Page 26 of Everything Christmas

“That doesn’t sound safe to me.”

“I’m used to it and espresso helps. About dinner. Can you take a break?”

The store had cleared out mostly with the dinner hour. “I think so.”

“Great. I’ll be there in ten.”

It was more like fifteen when he strode through the door of her shop in uniform.

“Let me grab my purse from the back.” After giving a few last-minute instructions to Jerry, who had just finished loading the 8ft balsam with all the trimmings into the back of the customer’s SUV, she returned to Reese. “I’m ready.”

“And I’m impressed. I’ve never been in here before. It’s amazing.” He said this while staring up at the thirty-foot tree in the center of her two-story shop. It was covered with thousands of lights and ornaments, and around the bottom were stacks of colorfully wrapped gifts—for display only—and an electric train that chugged and whistled around the track that encircled the huge tree. There was a large staircase at the far end that led up to an open second story where decorated trees lined a railing decked with lights and garland.

“Pretty cool, huh? And I get to work here every day.” Her store was her pride and joy and she beamed at his approval.

“I feel like I’ve walked into Santa’s workshop at the North Pole.”

“Yeah, sometimes I say it looks like Christmas threw up in here.” She was busy watching a woman at a glass display counter looking around as if she needed some help. “Excuse me for a minute, but duty calls.”

While helping one shopper, she was interrupted several times by other customers or employees. She adeptly handled everything calmly and efficiently, multitasking.

Finally, she was able to break away and came back to him. “Sorry about that. I’ve got a great crew, but when I’m here, they like to defer to me. I’m trying to get them out of that habit.”

“I’m really proud of you. This seems like a huge enterprise and you handle it all by yourself like a pro.”

“Not at all like the woman you’ve been bailing out of one tough spot after another.”

“That isn’t what I was implying at all. But with all you’re juggling here, at this time of year, I can see where it would be easy to let things like auto maintenance slide. Fortunately, you have me to help pitch in, now.” He draped an arm around her and hugged her close, kissing her temple affectionately. “Ready to grab something to eat? I’m starved.”

“Didn’t we just eat breakfast?”

“Hours ago. It’s almost six o’clock,” he said as he opened the door and let her precede him.

“Time sure does fly when people are buying $300 trees one after another.”

“I imagine so, but my breakfast has worn off and I’m a growing boy.”

“Still?” She eyed his broad shoulders and six feet and then some frame. “Maybe you should cut back on the fertilizer.”

“Yep, that’s definitely sass, and here I am without a wooden spoon.”

When he opened his passenger door and she moved to slide in, he swatted her backside, playfully.

“I couldn’t help it, sir. You set me up for that one.”

“I did indeed, imp.” When he got in on his side, he reached over to squeeze her hand. “You don’t have to call me sir. Although I kind of like the sound of it. Very respectful.”

“Hmph! Force of habit, I guess. My parents taught me to use sir and ma’am when talking to my elders.”

Slapping a hand over his chest, he groaned. “Ouch! You really know how to hurt a man.” Abruptly, he turned serious and gave her a sidelong glance as he started the truck. “Does the age difference really bother you?”

“Not at all. Although you often talk like you’re ancient, I was just teasing, big guy.” Merry leaned over and squeezed his rock-hard forearm. “Men my age are immature idiots. I’m really not into video games, beer pong, or belching contests.”

He snickered at that. “Reserve judgement about maturity eliminating idiocy until you meet my friends. When they come over it’s the same thing, except it’s football instead of video games and beer without the pong.”

“And the belching contests?” She laughed when he shook his head in regret. “That settles it, then, when they come over, remind me to go shopping.”

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