‘Our regular Santa is ill and everyone else is busy.’ She picked up the divorce papers and held the top edge in her fingertips, ready to tear. ‘You’ll be out of here the day before Christmas Eve. Four days of Santa and I’ll sign the papers. That’s my final offer. Take it or leave it.’ She tore a small slit in the centre.
‘Okay, okay, I’ll do it.’ Jackson shook his head. Spending a few days in town would not only put his business deal at risk, but stir up emotions he’d put to rest long ago.
‘I’ll hold on to this.’ Candi waved the document in front of his face. ‘In case you change your mind. And no one knows about us being married, so don’t trek around town dropping the bomb.’
‘You didn’t tell anyone?’
‘No.’
Chapter Four
Thanks to Jackson, Candi had to bake another batch of acorn cookies, which set her schedule back at least an hour. She called Violet to let her know she wouldn’t be able to help with dinner at the inn and went back to work.
The last thing Candi wanted to do was to bake, but those cookies in the trash bin were meant for the carollers. She gathered the ingredients and creamed the butter and sugar. The simple baking process that usually took 30 minutes lasted over an hour. Candi checked and double-checked her measurements, too preoccupied to concentrate.
Why did she ask Jackson to play Santa? And why on earth did he agree? She never expected him to give in so easily. He wasn’t even fond of children. They made him nervous, which meant the kids would be just as apprehensive. His awkward actions might make them edgy. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, after all. She should have just signed the divorce papers and disappeared from his life a second and final time.
She placed the large baking pan in the oven and set the timer for 10 minutes. While the cookies baked, Candi started a tray of vanilla swirl fudge, crushing the candy canes before adding them to the mixture.
Maybe he agreed to stay as punishment for their marriage. She wanted retribution that night, but she shouldn’t have mixed anger with infatuation. They drove to the chapel and before she knew what had happened, they were married. Going through with the vows had been wrong, but Candi did nothing to stop them. Her obsession with Jackson had clouded her thinking.
The next day, after her judgement cleared, Candi tried to do the right thing. She went to the chapel and asked the minister to void the wedding. He asked if they consummated their marriage, and when she blushed in response, he shook his head. The minister told her to wait a few months, give love a chance. If she returned and still wanted an annulment, he’d file the papers for her. Candi never returned.
And Jackson never called. She guessed his memory might be foggy, but to not remember anything? How could he forget their lovemaking? The heated kisses, whispered promises. The tender caresses and ultimate release?
The timer buzzed, bringing Candi’s thoughts back to the bakery. She removed the cookies and placed them on a cooling rack before returning to the vanilla fudge. She stirred in the crushed candy canes and vanilla extract until the mixture was blended, and then poured it into a foil-lined pan. Using a knife, she swirled red food colouring through the fudge. After placing the pan in the refrigerator, she breathed deep, taking a moment to clear her head. Too much needed to be done, and wasting time thinking about Jackson wouldn’t increase production.
Candi flicked on the CD player and turned up the volume. She reached for a clean mixing bowl, allowing the Christmas music to soothe her nerves.
Thankfully Jackson had packed an overnight bag. Surprising, since he originally had no intention of staying. This stopover was meant to be a quick in-and-out. He should be on his way to the Bahamas, soaking up some sun and women. Instead, he booked a room and walked the snowy main street of Redford Falls.
With darkness falling over the town, most of the shops were closed. Jackson roamed the town inconspicuously, not worried about being recognized. A light snow descended, dusting the handmade wreaths hanging from the lamp posts. Coloured mini-lights draped pole to pole, twinkling in the night sky.
Many of the same shops from his childhood still lined the street. The pharmacy, hardware store, library, post office, convenience store, restaurant and, of course, the chocolate shop. New to the main strip were a shoe store, a pizza joint, and a few clothing boutiques.
Each storefront was decorated for the holiday season. Sparkling lights glistened radiant colours across glass ornaments that hung from garlands. A few windows were hand-painted, while others contained figurines. Santa’s village, a peaceful manger scene, a family of snowmen, and a barn filled with reindeer could all win awards for their beauty. But in Jackson’s opinion, Candi’s window should be honoured with top prize for its magnificence and creativity. He was surprised he hadn’t noticed the decorations when he arrived.
