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Mrs. P tsked at Tommy, shaking her head as he led the women deeper into the bullpen.
"Santa's helpers are here!" Tommy called out, drawing the attention of the rest of the officers.
In a rush of smiles and thanks, Tommy's coworkers dropped everything and moved forward to get some cookies. He attempted to bat some hands away as he unwrapped the tray he'd saved from the floor, but it was the short window when days and midnights overlapped, and the guys coming off the midnight shift were in a slap-happy mood.
"Hope you enjoy them while they last," Mrs. P said with a laugh. "Save some for the swing shift."
"Speaking of enjoying things," Ida interjected, her tone dry but playful, "have you been working your charm on our visiting travel writer, Tommy?"
"Ida!" Mrs. P scolded, though she couldn't hide her own amusement. "Let's not run poor Grace off before the Christmas Eve ball. We're hoping it'll be the best one yet, and I'd love for her to write a great article about it."
"Wait, she's staying for the ball?" Tommy asked, surprised. "I thought she'd be gone by then."
"Change of plans," Mrs. P explained. "She worked out a deal with Holly last night."
"Really?"
"Really," Ida confirmed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Tommy couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "Think it was my amazing kissing skills that convinced her to stay?"
"More likely Holly's cooking," Ida retorted with a smirk. "But either way, we're thinking of playing matchmakers for you and Grace."
"Are you saying I need help?"
Ida raised a thin, white eyebrow. "In more ways than one, dear."
Mrs. P chuckled, shaking her head at their banter. She glanced over at Jack, calling him over. "Jack, do you have a moment? I need your daughter's help with a birthday surprise for Noelle."
"Sure thing, Mrs. P," Jack replied as Mrs. P pulled him aside.
Now alone with Tommy, Ida's gaze softened as she looked at him. "You're smitten with her, aren't you?"
"Only a little," he lied, rubbing the back of his neck.
The smile that reached Ida's eyes reflected the happiness she felt for him. They'd met after a robbery had wrong at her home, and he'd become the grandson she'd always wished she'd had. And on his end, she made him a heck of a lot less homesick.
"But don't get carried away," he warned. "I don't know if I can convince her to stay for good."
"Never underestimate the magic of Christmas in this town, dear," Ida replied, her usual dry tone tinged with uncharacteristic optimism.
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of laughter where Mrs. P was holding court with a few other officers. But then, as if summoned by their conversation, Grace breezed into the station. Ida’s brows went up and she flitted away, joining Mrs. P so he could have a moment alone with Grace.
“Cracking any big cases today?” Grace teased as she made her way over, leaning against his desk with a playful glint in her eyes.
“You know it. Robbers dressed as reindeer.”
She frowned. “Wait, for real?”
“Yep. How's your day going?”
“Good, but definitely not as entertaining as yours,” she said with a chuckle, eyeing the stack of papers on his desk. “That’s a lot of paperwork.”
“You’re telling me,” Tommy quipped. “But it keeps me busy until my next high-speed chase.”
“In this town, I feel like that would involve chasing down Santa’s sleigh.”
Tommy laughed, then sighed. “You’re not wrong.”
