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“You’re, um...” He clears his throat, then waves a finger in my general vicinity, still avoiding my gaze. A nervous smirk twitches at the corners of his perfect lips. “You’re a bit rumpled.”
I smooth a hand over my head, tamping down the snarly mess. My heart clamors against my chest. I’ve never seen a man more gorgeous, more put together, more...
Rumpled?
I glance down. My face flushes hot as a sheen of sweat breaks across my nape. All rational thought left my head the moment I laid eyes on his hulking mass.
I'm nothing but candy cane tights from my belly button to my toes. My skirt's scrunched around my middle, exposing all my lumps and curves. My hands fly to the rumpled fabric around my waist. I tug at the clingy material, stretching it over my ample curves.
Merry fudgin’ Christmas.
***
Sebastian
“I didn’t mean to stare...I mean, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
I caught sight of Sophie in her adorable elf outfit earlier when I left the Nerdy Bookworm. Parker, the bookstore’s owner and long-time friend, put in a good word for me with the landlord when I decided to relocate Fudgeballs. She also filled me in on all the dirty details of our fellow downtown tenants.
According to Parker, Sophie's a loyal, tenacious, and verysinglefriend. She dropped that little detail with about as much subtlety as a kick in the shin. I don't need a reminder of my own single status. It's difficult enough being the younger brother of Cranberry Corner's most eligible bachelor for several years running. Though, Drake's bachelor streak is behind him now, with Hope wearing his ring.
I thought my luck with women would change once Drake was off the market, but it hasn’t. Everything’s small in Cranberry Corner, including the dating pool. I’m not interested in my brother’s leftovers. I want someone who wasn’t smitten with him before me. Even if there were any promising prospects, I’m too busy with business.
If it weren’t for Parker, I wouldn’t be standing inside the doorway of Brain Freeze dying to see all of Sophie’s naughty Santa bits. I’ve seen Sophie around the square but haven’t had the nerve to introduce myself yet.
Until today. I’m armed with Parker’s encouragement and a box of Fudgeballs legendary chocolates made famous by my nana.
“This is so embarrassing.” Sophie hisses the words under her breath as she wriggles her clothing into place.
“It’s completely my fault.” I rock back on my heels, dying to get another look at her cherry-blushed cheeks. The sign on the door clearly states her business hours, but they’re the same as mine. We might never meet if I’d waited. “I shouldn’t have barged in.”
Her long blonde hair sticks up in tiny tufts. She’s cute with messy hair and rosy cheeks. My thoughts plow straight ahead to the dark side, imagining her rumpled with swollen lips and dark, love-drunk eyes.
“I should’ve remembered the lock.” She slicks a palm over her skirt, grumbling her irritation. “My mind’s elsewhere.”
“Gearing up for the holidays, I see. Pine needles, white fluff, and a box of meager holiday ornaments litter the floor. I fiddle with the satin ribbon on the chocolate box in my hand. “Things look...festive.”
I hesitate to find the right word to describe the dreary mess. It’s far from festive, but I opt for politely correct.
Sophie tilts her head and rolls her eyes at me. A quirky grin curls along the left corner of her lip.
"I'm going for a minimalist depression-era vibe." She gestures toward the window, sweeping her hand through the air like a game show hostess unveiling the big prize.
“In that case, you’ve outdone yourself.” I chuckle heartily, enjoying her humor. “Are you entering the Festival of Lights?”
“Something like that, but the ladies next door take the prize every year. It’s not like anyone else has a chance at winning.” Her cheeky grin falls as wrinkles flicker across her brow. She twists her lips into a pinched knot as her gaze falls over my shoulder into the square. “Unless the shiny new toy ruins the holidays for them, too.”
I’m not sure what she’s referring to, but her deflated enthusiasm sits heavy with me. We’ve barely met, and already I want to take the weight of the world off her shoulders.
“But the Festival of Lights is about spreading holiday cheer and lifting people’s spirits. It doesn’t matter who wins.”
“Easy for you to say.” Her sigh deepens as she bends to swipe an elf headband from the floor. “You’re not dressed in a ridiculous outfit trying to drum up business while someone else steals the show.”
I understand more than she thinks. It’s never been easy living in Drake’s shadow. He’s always been a step ahead of me with firsts in our professional and personal lives. Part of that has to do with him being older. But it’s finally my time to shine and show everyone what I can do with Nana’s business.
Everyone, including me.
But one thing at a time. I can't fix the world for Sophie, but chocolate lightens everyone's mood. At least, that's been my experience.
