Page 16 of Elf-ish

“Yes, Angelica. We are still exchanging dates.” He pauses a second. “They have a strict no-return policy.”

I snort, and it isn’t until I’m in the hired car that I realize Jude Ashford might have made a joke.

A sense of humor is even more attractive than the outer shell of a man.

chapter 6

[Angelica]

“Where are your bags?” Jude asks when he arrives at my apartment a few minutes before four-thirty on Friday. He’s early and I’m running late.

My one-bedroom apartment is in a quaint three-story, three-sided, brown brick building that surrounds a courtyard with a small fountain. Of course, the fountain is off in the winter months, so the landlord stuffs it with festive greenery, redwood twigs, and glittery silver swirls. One day, I hope to have a house. For now, I’m just grateful I no longer live in Gran and Aunt Gertie’s three-flat, and we are stuck in my narrow entryway because I haven’t invited him further into my place.

He hasn’t mentioned how I’m not dressed for the party yet. However, he is wearing another deep blue suit with a patterned shirt minus a tie, looking a little too casual for a formal affair. Still, my darn curiosity wonders if he owns clothes other than suits.

“Why would I need a bag?”

“Because the party is out of town?” Jude gives me a puzzled look like I should know this fact when I clearly do not.

“What?”

“The party is in Wisconsin,” Jude clarifies. He’s acting like he told me this information when he only sent me one text confirming my address and telling me when he’d pick me up.

“Wisconsin,” I grouse. “What’s in Wisconsin?”

“An inn.”

“Wait a minute.” Just wait one cheesehead minute. “An inn?”

“Yes. We’ll be staying overnight.” He flips his wrist, glancing at a silver watch that probably cost four times my paycheck, and then states, “We have a few minutes. I’ll wait while you grab some things.”

“For what exactly?” Not the first question I should be asking, but I’m curiosity jumped the line.

“Casual drinks. Maybe a walk outside. Hot tubbing.”

It’s thirty degrees with the threat of snow, and Wisconsin is at least ninety minutes from here.

“Sleepwear optional,” he deadpans, because he knows as well as I do we are not having sex.

“This was not part of our deal,” I remind him. “One night for one night. Not an overnight,” I emphasize.

“Well, I need two nights,” he counters, not looking the least bit chagrined.

“Look,” I sigh, biting back the irritation tickling my throat. “I get that you are a man who evidently gets his way easily and often, but I’ve had a week.”

My brother’s wedding is not coming together as easily as he’d hoped, which shouldn’t be surprising because he doesn’t have a plan. Plus, I’m hosting the breakfast with Santa at my Gran’s church. And, I have copious lists of random holiday responsibilities, like cookie baking, Christmas decorating, and more gift shopping. Not to mention, I worked my typical schedule this week and took an extra shift to cover one expensively lavish evening gown.

I’m determined to pay Jude back for the purchase, and that extra shift is why I’m running late.

But this . . . this business about an inn and two nights . . .

“I’m tired,” I admit. All I wanted to do was make an appearance at Jude’s party and then snuggle up with peppermint ice cream and a decent holiday rom-com afterward.

“You can nap in the car.” At least, he looks a teeny bit chagrined by this suggestion.

“What if I have to work tomorrow?”

“Do you?” His brows lift, those chilly eyes looking only slightly innocent, almost apologetic, like he hadn’t considered my job. Which means he hadn’t thought of me.