Page 46 of The Naughty List Agreement

Of course he had.

That snow globe was back in her belly as it always was when Nick was close to her. If she turned her head, she could kiss him. That thought made her pulse beat faster and every fiber of her being go on high alert.

“Thanks,” she managed to say.

“Nothing to it. Ready for the eggnog?”

No. She should bolt out of this place and go back to her nice, safe home where things made sense. But instead she followed Nick to the back where they’d set up a very cozy break room situation for the staff. Here were the couches and an electric fireplace and it made her uncomfortable because she wanted to stay there. It was cozy and homey—the opposite of her cold, dark home with no decorations and no one to tease her about her momentary panic.

What was he doing to her?

CHAPTER 12

Pete had shown up without being asked and simply folded himself into the build alongside Nick and the elves. He had as much at stake in this as Nick did—maybe more, if the mantle passed to him—but they’d both grown too accustomed to running their own domains to work easily side by side.

Once Cora settled into the break area, Nick jerked his chin toward the kitchen and pulled Pete with him.

“You should go,” Nick said as Pete ladled his Krampus Nog into cups. Krampus Nog had some Krampus liquor in it—a herbal, hazelnut liqueur that added a kick and was strictly for grownups. Normally it was made in a cocktail shaker but Pete had mixed up a big pitcher of it.

“Not happening, dude. If you fuck this up, I’m going to have to step up. Our objectives are the same: every mortal on the Nice List. But I think she responds better to consequences and rules, and that’s my domain.”

“The Nice List isn’t about obedience,” Nick said quietly. “It’s about choice. If she chooses generosity on her own, it strengthens the whole weave.”

“Right now, she’s still written in red ink. You’re getting attached.”

“I’m investing. There’s a difference.” He really hoped there was because he’d bet everything on Cora.

Which was precisely why he wanted Pete to leave. There was a glow around Cora right now that Nick planned to nurture like a dying ember. He would protect her, come what may.

Nick accepted a mug of Pete’s eggnog, but Cora insisted on the non-alcoholic version.

Nick sat down in a leather armchair by Cora. “What are you up to today?”

“Going over every detail and praying it keeps on snowing. Snow helps bring everyone out to the opening day of the festival. The more Christmasy it feels the better,” she admitted.

“Snow isn’t necessarily part of Christmas. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s a tropical holiday.” Jack and Finn both did their best to ensure the weather was ideal each year, but Nick silently promised that Cora would have the snow she needed tomorrow. “The tradition of Santa Claus started in Turkey. Just a good Samaritan delivering gifts to spread joy.”

“Goodwill isn’t enough to get people out to the festival. Our biggest attendance days are always the wintery ones. This place looks really good. I don’t know why I’m so surprised. You always deliver.”

“I do.” He winked at her. “What were you expecting?”

“I try not to have expectations because they always get disappointed.”

Nick was offended at first, but this was Cora whom experience had taught to only rely on herself. He understood that much about her. Gaining her trust was hard, but he’d do it day-by-day. He’d abandoned the True North app and hadn’t thought about any woman but Cora since Thanksgiving. Last night he’d stared at the Yearweave for hours, searching for answers, but the only thing that came back to him was Cora.

She consumed his thoughts.

Whether that was a good or bad thing only time would tell.

“I’m glad you like it. I thought we’d go and start the paperchain so there would be a few links ready to go before Monday. I’ve reached out to the other toy vendors and they’re all on board.”

“Every official email should go through my office. From now on you need to speak to me before you do that,” she said tartly.

Pete chimed in suddenly.

“What’d Nick do? He used to be such a troublemaker.”

Nick flipped Pete the finger. “Lies. Pete used to get caught and I never did so he’s bitter.”