Fluffy white cotton formed the hills. Red and white candy canes acted as the ski lift and chairs. A house sat to one side of a cloud of snow, chocolate strips lining the roof, graham cracker brick walls, and glazed, hard candy windows. Brilliant white mini-lights accented the serene landscape.
Jackson smiled, and then faced the far end of the street. The dark pit near the top of the hill was once a fever of activity. The ski slope was the place to be during the winter. He had many fond memories of rushing home from school to grab his skis and snowboard so he could hit the slopes. One of the most special moments was the time he taught Candi how to ski. Those days were filled with fun and laughter — priceless memories.
Heaviness settled on his chest. News about the closure was unfortunate. The town must have suffered severe repercussions. No doubt that was the reason so many shops stood empty. He wondered how Candi survived financially. If her shop was in need of anything, he’d insist on helping her. Jackson owed her. But playing Santa? He shook his head and headed back to the inn, nuzzling his nose down into his collar to avoid the carollers as they strolled into a residential street.
Within his room, filled with gold-fringed, plush pillows and Victorian furniture, the crooning voices brought back another rush of fond memories. Him singing, especially in public, never happened until Candi won a study bet. During an evening of tutoring, she suggested a wager. Either he passed the Chemistry exam with flying colours or he would have to go carolling with her. Candi had more faith in him than Jackson had in himself. When he passed, she dragged him out to join the carollers, anyway. To this day, Jackson never admitted how much fun he had that night.
The Christmas carols drifted off into the distance. In their absence, something gnawed at his heart strings. Could he be homesick? No, not a chance! He thrived in the hustle and bustle of the city. That’s why he chose a career in real estate development. True, he couldn’t wait to get away from this place. The slow pace and heavy quiet drove him crazy. If only she had gone with him.
A clatter in the hallway broke his thoughts. Jackson opened the door and sucked in a breath. Candi stood half-naked in front of him, nothing but a short towel wrapped around her delicious curves.
She stiffened, and the items in her hand hit the floor with a thud. ‘What the heck are you doing here?’
‘I think we covered that earlier.’ Jackson grinned, and bent to retrieve her shampoo and conditioner.
Candi grabbed the bottles and her towel slipped, giving him a glimpse of her pale mounds. Her cheeks flushed as she followed the path of his stare. She pulled the towel up, allowing a generous view of her long sexy legs. Jackson squinted. Seeing Candi this way — hair wet, chest and legs spotted with droplets of water — coiled his stomach into a knot of hot desire.
‘I know why you’re in town.’ She glared at him. ‘I’m talking about here, at the inn.’
‘I was coerced into sticking around for a few days. I needed a place to stay.’
‘What about your parents…’ Candi stopped, as if she suddenly realized why he wouldn’t stay there. ‘Of all the places you could go, you had to pick here?’
‘Why are you here?’ Jackson crossed hi
s arms. ‘Wait, let me guess. You’re with someone.’ Please don’t let her be here with some guy having a secret rendezvous. His chest grew heavy, waiting for her response.
‘I live here.’
He frowned. ‘What?’
Candi pointed to a door down the hall. ‘That’s my room.’
‘You live at the inn? Why?’
‘I’m 27, too old to be living with my parents.’
‘Understandable, but still confusing.’ Why didn’t she own a home or even live in one of the apartments a few blocks away?
‘It’s convenient and close to the shop. I can walk to and from work.’ Candi bent to pick up her hair brush, maintaining her white-knuckle grip on the towel. ‘And I help Violet and Sam run things around here.’
Jackson dropped to one knee, rescuing a bottle of lotion. The scent triggered a deep memory. Confusion blurred his vision as he stood. Candi placed a hand on his arm and the warmth of her fingers on his bare skin sent heat surging through his body. A familiar longing overwhelmed him.
She released him and stumbled back. Jackson grabbed for her, but his fingers slipped on her wet shoulder. Candi whimpered. He stared at the towel in his hand, and then slowly glanced up. Candi slapped a hand over her twin peaks and the junction between her legs, but enough of her remained uncovered. Jackson’s imagination spun into a frenzy. Candi wrapped in his arms, their naked bodies pressed together. Candi underneath him as he ravaged her mouth, his hands roaming over her silky, smooth skin.
