Page 26 of Blame It On The Reindeer

“Yeah, because I was trying to be nice. Maybe this is a good reminder of why I don’t do that anymore.”

“You know what—just give me the stupid tools and I’ll cut it down myself.” She extended her hand as if I were going to give her something that small to cut a giant tree down with. She was certifiably out of her mind.

“The last thing I’m going to do is give you tools. I don’t think so.”

“And why not?” She placed her hands on her hips and glared at me from beneath the beanie she’d stolen as well.

“Because the last thing I need is you cutting off a limb or something. No thanks.”

“Is it because I’m awoman?I’ll have you know that I am more than capable of a lot of things, Mr. Grumpy Pants, and I don’t need your approval for any of them.”

“You’re right. You don’t need my approval for anything. You won’t, however, be touching my tools. I don’t need you killing yourself out here and leaving me with the mess to deal with.”

She huffed out a breath, her chest rising and falling heavily as she cocked her head at me.

“You would like that, wouldn’t you? If I died, you wouldn’t have to put up with me anymore or deal with me wanting your precious reindeer.”

“I literally just said that I don’t need any of that right now. What part are you not hearing?”

“You’re just trying to make things more difficult because you get off on watching me get angry with you.”

“You have no clue what I get off on,” I said sternly, stepping into her space so close that I could feel her warm breath on my face as she tipped her head up to look at me.

“In fact, I do. Sandwiches. And doing dirty stuff to them as you make them.”

“Don’t act like you didn’t get all hot and bothered with that as well.Youwere the one who had to run off to go relieve some tension in the bathroom seconds after it happened.”

Her jaw dropped open as her dark eyes narrowed at me.

“You have some nerve.”

“Yeah, and you’re getting on the very last one. Tell me which tree you want so I can send you back inside and cut it down.”

“No,” she said, with a huff, shaking her head. “I’ll tell you which one, but I’m staying out here to watch you cut it down.”

“Why? Do you get off on watching me work? Does the thought of me working with an ax turn you on?” I inched closer, lifting her chin with my finger as she tried to look away. “Youalready know what I can do with my hands and mouth. I bet you’re just dying to know what my cock can do.”

“Ha,” she snarled, pulling away from my touch with such force she almost fell over. “Nothing impressive, I’m sure.”

I rubbed my lips together, noticing how she kept trying to avoid looking at me but failed as she watched me out of the corner of her eye.

“If the size of this tree impresses you, my one-eyed monster is sure to send you over the edge.”

Before she could speak, I heard the sound of snow crunching in the distance and took a steady step back.

“I told you she would be out here, likely trying to kill him,” the taller man from the coffee shop said, nudging the guy beside him.

“Jasmin isn’t going to kill anyone, but my wife might if I don’t get home before supper,” a burly man with a ballcap on said.

She spun around, nearly losing her balance in the shoes that were at least three sizes too big for her. I was impressed she was able to get as far as she did without falling over in them, but it seemed her luck was coming to an end. I reached my hand out to try to steady her, but it was quickly swatted away as she attempted to walk toward the men approaching us.

“Sam! Aiden! What are you guys doing here? I thought Bert was coming on his own.” She reached up and hugged the one I recognized from the coffee shop, not that I could remember his name. I had only been there a few times since I moved to Sugarplum Falls, and it wasn’t like I was trying to make friends or get to know anyone.

“We offered to come help with the tree. I know how important it is to you and how you’ve been so stressed with everything happening with Frosty Fest. We thought if we all came out, we could make sure to get the tree back safely and helpclear the road so you guys could get out,” the coffee guy said, letting go of her as she wrapped him in a tight hug.

“I’m Sam,” he said, reaching past her to extend his hand to me. “I own Sugarplum Lattes.”

“Yeah, I recognized you but couldn’t remember your name. I’m sorry. Names aren’t my thing.” I cast a glance at Jasmin, only remembering her name because the other guy said it a few minutes ago.

---