Taking a small bite of just cookie, he could not help but moan as the peppermint and sugar flavors that were perfectly proportioned melted on his tongue.The next bite included a chocolate chip and was even better.Enrico could not hold back another moan of appreciation as a shiver swept through his entire body.He then sighed as he finished the rest of the cookie.The love that had gone into the cookie was strong and Enrico decided he had to help the Berry family have the best Christmas ever, no matter what it took.
Folding up the children’s letters, he added them to the envelope holding Celyn’s.He then slid the envelope inside his shirt so it lay next to his heart.The paper felt warm against his skin, as if the paper and ink carried the love the woman felt toward her family.A love Enrico secretly wished he had in his own life.
Picking up the second cookie and tossing the box into the trash, Enrico shut down his office and made his way to his room in the elves’ dormitory.Once there, he packed a bag with clothes for a few days, then pulled on his long black leather duster.The coat went well with the jeans, cowboy boots, and red long-sleeve Henley shirt he’d worn to work that day.
Once dressed, he called Nick’s office and left a message on his voicemail letting the boss know where he was going and why.After consulting the book of maps for the location of New Bern, North Carolina.When he had the coordinates of the town, he slipped on his bag so the long strap rested across his shoulder and went to the reindeer barn.After signing out Virgil, his favorite reindeer, he saddled the animal and prepared a bag of reindeer food to last for a week.The last thing he needed was for Virgil to get hungry while they were gone.Like Enrico, Virgil was waiting for someone to retire so he could take his place in the big nine who pulled Santa’s sleigh each Christmas Eve.
Less than an hour after Celyn’s letter had arrived at his desk, Enrico climbed into the saddle on Virgil’s back and they were on their way.He could not wait to meet the woman who, for the first time in over three hundred years, made him feel there was something more to life than work.
Chapter Two
December 1st.
“Hey, little elf.Come sit on my lap and tell me what you want for Christmas.I’ll be your Santa Claus.”The man, who had obviously had a few too many, patted Celyn’s ass as she walked by with a tray full of empty beer bottles and glasses.
The two men sitting with him in the middle of the empty pub laughed as if it was the funniest thing they had heard all evening.Sad thing was, Celyn knew from experience if she responded as she wanted, which was to beat the man about the head and shoulder with her tray, he and his buddies would drag her out to the parking lot and beat her up.Or worse.
She wasn’t sure if it was the costume, or the time of year, but men had been patting or pinching her ass all evening, but as things wound down, the others had all paid their tabs and headed home.These three troublemakers were the only customers left in the place and seemed to be unwilling to take the hint that it was time to go home.
The last thing she needed right now was to lose her job, even if she was on the verge of quitting before Micah could fire her.She was exhausted from working every extra shift she could, her feet screamed at her for wearing heels that got better tips and frankly, her give-a-damn account was well past overdrawn.
This was not the first time this asshole had touched her since the trio had blown in on a whiskey breeze three hours earlier.Sandy, the other server, refused to go near their table again after this same man pulled her onto his lap just after they sat down.Micah refused to step out from behind the bar and deal with them, so it was up to her.
Enough was enough.If Micah fired her, so be it, but she was tired of being treated like a piece of meat and going home with bruises on her ass.
Setting her tray on the empty table next to theirs, Celyn turned to square off with the aggressive drunk.Taking a deep breath, she hesitated long enough to remember that she really needed to keep this job.Not just for herself, but for Lilly, Hope, Joy, and the new niece or nephew that was due to arrive on Christmas Day.
She’d promised Cedar, her twin brother, that she would take care of the family while he was deployed to the other side of the world.Now that Lilly had been ordered to stay in bed and rest, it was up to her to see that the bills were paid and there was something under the tree for the girls on Christmas morning.
“Look, boys, it’s late and you’ve had more than your limit.How about I have Micah call a cab so you guys can head home?”
The jingle bells Micah had hung on the door rang out, warning her these three were no longer the only customers.
“Not until you sit on my lap, little elf.I have a Christmas present for you,” asshole drunk said as he reached between his legs and pawed his crotch with one grease and grime-stained hand.His friends once again laughed like hyenas at his insults.
Celyn looked toward the bar where Sandy and Micah watched.Sandy looked worried while Micah smirked at her.How could he be amused by these idiots.Sure, they were paying customers, but even with all the craziness in the world, no one had the right to treat her as this guy was.
