Page 7 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
‘It’s on the house.’
Hefrowned at me. ‘You can’t do that.’
‘Yes, I can. It’s my family’s business and it’s one wreath. Don’t worry. It’s not going to bankrupt us.’
‘So you’re Dan’s little sister?’
I laughed. ‘It’s a long time since I’ve been called anyone’s little sister, but I guess technically, yes.’
He gave a brief head tilt. ‘You are kind of little compared to your brothers.’
He had a point. I was.
Cal madean attempt to reach for his wallet again. ‘I really would feel happier if I paid for this, you know. You’ve already done too much for free.’ He nodded at his son’s toy.
I shook my head. ‘Honestly, it made a nice change to do something different for a few minutes. You two brightened up my day so take the wreath as payment for that, if you like.’
Cal studied me for a moment, that gaze envelopingme once more. ‘I’m not going to win on this, am I?’
I shook my head. ‘Nope.’
‘Xander did say you were a force to be reckoned with at times.’
‘You mustn’t believe everything Xander says.’
‘So I’m also not to believe that you head-butted a kid much bigger than you who was bullying Giselle at school.’
I cleared my throat. ‘I’d like to point out that we were seven and that I don’t condone violence.But we’d already tried reasoning with him. And have you ever seen Giselle cry? Even back then she was so feminine and delicate. It’s heartbreaking! I did what I had to.’
‘Fair enough. I also heard that the kid you nutted grew up to be the local policeman?’
I laughed. ‘Oh, you do know all the gossip, don’t you? Yes, he did. And he grew into a lovely man with a lovely family who totally agreesnow that he was being a little … pain.’ I checked myself in time and received a grin in return that did nothing to help cool me in the slightest. ‘He says now that I was quite right to do what I did.’
‘So you don’t get speeding tickets even when you’re parked then, or anything like that?’
‘No. Thankfully!’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’
‘Right. I’d better get this little tyke home.’ Cal bent and liftedthe boxes and then as he approached George started bending his knees.
‘You’re going to drop the lot in a minute,’ I said, coming up behind him. ‘Here, I’ve got plenty of practice ferrying sleeping nephews and nieces to cars. I’ll bring him for you.’
‘No.’ His reply was so sharp that I actually took a step back. Cal turned a little more. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean it come out like that.’
I pastedon a smile, or at least half a one, and shrugged. ‘No problem. I was just trying to help.’
‘Yeah. I know.’ He ran a hand through the dark hair. ‘I know you were.’
‘Let me take the boxes then.’ I bent my knees to where he’d now put the purchases on the floor.
‘No, they’re pretty heavy.’
I blew out a sigh and stood, raising my eyes to him. ‘OK. Look. One, I’m stronger than I look and two, oneway or the other you’re going to have to either leave George here whilst you take the boxes or leave him in the car whilst you come back and get them, and I don’t think you want to do either.’
His lack of reply was enough.
‘OK. So, you bring your son and I’ll bring these.’ I bent and scooped up the boxes, jiggled them into a better position, and peered around the side of the pile to see whereI was going.
