Bridger told me to relax and enjoy it. Sometimes, he really thought he was funny. But he did mean it in a nice way. “Isn’tthe tradition that all Secret Santas have to reveal themselves by Christmas Eve?”
I honestly didn’t know, but he probably did. The only problem is we daddies didn’t just want to receive presents; we loved to give them. Or at least this daddy did. And I didn’t like the idea that whoever this someone was might not have anyone to give him presents. My daddy soul worried about that.
I passed a support column to see someone standing near my car. The building didn’t have a security guard, but we’d never had any break-ins or vandalism, so my curiosity was aroused more than my concern. Taking a step back behind the column, I watched the person dart a glance toward the elevators before pulling a small bag out of their coat pocket and set it on the roof of my car before hurrying away toward the other end of the level. I had already found one Secret Santa gift on my car, so it didn’t take much to guess that it was the same person.
The guy looked a lot like the little I’d seen playing with Hudson at the club. The one who I’d seen in the building. If so, he worked here and had every reason to be in the parking lot. But what had he left on my car and whyever for?
Intrigued, I waited for him to be far enough away that he wouldn’t likely see me and approached the car. The bag was brown paper with rope handles, like the kind you get at a coffee shop with a pound of blonde roast in it. Except, it had been stamped with snowflakes and candy canes, a craft that had been going on in the little room the night of the auction.
I didn’t need to chase him down to see who he was, the person who’d been leaving the gifts for me. I knew who he was now. Since that first time I’d recognized him a few days before, I’d noticed him around the building several more times, walking with other well-dressed men and women, laughing, smiling, and just as handsome big as he was adorable little. And he was leaving me gifts?
We’d never even spoken.
I picked up the bag and looked inside. A snow globe? I lifted it out and looked at the beautiful blue globe. Most were just what the name implied, snow floating around some sort of winter, usually holiday scene. But this one featured a mermaid, her long hair drifting in the current created by shaking it slightly. Blue sparkles dancing around her even in the harsh light of the garage. It was stunning, and I set it carefully back in the bag where it would be a little protected until I could get it home.
Climbing into the car, I set the bag on the passenger seat and ordered my phone assistant, or whatever the lady who lived in my phone was called, to phone Bridger.
“Hello?”
“Bridger, this is Vaughn. I know you know who my Secret Santa is. I’m just wondering how it happened.”
“Even if I did know who was giving you gifts, I’d be sworn to secrecy until Christmas Eve because it’s a Secret Santa. We talked about this, right?”
“I want to give something back, but I don’t know anything about him except that he looks good in glitter or a suit. Can you help me?”
A long silence ensued, making me wonder if he’d hold to his guns.
“Bridger, please.”
“All right. It’s breaking all the rules of Christmas, but what do you need me to do?”
I let out a long breath. “What does he like, and where does he work?” I knew he was in the building, but no more than that.
“I know he isn’t expecting anything in return, but I also know you’re one determined daddy, so one way or another you’re going to do it. Especially since you’ve already figured out who it is.”
“One more thing?”
“Yeah?”
“What’s his name?”
“Gunnar.”
“That’s a great name. Do you think you could teach me to crochet one of those animals you do for him?”
“Maybe a scarf. Anyone can make a scarf.”
It wasn’t exactly a compliment, but since I’d never held a crochet hook in my life, I’d accept the challenge. “Text me some ideas of gifts and his office info please? And can I meet you for my first lesson tonight?”
Chapter Eight
Gunnar
I thought I had woken up early, until I grabbed my phone and realized I was actually very, very late. Somehow, my alarm got silenced, and I was screwed. I sent a quick text to my boss, that I’d be there as soon as I could and raced into the bathroom for a quick shower.
Generally speaking, I wasn’t someone to be late. Usually, I got up and had a semi-leisurely morning and then headed off to work, but today, it was all rush, rush, rush. I threw on my clothes, didn’t even bother with coffee, and took off, stopping only long enough to grab my Secret Santa gift and stick it into my messenger bag.
The plan had been to leave it at Vaughn’s office before he arrived, but I’d need to rethink that one. He would already be there, and the chances of getting it dropped off without being caught were slim to none. Of course, because I was late, I hit every red light, not a green light to be seen.
