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“That’s what I’m saying.” I stop and lean on the doorframe to my study. “You and the elves have been working nonstop since last Christmas. The chute’s not the only thing that’s busted. We need a real solution to the workshop issues instead of touch-and-go fixes that could fail and bring everything to a halt.”
“It’s notthatprecarious.” He sniffs.
“Holly Bell’s hammer is held together with chewed-up gum drops. It’s all Fir Bough can do to keep the line running when the cogs are so worn down that they barely turn. We need real help.”
He throws his hands up, the bell on the end of his hat tinkling. “Well, we can’t just magic up more elves from the snow. There are only a few elf children at the workshop school, and only a handful on the way. We’ve been so focused on keeping the shop running that we haven’t even had time to …” His cheeks turn an apple red, and he looks away.
“I can fix this.”
“Yes.” He claps. “That’s what I’ve been saying!”
“I need you to tell me how I can bring Jocelyn here.”
He cocks his head to the side and puts his hands on his hips. “No humans. She’ll die.”
“Can’t I keep her by the fire?” I point to the dancing green and red flames in my study fireplace.
“Sure, but the moment she strays from it, she’ll freeze. Humans are not allowed. They don’t have magic.” He says it as if he’s explaining it to a child.
I stomp around my desk and sit heavily, then reach for my hat. “I have to see her.”
“Why?” He hops up on the ladder that’s leaning against my desk and climbs to the top.
“Because I love her. And she’s the only one who can get this workshop running.”
“Jocelyn?” He stands in front of me, his sharp nose wiggling a little as he thinks. “Wait, yes. That’s right. Santa was visiting her because he wanted to offer her a job at the workshop.”
I lean forward, excitement sparkling through my veins. “If Santa went to her and wanted to bring her here, then there must be a way, right?”
“Well, of course.” He looks at me like I’m a total buffoon. “Ofcoursethere’s a way. Santa had a plan.”
I fist my hands and contemplate water-boarding him with sugary mead, but I hold steady. “And what was that plan?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“He was going to marry her, obviously. She would’ve become Mrs. Claus.”
I stop breathing for a moment. Santa was prowling after my woman?Mywoman? For the first time since all this started, I’m glad my lil bit offed the old guy.
“Just a business arrangement, of course.” Cinnamon keeps talking, oblivious as usual. “It’s the only way he could’ve brought a human here. Once a Santa chooses his partner, they get the magic. The last Santa never found anyone he fancied, which came in handy when he needed someone to spruce up the workshop and—”
“Enough talking.” I swipe the hat off my desk and pull it down on my head.
His eyes widen. “Santa, where are you going?”
I smirk and tweak my nose with a sparkle of Christmas magic. “To get my wife.”
18
JOCELYN
Ismile into my pillow as kisses trail down my neck. “Mac.” I moan his name as I roll over to face him. I wrap my arms around him to pull him close. I don’t dare open my eyes, knowing that if I do the dream will be over. This is the one place I can have Mac all to myself.
“Lil bit.” He groans as I crawl on top of him. “Missed you so damn much. Couldn’t stand to be without you for another second,” he says between kisses. His hand slips under my shirt. The roughness of his fingers feels good on my skin. I spread my legs wider to straddle him, resting my sex on his hard cock so that I can rock against him. My body is strung tight with need and begging for some sort of relief.
“I’ve missed you so much.” I dig my fingers into him, never wanting to let go as I keep rocking my hips back and forth drawing closer to my orgasm.
“I never should have left.” His words are a balm to the pain I’ve been feeling. I know I’d told him to leave, but I still kept waiting for him to show back up. “Lil bit. I can’t think when you’re doing that.” He grabs my hips in a firm hold that feels too real. My eyes fly open to lock with his.
“Mac?” I stop trying to move against him. “I’m not dreaming? You’re really here? You came back for me?” I think I’m in a bit of shock. Stupid tears start to sting my eyes. How can there be any left? He sits up and places kisses on my cheek. I savor the feel of his lips against my skin.
