She checked something off on her notepad. “Thank you.”
The buzzer at the warehouse door sounded. I’d had that installed recently. Made deliveries and visitors easier. “If you’ll excuse me, I should go answer that.” I gestured toward the loveseat in my office. “Please make yourself comfortable.”
I hurried to answer the door. It was the breakfast pastries I’d ordered from Mummy’s. They’d only just started a delivery service and I wasn’t about to let them stop on account of lack of business. I tipped the delivery guy and took the shopping bag from him, pulling out the boxes as I walked back. Both held the same delicious breakfast goodies: cinnamon rolls, blueberry muffins, lemon poppy seed scones, and cheese danishes.
I left one box on the employee break room table, ditched the bag in the trash, sent Juni a quick text about the goodies, then took the other box back to my office. Sanders took up so much of the loveseat that I was surprised Olive had managed to find an inch for herself, but she didn’t seem to mind being squished. I set the box on the coffee table and pulled back the lid. “A little something while we wait.”
“Mmm.” Sanders smiled blissfully. “Those look wonderful.”
“They’re from a great little diner down the street, Mummy’s. Can I get you some coffee?”
“No, I’m fine.” He went for one of the cinnamon rolls, which is what I would have started with too. Those things were massive and gooey and intensely delicious.
I glanced at Olive. “Would you like some coffee?”
She extricated herself from the loveseat and stood. “I can get my own. Where is it?”
“Employee break room next door, but I don’t mind, really.”
She waved her hand as she tucked her notebook into her messenger bag. “You don’t need to wait on me.”
“Okay, if you say so. I’ll just call the car service.”
“Great, thank you.” She left and I dialed. Sanders was busy with the pastries.
A man answered the service’s phone. “Executive Limos, where can we drive you today?”
“Hi, this is Jayne Frost. I have a car coming to my shop in Nocturne Falls today and I was wondering if I could get it sooner than it’s scheduled.”
“Let me check.” He hummed softly for a few seconds. “Looks like the car is already on its way. I’ll let the driver know to check in as soon as he gets there. That should give you an extra ten minutes.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Have a good day.”
I hung up as Olive returned, a to-go cup of coffee in hand. I nodded at her. “The car will be here a few minutes early.”
“Excellent. Is everything else on the schedule good?”
I picked up the paper off my desk. “Yes. We’re at the library until eleven, then we have lunch at Howler’s.” I’d been told Sanders loved cheeseburgers and that was the best place I knew to get one. “After that, it’s back here for some down time before the signing at three. That ends at six, and we’re due at the Ellingham estate at eight for a welcome reception and cocktail party in Tempus’ honor.”
I looked at Sanders. He’d moved on to the cheese danishes and his mouth was too full to speak. I glanced at Olive. “Sound good?”
She’d been ticking things off on her notepad. “Sounds perfect.”
My phone buzzed. I checked the screen. The car service was here.
Let the games begin.
“Is that a funeral home?” Olive asked as we pulled into the library parking lot.
“Not anymore, but it was.” I looked at the building next door. I’d asked the librarian about it myself when I’d come to set things up, but Birdie Caruthers, the sheriff’s aunt, had known more. “It’s sort of in limbo right now. The building isn’t being used for anything. Long story, but there’s basically a dispute over the ownership.”
“Oh,” she said, still staring at it. A shiver ran through her and she laughed. “Sorry, but it’s a little creepy.”
I’d thought the same thing too when I’d first seen it. “Agreed, but I promise there are no bodies in there.”
Sanders clucked his tongue. “Sleep and death are closely related, you know.”
Actually, I hadn’t. I smiled brightly. “Is that so?”
Thankfully, getting out of the car put an end to that conversation. Once we were inside, the focus became the event.
And it went well. Great, actually. The first kid fell asleep before Sanders finished page one. After that, the event went by in a blur thanks to all the interested parents wanting to know if they could reserve a book at the signing. I had a hundred on hand in the warehouse, but I could get more. And I’d need to now, since the forty parents in attendance had each spoken for at least one. Some two.
