Resisting Fate

by Kylie Gilmore

  He got serious. “Missy, you can tell me. I won’t tell a soul.”

  She worried her lower lip for a moment. “I was raising money for a family in need for Christmas. That’s what the craft bazaar was about. Everyone donated most of their profits, and then someone stole the money. More than two thousand dollars. I’m trying to earn it back.”

  “Did you report it stolen?”

  “No. I didn’t want anyone to know after all the work they put in to make the bazaar a success. I figured I’d just quietly replace the money. I’m the one who was collecting the money anyway, and I’m the one doing all the Christmas shopping for the family.”

  He stared at her, an unexpected lump in his throat. She took this ridiculous elf job to help a family in need? She wasn’t just a tough woman, underneath all that, she cared deeply about others. That meant a lot to him, a value he’d been raised with that he took to heart. “Missy, I’ll give you the money—”

  “No. It’s my problem. I’ll fix it.”

  He blew out a breath. “Why is it your problem? It’s not like you stole the money.”

  “It just is. Now drop it.” She broke off a piece of the taco salad bowl and chomped it ferociously. She was just being stubborn.

  Don’t do it. Don’t you offer her that admin job.

  It would be hell, knowing how much he wanted her, knowing how good it could be, knowing how much he liked her and wanted to spend more time with her, only to keep a line of professionalism between them. He could not have her in his office day in, day out and deny all of his natural instincts.

  She stood abruptly, grabbed her elf shoes, and hung onto the back of her chair, slipping them on. “I’d better get back to work. Thanks for lunch.”

  “I’m heading out.” He crossed to her side and took her tray from the table. “I’ll escort you to the North Pole so you don’t get accosted by some eager kids.”

  “I’m more afraid of getting accosted by you.”

  That stung. “Seriously?”

  She smiled and squeezed his arm. “Kidding. You’ve been very helpful.”

  “It’s kinda my thing.” He dumped the trash, and they took the escalator at the end of the food court back down to Santa’s Workshop.

  She turned to him. “You know what’s great about being an elf with a Rudolph nose?”

  He smiled. “What?”

  “Spreading Christmas cheer,” she said deadpan.

  They cracked up.

  “Seriously, though, it’s worth it,” she said, “though I confess my first thought was Pennywise. You know that terrifying clown from It?”

  He laughed. “I don’t think you could ever pull off terrifying in that dress.”

  “I guess not. The kids were thrilled. Anyway, I can’t wait to make Christmas special for the Harper kids. There’s three of them, and I think the two youngest might still believe in Santa. They’ve been through so much, and I just want their first Christmas in their new home to be perfect.”

  His chest ached with all her heartfelt sentiment. “You’re a good person, Missy Higgins.”

  She blushed. “It’s not me. A lot of people helped.”

  “Just say thank you.”

  “I’m not good with compliments.”

  He waggled his brows. “How’s this for a compliment? You make a beautiful—” he leaned close to her ear “—dare I say, sexy elf.”

  She snort-laughed. “I’m going to get a big head, and then how would it fit in my pointy hat?”

  “You know what you need? Some elf ears.”

  “Don’t even mention it. My boss would be all over that.”

  “Maybe some jingle bells—”

  “I’m already in trouble for forgetting my jingle bell necklace. Shit. I forgot it again. I was just in the locker room. I was in such a rush, I didn’t even think about it.”

  “I’m sure it’s fine.”

  They got off the escalator, heading for Santa’s Workshop, Missy telling him all about her baby-faced boss with a click-clacking tongue and then doing a hysterical impersonation of him. “Keep the hat on your person at all times!” she bellowed. “I can tell you right now elf hats don’t come cheap!”

  “I’m glad you found that funny,” a voice snapped.

  They both turned to find a short red-faced man, couldn’t have been more than twenty, practically frothing at the mouth. “You’re fired.”

  “What?” Missy exclaimed. “I’m sorry, that was in poor taste. It won’t happen again.”

