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She’s pale, her eyes wide. I reach for her and pull her into my lap again. Leaning my seat back, I get her comfortably seated on me as I stare into her eyes.
“So the man you saw at your house … Was he dressed like—”
“Santa.” She gives a solemn nod.
“Did he say who he was?”
“He said his name was Nicholas.”
“What happened, exactly?”
She takes a deep breath. I grab her hands and hold them in mine, warming them as she tells me what happened in her workshop and how the hat keeps showing up.
The snow is falling faster by the time she’s done.
I glance at the diner. “Come on.” I throw open my door and pick her up, carrying her down from the truck and setting her on her feet.
“But I only have a day to find a jolly, older, pure of heart guy who loves children!” Her voice is shrill.
“First, you need to eat.” I open the diner door for her, then lead her to a booth and sit beside her. “Then, we’re heading back to my place to figure this out, okay?”
I give the server our order. He eyes us like he’s trying to figure out where we’re going to put all the food. He doesn’t have to worry. I can put it away, and I’m going to make sure my lil bit is stuffed and happy before we leave here.
“It’s going to be okay.” I stroke her hair from her forehead.
“But I killed Santa,” she whispers as her eyes water.
I kiss her gently, tasting and caressing as she slowly unwinds. I cup her cheek, comforting her as I soothe away her fear one kiss at a time. When our food arrives, she’s breathless, and her cheeks are pink. I’m glad the table hides my bottom half, because I’m hard as a rock and hungry for more.
“First, we eat.” I scoop up some crispy, cheesy hashbrowns and feed it to her.
She takes it, shy at first, then closing her eyes as she chews. “I didn’t realize I was so hungry.”
“We’ll figure this out,” I tell her again, feeding her more.
None of this seems possible, but if Lil Bit believes it, then it’s real to her. That means it’s real to me. I’m here for her, no matter what.
“I’m sorry I got you involved in all this.” She sips her tea.
“If it has anything to do with you, I want to be part of it. And you should know, lil bit,” I offer her another forkful of waffle, and she takes it as I lean in close. “I would’ve helped you hide the body. And I always will.”
12
JOCELYN
Ishould not be turned on by the idea that Mac would help me bury a body if I asked. Even so, I must admit that is one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me.
It’s also sweet that he’s pretending to believe I killed Santa. I feel bad that I’ve pulled him into my mess, but having him on my side, whether he believes me or not, is helping to calm me.
At the diner, we clear our plates pretty quickly. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was. The bell over the diner door goes off, and a group of girls walk in. They take a booth not too far from us. I wouldn’t have paid them any mind, but I notice they are staring at Mac.
I don’t like it. Not one bit. He’s already nicknamed me. That should make us boyfriend and girlfriend. He’s mine. At least in my mind he is.
“What’s wrong?” Mac asks, pulling out his money before dropping a bunch onto the table. I go for my purse, wanting to put in my share. “Don’t even think about it, lil bit.”
I quickly pull my hand out of my purse.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the girls walking toward our table. I don’t miss the extra sway she puts into her hips as she passes by. Mac doesn’t give her so much as a glance; his eyes never leave mine.
