Christmas on Main Collection

Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

ALLEGRA

My stomach rumbles, reminding me that it’s almost lunchtime. I glance at the clock and wonder if Van is busy. Maybe he has time to share some of his Kringle—which he still refuses to tell me where it comes from.

And if there’s time, maybe we can make out a little.

The front door opens and I glance up from my spreadsheets to see Paz, the guy who owns the store next door, enter. He’s the same man who my sister has been spending all of her free—and not-so-free—time with lately.

Normally I avoid getting involved with her dating life, but he’s so much older and she’s so young and inexperienced. I don’t want her to get hurt.

“Can I help you find something?” I ask. “Maybe a Christmas tree topper or a snow globe? Or were you here to ‘fix something’ for my sister.”

He arches a brow. “Is Aurora here?”

“She’s in the back.” I hold up my hand to stop him before he disappears into the storage room. “Look, I don’t know you or your story. You run a clean shop and you’re the best woodworker I’ve ever seen. But my sister…”

“Yes?”

I take a deep breath. “My sister is a sweet young girl—a young woman—who always sees the sunshine in everyone.” I give him a pointed look. “Even if there’s a ninety percent chance of rain.”

He gives a short nod, understanding what I’m saying without coming right out and saying it.

“I’ve had a lot of rain in my life.” He shifts from one foot to the other. “It’s been overcast at best. But your sister. Your sister broke through the clouds.”

“Well, good.” I clear my throat, feeling suddenly awkward. “Just so long as you appreciate the sunshine.”

“I do.”

“Great.” I give him a nod. “Carry on.”

I’m about to return to my computer screen when Van appears in the doorframe Paz just departed through. My heart does a little flip. “Hey.”

“I’m here for an intervention.”

The smile falls from my face. “What?”

“You need to step away from the spreadsheets and come with me.”

“But the store?—”

“Is under control. Your sister has it covered, and we need to get out of here. Now.”

From the tone of his voice, this is a hill Van is ready to die on. Who am I to question him now?

“I suppose I could take a lunch break.”

“That’s the spirit.” He hoists an oversized bag over his shoulder and takes my hand. “Let’s go.”

We’ve been in Van’s truck for almost half an hour when I cast him a curious glance. “You still aren’t going to give me any hint of where we’re going?”

“Nope.” He flashes me a smug smile. “But we’re almost there.”

“Good.” I lean back in my seat. “Because I’m hungry.”

“I promise, there’s Kringle in this for you.”

“If you’d just tell me where you get it from, I wouldn’t have to wait around for you to give it to me.”

“No way.” He shakes his head. “I like being your Kringle dealer. And hey, good news. We’re there.”

He turns onto a gravel road and parks next to a thicket of fir trees.

“Is this your farm?” I ask as he opens the door for me and helps me out.

“Yep. I didn’t know I’d have to resort to kidnapping to get you out here, but I wanted you to see it.”

My lips curve up and I glance around taking in row after row of trees in various stages of growth. “It’s beautiful.”

“Hold on. You haven’t seen anything yet.” He releases my hand and disappears behind one of the trees.

A moment later the lights flicker on the dozen or so trees closest to us. It transforms the already gorgeous place into something that can only be described as magical.

My jaw falls open.

“Well?” He asks, reappearing at my side. “What do you think?”

My heart fills with warmth as I stare between him and the trees. “It really is a magical place. Isn’t it?”

“I like to think so. I’m glad you do, too.” He takes my hand and raises it to his lips. “Your sister also sent along a bag full of ornaments.”

“She did?”

He nods. “You haven’t had a chance to decorate a tree of your own this year. I thought we could do it together.”

The warmth in my chest spreads and I turn to throw my arms around him. He sucks in a breath as I crush my mouth to his. I pour everything into the kiss, letting him know just how much I appreciate the moment he’s created for me.

He smirks when we pull apart. “I guess you like it?”

“You guessed correctly. And”—I push his back against the truck and reach for the button at the top of his jeans—“I’d like to show you just how much I do.”

He’s already groaning in approval when I drop to my knees and take him into my mouth.

Van kisses me goodbye as he drops me off in front of the store. Even though we spent the better part of the afternoon together at his farm, I can’t wait to see him again tonight after we both close up our respective shops.

I reach for the handle and frown. It’s locked. We’re supposed to be open for a couple more hours, but it’s locked.

I sigh to myself. Aurora must have decided to take a lunch break or something. I wish she would have waited until I was back. I dig into my purse to find my keys.

“Pardon me,” I deep voice calls out in a precise tone. “Are you one of the owners?”

I turn and find an older-looking gentleman in a smart suit. “I am.”

“I have been standing out here for two hours.”

Two hours? I’m going to kill Aurora. So much for everything being safe in her hands. “I’m so sorry about that. If you’ll give me a couple of minutes, I’ll have the store open. Was there anything in particular you were looking for?”

“I was looking for your store.” He stands up even taller, clutching the lapels of his suit coat. “I am Ernst Von Kleeman.”

My jaw falls open. The buyer. “Yes, hello, sir. You must be here to see the store.”

“That was my plan, but I must say I do not care for the way you do business. I will have to reconsider.”

“But—”

He turns and strides away, leaving me gaping after him. The keys in my hand are still frozen mid-air.

I hear a slight scuffle inside the store and catch a glimpse of Aurora pulling a sweater back over her head. Rage floods my veins and I scurry to unlock the door and step inside.

Paz is buckling his jeans and Aurora is fussing with her hair when I stride up to the counter.

“What’s going on here?”

Aurora casts a sidelong glance at Paz. “Well, you see?—”

“Nope. I don’t need you to fill in any blanks. I have eyes.” I wrinkle my nose. “Well, while the two of you were busy—and when you were supposed to be minding the store—our buyer came.”

Aurora and Paz share a look. He gives her hand a squeeze and leaves our shop in the direction of his. I suppose it’s good to know he isn’t a complete idiot.

“I didn’t know he was coming today,” Aurora says.

“I didn’t either, but it didn’t look professional—and he wasn’t impressed—when he came during business hours and you two were fogging up the windows.”

“Wait did he see us?”

“I don’t know.” I throw my hands in the air. “It doesn’t matter. You said you had things covered here and now you might have jeopardized the sale and everything we’ve been working for.”

“Well…” She pulls a face. “Maybe it isn’t such a bad thing if he doesn’t want to buy.”

My heart stops. “What do you mean?”

“Maybe we don’t have to sell. To him or anyone.”

“But–we–what–why.” I shake my head, trying to make her words make sense to no avail. “But this has been our plan. From the start. We make the store extra profitable and we sell it so we can get on with our lives.”

“What if this could be our life?”

“I can’t believe you’re saying this.” For once in our lives we were on the same page. We were going to sell the store. Now she changes her mind? “I… I… Wait.” We were on the same page until a certain handyman next door entered the scene. “Is this about the guy?”

“Not entirely.”

Oh… wrong answer. “I can’t. I can’t with this right now.”

I have to get out of here before I say something to her that neither of us will be able to forget.