated with thousands of ornaments. Visitors can take one and make a wish.”
Drew chuckled. “They sure throw a lot of festivals in this town.”
“Yes, they do.” He pushed his glasses up. “It appears there might be one more wish on that tree.” He pointed to a sparkly silver snowflake ornament straight in front of them.
Where did that come from? It hadn’t been there a second ago, had it? “Oh, I don’t know. I’ve never been into Christmas. I probably don’t deserve it.”
“Nonsense. Everyone deserves to make a Christmas wish.”
Drew stood, completely skeptical but not wanting to disrespect the old man. He reached up, slid the snowflake off the branch, and turned it over in his palm.
“I know for a fact that a wonderful young woman with a broken heart has the match.”
“Really? What happened?” Drew asked, and sat back down.
The old man leaned back and tapped his cane. “She lost the man she loves.”
“That sucks.”
“Oh, I don’t think anything happened that can’t be fixed with a little time. So what’s your wish?”
Drew touched the snowflake. He knew what he wanted to wish for, but even if he could disregard the Candy Cane Sparkly Toes prophecy, he couldn’t ignore that Lauren had been acting weird today when he said he’d needed time to fix things. Not marrying her was the biggest mistake of his life. Would she ever forgive him and take him back?
Somehow he doubted making a wish was going to turn things around. He knew what he needed to do. First, he needed to be honest with Olivia. Then he’d put his heart on the line to Lauren. If she didn’t see a future with him, he’d have to accept it.
“I wish to give the owner of this snowflake’s match her wish.” He shrugged. “It’s Christmas after all.”
Santa stood. “Your mother and I will see what we can do.”
His mother. How long had this old man been employed by the company? “You didn’t know my mom, did you?”
“Of course I did. Wonderful lady who wanted only the best for her boys. You know she loved the holidays.”
“I know,” Drew said softly. He didn’t really think this Santa-act knew his mother. He was probably still in character. What mom didn’t love the holidays?
“She’d want you to enjoy them, too.” He pointed to the tree with his cane. “Start here. Take as long as you need.”
“I think I’ll do that.” Drew wasn’t in a hurry to get back to the Frost Festival, and for some reason, he was drawn to this spot.
The old man bent over and rummaged through a red bag, pulling out a small container. “Her
e’s a snack if you get hungry. I get a lot of these this time of year.”
Drew eyed the container. “Thanks,” he said.
Santa looked up toward the sky. “We’re getting a big storm this evening, so I’ve got to go check on my transportation for the weekend. Make sure everything is in tip-top shape. I’ll see you at the wedding.”
“See you.” Drew stared after the old man in complete confusion, watching him disappear down the street. Why would he be at the wedding? He knew some of the executive team would be making the trip up to Snow Frost Mountain, but a seasonal employee? Why would Luke invite him?
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he stared back up at the tree. Santa, or whatever his name was, was right. His mom certainly had loved the holidays.
He picked up the container and opened it. Pinwheel cookies. Just like the ones Sara had made for him. Pulling one out, he flipped it over. Was the universe trying to tell him something?
It’s just a cookie. Taking a deep breath, he took a bite and then another.
The tears immediately rolled down his face. He continued to eat his cookie, while memories of his mother at Christmas washed over him. The woman who loved Christmas and would have done anything for him and Luke.
As he reached for another cookie, a warm, familiar feeling rushed through him. Right then and there all he wanted to do was sing Christmas carols, the way his mother had taught him. Standing up, that was exactly what he did.
• • •
Lauren unlocked the car, and Olivia got into the passenger seat while Miles jumped into the back. “Thanks again for the costume.” Olivia held up the tights and shoes.
“Just shove them in the glove compartment,” Lauren said, starting the car. It was five p.m. and no sign of Drew. Olivia had sent him a text earlier, and he’d replied that he was in the town’s square.
But that was two hours ago. Was he still there? And what exactly was he doing? It had broken her heart to see Drew walk out of the festival. She hoped wherever he was and whatever he was doing, he was feeling better.
“Thank you both for today.” Lauren played with the heat vents. They’d managed to sell more than half of the dolls and she really owed it to both Olivia for having the idea, and Miles for inspiring it. The two had also made quite the pair, hamming it up as Santa’s elves. All that was missing was Santa, but apparently he’d been with Drew—at least, according to his text back to Olivia.
Lauren wasn’t mad that he’d left like he did. Something drove him away, and she suspected he just needed some alone time. She understood, but where did it leave them? Would they ever be back on track for their second chance?
She glanced at Olivia who was turned in conversation with Miles. Who would have thought that this woman would have played a huge role in selling the dolls and saving all of their butts? Probably Jack. He’d always praised his former assistant’s skills and creativity. Lauren was starting to see the decent side to Olivia that Jack, Drew, and Miles saw. Maybe she had changed.
Making three short turns, she headed straight for the town’s center. As she pulled up toward the tree and spotted Drew, Olivia let out a gasp while Miles burst out laughing. “Is Drew channeling Bing Crosby or Perry Como?”
Lauren grinned and rolled down her window. “Shut up and listen.”
They all watched the dozen or so people surrounding Drew belting out “Jingle Bells.” Beside him was a small girl with a cap over her head, hugging a Happily Ever After doll with long brown hair. Lauren presumed it was Sara hugging Anna.
“Let’s join them.” She maneuvered the car into a parking space a little ways away and shut off the engine. Within minutes, they were by his side.
He smiled wildly as Olivia stood next to him and joined in the merriment.
