His mouth kicks up, and damn, it shouldn’t look that good on him. He’s been watching me like this all night.
“This is perfect,” Lily blurts out. “You need animals. Chris has animals. The universe is saying,Here, dumbass, take the reindeer.”
“Look, I can make it work,” Chris adds. “The reindeer, plus I can reach out to some contacts who run small farms—goats, sheep, maybe a pony or two. Build you a proper petting zoo in forty-eight hours.”
I stare at him, trying to process. “Would you really do that? I’ll pay you, of course.”
“I’d do it for you, Hannah. And because Scot’s a jackass who deserves to fail. And you need a shot at proving yourself.”
“Chris—”
“Call it a favor. Lily gave me free brownies for a year. I’m giving you reindeer and some animals for a weekend.” His grin goes wicked. “Seems fair.”
Lily is squeezing my arm so hard it hurts. “Say yes. Hannah, for the love of God, say yes.”
I look at the brownie container on the table in front of Chris. At my sister. At James, who’s nodding slightly like this makes perfect sense. At Chris, who’s sitting there offering to save one of my jobs. And I’m laughing at how bizarre the night is.
“Of course I’ll accept help,” I hear myself say. “Let’s talk details.”
Chris’s smile turns heated and infinitely dangerous. “Thought you’d never ask.”
Lily squeals again, and James is definitely laughing now. I’m sitting in my sister’s bakery, planning a petting zoo with a man I kissed while my career hangs in the balance.
This is either the best decision I’ve ever made or the worst.
Given my track record, probably both.
4
KANE
The reindeer are staging a rebellion this morning.
I’m standing in the back pasture with a bucket of grain, watching our herd decide collectively that breakfast can wait while they fuck around in the fresh snow. Bishop, one of our older males who lost his antlers three weeks ago, is headbutting Knight over absolutely nothing. Rook is off by himself near the tree line, staring into the woods like he’s contemplating an escape plan. Queen is digging through snow, looking for whatever vegetation she thinks is hiding underneath, antlers still firmly attached because she’s female and gets to keep hers until spring.
“Come on, assholes,” I call out. “It’s eight in the morning. I’m freezing. You’re getting fed whether you cooperate or not.”
Bishop ignores me completely, continuing his headbutting campaign. The rest of the reindeer don’t seem to be obeying me either.
“They’re not going to listen to you,” Noel says from behind me. He’s hauling another bucket of grain, long hair tied back, breath misting in the cold air. “They never listen to you.”
“They do when I have food.”
“That’s a basic survival instinct.”
I dump grain into the first feeder, and immediately Pawn trots over. She’s the youngest female at three and a half years old. She’s got her antlers too, and she hasn’t learned to be an asshole yet. My favorite, if I’m being honest, though I’d never admit it to the others.
She nudges my arm with her nose, warm breath against my jacket.
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” I scratch behind her ears, and she leans into it. “You’re starving. Totally neglected. Haven’t eaten in twelve whole hours.”
Pawn makes a soft noise, content, and starts eating.
The rest of the herd finally decides food is more important than whatever drama they were manufacturing. Even Castle, our most standoffish female, deigns to approach the second feeder Noel is filling.
We’ve got eight total. Four males, four females. Inherited from Noel’s grandmother when she passed three years ago, and we were going to rehome them until we realized they’d kind of grown on us. Now they’re permanent residents, eating our money and taking up five acres of prime pasture land.
Worth it, though. They’re good company. Better than most people.
