Here Comes Santa Paws (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

25. Elias

Chapter 25

Elias

“You all have been amazing today. Thank you!” I smiled gratefully at the volunteers packing up from preparing decorations for the shelter’s tree at the Christmas Tree Festival.

All but Nancy said their goodbyes and promised to check out the tree once the festival opened. I needed to go decorate the tree, and after I finished, I’d head to the Christmas Cocoa Social at Jolly Java as a reward. I’d missed the place and was glad the town wasn’t boycotting it anymore.

I went to my office to check my email one more time for any word about the emergency grant funding. I was disappointed to find nothing waiting in my inbox, so I logged out of my computer and added a couple of things to my to-do list for tomorrow.

The front doorbell buzzed, startling me. I was glad I’d had that installed to alert me when someone came through the front door in case all our volunteers were back with the animals or I was alone in my office.

My heart skipped a beat when I glanced at my security camera monitor and saw Roman lingering in the lobby. A vivid image flashed in my mind of an alternate version of my life where Roman swung by after work to hang out with me while letting the dogs play before I left for the night. Those fantasies were dangerous because I liked them way too much.

I collected my belongings and walked to the front. En route, I reminded myself I was supposed to be keeping my emotions in check, not doing mental cartwheels at his presence.

Ever since he’d told me about the job interview, I’d been trying to remind myself that getting more attached would lead to deeper heartache. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that whatever I had going on with Roman was casual, nothing was casual about my feelings.

I smiled wide when I turned the corner and saw Roman in the flesh. He wore a camel Carhartt jacket, scrubs pulled tight over his thick thighs, and black sneakers.

“This is a pleasant surprise.”

Roman turned from the adoption success photo wall to face me. His lips curved into a closed-mouth smile that I’d learned was the equivalent of one of my toothy ones.

I pulled him into a hug—taking advantage of us being alone in the small lobby. He brushed a kiss on my cheek.

“Hello, Roman. It’s good to see you again,” Nancy said, approaching.

I pulled back and ignored the burn in my cheeks at her arrival.

“Hi, Nancy.”

Nancy went in for a hug too, and he stared at me, comically wide-eyed, over her shoulder.

“To what do we owe this lovely surprise?” Nancy asked before releasing him.

“I just left an appointment with Jim, and he asked me to bring this by on my way home.” Roman lifted a bag I hadn’t noticed.

Nancy’s eyes danced knowingly. I narrowed my own at her.

“What is it?”

“You’ll have to open it and see.” She bounced on her toes.

I took the bag from Roman’s outstretched hand and set it on the counter. After removing the loose tissue paper, I pulled out a nondescript box. The flaps had been folded closed, so it only took moments to open the box and remove something wrapped in thin foam. I peeled that away to find an adorable Christmas tree topper of several illustrated dogs and cats with halos. It was so cute.

“Is this for our shelter tree?” I looked between Roman and Nancy.

Nancy squeezed my arm. “It is. It’s perfect to represent our shelter animals, isn’t it? I came across it online and your grandfather insisted on ordering it.”

I started to wrap the topper back up, but Nancy took over. When her attention was elsewhere, I glanced at Roman and waggled my eyebrows. His lips slid to one side in a teasing smile.

“I don’t know what a shelter tree is, but I’m guessing it’s for the festival?” Roman asked as we watched Nancy tuck the topper box into a bag with other tree decorations.

“Isn’t everything this time of year?” Nancy’s laugh was bright.

“Local businesses and organizations decorate donated trees set up in the museum. People can buy tokens and vote for their favorites, and all the money raised goes to the Holiday Hope Foundation.”

“That’s interesting.”

An improvement over his outright disdain for all things festive.

“I’m heading over to decorate our tree now because the event starts tomorrow.”

“Want some help?”

There was nothing subtle about Nancy’s smile.

“Sure. I’d love that.” I smiled as Roman immediately went into action and loaded his arms with the decoration bags.

Nancy winked at me. “I’ll leave you boys to it. After I finish locking up, I’ll take Jim some dinner. I’m sure he’s hungry after PT.”

Roman caught my eye, and I smiled knowingly. I was glad to see Gramps and Nancy finding their way to each other. I adored her and knew she’d treat Gramps well.

When we reached the Christmas Falls Festival Museum, I wheeled a wagon full of decorations into Festival Hall. A volunteer led us to the shelter’s tree.

“Isn’t this where we went for the Arts and Crafts Fair?” Roman asked as he looked around the quiet room full of tall pines.

“It is. Looks different in here, huh?”

Without the crowds, live music, and tables, it resembled a festive forest with twinkle lights sparkling from half the trees. We weren’t the only ones decorating at the last minute because the other half of the trees were in varied stages of decoration. I couldn’t wait to come back this weekend and see them all in their shining glory.

“How do we start?” He shoved his hands in his coat pockets and rocked back on his heels. “You’ll have to teach me. I don’t have a decorating bone in my body.”

