Page 17 of The Naughty List Agreement

“This might shock you, but many people find me naturally charming and easy to talk to,” he replied.

“Well, I’ve shared more than I meant to. I think this is my cue to leave.”

She waved at the server and made the motion for the check. “Will you bring the mock-up by my office tomorrow? I need it before my 10 am meeting with the board. I’m going to get marketing all over this.”

“Yes, I’ll have Buddy bring it by. You’ll need to install the app on your phone if you’re going to demonstrate how to use it,” Nick said, letting her change the subject. He had a lot to think about, and he didn’t want to push her too hard before she was ready. He was more determined than ever to find a way to get her on the Nice List but as of this moment he wasn’t sure exactly how to achieve it.

“Can you send it to me?”

He did, and she checked to make sure it would work on her phone. “If you run into any problems give me a call. I’ll walk you through it.”

“I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” she said, taking the check when the server put it down and slipping her credit card inside.

“Thanks for all your hard work. You’ll make sure I get the prototype for The Today Show?” He nodded. “I’m looking forward to seeing you on December first for our kickoff,” she said.

“Send me all the details. I’ll need to set up my booth on November thirtieth.”

“You’ll get an email with all the info. Since you’re the featured retailer, you’ll have priority over the other vendors. As you … requested”—he didn’t miss the subtle inflection—“I’ll reach out to the other vendors and see if they are available.”

“Good. We need to have as many different options in the toy market as we can. That’s what sparks⁠—”

“If you say joy⁠—”

“Creativity. Though you do seem obsessed with joy…”

“No, you are. You’re the one who keeps bringing it up.”

“Am I, though?”

She smiled and shook her head. “Yes. Thanks for this, Nick. I’m so impressed with the WonderHaus.”

“Makes you think maybe you shouldn’t have fired me?”

“No. I think it was those lean years that made you hungry. Today you hit it out of the park because of that,” she said, signing the check and then standing up. “I’ll see you soon.”

As she fluffed her hair, a whiff of peppermint floated toward him. His eyes drifted down to her lips, still shiny with bright red lipstick. She pursed them, her eyes on him as she did so. Her wink took him by surprise but before he could recover, she turned and walked out of Frosty Jack’s, those long legs of hers making her hips sway with each step.

The dating app pinged again, but he couldn’t tear his eyes from Cora’s retreating form.

When she finally disappeared from sight, he dropped his head in his hands and let out an enormous sigh. He needed a Mrs. Claus, like, tomorrow. A woman on the Naughty List was the absolute last person who should have him awkwardly adjusting his jeans to hide just how much he’d like to have those red, red lips pressed against every inch of his body.

CHAPTER 5

Calvin’s Park Grill was one of the nicer restaurants in Pine Falls. Tall taper candles in brass holders with a small red velvet ribbon sat on every table. Green ribbons were tied around each napkin with a sprig of pine tucked in and there was a faint shimmer of gold sparkles in the table linens. Nick appreciated the Christmas spirit that infused this place, from the magnolia-leaf garlands with white berry clusters to the massive tree decorated in ivory, and champagne ornaments on the stage behind the jazz trio. There was a bar area full of groups talking and laughing, filling the space with the sounds of festive delight.

Martha had recommended the location for his first real date. Hannah Waters. Turned out she was a toy vendor for the Winter Wonderland festival as well. Martha had been consulted before he left and now he was wearing a smart suit tailored to fit his frame, like Jack. He’d brushed his hair back and trimmed his beard and looked every inch the eligible CEO bachelor.

Nick glanced at his watch and saw that the level of Christmas magic was holding steady in the low twenties. As a percentage, that wasn’t great, but at least it was Gold Lumen and not Black Lumen holding it steady. He took small comfort in that.

He smiled at the hostess as he gave her his name. “Do you want to wait for your guest in the bar, or I can seat you now?”

“I’ll wait,” he said, heading to the bar. Mingling with mortals was always fun this time of year. He went to the bar and ordered a Ranch Water.

“I heard she’s barely holding on to the job,” a man at the table closest to Nick said. “Next Gen is embroiled in a huge scandal. She’s scrambling for a new toy.”

“Really? She must be pissed. She’s so into bossing everyone around at Winter Wonderland, she must be freaking out,” the woman with him added.

“It’s what she deserves. She has to have all the kudos. If she’d even once shared the burden—or the credit—then maybe I’d have a smidge of sympathy, but not the Queen of Christmas. She’s a heartless tyrant.”