One Winter's Night
Page 18
And apparently, she wasn’t the only one who thought so.
As the old man hit the elevator button, Nick said, “Hey, Claus, I didn’t know you worked in this building.”
The man regarded Nick curiously. “The name’s Simonson, not Claus, but yes, my business has been in this building for a number of years.”
Nick chuckled. “Okay, but you’re the guy who was at our party last month. You were dressed in that fancy red suit and handing out candy canes.”
Mr. Simonson laughed with the same jolly ho-ho-ho they’d all heard before. “I’m afraid my company is too busy for parties during the holiday season. We have our annual celebration in the spring after the rush.”
“No, not your party, ours. Stryker & Associates? The big conference room upstairs? We had the music and the eats and you were there dressed as Santa.”
The man shook his head. “I’m afraid you’ve mistaken me for someone else. Perhaps I have a double.”
“Perhaps,” Nick said suspiciously.
Right then, the doors opened. “This is me,” Mr. Simonson said, nodding and waving a hand. “Good day to you all.”
And as he stepped out, the four glanced through the doors to the office directory posted on the wall. Unlike most other floors in the building that held dozens of offices, this sign only displayed one name.
Simonson Toy Company.
Jeannie looked at Nick, then John, then Monica, all of them staring at each other but none of them willing to utter a word.
“Okay, so that was weird,” Nick finally said. “Was it me, or did that guy look exactly like that whack nut Santa that was working our party?”
They all shrugged.
“I’d stake money on it,” Nick insisted. “I don’t know what game the guy was playing, but I never forget a face.”
“Well,” Jeannie said, hoping to save Nick from his misery. “Whoever it was, I’m glad the man was at our party. That night certainly changed my life for the better.”
John Jr. nodded. “Mine, too.”
“Yep,” Monica agreed.
“Yeah, but that guy—I know that was him. And don’t you think it’s strange that—” Nick started, but John cut him off.
“Nick,” John said, clapping Nick on the back. “There are some things in life you just don’t question.” Then he pointed to the hallway as the doors came to a close. “That, my friend, is apparently one of them.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7461-1
ONE WINTER’S NIGHT
Copyright © 2010 by Lori Borrill
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book please contact us at Customer_eCare@Harlequin.ca.
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.eHarlequin.com
*Million Dollar Secrets