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Since I’d added it to the program at the last minute, we had to make a plethora of changes. I’d done my research, and other establishments closed for the few hours it took to prepare the ground floor for the ceremony, but I wanted it all out in the open. It meant extra work for us, because we had to maneuver everything around the customers—but I wanted them to be part of the experience from the very beginning.
The assembly team arrived at eight o’clock, and we got to work. I barely kept from squealing like a teenager when the giant fir tree was brought in. It would be the centerpiece of the store during the holiday season.
As I’d predicted, by nine o’clock, the store was as chock-full of customers as it was during rush hours. We’d put in place a red tape with a bow to separate the assembly team from the rest of the store until we were done. Kids cheered with every decoration we hung up. We’d only plug in the twinkling lights at six o’clock tonight, during the ceremony.
I was so happy, I had to fight against every instinct not to cheer with them too. I’d do this every day if I could. Once the tree was up, I moved on to rearranging the window display, so one could see the tree already just passing by the store. That task lasted well into the afternoon. Despite the tight deadline, everyone was relaxed and easygoing.
That was until five o’clock, when I felt a subtle change in the atmosphere. Everyone stood ramrod straight, suddenly very focused. I didn’t think much of it and just went on about my task, right until I heard someone say, “Everything’s running according to the schedule, Mr. Statham.”
I licked my lips, feeling prickles of awareness at the back of my neck. The boss was here?
“I didn’t take him for the type to oversee things like this,” said one of the guys who moved around mannequins.
Honestly, neither did I. Where was he, anyway? I glanced to my right, surprised to find Winston directly in my line of vision, as if I’d instinctively felt where he was. He was watching me and making no secret of it.
I smiled at him before returning to my task, but my skin still felt on fire. He kept watching me, I was sure of that. When I finished the window display, I went to plug in the twinkling lights adorning it.
I’d barely made contact with the plug when I felt a burning sensation on my forearm. Yelping, I pulled my hand back. Ouch, ouch, ouch.
The small electric shock passed the next second, but my skin was pink where it had touched the wire. It still stung, but I tried to hide it, just requesting another set of twinkling lights, since this one was useless.
I was convinced I’d fooled everyone, right until Winston walked up to me.
“Show me your hand.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Show me your hand,” he repeated. His voice was low but commanding. I held up my arm. His eyes flashed as he inspected the pink line. It looked worse than I remembered and felt just as bad.
“Come on, let’s go.”
“Where?”
“The ER.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I just need to put some honey on it.”
He cocked a brow. “Honey?”
“It has antiseptic properties.”
“Sienna, don’t be difficult.”
“I’m staying until we light up the tree.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Winston—”
“You’re not. We’re leaving now. I’ll carry you out even with everyone watching.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
His eyes flashed. Holy shit, challenging Winston when he was this determined was a dangerous endeavor. Still, I didn’t back down. Even knowing he might make good on it, I didn’t want to give in.
“I’m here to oversee the ceremony. And it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Second degree burns don’t hurt right away because you can’t feel the nerve endings anymore.”
