Page 4 of Blame It On the Secret Santa

Three

Cassidy

“Thank you. Have a greatday,” I said, forcing a smile as I passed a customer on my way out to collect the shopping carts from the corral. I wrapped my scarf tighter around my neck as I shivered against the brutal cold wind that whipped past.

Sugarplum Falls was about to get hit with another snowstorm, and this one was even worse than the one we had last week. It wasn’t uncommon to get a lot of snow here, but these storms seemed to be bigger and stronger than anything we’d seen in over a decade, with record numbers reported by the meteorologist.

I hurried through the parking lot, covering my face with my hand to shield it from the snow blowing directly at me. I tried to take a deep breath, but the wind felt like it was suffocating me, making it hard to breathe.

“Why are you out here?” a deep voice asked as strong hands spun me around, and a tall, muscular body shielded me from the storm.

I narrowed my eyes and glared at him.

“How is that any of your business?” I questioned through chattering teeth. I tried to force my body to act calm so he couldn’t see just how badly I was shivering. It was literally bone-chilling cold.

“It’smybusiness becauseyouhave no business being out here.”

“It’s part of the job. Now move out of my way so I can do it and get back inside where it’s warm and I won’t lose a limb to frostbite.”

“No.”

I pulled my head back and deepened my glare.

“No?”

“That’s right. I said no. You can fight me all you want, Cassidy, but there’s no way in hell I’m allowing you to stay out here and gather shopping carts.”

“Yeah, well, I hate to break it to you, but you’re not my boss. So if you don’t mind—”

“Hey, Bruce,” Sean called, yelling over my head with a voice so boisterous it could be heard across the parking lot and over the howling wind. Even though it was impressive, I didn’t dare let him see it.

“What’s up?” Bruce asked, trotting over, bundled up in his winter jacket and scarf.

“I’d like to take over gathering the carts. Is it okay if Cassidy takes my spot at the register?”

Bruce looked between us, probably wondering what the real issue was.

I rolled my eyes and looked to the side, too pissed off at Sean to be able to think straight.

“Sure. That’s fine. I’m just getting back from lunch, so I’ll stay and help you get the carts, Sean. Go ahead and head back inside, Cassidy.”

The inside of my cheek hurt from how hard I was biting it to keep quiet. I stormed off, heading back inside when I had to jerk to a stop at the last minute for a car that was going too fast for the sheet of ice they were driving on. I jumped out of the way to avoid being hit, but not before losing my balance and landing hard on my ass.

---