Page 235 of Daddy's Naughty List

Ben swallowed, trying to ignore the sudden flutter in his stomach. It couldn't be the same Louisa, could it? The one with the emerald eyes and the smile that could light up a room? The one he'd been trying so hard not to think about since their chance encounter? The one who had loads of drawings with her so was almost definitely an artist. . .

"I'll keep an eye out for her," he said casually, hoping his voice didn't betray the sudden quickening of his pulse. "It's always good to meet new people, especially if they're contributing to the carnival."

Chuck nodded, satisfied. "She’s working with Zoey on the book. Every year, we make a present for all the ranch’s residents. This year, it’s a book. Littles aren’t always the best at keeping to deadlines, though, so you might need to stay on top of her."

Stay on top of her.

Ben’s mouth went dry. “R-right,” he managed. “Will do.”

“You know,” Trent said, “We have a meeting about the carnival later today.”

“I’ll be there,” Ben affirmed.

“Great.” Trent nodded. “In the meantime, let’s go over the plans for the carnival. That way, you can chair the meeting.”

Well, he was really being thrown into the deep end. Luckily, Ben was a strong swimmer.

For the next couple of hours, Trent went over the plans for the carnival with Ben. There would be stalls, games, a show and, of course, the gift giving. Louisa’s book. They needed to print and bind forty copies of it.

It would require careful planning, and a lot of work. And there were only two weeks to go.

The conference room buzzed with excited chatter as the volunteers filed in, their faces bright with anticipation. Ben stood at the front of the room, his hands clasped behind his back, taking in the eclectic mix of people before him. There were the old-timers, their weathered faces etched with the wisdom of years spent on the ranch. There were the younger folks, their eyes shining with the thrill of new adventures. Littles and Bigs. And then, there was her.

Louisa walked through the door, her chestnut hair cascading over her shoulders, her emerald eyes scanning the room. When her gaze landed on Ben, she froze, her eyes widening in recognition. For a moment, the world seemed to fall away, leaving just the two of them, locked in a silent exchange of memories and unspoken questions.

Ben cleared his throat, tearing his eyes away from hers. "Welcome, everyone," he said, his voice carrying over the din of conversation. "Thank you for being here today. For those of you who haven’t met me, I’m Benjamin Lawson. Ben. I’m here at Littlecreek to learn all I can, so that I can open a sister ranch in Texas.”

A chorus of “oohs,” and “aahs,” sounded out from the crowd of Littles who were watching.

“I’m going to be planning the Christmas carnival this year. Now, as you all know, the carnival is a cherished tradition here at Littlecreek Ranch, and this year, we want to make it bigger and better than ever."

As he spoke, Ben couldn't help but sneak glances at Louisa, who had taken a seat near the back of the room. She was leaning forward, her elbows resting on her knees, her eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made his heart race.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us," Ben continued, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. "But with your help, I know we can create something truly special. Something that will bring joy to everyone at the ranch this holiday season."

He spent the next half hour outlining the carnival's objectives, going over timelines and assigning roles to each volunteer. Throughout it all, he could feel Louisa's eyes on him, her gaze burning into his skin like a brand.

Finally, it was Louisa and Zoey's turn to present their idea. As they made their way to the front of the room, Ben found himself leaning forward, his curiosity piqued.

"Hi everyone," Louisa said, her voice soft but clear. "I’m Lulu! Zoey and I have been working on a special project for the carnival. It's a picture book, a story about friendship and the magic of the holidays."

She held up a stack of sketches, her eyes lighting up as she flipped through them. "The illustrations are still a work in progress, but we wanted to give you a sneak peek."

As she spoke, her passion for the project was evident in every word, every gesture. Ben found himself captivated by her creativity, by the way her face glowed with excitement as she described the story and the characters.

"It's about a Little at the ranch who feels lost and alone, until she meets a magical bunny near the maple cabin who helps her find her way," Lulu explained, her eyes shining. "He leads her into an enchanted forest, and at the center, she meets Santa! It's a story about trusting your instincts, and following magic, even if it’s scary! Also, the bunny has a waistcoat."

Laughs sounded out around the room.

Zoey spoke next. “When we’re done, we’ll give you all a copy as a special thank you, and a way to remember your time at the ranch.”

As Louisa and Zoey finished their presentation, the room erupted in applause. Ben joined in, his hands coming together almost of their own accord, his heart swelling with pride and admiration.

"That’s impressive," he said, once the clapping had died down. "I can't wait to see the finished product. I have no doubt it will be a hit with all the guests."

Lulu beamed at him, her cheeks flushed with pleasure.

“In fact, I’ve got an idea,” he said. “Why don’t we make an enchanted forest the theme of the carnival? We can make hold it in the real forest on the ranch, with lights strung up between the trees? It would be the perfect spot for a secret Santa’s grotto.”

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