Page 90 of Five Days of Christmas Spice

“And she told me the café is for sale.”

“And you want to buy it?”

“Yes.”

“You want to buy a café in the middle of nowhere, about four hours from where you live, and it has nothing to do with the very attractive barista?”

“How do you know she’s attractive?”

I laugh. “What do you need me for?”

“Can you handle the sale for me? I don’t know how much they are asking, but I want the building it’s in, too.”

I smile as I drain the last bit of my coffee. “Let me guess, she lives there.”

“Noel, look. I have the money, and I can do this good deed.”

“What’s her name?”

Theo sighs. “If I tell you her name, will you help me buy the place?”

“Yes.”

“Callie.”

“Are you bringing this Callie to the New Year’s Eve party?”

“No! I mean, I can’t. It’s not like that, Noel.”

I laugh. “Okay, send me everything you have on the café, and I’ll get to work.”

“Thanks. You should go get this girl of yours.”

“She’s not mine.”

“But you want her to be.”

In a choir of laughter and conversation, guests enter the dining room, and I stand, moving out of the space.

“Yeah, I do.”

“See you in a few days.”

“Bye.”

Axel is leaning over Rosa’s desk, locking lips with his submissive.

“Hey,” I lean against the wall.

Rosa jumps back, her chair scraping against the floor. “Sorry.”

I wave off her apology.

Axel grins. “Great party last night. Everything’s been cleaned up, and the dungeon is back to normal.”

“I know. Thanks for all of your effort in making it work.”

“Anything for you, Noel.” Axel slaps me on the back.

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