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My phone chimes promptly at ten o’clock with Roxie letting me know Isaac has arrived.
I finish the spreadsheet I’m working on for the Lake Conservation Society meeting on Thursday and close down my computer. I grab my purse from my desk drawer, pull on my red wool wrap coat over my navy pantsuit, and wind the holly-print scarf my mother knit for me last year around my neck.
Clicking off the light and locking up my office, I make my way out to reception to greet him.
I spot him across the lobby. A tall figure with dark hair, he is wearing a cream cable-knit sweater, dark jeans, and brown boots. A black leather bag with a thick strap is slung over his shoulder, and his eyes are hidden behind a pair of aviator sunglasses.
His attention is cast down toward the little girl in a white coat, purple mittens, and snow boots. She has the same dark hair, hers in bouncing curls, and has her arm wrapped around his left leg.
I take a deep breath and make my way to them.
“Hi. Are you Isaac?” I ask.
He lifts his glasses and pulls them to rest atop his damp hair, revealing stormy-gray eyes that crinkle at the corners as he smiles warmly.
Oh my.
“Yes, I am. You must be Sela Prince.”
His voice is husky and captivating and sends a shiver down my spine.
He extends his arm, and I move closer. His large hand envelops mine.
“Yes, it’s nice to meet you. And who do we have here? Let me guess … she’s your assistant?” I ask as my eyes fall to his tiny companion.
The girl giggles. “No, silly. I’m too little,” she says.
“This is my daughter, Cobie. I hope it’s okay if she joins us today.”
I release his hand and bend down to her eye level.
“Of course it’s okay. It’s lovely to meet you, Cobie. We’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
She grins and looks up at her dad.
He winks at her, and she turns back to me.
“I like your scarf,” she says.
“Thank you. I like your mittens,” I return and then stand and look between them. “Shall we get this tour started?”
“Are we going to see Santa Claus?” Cobie asks.
“Santa?” I ask in surprise.
Isaac sighs. “The innkeeper where we’re staying told her to keep her eyes open because Santa has a vacation cottage hidden somewhere in Lake Mistletoe and you never know when you’ll run into him.”
“Innkeeper?” I ask.
“Yes, we’re staying at The Gingerbread Inn across the lake,” he replies.
“Ah, I see. Miss Trixie has been spilling all our town secrets again,” I say as I watch Cobie’s eyes light up. “Santa is an elusive character, and he doesn’t make it easy to find him, but this weekend is the candlelit town stroll, where we go from shop to shop, looking for his elves.”
“Elves?”
“Yes, ma’am. They come to hide treats and mistletoe all over town for boys and girls to find. Now, no one is sure that Santa will be accompanying the elves, but hopefully, we’ll get lucky and catch a glimpse of the big guy,” I explain.
Cobie lets go of her father’s leg and joins me in front of him. “Can we search for elves, Daddy?”
