“There’s nothing to say. That’s my point. You’re a member of our community and you’re our friend.”
The bell above the door jingled as Eldon burst in. “Joe, I need one of your miracle creations. Make it so sweet it’ll dilute my sour mood.”
Eldon slid dramatically into the booth beside Tate and dropped his head onto Tate’s shoulder.
“Meeting with the mayor,” Tate said, grinning over at Joe. “He wants the fiends who desecrated the streetlamps brought to justice.”
Eldon had dragged Joe along to a couple of the mayor’s meetings leading up to the holiday season. He’d need Joe’s secret weapon to get his fa-la-la up and running again.
While Tate comforted his distraught mate—Joe would have to puzzle over that word later, after he’d whipped up his newest recipe—Joe got to work making the cocktail. Technically, it couldn’t be served in the Snowda Shoppe—no alcohol license—but Eldon hadn’t minded a toddy or two in the past.
Luckily, the ingredients for this one meant he could whip it up quickly. He gave the cocktail a swirl, then added a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel to the top.
“One iced salted caramel bourbon latte, enough to defeat any mayor-induced trauma.”
Eldon took a big swig of the drink, then licked the whipped cream from his lips. “Nowthatis what I’m talking about. Whew, the bourbon adds such a nice flavor and the salt perfectly balances all the sweetness.”
Tate swiped the glass mug from Eldon and took a drink. “Mmm. That is wonderful, although if I have much more of it, I won’t get through the three thousand reports Colby sent me that have to be done by the end of the year.”
“Which means he wants them yesterday,” Eldon said. “No booze for you.”
Joe grinned at them before slipping away to clean up. The vendors surrounding town square were packing up their wares, which meant they’d likely be slow until closing.
“Joe, go on and close up for the night,” Eldon said, as if he’d read Joe’s mind. “I know you’ve been swamped all weekend.”
“We were. It was wonderful.” Joe laughed at himself. “You told me the holiday rush would make me feel like I’d been run over by a herd of reindeer, but it was magical.”
Eldon and Tate shared a look Joe couldn’t quite read before returning their attention to him. “How so?” Tate asked.
“Everyone was in such a good mood. I love working here on a normal day, but when everyone was so excited to be here for the craft fair, it just made it more special. I know, I’m weird.”
“No,” Eldon said, “you’re one of us. And speaking of….”
Eldon shot Tate a significant look.
“Oh, right!” Tate reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Happy Holidays, Joe. We don’t know what we would do without you.”
Joe’s hand shook as he accepted the envelope. “Thank you.”
“Now get out of here,” Eldon said. “I have a sneaking suspicion there’s a certain bookworm you’re hoping to see.”
Joe beamed. “Yeah. I mean, the thing earlier…but also, he has my books. I’m going to go get them and head to the carriage house. Then it’s reading until my eyeballs fall out.”
“Sounds like a good night. And hey, if you run out of reading material, I have a few reports—”
“No way,” Joe said. “I’ve heard Colby going over notes with you, if you recall. I’d rather clean the stalls at the petting zoo than have to deal with him.”
Eldon burst out laughing and shooed him out the door. “We’ll lock up.”
Joe grabbed his messenger bag and made his way down the block to Ornamentary Books and More. Uriel had a couple customers, so Joe skipped over to the mystery section to see if anything caught his eye. He’d been on a small town cozy mystery kick of late, probably a result of moving to Mistletoe Falls.
Luckily, he hadn’t turned into the town’s Snowda Shoppe manager who solved murders on the side. He’d pass out if he ever saw a dead body. Then he’d wake up, see it again, and pass out again. However, reading about them…well, that was just plain fun. And they had the funniest themes and names, just like Mistletoe Falls.
Oh, now Uriel would make an excellent crime solver. Bookstore owner turned amateur sleuth. He could totally see it. And why was he suddenly imagining Uriel in a trench coat?
Joe gulped.
In nothing but a trench coat.