I’d bent over to rummage through the bags to find the lights, but I paused at his words. “I beg to differ. Your home is tastefully decorated.”

“Let me clarify. A festive decorating bone.”

I straightened and closed the two steps between us, stretching to whisper in his ear so the bank employees hanging fake cash ornaments with Santa’s face on the tree next to us couldn’t hear. “I could put a festive bone in your body.”

Roman licked his lips. “You’re playing with fire.”

I blinked innocently at him. “Let’s get this tree gussied up.” I began to unwind a ball of lights.

We wrapped the tree in soft white twinkle lights and a garland of large bone-shaped off-white beads Nancy had found on some holiday decor website full of everything under the sun.

“Time for ornaments.” I pulled out the first shoebox of ornaments and lifted the lid.

Roman reached for one and held it gently in his thick fingers. “Is this a pawprint of one of the shelter animals?”

“It is.” I moved to stand next to him. “Volunteers made salt dough and captured prints from as many animals as possible. The ones that wouldn’t be distressed by it, anyway. Nancy took them home to bake them in the oven to set, then brought them back today where they covered the prints with green or red glitter.”

Roman traced his thumb over Prancer’s name, which Nancy had hand-lettered in a gold paint pen. I flipped it over in his hand.

“Another volunteer made these labels with basic details about the animal the print belongs to. The QR code takes them to the adoption page on the shelter website.”

Roman’s closed-mouth smile I’d grown addicted to ticked up. “You’re brilliant.”

His praise made my cheeks burn. “My team is. I just know when to listen to good ideas.”

Roman’s attention turned to me. There was something unreadable in his eyes. “I’m impressed by you. Your ideas or your ability to say yes—it doesn’t matter. The shelter is in great hands with you.”

His intense gaze lingered on me for several more moments before he looked back at the ornament. He made a brief humming sound and then hung it on the tree.

We chatted and teased each other while we finished the tree. Decorating with Roman was way more fun than if I’d done it by myself. When the bags were empty, we stood back and took in the finished product. The glitter on the ornaments sparkled in the twinkle lights, and the tree topper capped off the vision perfectly. The tree was festive with a warm flair unique to our shelter and its mission.

I turned to Roman. “Can I thank you with some cocoa?”

“I can’t say no to cocoa.” Then he mumbled something that sounded a lot like, “Can’t say no to you either.”

ROMAN

Elias and I entered Jolly Java, which was bustling with coffee and cocoa drinkers. The stools along the bar running the length of the picture window were full, and a few people lined up at the coffee bar on one side of the café.

“This place is busy.”

“It is.” Elias caught my eye. “I’m glad we’re not boycotting it anymore. I missed it.” He took in the space as we joined the line. “It looks nice in here. Updated.”

“I thought the town was rioting over the changes.” After reviewing the specials board, my mouth salivated over the fresh pastries in the case.

Elias shrugged. “As far as I know, things have settled. It’s good to see the place lively again.”

He puckered his lips as he studied the available pastries. They begged to be kissed, but this wasn’t the time or place. Everyone knew Elias Rocha, and kissing him in a crowded coffee shop would send a statement I couldn’t back up in good conscience. Not when I had more news to tell him. My gut twisted over the conversation to come.

“Do you want to grab us a table while I get drinks? What do you want in your cocoa?”

“No cocoa for me, but the marzipan latte looks good.”

Elias stared at me like I’d said the Grinch had been on to something. “Blasphemy.”

“Found the limit to my acceptable level of Scroogeness, huh?” I couldn’t help my grin.

“But it’s a cocoa social .”

My grin grew as I shrugged. “What? I like chocolate enough, but not in my drinks. And all those marshmallows get in the way.”

He studied me for a moment, then granted me a single nod. “Fair enough.”

With a shake of my head, I scanned the place for an open table and spotted one on the far side of the room. Elias’s table luck strikes again.

Before Elias wiggled his way into my world, I would’ve avoided this type of event like the plague. A room filled with people I didn’t know and Christmas music playing? Hard pass. At best, I would’ve kept my head down and grabbed a coffee to go.

He took all social pressure off me, which was the opposite of what I would expect around someone like him. I thought I’d feel on display, but once again, I was wrong.

Elias returned with an over-the-top concoction that belonged in Home Alone once the kid had full access to the kitchen. I couldn’t even see the cocoa in Elias’s cup because of the inch of whipped cream and red-and-green sprinkles filling every nook and cranny between the pile of marshmallows.

“Is there any cocoa in there, or is the cup full of whipped cream?”

Elias huffed indignantly. “There’s cocoa. I also got us a chai cinnamon bun to split, but only if you stop making fun of me.”

My grin grew with his defensiveness. Teasing Elias was fun.

The marzipan latte was surprisingly delicious. I’d always had a soft spot for almond flavors.

After Elias took a long drink of his cocoa, a whipped cream mustache remained. It was so fucking cute and it took an immense amount of restraint to stop myself from leaning across the table to lick it off him. Instead, I did the worst thing possible.