‘Damn it, Jackson! I said give me my towel!’
He tossed the towel into the air, knowing she’d have to snatch for it and allow him the full-frontal heavenly image. Any red-blooded male would have done the same.
‘You swine!’ Candi whipped the towel around her body.
‘Hey, not like I haven’t seen you naked before.’ Something deep in Jackson`s subconscious sprung to life, but before he could question the distorted pictures, Candi huffed and ran to her room, slamming the door behind her.
Chapter Five
‘If he thinks he can just waltz back into town and I’ll fall at his feet, he’s crazy.’ Candi slammed a tray of candy corn on the counter.
‘What’s up with you today?’ Virginia leaned against the open bakery doorway. ‘You’ve been frantic all morning. And now you’re talking to yourself.’
‘I have a lot on my mind.’
‘Has Colin been bothering you again?’
Candi shot a glance at Virginia. Did she know about Candi’s problems with the bank? ‘No, Colin has nothing to do with my mood.’ No point would be served in pretending. They had known each other so long Virginia could always tell whenever Candi lied. ‘It’s our Santa.’
Virginia frowned. ‘You said when I arrived that you found us a Santa.’ She stepped into the baking room. ‘But you didn’t say who he was.’
‘Jackson volunteered.’
‘That sophisticated man who was here last night offered to wear those heavy trousers and bright red coat over his Armani suit? Did you really think I’d fall for that?’
Candi laughed, and the tension eased from her shoulders. ‘All right, so he didn’t volunteer. I may have used a little persuasion.’
Virginia raised her eyebrows and leaned her elbows on the counter, resting her chin in her palm. ‘You’d have to be blind not to have noticed the sparks flying between the two of you last night. Definitely some unspoken chemistry in the air.’ Virginia laughed, ‘Do tell. What did you offer him in return?’
‘You and Bernard must need a night away from the kids, because you’re way off target. There’s nothing between us.’ Candi threw a striped red, white, and green candy corn at her friend. ‘We were in desperate need of a Santa and Jackson mentioned he’d be in town a few days. I asked him to fill in, as a favour to my family.’
‘The children are arriving.’ Steve popped his head around the edge of the door. ‘When is the man in red getting here?’
‘Let them know he’s on his way.’ Candi mentally crossed her fingers. Please don’t let me down, Jackson. She hadn’t seen him since last night’s encounter. This morning her toiletries were neatly lined up in front of her door. Hoping to avoid the questions she knew swam in his head, Candi didn’t bother to wash her face or brush her teeth before leaving for work. She dressed and left the inn as quickly as possible, then freshened up in the bathroom at the shop.
‘Deny all you want. I know something’s going on between you and the sexy Mr Frost.’ Virginia walked to the door and collided with a solid wall of chest.
‘Did someone mention my name?’ Jackson winked at Virginia.
‘I…um…Candi…we were…’
‘I just told Virginia you agreed to be our Santa.’ Candi saved her bumbling friend.
‘Yes, and I said how generous of you, especially since you mentioned last night you weren’t able to stick around.’ She rolled her eyes at Candi. ‘I’ll go help Steve with the children.’ Virginia curtsied, holding out the edges of her short green elf skirt.
‘Your friend is really cute.’ Jackson smiled as Virginia scampered down the aisle in her red pointed-toe booties.
‘She’s off limits.’ Candi went to the closet and lifted a zippered clothing bag from the hook.
‘Don’t be jealous. I’m not interested in your friend. I only have eyes for the beautiful elf standing in front of me. Who, I know for a fact, is absolutely stunning without any clothes.’ Jackson grinned, his eyes filled with so much heat the chocolate-covered cherries nearly melted on the cooling rack.
The nerve! ‘You’re late.’ She shoved the bag at him. ‘Here’s your suit.’
He stepped back. ‘Wait, you don’t actually think I’m going through with this.’
‘If you ever want to be single again, you’ll take this bag and get changed in the washroom — now.’ The children were waiting, and lack of sleep made Candi in no mood to argue.
