Page 2 of Blame It On The Reindeer

“So what you’re saying is that I’m stuck dealing with a cranky, non-Christmas loving, grumpy ass man from out of town?” I raised my eyebrows, hoping he would correct me.

“It kinda looks like it.”

I leaned back and allowed my shoulders to slump as I accepted reality.

“What are you going to do?” Andi asked, taking a sip of her iced coffee.

“The only thing I can.”

I took a deep breath in and slowly let it out as I tried to force my body to relax. This wasn’t the kind of news I had hoped for today, but there was no other way around it. It sucked that I would have a harder time securing the reindeer for Frosty Fest, but I couldn’t let the town down by not trying. They were counting on me to bring in the traffic that would drive their holiday sales through the roof and give them the financial security they needed. I had watched my parents struggle to make ends meet while I was growing up, especially around the holidays. I knew how much of an impact this event had on our community and I couldn’t swallow the bitter pill of failing this year. No matter what it took, I had to try.

“I’m going to convince him to help me. To help Sugarplum Falls. We need Frosty Fest to drive business from nearby towns, so I’m going to make sure it goes off without a hitch. The town is counting on me, and I refuse to let them down. Frosty Festhasto happen—there’s no other option.” I grabbed my purse and coffee cup from the counter.

“Good luck. Keep us posted,” Sam called as I headed for the door.

I smiled over my shoulder, pretending to be more confident than I felt.

Two

Brody

“Go away,” I replied to the incessant knocking on the front door.

I hadn’t been in Sugarplum Falls long, but I had hoped that I would be able to go a few more weeks before the town showed up, wanting to introduce themselves and offer their condolences about my grandfather.

When I got the phone call from him a few months ago that things were declining with his health, I started making arrangements to get out here. I didn’t expect him to pass the day before I showed up, not getting to say my final goodbye to him.

“Hi, I’m looking for Brody,” a female voice called loudly through the door.

It wasn’t like I knew anyone in town since I moved fifteen years ago at the ripe age of eighteen, and I wanted to keep it that way. My grandfather’s ranch was a good thirty minutes outside of Sugarplum Falls, which was the closest town. This worked well for him since he always preferred to live in the middle of nowhere. People used to say he was crazy to want to live such a solitary life, but I understood it. It was calm and peaceful without people constantly being in your business.

“I’m not interested,” I growled back, picking up the stack of papers I still needed to go through from the stuff my grandfather’s lawyer had given me.

“It would be a lot easier to have this conversation if you would just open the door and talk to me,” she replied, soundingimpatient. “I’m not trying to take up more time here than I have to, but I really need to talk to you.”

I rolled my head back on my neck, trying to alleviate some of the mounting tension.

“Is this about my extended car warranty?” I asked, pulling the door open enough to see the petite brunette on the other side without giving the impression of a warm invite. “Or are you here to sell cookies?”

The curves of her body and her plump, round breasts screamed that she was old enough to sell more than cookies—and whatever she was selling was something I would be interested in buying. Full lips pursed as golden flecks of amber sparkled in the brown eyes that were now narrowed at me.

“No.” Her thin, perfectly groomed brows furrowed deeper. “I’m here because I run the Frosty Fest—”

“Frosty Fest?” I questioned, interrupting her with a raised eyebrow. “Please tell me that isn’t some ridiculous festival of snowmen.”

She cocked her head to the side and glared at me.

“No, it’s not a ridic—” She stopped and snapped her mouth shut, eyes fluttering wildly as if she was trying to regain her composure. “The reason I’m here is because I run the festival, and every year, Mr. Trum—your grandfather, would assist us with bringing the reindeer down for the parade. Since he’s passed—sorry for your loss, by the way—I was hoping that I could make arrangements with you for this year’s festival. I know you have a lot on your plate right now with taking care of his estate, but if you can let me know when is a good time to send someone to collect the reindeer, I can—”

“Sorry, that’s not going to happen. Thank you for stopping by.”

I started to close the door when a skinny leather boot with a pointy heel stepped forward and stopped it.

“Look, I know you might not want to talk about this right now, and I get that you’re busy,” she objected, tucking a strand of dark brown wavy hair behind her ear. “I’m busy too. Running Frosty Fest is my job, and I can’t do my job without the reindeer.”

“Sounds like a you problem.” I folded my arms over my chest, not budging.

Typically I would have already slammed the door shut and not given a damn about who or what was on the other side, but with her, I found myself stalling to shut her out. Maybe it was because I hadn’t seen a woman as beautiful as her in a long time, or perhaps it was because her fiery little attitude stirred something deep inside of me and I liked it.

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