A girl in pigtails, probably around five or six, pointed to the boy standing beside her. “I was next in line, but he cut in front of me.”
“Did not!” the boy replied. “She’s lying.”
“You’re the liar!”
Drew knelt so he was at eye level with the girl. “Let’s not worry about it, all right? I’m not sure who was first, but don’t let it upset you. Spending more time waiting to chat with me means you get longer to think of what you want for Christmas.” He stood and addressed the children. “Let’s stay on our best behavior. That way, I can keep all of you on the nice list. Okay?”
All the children nodded, as did the parents standing next to them. Relief whooshed from Rosie’s lungs as the guests resumed chatting amongst themselves. She stared at Drew in admiration, feeling more smitten than ever.
“Looks like you picked the right Santa,” Preston said. “I like the way he defused the situation.”
“Thank you, sir. He came highly recommended.”
By the time Drew had met with all the kids in line, it was almost five, but he’d made no attempt to rush them. Only after all the families had trickled out did Rosie close up the breakfast room. Preston was long gone, and Sofia had taken off to meet with her husband. The only staff remaining were the four Damsels, Knox, and Drew, who was still dressed in his Santa outfit, minus the hat and beard.
Rosie surveyed the room critically, cringing at the cookie crumbs, the overflowing garbage can, and the bits and pieces of various crafts that littered the floor. Despite the mess, she was exceptionally pleased at what they’d accomplished.
She called everyone together. “Thanks for putting in so much work. I truly believe we gave these guests an experience they couldn’t get at any other hotel in the city.”
Charlie clapped her hands together. “Having the Restalls show up was a major victory. They really boosted our numbers.”
“I still can’t believe you got Sofia Sanchez to come here,” Laurel said. “She’s got a massive following.”
“That was my sister’s doing, but I’ll pass the word along.” Since Rosie would be seeing Isabella tomorrow at her parents’ house for Sunday dinner, she’d thank her then. In the meantime, she planned to watch a few of her sister’s “mommy influencer” videos.
“Should we get started on cleanup?” Laurel asked.
“Nope.” Rosie pointed toward the door. “For now, you can all take off. I’ll deal with it.”
“You sure?” Charlie said. “We don’t mind sticking around.”
“I’ve got this. If anything, tidying up will help me unwind a little.”
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay,” Drew said. “Put me to work.”
With a grin, Charlie grabbed Knox’s arm. “Let’s go. I want to try one of your new holiday cocktails.”
“Can I take off this vest first?” he said.
“You look so festive in it. Please keep it on. Just for me?”
Rosie laughed when Knox agreed, albeit grudgingly. He left the room with Charlie; Selena and Laurel followed.
When Drew placed his hand on her shoulder, her skin prickled with goose bumps. “Everything okay?” she asked.
“It is, but before you start cleaning up, sit down and let me take care of you.”
The affection in his voice nearly brought her to tears. When was the last time any guy had cared this much about her well-being? Certainly not her last boyfriend. Rather than offer her any way to relieve her constant, work-related tension, Erik had usually complained she wasn’t being attentive enough.
“Are you sure?” she asked Drew. “You’ve already done so much.”
“It’s my pleasure. What kind of Santa would I be if I didn’t spoil my best girl? Now, sit.”
She did as he said, waiting as he grabbed a plate for her, piled it with snacks, and filled a cup with hot chocolate. At the first bite of a gingersnap, the sweet, spicy flavors of ginger and cinnamon flooded her taste buds. Her sister’s recipe was ten times better than any store-bought version.
“Thanks,” she said. “I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
“I figured as much. This is just a starter. I thought I’d order some real food, too. Veggie pizza okay?”
