“Chestnut, you can restock those yourself,” Hoynes said. “Sugarplum is entertaining our guests.”
Chestnut threw his hands in the air. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.”
“Warn me about what?” I asked, wringing my skirt.
“A polar bear,” he said sarcastically on his way back to his spot.
I shook my head. What kind of code was that?
“Acoffee-loving polar bear in an olive cap,” he called over his shoulder, disappearing in the crowd.
Oh, my reindeer.Why was Harvey here? I thought he didn’t want anything to do with me. What could I do? Where could I go?
I had half a mind to scale up a Christmas tree, but Harvey was tall enough he could probably pluck me off its branches. What if I hid inside a present? That seemed kind of suffocating.
I busied myself with showing the guests some of my best ribbon tricks, which was more of a comedy act than a true showcase.
“You’re amazing,” a little girl said.
A familiar, smooth chuckle caught my ear. Harvey clapped, though he might as well have smashed my heart between his hands. He was standing in line behind the next big group, smiling at me.
Did he enjoy the show or was he laughing at me?
Lungs constricting, I turned to the little girl. “Thank you, I’m trying. If I get good enough, they might let me help land the sleigh.” I imitated traffic signals to get the next group up to Frosty Santa in the sleigh bench. “This way, please.” But I did have to come back.
Harvey stuck his hands in his brown jean pockets, accidentally tugging them low enough I caught a flash of his bare midriff.
Ugh, I couldn’t do this.
Despite steeling myself, my voice wavered ever-so-slightly. “Hello, are you here to see Santa?”
He looked down and shuffled his feet. “Not really.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Hoynes had his hands full with the current guests, but he was still keeping an eye on things. Plus, Frosty Santa was way more strict than Jolly Santa. He’d scold me in a heartbeat.
“I’m working,” I said, smoothing my skirt down in the back.
Harvey’s Adam's apple bobbed. “I wasn’t sure how else I could reach out. You stopped coming by The Bern.”
“You wanted to get away from me." I sniffed and set my shoulders back. "I saw you talking to a security guard and gesturing at me the other day,” I whispered, spreading my feet shoulder-width apart. “But I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m really good at my job.”
“I know you are.” He inched closer, but I backed away. “That security guard thoughtIwas trouble," he said.
“Why?” I balked.
He vaguely gestured between us. “I have a pierced face and tattoos. I was staring at a pretty girl.”
Did he really think I was pretty? Partridges fluttered in my stomach much like they would roost in a pear tree. I hugged myself and rubbed my cheek on my shoulder to hide any blushing. He still ran away from me like I was worse than coal in a stocking. “That sounds kind of judgey.”
He hung his head and rolled his lip ring between his teeth. “Yeah. About that day in the car, I didn’t mean–”
“Sugarplum, we’re ready for…” Hoynes eyed Harvey, paling slightly, “the next guest.”
Harvey scooted out of line, shuffling towards me. “Oh, I only wanted to–”
“If you’re not here for Santa, you’ll have to leave,” Hoynes said.
Frosty Santa leaned forward, an arm draped his knees, and stared Harvey down in silent challenge.