  The man remained stone-faced. “Security will escort you to the locker room. I want all of that costume, including the jingle bell necklace.”

  The distraught look on Missy’s face had Ben stepping in. “She said she was sorry. We were just joking around.”

  “Tell it to security.” The little weasel waved a security guard over. The security guard, a bald man with a huge beer belly, hopped to it, looking happy to have something to do.

  “It was my fault,” Ben said. “I did my boss impression, so she did hers.”

  Missy shot him a look that said really? He lifted one shoulder. It was hard to deny what had happened when the guy had heard everything.

  Missy turned to her boss as the security guard stepped close to her side. “I’m not a flight risk, you moron,” she snapped. “Here.” She shoved the hat and Rudolph nose into the guy’s hands. Then she took off her shoes and threw them at him.

  “Hey!” The guy ducked. “She accosted me! Did you see that?”

  “Why don’t you try being an elf?” Missy spat. “You already look like a troll.”

  She turned on her heel and stalked off, the security guard quickly joining her.

  Ben didn’t have to think twice. He turned and followed her. Fucking A, he was going to offer her that admin job.

  Chapter Seven

  Missy emerged from the mall locker room in her wool coat, sweater, and jeans, elf costume in hand, still pissed not only to be fired but that her boss actually called for security. What woman in their right mind would be caught dead wearing this elf getup anywhere but here?

  She stepped through the employees-only door out to the mall, where the security guard regarded her with a stern expression. She handed over the costume without a word. The guy marched off importantly.

  She turned and spotted Ben leaning on the wall near the exit. He lifted a hand, apparently waiting for her. She waved back. Now that she wasn’t humiliatingly dressed as an elf, giving him way too much ammunition, she took a moment to appreciate the big and bad vibe he had going on. His short-cropped hair, the sharp lines of his cheekbones and jaw, his large muscular body framed perfectly in his black leather jacket and faded jeans—all of it combined made him look tough and sexy. She liked the contrast in his looks with his thoughtful considerate manner. She’d never met another man like him.

  Sure, he didn’t hesitate to tease her, but he could be serious when the occasion called for it. Like when she’d freaked when he’d restrained her wrists in bed. Her ex, Louis, would do that, manacle her wrists in one hand above her head and slap her. He never left a bruise, just let her know when he was mad for any tiny infraction, imagined or otherwise. He’d be so sorry afterward, lavishing her with gifts and attention for weeks, promising it’d never happen again. She’d married him at eighteen, scared and alone, and he’d promised to take care of her. Their first year of marriage had been good and then two years of abuse. It had happened so gradually, a slap here and there, grabbing her by the hair, the yelling. She’d finally faced facts and told him she wanted a divorce. He’d nearly strangled her, saying he’d kill her before he let her go. She’d been lucky to escape, managing to reach the bedside lamp and knock him out.

  Her boss, Amy, had helped Missy get out of California and settled with a new job in a new city, Seattle. Amy was also the one that helped Missy get a lawyer and file for divorce. Missy sent money back to Amy whenever she could to pay back the lawyer’s fees. Life went on, Missy a lot smarter about men. Love wasn’t worth t
he risk. No man would ever have that power over her again.

  She headed toward Ben. He straightened out of his slouch and met her halfway, stopping in front of her.

  “That’s the first time I’ve been fired in my life.” She threw up her hands. “From an elf job!”

  He spoke in a deadly serious tone. “You need a job; I have a job. Come work for me and Logan. We could use an admin. Ours is out until after the New Year. Her daughter just had her first baby and she went up to Vermont to be with her.”

  “Work for you?” she echoed, shocked at the offer. Ben in a position of authority over her? Ben tempting her at the office? Ben, Ben, Ben, every day for the next three weeks and change? That sounded like trouble. He’d want to be on top in more ways than one. “Ben, I do appreciate—”

  He cut her off. “I know you’re trying to do something really special for this family, and I get that you want to earn your own way. If you want to pick up some admin work for Checkin, the job is yours. It’s just me and Logan at the office, quiet for the most part. We’re not the hovering kind of bosses. And Sabrina works in the same building, so you could meet up with her for lunch or whatever.”