“I got invited to a second-round interview.”

“Oh. Wow.” Elias swallowed and forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Congratulations, Roman. Of course they liked you. Who wouldn’t?”

It took me a moment to find my voice. Instead of leaving, putting distance between us, accusing me of leading him on, or saying anything hurtful, Elias’s instinct was to support me.

I flashed back to that day in fifth grade when I told Warren that I was moving away. The sadness in his eyes was apparent, but he’d rallied and told me we’d write letters to each other. He’d even said it could be fun because he could visit me and get to see a new place. Warren was like Elias—always seeing the bright side of things. Leaving Warren had been the hardest thing I’d had to do as a kid. Leaving Elias would be a hundred times worse.

“Thanks.” I tried to infuse the simple word with more emotion than I could express in that moment—maybe ever.

Elias inhaled a long breath, then smiled. “When’s the next interview?”

“The twenty-third. In Tucson.”

Elias’s eyes widened, but he didn’t say anything.

“They’re wrapping up interviews by Christmas and hoping the person they select will start in the new year.”

His mouth formed an O . I couldn’t blame him. I’d been surprised by the timeline mentioned in the interview email I received that morning.

“What about moving?”

That was the big question. I took a fortifying gulp of my coffee. It was easier for me to have this conversation with strangers around, but my stomach heaved at the realization that it was probably the opposite for Elias. I had the protection of anonymity, but Elias probably knew half the people in this room and had to maintain a brave face so he didn’t have people rushing over to ask what was wrong.

I’m such a fucking fool.

“If I get the job, it would happen quickly.”

I nearly missed Elias’s brief wince. “So you plan to accept if you get the offer?”

I blinked and replayed my words, and yeah, I supposed I’d implied that. Frankly, I hadn’t considered not accepting. It was the position I’d been trying to move into for several years, and there was no use lying. “Most likely, yes.”

“I get it. It’s your dream job.” Half his mouth lifted into a tame smile.

God, he was trying so hard for me.

“Will you be down there for Christmas?”

I found myself nodding absently as I thought about it. “It would be a good time to check out the area and look for places to live. I don’t really celebrate anyway, and my parents are in Washington right now, so I’m on my own.”

Why did it feel like I was landing targeted blows at his weak points? If I were in Christmas Falls, I wouldn’t be alone. I knew Elias and Jim would fold me into their plans like they had at Thanksgiving. But I wasn’t sure my heart could take another holiday together—Elias’s favorite holiday at that—if I were going to be driving away from our duplex for the last time only days later.

Elias’s excessive nodding mirrored my own, and his eyes scanned the table like he was running through a mental list. “I’ll take care of Carol while you’re gone. I’ll set up a nice nesting spot for her in my extra bedroom in case she goes into labor.”

I squeezed my eyes closed and balled my fist under the table while biting back a string of colorful curses. I hadn’t thought about what to do with Carol. Which is exactly why I have no business having a pet. I wasn’t even responsible enough to think about how leaving for a few days would affect a pregnant dog living in my house. Fucking hell.

Elias’s warm hand on mine pulled me out of my self-flagellation spiral. “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll take great care of her. You’re not letting her down by doing this.”

Why was it hard to breathe? I never should’ve agreed to foster her. I’d gotten attached to her, to Elias, hell, to Jim, and now I was running away. To my “next adventure.”

I muttered a quick thank you but couldn’t meet Elias’s eyes. Fortunately, I was saved from having to when someone came over to our table.

“Mason, hey. How’s it going?” Elias’s voice was strained but cheerful. It killed me to see his usually large smile ever-so-slightly dimmed.

Mason took an empty seat at our table. “Hi, I hope I’m not interrupting. I needed a breather from the schmoozing for work.”

“This is Mason. Director of the Holiday Hope Foundation,” Elias said.

I’d remembered Elias talking about him.

“And a very good friend who agreed to foster a dog.” Mason grinned and held out his hand.

“That too,” Elias said with a small smile.

“Roman.” I accepted his handshake. “Good to meet you.”

I enjoyed meeting Elias’s friends, even if I wanted to melt into the floor. It helped to know he’d have a community around him after I left. Not that I thought so highly of myself and my looming absence, but Elias wore his heart on his sleeve, and I knew he’d be sad. Hopefully not for too long.

Mason’s smile was knowing. “Glad to finally meet the infamous Roman. Ow! That was my foot.”

Elias glared at him.

What had he told his friends about me?

“How’s the fundraising going?” Mason asked Elias.

Elias seemed to seize the topic like a lifeline. I couldn’t blame him.

I wanted to get out of there, but I knew that would worry Elias. Instead, I pretended to listen to Elias get Mason’s input on the fundraising efforts while mentally berating myself for not giving a thought to Carol when I’d readily agreed to fly to Tucson. Clearly, I wasn’t fit to worry about anyone but myself.