Fortunately, Olive was on top of it. She handed me a list. “We’ve got requests for fifty-three books altogether.”
“Wow. That’s amazing.” I added calling my dad to my mental to-do list for when we got back. He could have shipping put a few additional boxes in our Santa’s Bag and we’d be in good shape. He’d probably need to get more printed, but that was for him to worry about. Right now, I was minutes away from figuring out how to mow down a burger while still making small talk and looking ladylike. At least I hoped I was minutes away from lunch. My stomach was rumbling. “Do you think Sanders is ready to go eat?”
She looked in his direction. He was surrounded by kids and parents and practically glowing with happiness. “Probably. I’ll have to pull him away, or they’ll talk to him forever.”
“He looks so happy, though.” I didn’t want to be the one to crash his party.
She tapped a finger on her notepad. “We’re on a schedule.”
I tried not to react. Sanders was paying her to do her job and I wasn’t about to tell her to do it differently. “We are, that’s true.”
She trotted off to his side, where she tugged on his sleeve until he bent to listen to her. She said something briefly, then he straightened and said his goodbyes.
I didn’t know what Olive had said to him, but Sanders had shifted gears as smoothly as my uncle’s sleigh. The woman was impressive. He hadn’t seemed upset to leave, either.
We walked into Howler’s fifteen minutes later. Bridget greeted us at the hostess stand. “Welcome to Howler’s. I’m Bridget, the owner, and I’m so pleased you could join us today.”
Sanders smiled and shook her hand. “I’ve been told you make a mean burger.”
“We do,” Bridget said. “And we’ll fix it any way you like.”
“Excellent,” Sanders said. “I’ll have three to start with.”
The man’s appetite was impressive, but I think I mentioned that.
Bridget grinned. “Let me get you to your booth then. I’ve reserved the big one in the back so you’ll have lots of room and privacy. Right this way.”
We followed her like a row of ducklings following their mother. Olive, then Sanders, then me. Bridget brought us to the booth, which was the last one on the right-hand side and sort of tucked away by itself. She stepped out of the way, her armful of menus clutched to her chest, so we could sit.
Olive slid in first, her gaze expectantly on Sanders. He took the opposite bench, filling that side of the generous booth to capacity. I sat next to Olive, although ‘next to’ wasn’t exactly correct. We could have fit two more people between us.
Bridget handed out the menus, opening Sanders’ to the burger section. Olive buried her face in hers. I think she’d been expecting to sit next to Sanders. Probably so she could go over that blasted schedule again. But really, there wasn’t room for her over there.
Bridget took our drink orders and left us to peruse the offerings.
I looked at my menu out of habit, but I knew what I wanted. The steak sandwich with sweet potato fries and a side of mac-n-cheese. I had a feeling tonight’s shindig at Elenora’s was going to be all about dollhouse-sized bites of food served on miniature spoons. I needed to fortify myself.
I set my menu down
and was about to fill Sanders and Olive in on my suspicions when a familiar voice said my name.
“Jayne? You have a minute?”
I looked up and straight into Cooper Sullivan’s gorgeous sky-blue eyes. “Sure, what’s up?”
“I need a moment. Privately.” He smiled oddly and nodded to my lunch companions. “Sorry to interrupt, I just need to borrow Jayne for a second. I’ll have her back as quickly as possible.”
“No problem,” Sanders said.
I got out of my seat. Cooper took my hand and led me to a spot by the doors to the kitchen. “What’s up? You look spooked.”
He shook his head. “I am. I had the worst dream last night.” His hand tightened on mine and his voice lowered. “I dreamed you were trapped in a burning house.” His Adam’s apple jumped. “And I couldn’t get to you in time.”
“Coop, I’m fine.” But he was clearly upset by this.
“I see that. But I’ve had this sense of dread hanging over me all day. I just had to see you. Had to touch you.” He stared at my hand. “Had to know you were okay.”