“Did you know he could sing?” Miles asked.
Lauren nodded, not able to take her eyes off of Drew, who gave her a wink. “He sang to me just the other night …” She lowered her voice. “In the hot tub.”
“Falalalala,” Miles chirped. “Or maybe it’s more oooh la la.”
She gave him a playful bump with her hip. As they joined the chorus, her heart swelled at the realization in front of her. Drew had finally let Christmas back in.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Lauren continued to hum as Miles followed her inside the log cabin and into the kitchen.
“Someone’s in a good mood.” He slid onto the barstool, rubbing his hands together.
She peeled off her gloves and coat, leaning against the kitchen island. “Wasn’t today absolutely wonderful?”
“Are you referring to the Frost Festival or watching Drew go all It’s a Wonderful Life in the town’s square?”
“It was quite a sight, wasn’t it?”
“Something like that.” He took off his ski jacket and set it on the stool next to him.
“So, do you think he’s going to give Olivia the heave-ho tonight?”
“I think so.” Lauren looked out the window at the gray sky. The snowstorm was coming, but would it compare to what was surely brewing at the inn? Once they pulled into the cabin’s driveway, Drew had asked to borrow her car and disappeared with Olivia. She assumed they were having the talk.
Miles checked his watch. “I think I’ll head out in about an hour then … just in case she doesn’t want to be alone.”
Lauren came around the counter and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze. “You really area a good friend, Miles Payne.”
“Yes, I am, and don’t you forget it.” He paused, and she could instantly tell from his expression that an idea had just popped into his head. “I think I should get a cut of the Happily Ever After dolls profits since the new sales plan was inspired by me.”
“How about we create a doll in your likeness and name him Miles?”
“That could work. God, that doll is going to be ridiculously handsome.” He chuckled but then grew serious. “So you ready for tonight?”
Lauren opened the refrigerator, pulling out a tub of dip and then grabbing a bag of chips on the counter. “What do you mean?” She opened the bag, snagged a chip, and scooped some dip.
“You know exactly what I mean. Be careful of how much salt you have.” He snatched the bag from her. “You wouldn’t want to be bloated.”
She rolled her eyes and snatched it back. “I’m not going to lie. I love Drew, but I really saw a different side to Olivia today, and I know he cares about her. I hate seeing anyone get her heart broken, especially at Christmas. Know what I mean?”
“She’ll be fine. I’ve decided that I’m going to make it my mission to find her a man without the last name Cannon.”
“Good idea.” Lauren sighed, wondering if it was too early in the evening to pour herself a glass of wine to calm her nerves. She glanced longingly at the bottle calling her name in the wine rack and then walked over and grabbed it. “I’ve been thinking about the whole situation a lot over the last couple of days. Olivia was never the obstacle to our getting back together.”
“No?”
“No. I just don’t know if Drew will ever be ready to take the next step with me.”
“You can’t be serious. He’s breaking up with his girlfriend to be with you.”
“No, I mean it. What if he thinks he’s ready and then a month or two from now, he freaks out again and runs? I don’t think I can take another breakup. The last one sucked.”
“You need to lay it all out on the line tonight. Tell him exactly how you feel.”
“What if he admits that he doesn’t want to get married … ever?”
“Is that a compromise you could make? A lot of couples don’t get married.”
“I don’t know. I’d like to think us being together is enough, but if he’s not ready to get married will he want other things with me—like children?”
“You want kids?”
“Why are you so surprised?” Lauren asked, searching for the wine opener in the utensil drawer. She really did need a glass of wine.
�
��Um … Ms. Candy Cane Sparkly Toes who couldn’t wait to bolt from her assignment the other day.”
“Well, those are other people’s kids.” She laughed. “My and Drew’s children would be perfect.”
“Of course. God, I hope they get your nose.”
She laughed, but grew serious. “Maybe I should give everything a little more thought before Drew gets back.” She grabbed the wine bottle. “I think I’ll drink on this.”
• • •
Drew headed out of the Snow Frost Inn onto the powder-covered street. The residents were right. The storm had arrived, and he was eager to get back to the cabin, where he could watch the snowflakes fall in the arms of the woman he loved.
Two hours earlier, he’d finally had a long conversation with Olivia over dinner where he admitted his feelings for Lauren. She’d taken the news better than he expected.
Actually, she’d intercepted all he’d planned on saying and broke up with him, admitting they weren’t meant to be together and insisting that she would be fine. Was she putting on a brave face? Maybe. She’d excused herself from the table to call Miles to see if he’d bring her her suitcase. Then when she returned, she did the oddest thing. She asked Drew if she could stay in town for the wedding.
He wasn’t going to lie. That request had taken him by surprise, but he also knew how much she missed being part of his dad’s life and really wanted to mend things with Luke. He couldn’t say no. She even offered to help Lauren and him with the final wedding preparations. He didn’t really know how much more they needed to do for the wedding, but it didn’t sound like a bad idea.
Picking up his steps toward Lauren’s BMW, his heart also picked up its beats. He couldn’t wait to get back to the cabin and sweep Lauren off of her feet and into his arms. He’d build that fire he promised, and with any luck, they would be lying naked in front of it in no time.
He looked up at the dark sky, snowflakes instantly coating his lashes. The town had been abuzz about the turn in the weather that might cancel the second day of the festival. That was okay by him. Now that they had a solid plan to sell the dolls, the pressure was off. He planned on talking to Natasha and seeing if she could distribute the rest of the shipment to kids visiting the Gingerbread House.
