I check my list twice, and call the next family through into the small grotto, then step back out to chat with the people in the queue.
“How much longer? This is so lame.” A blonde kid says in a huff.
His mum, a curvy woman, hands a toddler to a tall man with long dark hair. “Cal, get Caleb. He’s killing my arm.” She ruffles the blonde’s hair. “Not long now. We’re next.”
He moves his head away from her with a scowl. “Mum, don’t do that. It’s so annoying when you do that. Can we just go?”
The guy says, “Cairen, if you don’t believe, you don’t receive.“
“Bruh. I’m eleven.” He scowls at the guy, I would say dad, but they look nothing alike. The oldest girl looks like his sister. Faint K-pop tunes come from her large headphones. Two more girls with long black hair and olive skin look more like him. Definitely a blended family.
“Caleb Richards,” I call.
The man nods. “That’s us.”
I hold the curtain open as they all step through, filling the small space.
“Well, ho ho ho, look at you, little man. You’ve got so big,” Santa says to the little boy as his dad sets him down in the seat next to Santa. “How old are you now?”
“Three.” He holds up three fingers.
His parents and siblings watch with a smile as Santa talks to their youngest family member. Blended or not, I only dream that one day I’ll have a large family like this. Growing up as an only child in a boarding school was quite lonely. My dad didn’t know what to do with a teenage girl during the holidays, so I would spend most of my time in my room. He’s still a difficult man to be around, but he has a good heart.
I guess that’s why I get along with Nick. I’m used to the brooding, silent type, and the difficult attitude he gives off sometimes. It’s all very familiar to me.
Stepping out of the grotto, I suck in a breath. Nick leans against the entrance to the wooden toy section with his arms folded across his broad chest and his green eyes fixed on me.
It’s not often he’s on the shop floor. Unless he needs to cover on the till. Sometimes he wanders the store at night after closing, but never just hanging around.
I gingerly make my way over, tugging at the hem of my dress to cover as much of my chubby thighs as possible. “Everything all right?”
He nods, glancing around the North Pole village we set up. “I don’t know why we didn’t do this sooner. Sales have tripled these last few days with the Santa visits.”
“See. I told you.” I bite my lip. “Does that mean I’ll get my bonus?”
“I’m sure I can work something out.” He leans closer, scrutinising my prosthetic ears. “These look real.” His fingers graze my cheek before touching the fake ear. He shuffles on his feet and clears his throat. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine, you can touch them, they feel real, too.” My cheeks heat. A tingle lingers where he touched me. “Are you aLord of The Ringsfan as well?”
“Huh? Never seen it.” He lifts his hand again, this time tucking the flyaway hair sticking out of my hat behind my elf ears, then he runs a finger along the edge, following where they join my own.
I hold my breath. The feel of his rough pad against my skin tickles, sending tingles to my centre.
“How are they fixed on?” He steps closer, his aftershave filling my senses.
“They come with glue.” I take in a deep breath, enjoying the closeness of him and his fingertips caressing my skin. My thoughts have already placed his lips there, his teeth nibbling on my ear.
“Hmm…” I cover my mouth, realising I just moaned out loud. My eyes widen as I swallow.
Nick removes his hand, running it through his short, dark-brown hair. He clears his throat and steps back.
A little kid brushes past my legs, chasing a football.
Nick spins around. “Hey, no running. You’ll hurt yourself.” He watches as the kid’s adult catches up with him, telling him to let go of the ball.
Nick locks his jaw. “Bloody kids.”
I cover my mouth with a giggle. “How can you own a toy store and hate kids?”
