Page 42 of The Naughty Or Nice Clause

“Fine. I won’t pry any more. Until we’re back on solid ground, anyway,” she called over her shoulder, making her way back to the cabin and leaving him to follow.

Chapter Seventeen

ARGYLE WAS WAITING at the house to take them to the workshop; Mrs Klaus stood with him in her dressing gown and curlers, looking rather perplexed. Mason called out to her, and her shoulders relaxed.

“You’ve had your mother awfully worried,” Argyle said when they reached the sleigh, and Lyla saw the glint of humour in his eyes.

“Where have you been? We’ve been worried sick!” Mrs Klaus reached for Lyla and turned her around, making sure she was okay.

“I’m okay, there’s no need to worry,” Lyla reassured her, and Mrs Klaus tutted.

“Running off into the forest! You could have been killed. Those pesky wolves could have gobbled you up.”

“Don’t worry, Mum, I got to her before she became dinner,” Mason interjected.

“Kevin told me about the fight. You shouldn’t have yelled at her – she did a great job on the office!” Mrs Klaus scolded him, slapping his arm.

He winced, and his mother’s fretting turned to concern. She took her son’s hand, rolling up the sleeve to reveal the bandage. Lyla watched Mason let her examine the wound without any fuss or complaint. She figured Mrs Klaus wasn’t a woman to say no to.

“You were scratched? Got to her in time – just in time to put yourself in danger.” Mrs Klaus dropped his arm.

“Bitten, but Lyla cleaned me up in the cabin. We should really do it up. Some renovation and we could all go up together in the future,” Mason said.

Mrs Klaus’s eyes widened. “If you’d like to, we can. Lou hasn’t visited it in years; I don’t think Sara has even seen it. It’s been a while since we were all up there,” she said with a hopeful smile.

Lyla bit her lip, worrying that Mason was giving her false hope if he intended to leave after the season. She could see how much Mrs Klaus had missed her son, and she would be hurt enough when their fake engagement came to an end.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have run off. I couldn’t let Jones go,” she said, clutching him close to her chest.

“I would have probably done the same, but next time don’t go off alone,” Mrs Klaus said sympathetically as the cat popped his head out from Lyla’s jacket. “Naughty boy, running off and causing trouble. Let’s get you some food.” Mrs Klaus took him from Lyla and cradled him in her arms. “I told Argyle you’re taking Lyla to the workshop – about time she saw it,” she added to Mason, leaving them with the sleigh.

“Come on, hop in. No point in arguing with her,” Argyle said, opening the door for them.

Lyla wasn’t sure how she felt about seeing the workshop. As much as she longed for answers, to know more about Mason and where he came from, she wondered if the truth would ruin the magic of Christmas.Was blissful ignorance better, so that when she returned to reality, her life would go on unaltered?I could tell the council I’ve changed my mind and have them wipe my memory. Or, we play out our engagement and leave once the season ends, then I can keep my memories of this magical place.She wasn’t sure which was better, and she feared she wouldn’t know until it was too late.

But there was no time for doubts; Mason shoved her into the sleigh, stating that they were going to be late, and he wanted to catch the foreman before he left.

They made the trip to the far end of the village in silence. Lyla needed some peace after all that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. She glanced at Mason, talking away to Argyle about finding her ring, and wondered if her feelings for him would continue back in the office.Is it simply the magic of Yule pulling us together?

The sleigh diverged onto a tree-crowded path and was met with a set of golden gates, which opened upon their arrival, just as the gates of Mason’s home had on their first night. This time Lyla knew better than to wonder how. A warehouse made of logs greeted them. Lyla raised her hand as she noticed gold speckles drifting through the air and followed them to their source: a large chimney on the roof, pumping out the gold dust. She reached up to catch it. Gold coated her hand as the sleigh reached the doors to the workshop. She frowned at Mason when it disappeared from her skin.

“All answers will come in time,” he said before she could ask.

She closed her mouth and followed him out of the sleigh. It was already starting to snow again, so she was grateful to go inside quickly, even if her stomach was in knots about what she would find.

“Good morning, Mr Klaus,” a worker in red overalls said, holding the door for them. Lyla guessed he must be in his late sixties. He offered Lyla a polite smile, and she realised she was staring.

“Morning, Ian – how is the count going?” Mason asked. “The foreman,” he added to Lyla in a whisper as Ian checked over the clipboard in his hand.

“Kevin dropped off the List this morning, so we should have enough Dust for everyone now that we have the final count,” Ian told them.

Dust? List?Lyla tried not to appear as though she had no idea what he was talking about – and suddenly it clicked. She remembered how angry Mason had been when he’d discovered she had moved the list. Apparently without it, they couldn’t work.

Of course they couldn’t work. It’s the freaking Naughty or Nice list!Her own conscience cursed her. She understood his anger better now, though she hoped never to see him so fierce again. They had already lost Mr Klaus; the thought of losing the list was sure to have furthered their pain immeasurably.

“Glad to hear we’re back on track. Is Lou in?” Mason asked.

Ian shook his head. “She was here through the night, making sure the machines kept shuffling. Sent her back before dawn.”

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