Page 77 of The Mistletoe Mix-up

“I was loading up the stuff that I bought into the back of my truck. I turned around to talk to a friend on the phone, and suddenly, I see this guy hanging over the edge of my truck bed helping himself to two of my wreaths. When I yelled at him, he took off running toward the woods with one on each arm!”

“Could you give me a description of the man?” she asked, pulling out her notepad and pen.

“I don’t know. Teenager maybe? I didn’t get a good look at his face, but he was skinny. He had his hood pulled up, but I could tell by his hands he was white. He didn’t take off that long ago; can’t you just go get him?”

Wren nodded, heading in the direction he indicated. It was after five in the evening, so it was already dark outside. Pulling her flashlight from her utility belt, she scanned the trees and made her way several steps in.

“Duke, heel.” The last thing she needed was her dog to take off searching for a suspect in the dark and end up facing off with an angry bear.

“Hey, Wren!” She turned toward the sound of her name and saw Sam standing outside one of the community center’s side doors with a couple of women. They glanced her way briefly, but then their focus returned to Sam, gazing at him in adoration, and Wren frowned.

“Oh, hi,” she said, searching the tree line for movement. It was better than watching Sam’s fan club fawn all over him.

Sam jogged over, stopping next to her. “What are you looking for?”

“Did you see a man run by in a hoodie?” she asked, noticing the women were following him. Great.

“No, but we only just walked out. I was helping them load their tree in the back of their truck—”

“Sam,” a petite brunette called out, linking her arm with his. “I was trying to ask you about that tattoo on your arm with the ladybug and the leaf. The watercolors are gorgeous. If I did something similar, where would it look best on me?”

Wren’s eyes narrowed at the other woman’s grip on him, and it was on the tip of her tongue to tell the woman to get her mitts off Sam. Duke seemed to sense her unease, and to her surprise, he approached Sam and the brunette without being released by verbal command, and Wren watched in horror as he pushed his way between them, nearly knocking the woman over.

“Duke, come,” Wren said, laughter bubbling under her breath. “Sorry, he’s working right now, and you’re in his space.”

“We should go back inside and let the officer do her job,” the woman said, reaching for Sam again.

“I’m sure he can make it without you hanging on him,” Wren snapped, stiffening when she realized that she sounded like a jealous girlfriend.

Jealousy! Where had that come from? She didn’t have time for jealousy.

“I— I gotta go,” Wren said, ignoring Sam’s smug, smiling face, and she took off for a closer look at the woods, cursing herself under her breath. Why was she behaving so stupidly? Just because some woman had attached herself to Sam like a leech didn’t mean he was interested, and even if he was, Wren didn’t own him. He could do whatever he wanted.

On her way deeper into the trees, Wren shined her flashlight, but all she saw was a red velvet bow on the ground. She picked it up and kept looking around, waiting for her flashlight to illuminate more missing pieces.

Duke whined, taking a few steps toward the darkness, and Wren shook her head. “Heel, Duke. Even if he’s in there, I don’t need you chasing him down when I can’t keep up.” Tucking her flashlight back into her belt, she ordered, “Let’s go.”

Sam was waiting for her on the side of the building, but he was alone.

“He didn’t catch your Christmas Bandit?” Sam asked, pointing at Duke.

“I didn’t want to let him loose when it’s too dark for me to follow safely. Especially not for a couple fifty-dollar wreaths.” Wren shook her head. “Why anyone would want to steal a couple wreaths is weird.”

“Maybe they’re decorating their house in order to win the best display?” Sam offered.

“Well, an extra-large ornament did go missing from another person’s house.” Wren smiled, forgetting for a moment she’d been irritated with him. “Could be he’s making a wreath toss?”

Sam chuckled. “Who’d have thought Mistletoe would end up with our very own Grinch?”

“No idea. All I know is that he’s skinny and young. Now the back of a truck.” Wren shook her head.

Sam pushed off the wall, falling into step next to her. “So how are you going to catch him?”

“I don’t know. Figure out why he’s doing it and set a trap?”

“That could work.” Sam stopped next to her, nodding. “What was that thing Duke did, pushing his way next to me?”

“Uh, I have no idea. I think it’s all the food you’ve been sneaking him. I guess he’s claimed you.”