  Her firm resolve to turn him down wavered. That did sound nice. Sabrina was a good friend of hers, living in the apartment down the hall, one of her first friends when she’d moved to Clover Park. And Ben wouldn’t really be her boss, she reasoned. She’d just be helping him and Logan out for a few weeks. Logan, the youngest son in the Campbell clan, was a sweetheart, easygoing and mellow. He’d be no trouble at all. Plus it would be so much easier to be back at a desk than dealing with seasonal work at the mall. Her next (only) idea had been to work at a retail store that needed extra help, probably also at the crowded mall.

  She decided it could work if they were both professionals. “I’ve been an admin for eleven years, executive assistant for six of them, and I’m comfortable with most office applications, including spreadsheets and databases. I work in construction now, but I used to work at a tech company in Seattle.”

  “That’s perfect because we are a tech company. Logan is the tech guy, actually. I’m more the numbers guy.”

  She nodded. “I work mornings at Marino and Capello Construction through the end of the year. Things are slow for them this time of year. Would afternoons work for you?”

  He looked at a point over her shoulder. “Sure. This would only be through Christmas Eve. We’re shutting down for the holidays.”

  His tone was so flat, so distant, she got worried. “Are you sure you want me to take this job?”

  He finally met her eyes, his expression downright gloomy. “Yes, I’m sure.”

  “Because you need my skills?” she asked, feeling him out. She wasn’t used to this somber version of Ben. Something felt off.

  He exhaled sharply. “Because you need a job.”

  She stared at him. “That’s it?”

  His lips pressed flatly together before he spoke in a nearly robotic voice. “And I need an admin.”

  She crossed her arms. “As long as we keep it strictly professional.”

  “Of course,” he snapped. “Did you doubt I would be anything but professional?”

  She uncrossed her arms, taken aback by his hostile tone. “I didn’t mean to imply…I’m sorry. Really. I guess I thought because of before—” She stopped herself, deciding it was better not to mention their hookup in light of their new professional relationship. “Thank you and I accept your offer.”

  “Spit oath.” He pretended to spit in his hand, a hint of amusement back in his eyes. “Total professionals.”

  She relaxed, so relieved he was back to his usual self. She pretend spit and shook his hand.

  “Eww.” He dropped her hand. “Slimy. You weren’t really supposed to spit.”

  She laughed, a huge weight lifting off her shoulders. She’d come through for the Harpers. And Ben would be fun to be around. As long as they kept a little distance between them at the office, neither one of them would be tempted. And Logan would be there too, so it wasn’t like Ben would be stealing kisses in front of his business partner. This would be good.

  She headed toward the exit, already planning ahead to the errands she’d run with her suddenly free afternoon, grocery shopping at the top of the list.

  Ben kept pace with her. “You want something in writing? An official professional contract?”

  “I don’t need it in writing. I’ll take your word.”

  “Good, my word is gold.”

  “I’m sure.”

  He stopped short. “I’m serious. I won’t break my word to you. Ever. Especially when it comes to business. I’ll treat you like any other employee.”

  He was saying all the right things, but part of her felt let down. Kind of disappointing after all their, um, chemistry. “Thanks, Ben. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “See ya Monday,” he said brusquely and strode toward the exit.

  She watched him go, admiring his rear view with just a hint of a swagger, and sighed. Why did she want him even more now that he’d sworn to be professional? It was just such an upright gentlemanly thing to do to put her at ease, even knowing she was just a temp.

  The man was worse than trouble. He was irresistible.

  ~ ~ ~

  After the eleven a.m. Mass the next morning, Missy exited the church and met up with the supersweet Mrs. Walsh, waving and smiling at her from the sidewalk. She wore a glaringly bright fuchsia puffy down coat with a matching fuchsia knitted cap over her wispy jaw-length white hair.

