Page 3 of Once Upon a Christmas
“Not if I can help it,” he answered. “Gabe needed to spend a couple of days with his family before we travel to somewhere with much better weather for the remainder of the holidays.”
“Oh?” He must think her the densest woman he’d ever met. “I see.” She nodded to the Santa cup in his hand. “Are you here for some cocoa?”
He stared down at the mug as if he found it offensive. “I’ve had several cups. If I drink any more I’ll turn into a chocolate bar.”
She’d bet he would taste yummy too. Holly nearly licked her lips at the thought of taking a bite out of him. Well, not literally, but definitely in a more intimate fashion. She had to clear those thoughts from her head. He wasn’t for her. Nicholas hated Kismet Bay and she’d never leave this town. It was her life. “That’s too bad. Serendipity Lane has the best cocoa in town.”
“That sure of it are you?” His lips tilted upward into a sensual smile. “Do you have to stay here or can you walk with me. Where is the owner?” He glanced around the shop. “Ask them for a break or to let you off early.”
She wanted to say yes, but she couldn’t leave Ivy alone. It also irritated her that he didn’t believe she could own the shop. She was only twenty three, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be a responsible business owner. He was probably four or five years older than her. He seemed close to Gabriel’s age.
“I’m afraid not.” Holly shook her head. “She’s a slave driver.”
“That’s too bad we could have had some fun.” His smile turned into a flat line. “If you point me in her direction I might be able to charm her into letting you off.”
“That’s not possible,” she told him. “If it were I’d have already said yes.”
“What?” He stared at her in confusion and then he shook his head. “I see. You own the place.”
She nodded. “My sister and I do.” She pointed across the room. Ivy had finally returned and she didn’t look too happy. “Ivy.”
“Maybe later then.” He stared at Ivy and it burned her that he seemed to have turned his interest toward her. Was the man that fickle? Oh well, she didn’t need him anyway… She left him alone and started to work behind the counter. Holly had better things to do than daydream about a man she couldn’t have.
Chapter 4
Nicholas had blundered badly with Holly. He did want to spend some time with her and decided to wait until they closed Serendipity Lane for the day. Their hours had been displayed in the front window and they wouldn’t be open past five o’clock. That gave him a couple of hours to kill and he used that time wisely. He went into the local flower shop and asked if they were acquainted with Holly—and of course they were. Gabriel was right. The town was full of Stranges. Since they were Holly’s family it was easy enough to discover her favorite flower and order a couple dozen of them. Then he went into Grape Flavors for a bottle of wine. His luck held out there too and he was able to pick up some of her favorites there too. He went to Witch’s Brew, and struck a deal with Tristan Scott—who owned the coffee shop with Holly’s cousin Esmeralda. Witch’s Brew closed an hour before Serendipity Lane did for the day and he was able to pay for the use of the coffee shop. Nicholas set everything up to surprise her. All he needed was someone to arrange for her to stop in. That came from a surprising source.
“I’ll stop into Serendipity and tell her Esmeralda needs her assistance over here.” He winked at Nicholas. “When it comes to the Strange women you’ll need all the help you can get. Esme has already left for the day. She has a hot date of her own later.”
“Does that bother you?” Nicholas asked.
“No,” he said as he shook his head. “We’re friends nothing more. A different Strange has a hold of my heart. One day she’ll return. They always do.”
Nicholas frowned. “What makes you so certain?”
“This town calls to them. They make it what it is. I can’t explain it exactly.” He paused for a moment and then continued, “It’s almost like magic. Anything can happen and sometimes when you least expect it to. I can’t tell you how many times the love bug has hit people here. It’s almost as if this town was created to bring lovers together.” He shook his head. “But maybe that’s wishful thinking on my part. I have to believe or I’ll have lost the one I love forever.”
“Who is it?” He didn’t think it was Holly because Tristan never would have helped him otherwise. Nicholas had met several Stranges in the past few hours. None of them could be Tristan’s love either. They all owned businesses in town. The way Tristan spoke of his lady love she’d left town and didn’t look back.
“Holly’s twin sister—Sage.”
Something about that bothered him. Would he make a play for Holly if he couldn’t have Sage? If they were twins… “Where did she go?”
“She’s in the big city running an event planning business. She’s making a name for herself there. Sage is the one Strange that had no desire to make her stamp on Kismet Bay. The only thing she has in common with any of them is the color of her hair. Otherwise she doesn’t fit in.”
“Her and Holly don’t look alike?”
Tristan shook his head. “No they’re not identical.”
For some reason that relieved Nicholas. He wanted Holly all to himself and he didn’t like the idea that she was similar to anyone else. She was… He frowned as his thoughts turned possessive. In that moment only one word came to mind for him regarding Holly.Mine.
“Thanks for helping me. I appreciate it.”
“It’s nothing.” Tristan finished closing the counter and restoring everything. He handed Nicholas a set of keys. “Make sure you lock up when you’re done. Give the keys to Holly and I’ll retrieve them from her at Serendipity Lane. Esmeralda is opening tomorrow so I don’t need them right away.”
Nicholas had never met a group of people so trusting. Maybe there was something to this small town life… Tristan barely knew him and he was giving him the keys to his business. Why would he do that with a virtual stranger? “You can trust me.”
“I know,” he said cryptically. “Otherwise I’d have tossed you out as soon as you asked for my help. As I said… Kismet is magic. You’ll see.”