“Feel better now?”
He smiled. “I do. You look great, by the way. Not that you don’t always look great but this isn’t a look I see you in all the time.” He gave me the once-over. “Sort of Corporate Jayne. I dig it.”
“Thanks. Wanted to look professional with Tempus here and all. Which reminds me, I should get back.”
“I know. You’ve got a job to do. See you tonight, beautiful.”
I smiled back. “See you tonight, Coop.”
He winked and took off.
I watched him longer than I should have. The man was so handsome it made my sugar teeth ache. I couldn’t wait to see him in a tux. Or Greyson, for that matter, although there was no guarantee that’s what the vampire would have on—with him, you never knew. But with Cooper? Oh, he was the classic, all-American elf. He’d be in a tux and he’d look so good that swooning would come back into fashion.
I joined Tempus and Olive just as our server arrived with our drinks. “Sorry about the interruption.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, Jayne,” Tempus answered. “I don’t need to be entertained every moment of the day.”
“I appreciate that.” He was easygoing, I’d give him that. Which sort of made me wonder why Olive was always on the verge of a nervous twitch. Was Tempus difficult in private? I didn’t want to speculate. It could just be that’s who Olive was.
We ordered and then, to make Olive happy, ran through the schedule one more time. I watched Tempus for any signs of irritation or short temper, but found none. I decided Olive was just twitchy.
Lunch arrived and we ate, Sanders adding two more burgers to his order as soon as he tasted the first one. Bridget was happy to accommodate him, getting them out in record time, but it kept us at the restaurant longer than scheduled.
Lingering meant I gave in and had a piece of peach cobbler. Delicious, but one mouthful too many, after my large lunch. I almost had to roll myself back to the warehouse. Thankfully, it was close.
My guests might be able to take a little catnap before the big signing this afternoon, but I had work to do. I said goodbye to Olive and Sanders at the elevator, then went into my office to call my dad.
I shook the globe, then set it down while I grabbed a Dr Pepper from the employee breakroom fridge. I was stuffed, but I needed the caffeine or I was going to be face-down and snoring. My father appeared as I sat at my desk. “Hey Dad.”
“Hi, Jayne. How’s it going?”
“Great.” I twisted the top off the soda and took a swig. I might need a steady supply of these to get me through the rest of this day—and night. “So great I already need more books. The reading at the library went so well that the parents there reserved more than half my stock.”
“I can get you another hundred. Think that will do it or do you want more?”
“Can I get two hundred? Just to be sure.”
“Absolutely.” He beamed. “This book is going to be a hit, huh?”
“It sure looks that way.” I tipped the bottle at him. “Especially if word spreads. Which I think it will.”
My dad nodded. “That’s great news. You’re doing a wonderful job.”
His words were kind, but more flattery than anything. I shrugged. “I’m sure the book would have been a success no matter which store you launched it from.”
“Perhaps.” His dark blue brows wiggled. “But we had to have someone in charge who could not only launch the book, but take good care of Sanders. And who better than North Pole royalty?”
“Yeah, but you guys made it sound like he was going to be difficult. So far he’s been easy as pie. And his assistant really is the one taking care of him.”
My father’s expression shifted and he shook his head. “So far being the operative words. He can be difficult, Jayne. Demanding. Impatient. Occasionally quick-tempered.”
Something dawned on me. I straightened. “You sent him here because you and Uncle Kris thought Sanders was less likely to play the prima donna card with me, didn’t you? Because I’m the Winter Princess. After all, we’re practically family.”
I already knew the answer by looking at my dad’s face. He’d been caught. It wasn’t a look I’d seen on him often, but it wasn’t one I was about to forget, either. “It might have occurred to us as a side benefit.”
“Uh-huh.” I gave my father a stern glare. “Just get those books here on time or you’re going to have another diva on your hands.”
“Yes, my darling daughter.” He grinned. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
We both hung up and the snow settled.