  Missy put a hand on Mrs. Walsh’s arm. “Are you sure you should be out in this weather?” It was cold enough to snow, and she’d said she was coming down with something last week.

  Mrs. Walsh’s breath came out in a cold puff of air. “I’m okay. I heard the craft bazaar was a huge success. Congratulations!”

  Her gut twisted, shame over the stolen money nearly making her lose her smile, but Missy toughed it out. “Thanks, it was. Everyone worked really hard to pull it together.”

  “Don’t be so modest. We all know you were the dynamo who made it happen.”

  “It was definitely a group effort.”

  “Bah. So, what’s new?”

  Missy’s attention caught on the Harper family descending the stairs of the church. Rena, a petite brunette with long hair, struggled to get her two rambunctious sons, Todd and Will, to walk not run. Their older sister, Madelyn, ten years old and wearing a pink jacket a size too small, ducked her head and followed her family out. A weight pressed on Missy’s chest. She remembered vividly what it felt like to be ten years old with clothes that didn’t fit because no one had the money for more, and worse, to have your whole world turned upside down. That would be the first Christmas present she bought, a new winter coat for Madelyn. A small comfort, but sometimes the little things could mean the world to a child.

  “Good morning, Rena,” Mrs. Walsh called. “Morning to you too, Todd, Will, and Madelyn.”

  “How are you?” Missy called.

  The boys were too busy shoving each other to notice the greeting.

  “Hi,” Madelyn said softly, shoving her hands in her jacket pockets and staring at the ground.

  “Morning,” Rena said, scooping a glove that had just fallen out of one of the boys’ pockets off the sidewalk. “Sorry, no time this morning. Got to get to the supermarket before the snowstorm hits.”

  “Snow!” the boys shouted.

  “I could go for you,” Missy said.

  “That’s okay,” Rena said, shooing the boys down the sidewalk. “It’s part of an economics lesson for the kids too.”

  They hurried off. Missy turned to Mrs. Walsh. “Is she homeschooling them?”

  “No, they’re enrolled at Clover Park Elementary. I think she’s teaching them life lessons. Got to learn them some day, might as well when they’re young.”

  “I guess.”

  “Anything new with you?” Mrs. Walsh smiled, her brown eyes twinkling like she k
new something. Had Mrs. Walsh spotted her at the mall in her elf costume?

  Missy fought the heat creeping up her neck. “Can’t think of anything.”

  “No-o-o?” Mrs. Walsh sang. “Maybe a new job, new fella, that sort of thing.”

  Missy focused on the non-elf part. “Fella?”

  “You know, a boyfriend. How do you young people say it now? A hookup?”

  Missy sucked in air. Were people at church gossiping about the Missy-Ben make-out session at the craft bazaar last weekend?

  “Did you hear something about me?” Missy asked.

  Mrs. Walsh smiled serenely. “No, I just noticed you have a little glow about you like maybe some good news happened.”

  A glow? Did she still have a glow from hooking up with Ben three days ago? Or, the more likely scenario, Ben was telling people they’d hooked up. Gossip spread fast in this town. How crass. And here she’d thought he might be the kind of guy who could keep a confidence. This was just great. Next thing you knew he’d be blabbing to everyone about her humiliating time as an elf. She’d be known as Missy the slutty elf.

  “Nope,” Missy lied. “No news here. How about you?”

  Mrs. Walsh gave Missy’s hand a squeeze. “I’m hoping for some good news soon. I wish the same for you.”

  “Thanks,” Missy said.

  “I’ve been praying for you,” Mrs. Walsh said.

  Missy cocked her head. “Why…” She trailed off because Mrs. Walsh was already halfway down the sidewalk, spry for a woman in her eighties.

  Mrs. Walsh lifted a hand, calling over her shoulder. “My prayers will be answered soon! I have a good feeling.”

  Missy stared at the woman’s retreating back, her fuchsia coat floating out around her like a giant candy cloud. The woman meant well, but sometimes she just made no sense.

  Chapter Eight