Page 16 of Father Christmas

"You didn't raise me at all," Elvin shot back.

There was some truth to that. Noel had always tried to instill a sense of independence and hard work in his son, but it seemed like somewhere along the way, Elvin had lost sight of those values.

"I'm going home to Mom." Elvin pushed past him and out the door.

Noel let him go. There was nothing else he could do for the kid. Deep down, he knew that he had done everything he could. Now all he could do was hope that one day, Elvin would find his own path and learn to stand on his own two feet.

In the meantime, there was something Noel had to do. He'd have to go into the office to make it happen. So he pushed out the door and made his way through the snow to grab the necessary paperwork to start his relationship with Mindy.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Mindy sat alone in her dimly lit apartment, the twinkling city lights outside casting a melancholy glow across her tear-stained cheeks. She glanced at the carefully decorated Christmas tree, the stockings hanging expectantly, the brightly wrapped gifts beneath that now seemed to mock her heartache. This was supposed to be the most magical time of year, but without Noel, none of it mattered.

She'd decided to leave his apartment after he hadn't come back in an hour. One excuse she gave herself was that she didn't want to come between father and son. The other excuse was that she was terrified that Noel would choose Elvin over her.

And why wouldn't he? They'd known each other for less than twenty-four hours. But it had seemed like a lifetime for Mindy—a lifetime that she had been looking forward to.

Looking out the window at the snow still falling, the immediate future looked a little bleak. Mindy tugged the sides of the bathrobe snuggly around her body. Yes, it was the robe she'd worn back at Noel's place. As stealing from the office went, this was the most she'd ever taken. Especially since she wasn't entirely sure she'd have a job tomorrow.

The robe was a plush texture that enveloped her in warmth and comfort. It was the kind of robe that felt luxurious against her skin, the fabric smooth and inviting. A faint scent of Noel clung to it. It was a subtle aroma, a mixture of his cologne and the natural scent of his skin that filled her senses.

She'd never fallen this hard so fast. So foolishly.

Her boss.

Her ex's dad.

She didn't regret it. Not a single moment. Every woman deserved a day and a night with a man like Noel Kringle. It was just that Mindy wanted to spend the rest of her days with him, and she did not want to share.

A sudden knock at the door made Mindy jump. Her pulse quickened as she rushed to answer it, heart swelling with hope that it was Noel returning to sweep her into his strong arms. She swung open the door, eyes bright with anticipation, only to be met with the sight of the last person she wanted to see.

"Elvin," Mindy said flatly, the name bitter on her tongue.

"Hey, baby," Elvin drawled, his trademark crooked grin plastered across his boyish face.

Mindy fought the urge to slam the door right then and there. But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"What do you want?" she asked sharply.

"I want you back, Mindy. I know I messed up, but it's Christmas. Can't we forgive and forget?"

Mindy stared at him in disbelief. After everything, he thought she would just take him back with some half-hearted apology? She had wasted too much time on Elvin already. It was time to close that chapter for good.

"I'm with… your dad."

"Oh yeah? Where is he?" Elvin peered around the door.

Mindy wasn't sure. She'd watched Noel walk out the door after Elvin. She'd assumed they were together.

"He went to the office. That's what you'll need to get used to with my dad. Work comes first."

"Whereas you're nothing like that."

"You come first."

"Yeah. And then Amber is on one side. And what was her name? Renee is on the other."

"They didn't mean anything."

---