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Anna Beth placed her arms around his shoulders, which were also soft and cushiony. “No, it’s perfect because I missed you too. I wanted to see you earlier, but I was on a roll in my screenplay and couldn’t stop.”
“I know. It gave me a chance to get a lot of stuff done. However, I could use a kiss.”
“I don’t know. Seems a little naughty.”
“I like naughty.”
Anna Beth leaned over and kissed him, turning her head so
she didn’t mess up his nose. When Jared deepened the kiss, Jared’s Santa beard tickled her face. She didn’t care and lost herself in him.
Suddenly, the door burst open behind them and an excited young voice screamed, “Santa! Santa! Santa?”
Anna Beth jumped off Jared’s lap and turned to find a little girl about six-years-old staring wide eyed at them. A woman in her thirties ran in and took her hand.
“Carly, I told you we had to wait.”
Carly ignored her mother and scowled at Anna Beth. She raised a pink gloved hand and pointed. “Mommy, that woman was sitting on Santa’s lap and they were kissing!”
Anna Beth wished she could melt into the floor. Thankfully, Jared stood up and walked over to the child. He knelt down on one knee in front of Carly, almost to her eye level.
“Shh, don’t tell but this pretty lady is Mrs. Claus, in disguise.”
Carly’s eyes widened. “She is?”
“Yes. You see, Mrs. Claus likes to travel around the world bringing too, but she can’t do it looking like herself.”
Carly looked from Jared to Anna Beth, then up at her mother. “Do you think that’s true, Mommy?”
“If Santa says so, then it must be. Now, let’s go back outside and wait to be called.”
Once Carly and her mother left, Anna Beth groaned. “Well, that was embarrassing.”
“Nah, Carly’s fine. We didn’t traumatize her and now, she can run around and tell all the other kids she met Mrs. Claus too. She’s going to be a celebrity with the elementary school crowd, I guarantee it.”
Olive came through the door, an amused expression on her face. “A concerned mother warned me that Santa and Mrs. Claus were inside and needed their privacy.”
“On that note, I am out of here. I’m going to meet my aunt at the wreath construction booth.”
Jared caught her hand and squeezed. “When I finish here, I’ll come find you.”
“Should I look for Santa, or will you be back to yourself?”
“As long as Tammy can get this all off, I’ll turn back after seven.”
“See you then.” She let go of his hand and headed out the door. Anna Beth passed by a line of kids and heard a loud whisper, “That’s Mrs. Claus.”
She rolled her eyes. Little Carly won the gossip-in-training award.
When Anna Beth got all the way to the other end of the tents, she found her aunt speaking to Karen Jeffries. Sarah held two bags and they had their heads close together, as though conspiring.
“Hey, there. What’s up?” Anna Beth asked.
“Nothing, dear.” Sarah held out her bag. “Your wreath supplies.”
“Thanks. How are you, Karen?”
Karen smiled. “I’m good, Anna Beth. Did you go by and see Jared?”
