Page 29 of Hiding for the Holidays
“You need a winter coat,” Leo says, looking down at me as we walk to the doors.
“This is fine with a sweater for now,” I say, pulling my coat tighter around me.
He just grunts as he holds the door open for me.
Forty minutes later we’re walking out with a cart full of lights, decorations and a Christmas tree. I can’t keep the grin off my face.
I might actually be able to get into the Christmas spirit after all!
I think about the Christmas train and realize I have to work there again tonight. Maybe I could quit? But as a cold wind whips through the parking lot, I decide if I work a couple more shifts after today, I could buy myself a nice winter jacket, one that will keep me warm right through to April.
“We’re going to take a detour; I want to show you something,” Leo says as he pulls onto the road.
I nod and watch out the window as a few snowflakes start to fall. “It’s snowing!” Isay with excitement.
“That makes it the perfect day for getting Christmas decorations,” Leo says, smiling over at me when I look at him.
“What does Leo stand for?” I ask curiously.
He looks surprised at my change of topic but then grins as he watches the road. “Take a guess.”
“Hmm.” I tap my chin as I consider it.
“Leopold?”
“Nope, try again?”
“Leonardo?”
“That’s the one,” he says with a smile.
“Really? You don’t look Italian.”
“I’m not; my mom just liked the name.”
“You don’t have a brother called Donatello, do you?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “No, but I do have a brother called Callum.”
My head whips in his direction. “Callum? As in…”
I trail off, and he nods his head. “Yeah, that idiot is my brother. Sorry about him earlier, by the way.” He rubs a hand down the back of his head, looking a little uncomfortable.
“That’s okay.”
“No, he crossed a line. But he was doing it to get a rise out of me.”
I bite my lip to stop myself from asking why that would get him upset. If it’s not the answer I want, if it’s not because he likes me, then I don’t think I want to know. And if it is that, it makes it that much harder to keep my distance from him. Which is something I have to do, both because he’s my boss and because my life is still a mess.
I still have to figure out how to make sure Scott isn’t looking for me and how to reclaim my name. I know I can’t live as Clara Wolf forever.
Leo turns into the parking lot of a small plaza I haven’t seenbefore. “What are we doing here?” I ask as I unbuckle my seat belt.
“One sec,” he says, jumping out of the truck and jogging round to my side just as I swing my door open. He offers me his hand and helps me climb down.
“Thanks,” I say with a smile, and he drops my hand but moves it to my lower back as he motions towards the closest store. “Sugar Pine Bakery,” I read as we step up to the door and Leo pulls it open, gesturing for me to go in first.
As we step inside, I’m hit with the smells of cinnamon, peppermint and all things Christmas. The bakery is decked out with Christmas lights, garland and some hanging paper snowflakes above us.
