She gasped, staring at him as if he’d broken several laws.
Laughing, Jack took another dollop and put it on his nose to show that it was okay. Faith glanced over and saw the two of them. “Hey, you two!”
Raelynn froze in place, as if she was waiting to be criticized. The look on her face nearly crumbled Jack.
“You look just like my cookie.” Faith held up her cookie to show them the frosting; she’d smeared on the nose. “Let me get a picture of the three of you.” She handed the cookie over, and Jack leaned in towards Raelynn, putting the cookie between them.
Raelynn’s smile was back in full force. “Let me see it!” she exclaimed as soon as that photo was taken. Faith turned the phone around and showed her. “We look silly,” she said, disappointed in herself for participating in the fun.
Faith grinned. “Sometimes it’s fun to be silly.” She swiped some frosting out of the bowl and onto her own nose.
Jack felt someone watching him, and he turned to find Natasha. Her eyes swam with confusion. He quirked a brow, silently asking her if something was wrong. She shook her head slightly and looked away.
Faith caught their interaction and got up to bring the phone around and show Natasha. “Aren’t they cute?”
Natasha looked closely, her eye dancing as she took in every detail. “That’s a good photo. It tells a story in one moment. Nice shot.”
Faith laughed as she pulled her phone back to look at the screen. “I forgot I was showing a Hollywood producer.”
“Not hardly,” she replied. She tucked her pretty long hair behind her ear.
Raelynn was busy trying to get a chocolate chip on cookie-Sparkle’s hooves. Jack leaned back to better hear Natasha and Faith.
“You say that like your opinion means nothing,” Faith said.
“It doesn’t.” Natasha flicked her hand. “I’m as replaceable as the next gal.”
“No!” Faith grabbed her hand. “You’re putting good things out there in the world and lifting hearts. There’s value in that.”
Natasha pressed her lips together. They were slightly swollen from his attention earlier, though he doubted anyone else would notice. He was the only one in the room who stared at her mouth.
“It doesn’t feel like I’m doing anything special—especially when I have to wear tights.”
Faith patted her arm and let go. “I wish I had someone with your skills to help on the ranch.”
Jack tipped his head. “Doing what?”
Caleb appeared with a cup of eggnog, which he handed Faith. “Are you telling them about the video?”
She smiled adoringly up at him. “I was just about to.”
“Don’t let me interrupt.” He dropped a kiss on her hair and then wandered off.
Jack looked away. Their happy little moments together were so sweet it made him want to punch his brother. Jealousy had never been a problem, but a wife wasn’t something they could share. Jack would have to get his own. His eyes cut to Faith and her gaze jerked quickly away.
“I’ve been telling these guys that we need new reindeer blood in the herd. This group has been together for decades with no new genes.” Faith took a sip of her drink, leaving an egg-nog mustache behind. “I believe there are more of these reindeer out there. Maybe tucked away in the mountains or the colder areas of Alaska. If people knew we were looking, they’d help.” She swiped her lips.
Natasha sat up in her seat, careful of Ryder, who was now snoring softly. “And you think a video would help?”
Jack turned toward Faith, as eager for her answer as Natasha. Though Faith hadn’t said it out loud, they needed fliers. Santa’s stable was well stocked, but they didn’t have any wiggle room. One injury, one sick day, one retiree, and they’d be down to seven reindeer for Christmas Eve. That just wouldn’t do, not only because of tradition, but the sleigh was so heavy eight reindeer was the minimum needed to haul it around the world.
“I think education would help.” Faith said carefully. “The more people are aware of what we do here, the more likely we are to find another reindeer.” Faith took another sip of her eggnog. She met Jack’s gaze for a second. He nodded quickly. Desperate times called for desperate measures.
Natasha’s eyes darted back and forth as the wheels in her mind spun. The process was fascinating, and Jack’s heart picked up speed. If she put that kind of thought into kissing him, he may never be able to stop.
“I think you’re right. What can I do?” asked Natasha.
Billy stopped at their table. “Raelynn! Come on! Grandma’s going to tell her story.”
