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August’s smirk told Kian he hadn’t fooled his friend, even though August didn’t spend much time in Snowcap Ridge.
“Dude, I’ve seen Santa kissing the GM, but nice try.”
Kian grimaced. “Really? We’ve tried to be so careful.” When August snorted, Kian realized he’d been had and punched his friend in the arm. “Not funny!”
“It kind of is, though. The fact that you think you’re hiding it is hilarious, but beyond that, it’s worrying given the situation.”
“My hands are tied, August.”
“Have you spoken with the estate lawyer and updated him on the situation? Maybe he would agree that a few days doesn’t matter.”
“I’ll reach out to him. What can it hurt, right? For the record, I agree with you, and I don’t want to lose Joy over it. If only my mother hadn’t forced my hand and made me be here for the holiday season.”
“But if she hadn’t, would you be kissing the GM under the mistletoe?”
“Probably not,” Kian agreed. “But I’d rather kiss her under the mistletoe without this big secret hanging between us. It gives me heartburn.”
“If I had to guess, I’d say Lorelei is teaching you a lot of things at once here. Maybe focus on the one you think she considered most important.”
“What if I pick the wrong one?”
August’s shrug was lazy as he hit him with it. “Something tells me you won’t.” He gave him a playful punch and pointed toward the office. “Go find your focus and tell her hello for me.”
“Thanks for all your help here, August,” Kian said as they walked back into the mall. “When the new year rolls around and I’m back in the office, it’s time for us to sit down and decide on a job title for you. You more than deserve it, and we can’t keep pretending we aren’t drowning as we try to do three jobs between two people.”
August held out his fist and Kian bumped it. “Nothing would make me happier. Keeping our head above water will only get harder the more involved you become with Snowcap Ridge Mall.”
“I’m not staying here, August,” Kian said, stopping. “My life and my job are in Minnesota.”
Pointing toward the office, August shook his finger. “Respectfully, I disagree. Your new life and new job are right through that door, but I’ll wait until January before I force you to say ‘I told you so.’ For now, go find your Mrs. Claus.”
Before Kian could respond, August spun around and walked away, leaving Kian to wonder whether August had been telling the truth. He wondered where he’d be come January and whether Joy was his Mrs. Claus. That little voice in his head told him he already knew the answers to both questions; he just had to find the courage to make it happen.
As he walked into the office and saw Joy, her head down, her fingers flying across the numeric keypad, his heart stuttered. Yes, his heart knew what it wanted, even if his head fought against it. The gorgeous woman who had given him a second chance was worth fighting for, so he’d do everything in his power to make her understand that the secret he was keeping wasn’t his to tell. All he could do was pray she believed him.
34
#AngelssnowmenandSantasohmy!
The days were disappearing fast, and Joy was barely keeping up with everything they had to do before Christmas Eve. Last night’s event at the mall had been a hit with the community, and she had Kian to thank for the idea.
“Never thought I’d see the day,” Freya said, handing Joy a pan of snowman sugar cookies.
“See what day?” Joy asked, stacking the cookies in the right pile. They’d been baking for hours, but the last few pans were finally in the oven. It was too late to ice and decorate them tonight, so Freya would do it over the next few days to have them ready for the Christmas Eve light show. Every year, one house is chosen to be featured on Christmas Eve. After they walked through the light show, the kids got cookies, cocoa, and a final visit with Santa. “That they’d pick Wintercrest Estate for the Christmas Eve finale? Lorelei was excited about it,” Joy said, stacking the pan atop the others. “We talked about it many times, but I don’t remember her mentioning luminaries as the decoration of choice.”
“Because she didn’t,” Freya said, handing Joy a cup of coffee. “That was Kian’s decision.”
Joy’s brows shot up as she sipped her coffee. “And you never thought you’d see the day when Kian Van Adler cared about anything to do with Wintercrest?” Joy was still trying to finish the other woman’s thought.
They’d been baking for hours, singing Christmas carols and laughing the way they used to. Joy could feel Lorelei with them as they cut hundreds of angels, snowmen, and Santas for the community to enjoy. It was a relaxing afternoon during a busy season when she was usually up at dawn and didn’t get back to bed until midnight. This year, with Kian around, she was enjoying the season more than ever. She would keep that to herself around Freya.
“Especially now that Lorelei is gone,” Freya agreed. “But seeing him here for the season, involved in the mall and its goings-on, has helped heal my heart. Watching him as Santa last night made my heart grow three sizes.” She winked, then took a sip of her coffee.
Joy sat at the table while they waited for the cookies to finish. She’d been on her feet all day, and she didn’t want to irritate the blister now that it was healing. “I didn’t know you were there last night.” Joy couldn’t say she was surprised. The mall was closed, but Freya was the type to pick up a box just to look like she belonged, then walk in.
“I was helping in the back with the food bank boxes. You know that I prefer to be behind the scenes.”
Joy’s laughter filled the kitchen. “I sure do, but you’re so good at what you do. You have no reason to hide.”
