Page 15 of Sleigh Rides With St. Nick

"That sounds like a lot of fun."

"It is," he said."I'd certainly enjoy having your company there," he murmured, making me realise we'd been moving closer together without intending to.There was something magnetic about him that just made me want to get closer.

"I'll think about it," I said, not wanting to rush too quickly into it, especially when it felt like playing with fire.Though it wasn't technically fraternising if there were other people in the room and it wasn't a date.It still felt like it might be pushing it a little too far.

"That's fair," he said.

"So, you needed help here?"

"Ah, right.Well, I was going to wrap these toys."He gestured to a pile of boxes.

"I have a meeting at two, but I can help until then," I responded, even though I knew that I shouldn't.It was better if the two of us spentlesstime together, not more, because I was growing increasingly aware of his every movement.And yet I couldn't help myself from lingering longer.

Chapter7

NICK

The feasting hall looked just like it always had and different at the same time.It was good that I'd made bonds with some of the gods and immortals over the past century or so because now I could invite old friends and not just be saddened by the people who were no longer here to come to my Christmas feast.

It wasn't exactly the way it used to be.The feasts had merely been presided over by someone whose job it was to run the Christmas festivities for a specific castle, palace, or inn, whereas now it was more of a one-off event, but I liked hosting them, it made me feel as if I was connected to that part of my past.I might have been a toymaker for a long time, but this was also part of me.

A heavy red cloak sat around my shoulders and a crown of evergreen leaves sat on my head.It was a little less impressive when it was over a modern-day suit compared to the velvet brocade of courts centuries ago, but times changed, and if I didn't change with them then I'd be left behind, and that was something I'd never wanted.

I did one last check over the hall itself and went over to the entrance so I was ready to greet my guests.Pieter appeared beside me, his sleek suit making him look like a bit less of a spectacle than me, but over the years, he'd become as much of a host as I was of the event

The doors opened, letting in a cold burst of air, which would only make the feast inside more inviting for those who were coming in, and that was all part of what the event was about.Tonight was about a celebration of the season and everything that came with it.

The guests started making their way inside, and I greeted them all with smiles and welcomes, trying not to be too intimidated by gods who had been old before I'd even been born.It was strange to think that even though I was considered old at my age, some of the Egyptian gods were ten times my age, and they weren't the only ones.

The line didn't stop moving and chatter filled the hall behind me, but the whole time I was looking for one person, wondering if Ivy was going to accept my invitation or if she was going to let it pass her by.I didn't think I'd blame her for doing that, even if I personally wanted to see her.

My heart squeezed in response to spotting her a few people back.She'd already handed her coat in the cloakroom, revealing a low-cut deep red dress that somehow perfectly matched her lipstick.I was barely going to be able to focus on not looking at her lips when she was talking to me, even though I knew I shouldn't be thinking like that at all until our contract with Miracle Marketing Solutions was over.

She leaned in to talk to a woman with long dark hair next to her.It took me a moment to place her, but she appeared to be the same friend who threw a drink over Zeus.At least he wasn't here this evening to make things extra messy, though he'd probably already forgotten about the altercation and moved on to his next attempted conquest.

I hurried through the next few greetings, getting a confused look from Pieter in response.I ignored him.He was here to assist me, and in this case, it meant getting to talk to Ivy faster.

She smiled widely as she appeared in front of me, and I could feel my own stretching over my face in response.

"Hey," she said.

"Hi," I responded."You came."

"I did."She frowned as she looked at me."Your cloak is crooked."She reached out and adjusted it, each touch feeling like it was sending torturous pains through my heart.

"Thank you," I murmured.

"So this is what you look like when you're Captain Christmas," she joked, only just removing her hand from my chest.I missed her touch immediately.

"Something like that."

"It suits you," she said."All I need you to do now is sayho ho ho, and it'll really complete the picture."

"Oh, I'm not going to do that, I don't think I've ever saidho ho ho."

"Disappointing, but I'll live even if you don't."She was still standing closer to me than she should, and I thought back to all of the times in the past week when we'd been in the same room.There was a gravity around her that pulled me closer and didn't want to let me go.

"I'm glad to hear it," I said, remembering that I should talk rather than allow myself to get completely lost in my thoughts.

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