Page 50 of Miss Humbug
“I have plans for us,” I announced once Ethan came within earshot.
He had on his navy blue work coat, this time with a red hooded sweatshirt beneath it. Those precious biceps were all covered up. “Yeah? Are we going to see Santa?”
My smile froze. “What? How did you—did someone tell you?”
Confusion took over. “Tell me what? I was joking about Santa.”
Excitement pulsed through me. “Oh, you’re going to love this. We’re going tobeSanta.”
Confusion continued. “I’m sorry, what? Aren’t we grabbing dinner?”
That had been the plan until a happy distraction surfaced in the form of Sheree Bolden from the children’s respite center. She’d called in the favor I’d so naively offered. I’d left it pretty open about what I’d been willing to help with.
I hadn’t been joking about the Santa. I wish I had. But this task was perfect for Ethan. Besides, no way would I do this by myself. “The respite center’s annual holiday event needs a last-minute volunteer after a call-in. So, I said yes.”
“TobeingSanta?” Ethan set aside his work gloves at the pay station counter. “Marlowe, playing Santa is serious business. You can’t justbeSanta.”
“I’m not going to be anything. I told them you’d do it.”
He shook his head. “Walt Jurek plays Santa. For everything in town and two towns over. He owns a professional grade St. Nicolas suit and hires a personal stylist for maintaining his white beard.”
“Look, the respite place called for help and mentioned costumes. Maybe I assumed it was Santa?” Clearly out of my depth here.
He cracked a smile. “You have serious avoidance issues. I get it. If the respite center needs help, I’m in. We better head out.”
We made it to the center in good time despite a traffic delay leaving town. More oglers to the flashy Christmas lights house, I’d guess. Ethan, to his credit, did not bring up our kiss or the fact I’d trapped him into entertaining children for the night. I would owe him big-time for this.
As it turned out, they had Santa covered. Like Ethan said, playing Santa was no simple task to be parceled out to an unofficial volunteer’s fake boyfriend.
No, we would get to play elves. That’s right—we.
“We’re supposed to wear these?” I held up a green hat with snow white trim and a little ball on the end. It matched a green and white full body jumpsuit. All in a plush, emerald velveteen.
“The elf suits were donated.” Sheree gestured toward a box labeled Holiday Costumes. “That’s what you get for living in a town obsessed with Christmas. Wearing the suit is optional. The hat we prefer you wear. The main job will be assisting Santa and the staff with the donated gifts.”
“Oh, I’m wearing the suit.” Ethan looked as happy as the kids who’d be gifted presents in a half hour. “And so are you,” he told me.
I didn’t fight it. After all, the suits were right here. I could manage an evening dressed like an elf to entertain some kids.
And I’d dragged Ethan here. I couldn’t let him face elf awareness on his own.
Minutes later, I emerged from the women’s bathroom fully dressed in my costume. Technically it fit. A little saggy on the backside and a little slouchy at the ankles. Green wasn’t exactly my best color, what choice did I have.
Ethan appeared a moment later from the men’s room. He grinned ear to ear. “Check this out. It’s got pockets!”
My own smile froze. I wasn’t sure what I expected. An emerald green velveteen jumpsuit was a whole lot of look. Probably not a look many guys intentionally went for. But unlike me, where my suit bunched and sagged in odd places, Ethan’s fit snugly across his chest and shoulders and appeared to have an almost tailored fit. He wore that elf suit like a boss.
Ethan as a hot boss elf?Yes, please. A righthand man to Santa never looked so good. My cheeks flamed. How was it I found a Christmas elf so hot?
No. I found Ethan hot. Hot in the kitchen, and hot as an elf. I was done for.
“Come on. I don’t lookthatbad do I?” He shifted his stance, causing the bells to jingle on his matching green boot covers.
“You look…great,” I choked out. Did he understand the agony his sexy elf self caused me? We were here to serve children!
He winked at me. Winked! “Let’s roll.”
We joined the volunteers, including the hired Santa with a genuine white beard.
