Page 6 of A Billionaire for Christmas
The two men moved away, but she noted they didn’t leave the area. Instead they helped themselves to the coffee she’d brewed before everything had gone wrong.
Normally her parents would be there dressed in costumes like the one she wore. Her mother had amassed quite a collection over the years and made it part of the tree-buying experience along with coffee and cocoa.
Sara had taken on the job alone, confident it couldn’t bethathard if her aging parents could handle it. After all she’d navigated corporate boardrooms and the messy bar scenes where the majority of business negotiations had taken place. Selling Christmas trees to tourists and locals? She’d done it as a teenager—with her parents—but she was an adult now.Pfftt. Easy, right?
“You had a robbery?”
Yeah, not so easy at all.
ChapterFour
That’s a lot of trees, boss,” Axel said as they sipped the surprisingly good coffee provided.
There was a sign listing the prices for drinks on the table, and Rhys dipped into his wallet again only to remember he’d given his cash to the beautifulraccoon.
“I got it, boss,” Axel said, stuffing some bills into the box before picking up his coffee again.
Rhys smirked at the curiosity evident in Axel’s tone, amused that he could still manage to surprise his bodyguard on occasion. “Earlier today, my mother pointed out that the entire resort should be decorated for the holidays by now. They won’t be wasted.”
“I’ve heard people donate real trees afterwards, to help with the dunes and erosion,” Axel offered.
Rhys tucked that bit of information into the back of his mind and made a mental note to have his PA look into it, since it would make for easy disposal while aiding the environment.
The woman—Sara—talked to the police and gave them what information she could. He blatantly eavesdropped, picking up whatever bits she revealed, all the while watching her in her ridiculous costume. Parents’ tree lot,eightyyears of service to the island, father with mother at a hospital after a bad car accident. Mostly cash in the box that had been stolen.
A low sound left Rhys at her story, and the sound drew her attention to him momentarily. Even in the dim light of the many bulbs draped throughout the lot, he was able to make out the flush rising into her cheeks now that she’d removed her mask to speak to the police.
The officers left cards with contact information, and Sara offered them a free cup of hot coffee for the road. The two accepted it gratefully and approached the table.
Rhys dipped his head in greeting before sidling away, hoping they didn’t recognize him and call him out. He liked the fact Sara wasn’t able to identify him just yet.
“Sorry about that,” she said. “Did you need something else?”
Rhys took a look around and frowned. Carolina Cove was packed with people spending Christmas and New Years at the coast, but it was getting late, and this stretch of the island—while perfect for a pop-up tree lot—was isolated. He glanced at the tiny camper painted bright Christmas red and frowned. “Is that where you sleep?”
He didn’t like the thought of that. Not at all.
“Glamping all the way,” she said in a wry tone that fell short of a sarcastic version of the holiday song. “It’s the only way to keep an eye on inventory. Not that that’s worked out so well for me today.”
He frowned at her before sending a glance toward Axel and back again. “You should go home tonight. If the trees get stolen, I’ll take the hit.”
Her eyes widened a bit. “Uh, no, it’s fine.”
“You don’t live nearby? You mentioned Raleigh. Is that where you live?”
She had a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks, inky dark hair, and ridiculously bright green eyes that drew him like a siren to the depths of the sea. Rhys couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so drawn to someone—especially someone dressed as a raccoon.
“I used to but— You know, don’t worry about me. I’m fine here. And unfortunately we lose a few trees every year to theft. First time for the cashbox, though.”
He frowned at the camper. “I assume it locks from the inside? Do you have some form of personal protection?”
Without being asked, Axel moved behind the table to the camper and opened the door.
“Hey!”
Rhys and Sara watched as Axel took in the lock with a frowning look. “Not much of one. But it does lock,” the man grumbled with a shake of his head.
“Yeah, it does, and that’s none of your business.” Sara stomped over and slammed the camper door shut, raccoon tail swishing behind her as she glared up at the bodyguard. “Who are you again?”
