Page 8 of Sinful Santa
“Kids! Have you told your grandparents what you did for the last day of school?” Tahlia asked.
Kaiden brightened and sat up eagerly. “We built a Christmas robot!”
“A Christmas robot!” Ophelia repeated, successfully distracted. Even Jed couldn’t help but be pulled in as the twins expounded on their mechanical achievement.
Tahlia caught Nelson’s eye, shooting him a small smile. He looked surprised but his expression softened into appreciation. Maybe, just maybe, there was a tiny little smile, too.
“I almost can’t believe how good she is with Maddy and Kaiden,” Ophelia said quietly to her son, ignorant that Tahlia was within earshot.
Breakfast was finished with no more threats to the peace and now the family was waiting for their coats at the restaurant’s entrance. The twins had received theirs first and Tahlia was helping Maddy with a stubborn zipper. Perhaps Ophelia thoughtshe was too preoccupied to hear; in any case, Tahlia wasn’t inclined to let them know she was accidentally eavesdropping.
“And very pretty…” she continued, causing Tahlia to blush. “Don’t you think, Matt?”
“Um…” Nelson was saved from giving an answer - much to Tahlia’s unexpected disappointment - by his cell phone ringing. “I have to take this.” He quickly absconded into the lobby of the hotel, leaving both his mother amused and nanny confused.
“Where’s Matt?” Jed asked, rolling up from the restrooms with Kaiden in tow. The attendant at the restaurant’s check-in handed Jed his coat as well as Ophelia and Tahlia’s.
“On a phone call,” Ophelia replied while Jed helped her into her coat.
“For what?” Kaiden asked with a frown.
“Probably work,” Maddy answered matter-of-factly.
Kaiden was obviously displeased with that answer. “But we’re on vacation!” he exclaimed. “I thought there wasn’t any work on vacation.”
“Daddy’s always working,” his sister sighed. “It’s his…like what Mr. Hammond said about fish in water…it’s his natural state.”
“That’s not true,” Ophelia chided gently. “Work isn’t all he thinks about.”
The twins passed each other looks that were too easily understood. Tahlia cast her eyes toward where their father had gone and located his large form sitting in a lounge chair by the lobby’s giant fireplace. He was in work mode, no doubt. Scowling, tense, speaking quickly. Not a good call, then. Actually, Tahlia never saw him look happy on a business call.
“Can we go outside and throw snowballs?” Maddy asked suddenly, the group having made their way from the restaurant into the lobby. She was staring out at the thick layer of snowoutside, just waiting to be plowed through and turned into a battleground.
“Absolutely we can!” Jed took Maddy’s hand and strode off quickly for the exit. “Come on, Kaiden!”
“Are you coming?” Kaiden’s eyes widened and he looked at Tahlia.
“Yes, of course,” she said, holding her hand out to him. She turned to Ophelia. “Are you up for it?”
Ophelia laughed and shook her head. “Oh no, I think I’ll get some tea and watch. Go have fun. Perhaps,” she threw a glance at her son, “I’ll be able to convince him to join you. He needs the fun.”
Good luck, Tahlia thought, before saying a quick goodbye and running after Jed and Maddy.I don’t think he knows how to have fun anymore.
8
It was right in the midst of the all-out snowy battle that Matt Nelson appeared, surprising everyone. Especially Tahlia.
“What the…!” he skidded to a stop but wasn’t fast enough to avoid Tahlia’s throw, which had been aimed at Jed, and was hit square in the face. He froze, fists tight against his sides and eyes closed. Jed and the kids broke into peals of laughter, but Tahlia was far from joining them.
She’d just hit her mercurial, no-nonsense boss in the head with a snowball. What were the odds he’d laugh it off?
Tahlia wasn’t about to wager on them.
“Mr. Nelson? Are you okay?” she called. He hadn’t moved yet, although he’d opened his eyes and they were pointed like lasers at her. Bits of snow slowly slid down his nose. “I’m so, so sor-”
She didn’t get the chance to finish her apology, because a snowball smacked her right on the chin. Staggering back, Tahlia spluttered snow out of her mouth. Nelson had a terribly satisfied expression and another snowball waiting in his hand. How he’d managed to make two that fast was beyond Tahlia, but now it wason.
Bending down, Tahlia pulled together a pack of snow and flung it at her boss with a shout.
