Page 12 of Daddy's Naughty List

“Well, I’m giving you the opportunity to try something else. If you hate it, you can go back to the restaurant, no questions asked. Do we have a deal?”

Did she dare?

Why shouldn’t she? For that matter, why was she so darned scared of change? For too long, she’d limited herself. Too afraid to reach for more; she’d barely had the nerve to write a new job on her bucket list.

And now, she had one dropped into her lap like an overripe peach.

Hoping Walt would be proud of her, she mentally crossed the item off her bucket list.

“Yes, but I don’t want a raise.”

Kendra tilted her head and studied Susan for a few seconds. “May I ask why?”

“I…” Susan swallowed and lifted her chin. “I want a month before we decide if I’m a good assistant.”

“A probationary period?” Kendra spun a pen on her desk, then stopped its movement. “I accept your terms, but I kind of have a feeling you’ll be boots on the ground by the first of the year.”

Susan wasn’t so sure about that but nodded agreeably. “I’ll try my best.”

“Yay!” Kendra rubbed her hands together and cackled. “I’ve got you now, my pretty!”

Her cheeks heating, Susan accepted a second notepad from Kendra. “What should we do first?”

“First, we won’t have time to hit the buffet, so call the kitchen and order some breakfast. I want a spinach omelet with wheat toast, and you can get whatever you want.” Kendra pulled up a spreadsheet with dozens of names, email addresses, and phone numbers. “Draft an email to go out to all our members asking for volunteers while I call around for a tour bus. After that, find a contact with the park and see if we can get donated or reduced-price tickets.”

“Um… What should I say?”

Kendra smiled and put a pen in Susan’s shaking hand. “Tell them why you want to give the children a party. After I find a tour bus, call the Caroline to schedule the outing. We need to make sure everyone has warm clothes too, so ask what they have in stock, and maybe contact some of the Flagstaff consignment stores to see what they have.”

“Wait. Let me make a list so I don’t forget anything.”

Giving Susan a smile that lit up her entire face, Kendra said, “Ooh, you saidlist. Lists are my love language. We’re going to be perfect together.”

Chapter Five

Walt

Sweaty and sore after loading the box trailer with donations for the Caroline, Walt grabbed a shower in the dungeon’s communal bathroom, then made his way to Kendra’s office to collect his pretty elf.

“Hey, Kendra, this place does sleigh rides. Can we squeeze it into the budget? It’s not too far from Snow Park.”

“I don’t know.” Kendra looked over Susan’s head and winked at him. “Can we?”

“I think so.” Susan dragged Kendra’s laptop closer and typed a few numbers into a spreadsheet, then woke up her phone. “Let’s see if they’ll give us a discount.”

“Ah, Eliza. By George, I think you’ve got it!”

“Who’s Eliza?” Susan didn’t wait for Kendra’s reply and entered a number into her phone. When it was answered, her wide smile communicated itself through the device, and Walt was sure she’d get what she wanted.

That brilliant grin was a fucking superpower. He just hoped Susan would use it for good, because he sure as hell wasn’t immune to it.

Leaving her to it, Kendra rose to her feet and went out into the corridor to join Walt. After closing the door behind her, she said, “Seriously, Santa. Thank you. Susan is perfect.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And now I want to put Jake on a cross and punish him.”

“Why are we punishing Jake?” Olivia asked as she poked her head out of her office across the hall. “Sierra will probably help.”

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