“I don’t hate all kids.” He eyeballs a toddler with sticky hands, his mother chasing him with a wet wipe. Nick screws his face up, stepping away from the sticky monster. “Just kids that aren’t mine.”
His gaze floats across the room to the wooden toys surrounding the grotto. Two kids climb aboard a large wooden rocking horse. Nick huffs as he strides over to the horse. We rarely get footfall in this old toy area, but thanks to the grotto and people waiting to visit Santa, it’s bustling with families.
“Get down from there. It’s not a toy,” he shouts, pointing at the rocking horse.
I pinch my eyebrows. Not a toy? A parent takes the two kids by the hand as they climb off the horse.
Nick points to a sign that reads,Display only. Do not touch. When they walk away, he dusts the horse down, stroking its mane as if it were real.
The family walks past me, a little girl crying in her mother’s arms as she mutters, “Ignore the grumpy man, darling.”
I jingle towards the rocking horse. It’s a good thing he doesn’t come onto the shop floor often. He’d scare all the customers away. I’m ready to tell him he was too harsh, but I see the sadness in his eyes as he takes in the sight of the wooden toys.
He turns away from me, tidying up some wooden blocks.
I place my hand on his shoulder. “Nick. Are you okay?”
He bristles under my touch. “Fine, Joy. Get back to work.” It was an order in his gruff tone. He's back to his resting grouch face. But it's clear he's just triggered by painful memories. And that's my cue to give him some space.
I drop my hand and leave him to it as I slip back into the grotto.
8
JOY
“So is this where elves hang out when they’re off duty?” Nick’s deep timbre rumbles behind me in the library, causing a flutter between my thighs. Even my nipples stand to attention. I’m already wet from the book in my hand and hearing Nick’s voice practically sends me over the edge.
“Comeearoften?” He chuckles.
I peer over my shoulder to check I’m not dreaming. His towering frame stands over me as I sink deeper into the cosy love seat tucked away in the romance section. I close the book, keeping a finger inside so I don’t lose my chapter. The last thing I want is Nick reading all the dirty things on the page.
He raises an eyebrow, nodding to the cover.
I follow his gaze to a shirtless man in a tie and the titleBanging the Boss. Oh, candy crap, that’s even worse. My cheeks heat as if someone just lit a fire in my body.
“Wow, you really are after a bonus.” His smile reaches his eyes. “Sorry. I’m sure that’s somewhere in the code of conduct book as inappropriate, but I couldn’t resist.”
I give him a fake smile and try to act cool, even though I’m burning up inside. “I’m sure stalking your employee on a Sunday is in the book, too.”
“Theo wanted to call in for a free balloon and a sticker, some scheme they’re doing to get kids to read more.”
“Oh, I wondered why there were more kids here than usual.” I swing my legs over to the front of the seat and sit up straight, still clutching the boss book in my hand. I rest it on my black leggings.
“We were just going to get a drink from the cafe.” He turns around to check on Theo, darting between the book stands, the red balloon attached to his wrist bobbing behind him. “I’m sure you’ve more interesting things to do. I just thought—”
“No, I don’t.” I use a crumpled receipt from my bag to act as a bookmark. “I have nothing better to do.” Pulling the sleeves of my Christmas jumper over my hands, I cringe. “That didn’t sound right. I mean, I’d love to have coffee with you both.”
“Great.” He rolls up the sleeves of his fair Isle patterned jumper. “Teddy. Let’s get some cake.”
Theo comes running over. “Is Joy coming?”
“Yes.”
I set my book down on a table in the library cafe and head towards the counter.
“What are you having, Joy? I’ll get these.”
“A choco mocha please.” I take Theo’s hand. “Shall we sit down? You can show me the books you picked out.”