He stood still for several seconds and then, without warning, he closed the door behind him. Jackson grabbed the bag from her hands and tossed it on the counter.
Candi held a breath.
His eyes filled with longing. His chest expanded, as if he attempted to control his breathing. Every nerve in her body tingled in anticipation. The voice in her head demanded she flee, yet her feet remained cemented to the floor. She waited — hoping Jackson would pull her into his arms.
Children’s laughter echoed from the shop and broke his advance.
‘You and I need to clear a few things that are screwy in my head but, apparently, I have a job to do first.’ Jackson shrugged out of his coat and unzipped the bag.
‘You can change…’ Candi stopped. Did he have no modesty? Jackson whisked his blue, long-sleeved shirt over his head and stepped from his dark trousers. He stood in front of her in only a black T-shirt and matching boxers.
Candi’s cheeks burned, but she couldn’t look away. He was beautiful, even more than she remembered. The thin T-shirt stretched across the planes of his chest. His legs were long and muscled. If Jackson meant to embarrass her, his plan worked. Unable to tear her gaze away, she watched as he stepped into the red pants and slipped his arms into the coat. He strapped on the pillow-stuffed belly bag and fumbled with the buttons through the fake fur trim.
The pants were a bit short, but nothing the boots wouldn’t hide. The coat fit snug across his broad shoulders and the pants clung nicely to his butt. Candi sucked in a breath and passed him a wig and fluffy, white beard. Jackson rolled his eyes, donning the fake hair, and topped off the disguise with a floppy red hat.
‘How do I look?’
He would definitely win over the children, but a sinking feeling washed through her stomach when she envisioned the youngsters fighting their mothers to see who first sat on Santa’s lap.
‘Just like jolly old Saint Nick,’ she said. But much hotter! Jackson rubbed his gloved hands together.
‘Don’t be nervous.’ She brushed the lint from his shoulders. ‘You’ll do fine. You know
how to turn on the charm, so you have that covered. Ask them what they want for Christmas, but don’t promise you’ll deliver. Most of the town is struggling since the ski lift closed. I don’t need parents scowling at me when I walk down the street.’
‘No promises. Got it.’
‘Then give them a treat from this sack.’ She passed him a large, red bag.
Jackson peeked inside and smacked his lips. He pulled out a decorated bag stuffed with candy canes, sugar sticks, holly leaves, and candy corn.
Candi slapped his fingers. ‘The treats are for the children. Virginia, the elf, will keep everyone in line occupied, and Steve, the reindeer, will take pictures.’
‘And what will this cute little elf be up to?’ Jackson tugged her red, velour skirt.
‘Filling the parents’ bellies with fudge.’
‘Wouldn’t it be more fun if you were Mrs Claus?’
‘Shut up.’ Candi spun him toward the door. ‘Put your hands on your belly and bring on your best ho, ho, ho.’
As he opened the door, Jackson’s eyes went wide and his cheeks paled. ‘Candi, I can’t — ‘
She shoved him down the aisle before he had a chance to bolt for the front door. ‘Girls and boys, look who just arrived!’
The riotous cheer and high-pitched squeals almost deafened him. Jackson swallowed hard past the lump in his throat.
‘Ho, ho, ho,’ Candi whispered behind him.
He glanced over his shoulder. ‘What?’
She nodded at the long line of kids.
‘Ho, ho, ho,’ Jackson said dryly.
Candi jabbed a finger in his back.
‘Ho, ho, ho!’ he repeated with more enthusiasm and the kids screamed again.
The cute elf stood by the noisy children and a not-so-cute reindeer tapped a large red chair. Tinsel and garland hung twisted around a string of lights and the scent of the fresh pine filled his nostrils. A very festive scene.
Jackson sat down on the velvet chair. Beads of sweat rolled down his temples and his chin and cheeks itched from the fake beard. He gripped the arms of the chair. A cold chill ran up his spine. As Candi turned to leave, he shook his head, hoping she understood his silent plea. She waved the other elf away and took Virginia’s spot near the line.
One Sweet Christmas (novella) Page 3
