After a short car ride and a weird discussion about jaw-breaking candy, they reached the town and parked. Leo got out, and he couldn’t help his huge smile. It wassocold, but he didn’t care. This place was amazing! Like one of those little European villages from one of his fantasy movies.
All down the main street, the shops were decorated, though Leo noticed it looked different from the photos of previous years. It was pretty, but…there were decorations missing. Also, the stalls lining the street weren’t supposed to be there, they were supposed to be in the market square. Maybe he’d ask Santa about it.
Jack gasped. “Holy Hallmark movies, Batman.”
That’swhat it reminded Leo of. Those small-town Christmas movies that Coltonloved. He made Ace watch them with him every year. Leo didn’t mind them, though he often ended up with lots of unanswered questions.
“Oh my Chanel,lookat thosesweaters!” Fitz squealed. “I need them!”
Leo was about to follow Fitz when something sparkly caught his eye in the stall across from the sweaters. He gasped. “That stall has a Goldfish cracker ornament!” It had a little Santa hat on it! He ran to the stall and stared at it in awe. It was the most amazing ornament he’d ever seen in his life!
Very carefully, he removed the ornament from the display hook and held it in his mittened hands. “You’re coming home with me, little buddy. Look at you and your little smiley fishy face.”
“I have to admit, that’s pretty cute,” King said. “What are the odds?”
“Right? It’s like Winterhaven knew I would be here.” Leo handed the ornament over to the lovely lady, thankful it had a secure, foam-padded box to protect it from breaking. He’d just taken the little gift bag from her and thanked her when he heard Colton.
Something was wrong.
Everyone seemed to sense the same thing and joined Colton, Ace, and Gio at the hot cocoa stand.
“Oh no,” Colton said. “The Ice Castle is closed?”
What?That’s where Santa and his reindeer would be. Leo lifted his gaze to Colton. “No Santa?” But…he had to find Santa. He needed help with Operation King’s Christmas.
Fitz wrapped his arm around Leo’s shoulder, his expression troubled. The other woman told Colton to find Clara at the Ice Castle, so they headed in that direction. When they arrived, it looked…dark. The doors weren’t locked, so they all went in and almost immediately found the hospitality manager, Clara. She looked just like her online photo.
After introductions, Clara explained what had happened, how a terrible snowstorm had blown through, damaging the Ice Castle’s roof and electrical panel. If that wasn’t bad enough, the vendors had canceled the town’s deliveries.
“Poor Santa.” Leo shook his head. “I mean, the mayor, obviously, but this sounds bad.” He cocked his head to one side. There had to be something they could do. Wait! He jumped, and everyone else did the same. Oops.
“Every time,” Joker grumbled. “Why do you have to scare the life out of us every time you get a bright idea?”
“Sorry. It’s just my brain and body coming to the same conclusion.” Leo turned to King. “We need to help Santa.”
King blinked at him. “Help Santa?”
“The mayor. And the town,” Leo replied. “We’re kind of the best people equipped for the job. Jack can work on the electrical issues, and Lucky and Mason on the roof.”
“I can’t fix it without new panels,” Jack said. “Something that specialized will take longer to ship than we have time for.”
“Not to mention the town’s entire Christmas shipment is non-existent,” Fitz added.
Leo blinked at them, then turned to Colton. “You own a shipping company. It’s more of a shipping empire,” he corrected. “I mean, if anyone can get the town what they need in no time, it’s you. Right?”
Clara shook her head. “As much as I appreciate the thought, our town simply doesn’t have the connections or the funds to take on a shipment of that magnitude.”
But Colton does.
With Ace’s encouragement, Colton offered to help under the guise of giving his family the perfect Christmas. Though Leo was certain a part of that was true, Colton also loved to help people. Clara seemed uncertain, which was understandable. They were a bunch of strangers offering to spend loads of money and time helping a town they’d only just arrived in.
Clara looked at Leo, who smiled brightly, and her face softened.
“I would love to help you give your family the perfect Christmas.” She turned back to face Colton. “If it isn’t too much, I would love the help. I’m sure the mayor will be thrilled as well.”
“Wonderful! My family and I will return to our cabin, and as soon as we receive all the information, we’ll get started on a plan.”
“It all sounds too good to be true,” Clara said before throwing her arms around Colton and squeezing him tight.
