“Walt Disney.”
“He’s dead.”
“Okay—everyone who works for Disney.”
He chuckled. “Maybe they need a videographer.”
“You can do this! I know you can. I’ve seen it in the way you grab an audience. Look around. There are half a dozen other street performers in this city, and no one gets the crowds like you do. Heck, we can’t even put up the sign until right before we start or it’s too crowded to set up.”
“You’re great, you know that?” He set the tote down by the back door and fished his keys out of his pocket. Becoming the top street performer in the city wasn’t his goal. He wanted a top 200 MyHeartChannel.
“Don’t give up,” she half whispered. “You’re going to make it.”
“I won’t do anything drastic today, okay?”
She broke into a grin. “Okay.” She popped up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek before sliding the card table into the back seat.
Something small and prickly nettled Breck’s thoughts as he and Harmony stowed their supplies and he helped stuff her and her dress into the front seat to drive her home. The sound of the car door shutting rang like a gong, signaling the end of one thing and the emptiness that would remain after she left. He just couldn’t believe she was leaving the city—leaving him. They had one more performance before Christmas, and it was going to be great. He thought she enjoyed performing as much as he did. But he’d heard her mom through the phone the other night, telling her that she’d set a place for her at Christmas Eve dinner. One place. Not two.
As much as he wanted a successful channel, as hard as he’d worked to make it happen, he’d give it up in a heartbeat for Harmony. There was no getting around it. Everything about her spoke to him, from the way she worked with the children to the flirty lowering of her lashes when she was thinking about kissing him. This woman was meant for him, and he’d spend the rest of his life doing his best to bring magic into her every day if only she’d give him a chance.
She had plans to leave for Christmas, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t come back. He’d ask her to come back, to be his girlfriend, to give them a try. He just needed to find the right time, and with a real job, he’d have something he could offer her.
Chapter Twelve
December 21
Harmony
“Ihate shopping this close to Christmas. The stores are a mess.”
Harmony smiled across the rack of ugly Christmas sweaters. Jenny scowled as she picked up a shirt and folded it, setting it on top of the pile before getting another one.
“You don’t work here, you know that, right?” Harmony teased. The energy in the department store was contagious. “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” crooned through the speakers. Jingle bells rang as shoppers went in and out of the nearby doors, the chilly night air clinging to their coats. Mistletoe hung over the clothing racks, and Santa sat atop his throne, a line of eager children ready to whisper wishes into his ear.
“I should. They need me,” quipped Jenny.
Harmony held up a sweater. The Grinch smiled evilly at all who dared have a holly jolly Christmas. She shook her head. Breck wouldn’t wear such a grumpy sweater. He had quite the collection of them going, and she wanted to add to it. Other gifts had come to mind, but the idea of giving him something he could wear … well, it made her feel closer to him. A sweater was personal—as long as the giver took time to find the perfect one.
She reached for a candy-cane-striped option.
“Harmony?”
She glanced up to find the very person she shopped for smiling at her. Breck’s voice floated over her like the steam off a cup of minty hot chocolate. It sent lovely shivers across her skin and warmed her from the inside out. “Breck,” she said, mortified that her voice was all breathy and seductive. Sure, they kissed—a lot, and deeply—but that didn’t mean they were an item. They hadn’t talked about taking their relationship to the next level. Which was a good thing, because her stomach dropped out at the very thought. Breck could think she was wonderful on the short-term level, but if they tried to have a real relationship, he’d see she was messed up—not marriage material for sure.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
He leaned against the sweater rack. “Christmas shopping.”
“Hello—who’s this?” Jenny sidled up and stuck out her hand. “I’m Jenny.”
Breck introduced himself, and they shook hands. Harmony watched to see if his gaze roamed over Jenny’s hourglass shape or glued to her makeup-model perfect eyes. As soon as their hands dropped and pleasantries were exchanged, he focused right back on her.
“So, this is the magician?” asked Jenny.
Harmony’s ears burned. Of course Jenny would have to make it sound like she’d talked about Breck. He tried to stifle the smile that popped up, but he only did a half job. Harmony rolled her eyes. “Yes, this is the famous MyHeartChannel star.”
He scoffed. “Says the woman who gets asked for autographs after the show.”