I sat back, surprised I hadn’t caught on to my father’s and uncle’s craftiness until now. I took another sip of my Dr Pepper. But they were right. Sanders might be treating me differently because of who I was.
We were sort of family. Sort of. Sanders wasn’t exactly a typical elf. He was considered an elemental. A creature beyond the definitions of winter or summer. One who could move space or time and harness the kind of magic that most ordinary elves couldn’t. Father Time, Mother Nature, the Grim Reaper, Lady Luck—you get the idea. Not all elemental elves are as all-powerful as the big names in that group, but that’s a good thing, because there are more of them than you think.
My uncle Kris was one too. So was my mom, but she was one of those elementals whose powers weren’t much to speak of. My dad had some elemental in him, too. What can I say? It runs in the royal bloodline.
My uncle, though, he’s completely elemental. I know, most people think Santa is a full-blooded winter elf—and he really is in many ways. Second only to my father, he was the elf who most fully embodied the spirit of winter. But the kind of magic my uncle Kris had was beyond what my father had. Kris Kringle could bend time. He showed off that skill every Christmas Eve.
And in case you haven’t figured it out, that means I have a little elemental in me, too. Not that it’s meant anything so far in my life. Probably won’t, either. The more that line gets diluted, the weaker it becomes.
It’s not a big deal. I’ve got plenty of cold magic and I’m perfectly happy with that.
But fully elemental elves, like Sanders (and yes, my uncle at times) could be temperamental. I knew that. I just hadn’t expected my dad and uncle to be so sneaky. I should have, though. I certainly could be and the icicle doesn’t fall far from the eave.
I put my soda down and went to check the Santa’s Bag for the shipment of books. The bag really was a bag. And every store had one. The big red velvet sacks were about three feet by four feet, but they were bigger on the inside. Way bigger.
The bag was one of the best-known magical creations to come out of the NP, but also the most secret. It was basically a direct portal from the NP to wherever the bag was. They were how the stores got whatever stock they needed, when they needed it. Other stuff could be sent through the bags too (which is how my mom had sent my winter clot
hes and party dresses), but nothing living.
Because that might get weird.
Anyway, when the bag was full, it was filled out like a box, no matter what was inside. When it was empty, it was…well, empty. Flat. Made it easy to see when there was a shipment.
The one in my warehouse was full.
I backtracked into the store to get Kip. I waved at Juniper, who was busy at the register, and kept going. I found him in the vehicles area, showing Rowley a few things. “I need some help in the warehouse, Kip. Extra stock to be taken care of.”
“You got it.” He looked at the older man. “You okay by yourself?”
Rowley shooed him off. “I’m just fine. I need anything, I’ll go see Miss Juniper.”
“All right.” Kip turned to me. “All yours.”
“Thanks. There’s a second shipment of books to be added to the signing stock. I want another hundred put on the front table. The rest please stack close to the shop door in the warehouse so they’re easy to get to when we need more.”
“I’ll get it done.”
“Thanks. I’m going to check the signing area one more time.” I was sure it was fine, but I felt like it needed to be done. Olive was going to either way, so I’d better make sure.
We’d set up the signing in the kids’ play area. I wasn’t keen to rope that section off, but it was the best spot in the store for a thing like this. The toys normally available for play had been shelved, the beanbag seats cleared, and a beautiful table and chair had been arranged near the back wall. There was a small display of books on the table, but the rest of the books were up front, where Kip would soon be adding more.
Anyone who wanted a signed book had to buy one first. Juniper and Buttercup would be running the register, Holly would be checking receipts in the signing line, Rowley would be mingling on the floor, and Kip would be keeping an eye on stock.
Olive would be tending to Tempus, of course.
And I would be making sure nothing went wrong. Nothing.
Because the last thing I needed was for the Sandman to have a meltdown in front of a store full of people and press.
Miss Frost Saves The Sandman: A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost Book 3) Page 3
