Page 87 of The Naughty List Agreement

“Problem solved,” she informed him.

“I’m not surprised. Nothing throws you off for long,” he said.

Except him mentioning marriage. That warmth that she only got when he was around flooded her. Damn, she was turning into a lovesick fool when he was around. That word danced in her mind again. Love.

She was afraid to admit to herself that her feelings ran that deep, but admitting it wouldn’t change the fact that that’s what it was. He’d shown her a different kind of December. A different world. Shown her that she was already part of it if she would only let it in.

And she had.

She didn’t regret it. True, she was busier than she’d ever been in December but somehow she wasn’t as exhausted as she usually was. Though she’d never admit it to him, she was pretty sure what she felt this year was joy—not her usual fare at all.

“I try.”

The entertainers started telling the history of wassailing, leading the crowds of people wrapped in coats and scarfs in song. While it was more traditional to go from door-to-door singing and collecting coins or gifts, Cora hadn’t been able to secure permission from the town council.

The entertainers at the front explained what they were doing instead.

“Tonight we will be singing and honoring the trees in the orchard behind us. Many of you will have come apple-picking here in the fall. You’ve known these trees since you were children, coming out here on field trips and for fall festivals. Tonight we thank these trees by singing and by pouring out some special cider on their roots.

“Winter Wonderland has a small token for each of you to collect at the end. The important thing to remember is to have fun and enjoy yourself. We hope that wassailing will become part of your family’s holiday tradition.”

Nick took her hand in his, that strong baritone of his ringing out as the crowd in front of them started moving. Cora sang along, not hesitant this time but instead trusting that her average voice would be fine in the crowd. Nick winked at her as they got to the first tree.

There was a staffer waiting to direct them where to pour the liquid on the roots. Cora had spoken to Mr. Reams who owned the orchard and he’d provided liquid fertilizer for the special cider for everyone to pour on the trees.

Cora found herself laughing when she sang the wrong words as Nick did the same. In this moment, for the first time in her life, she felt entirely comfortable in her own skin and in her body. This was the woman she was meant to be. Not squirreled away in an office, watching the festival from afar. Down here in the center of it. With Nick by her side.

“I love this.” But what she meant was I love you.

I love Nick Bari.

Two days later, Nick couldn’t put off his duties any longer. He needed to be in Hearthvale and he had to talk to the Council of Legendaries. Martha had put them off as long as she could. His parents had returned to Hearthcrest and were staying in the guest wing to support him. He’d spoken to them about Cora. Nick had been the one to bring them through the portal. Because they were no longer immortal, they couldn’t just enter whenever they wished.

Even Pete had admitted that Cora was making headway. Fliss had been assigned to keep an eye on her. Pete had tried to pull Fliss out of Pine Falls but she had informed him she was staying because she liked working with Cora—something that was causing some friction in Thornreach, but Fliss told him she was still getting her job done with the others on the Naughty List.

Nick was too busy now to work in the toy village every day. Nick trusted Buddy to ensure that the operation continued to go smoothly. Looking around the interior of the toy shop here in the village at the Winter Wonderland, he realized it felt like home to him. He’d used some of his Yulekind to enhance the sense of warmth that came from the electric fire in the corner and he was confident that the magic he’d created here would sustain itself without his presence.

There were problems that he could no longer ignore. The Magic Coffers were filling up each day which was good news but there were still moments when the Black Lumen was stronger.

“Good news,” he said to Cora when she arrived. His breath caught in his chest just from looking at her. Somehow, this woman had become the most important person in the universe to him. That wasn’t as easy to deal with as he’d thought it would be.

“Did you hear? We won top festival in the Northeast. We’ve won before but this year I feel like we really outdid the competition.

“Congratulations, but that wasn’t what I was referring to. You no longer have to come here every day.”

She went still. The air around him crackled the way it did when Finn blasted heat at him. Damn. He should have phrased it differently. He was so focused on what needed to be done in Hearthvale and … well a part of him thought she’d be glad for the reprieve.

But even as he said that he knew it was a lie. Cora had blossomed working in his shop during the festival. She loved being in the toy village talking to the visitors and the vendors alike.

“Uh, what? We had a deal that lasts until December twenty-fourth.”

“We do, but I’m letting you off the hook.”

“Why?”

“I have to be at our corporate offices,” he told her, leading her to the back where they could be alone.

“I thought you said everything was fine.”