Father Christmas (Kringle & Co #4)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

A ll Mindy could hear was the ringing of bells. All she saw were red bows tied into loopy hearts. All she saw were lush, kissable lips covered by the silver scruff of the hottest Santa she had ever seen in her life.

Not once in her life had she ever admitted to having a crush on Old Saint Nick. Like an actual dream about him at night, touch herself in a peppermint scented bubble bath, crush on Santa Claus. Noel Kringle justified every single one of her naughty dreams about the man with the bag.

Her knees were a bit wobbly as she came to stand and move toward the door of Noel's office. She could only hope she hadn't left a puddle there. A quick glance down showed just the tiniest streak from where her panties had made contact with the leather of the seat. She angled her body in front of the chair so he wouldn't see it as he passed by to open his office door for her.

She smoothed her sweater down and took a deep breath as she followed him. His shoulders were definitely broad enough to hold a large bag of toys. He smelled of pine, her favorite scent next to peppermint. She had no idea how she'd nailed the interview when she was thinking inappropriate thoughts about her new boss the entire time.

"If you just head down the hall, they'll get you fitted for your costume tonight."

"Yes, Santa—I mean, Mr. Kringle."

"I told you to call me Noel."

"Right. Noel. Yes, Noel. I'll get right on that."

Mindy hurried away on quick feet. She had no idea how she was going to handle being this man's elf helper tonight. It was too much like her naughtiest Christmas fantasy. But she wanted this job. She needed this job. To spend three hundred sixty-five days enmeshed in her favorite holiday. It was a dream come true.

The entire building was decked out in festive splendor, a true homage to the magic of Christmas. Twinkling fairy lights adorned every wall, casting a warm, inviting glow throughout the space. Garlands of pine dotted with red berries and silver baubles framed the doorways and windows, filling the air with the fresh scent of evergreen.

The reception area was transformed into Santa's workshop. A large Christmas tree stood proudly in the center, its branches heavy with an eclectic mix of ornaments—everything from classic glass baubles to handmade crafts, each telling its own story. Underneath the tree, a model train chugged merrily along its tracks, weaving through a miniature snowy village complete with tiny ice skaters and carolers.

Mindy passed a life-sized gingerbread house display, complete with candy cane pillars and frosting details that looked almost too real to be just decorations. The smell of cinnamon and nutmeg wafted through the air, adding to the enchantment.

The fitting room was a cozy little space with walls painted to resemble a snowy landscape, complete with softly falling snowflakes. In the corner, a crackling fireplace (albeit an electric one) added to the snug ambiance, and stockings hung from the mantel, each embroidered with names of past and present employees who had played Santa's elves over the years.

A rack of elf costumes awaited her, each one a vibrant combination of red and green with jingling bells and gold trim. Mindy ran her fingers over the soft velvet fabric, her excitement building.

A petite young woman with purple hair appeared from behind a corner. She shoved her glasses up her nose and smiled brightly at Mindy. "You must be Noel's new elf."

"That's me."

"You're a shapely one," she said, giving Mindy a once-twice-thrice-over.

Mindy wasn't sure how to respond to that.

"I'm Cin."

"Sin?"

"Short for Cinnamon. Our parents went overboard with the Christmas themes."

"Your parents?"

"I'm Noel's sister."

Cin handed her one of the costumes and then indicated one of the changing rooms. Once behind the partition, Mindy noted there wasn't much to the outfit. But what was there was breathtaking. She marveled at the detail—the embroidered snowflakes, the jingling bells on the cuffs, and the snug fit that made her feel like she was stepping straight into a fairy tale.

"You look good enough to eat," Cin said as Mindy came out. "You won't make a friend of Micah's wife."

"Who’s Micah?"

"The Santa you'll be working with tonight."

"I'm working with Noel."

Cin's eyes went wide. Then her grin spread to match. "Noel's donning a suit? Hmmm…"

"He doesn't normally perform as Santa?"

"Not in a while."

"Maybe he just wants to show the new girl the ropes?"

"Yeah, I'll bet it’s something like that."

Mindy stood in front of a full-length mirror, the elf costume fitting her snugly but with enough room for Cin to make the necessary adjustments. Cin bustled around her with a pincushion on her wrist and a measuring tape draped around her neck. Soft Christmas music played in the background, setting a cheerful yet calming atmosphere.

Cin knelt to adjust the hem of Mindy's costume, pinning it up carefully. "We want this to be just right. You need to be able to move around easily tonight."

Mindy watched in the mirror as Cin worked her magic. The rich green velvet with red and gold accents sparkled under the soft lighting. Cin adjusted the waistline, tucking and pinning the fabric to create a more flattering silhouette.

She wondered what Noel would think. Then immediately quashed those thoughts. She had to remind herself to stay professional. This job was perfect for her—working in a place that celebrated Christmas so wholeheartedly was a dream come true. She couldn't let her crush on Noel jeopardize that.