Page 35 of The Naughty Elf

My phone pings, and I smile when I see Jackon’s name pop up. He’s been texting me over the last few days since the office is closed until the twenty-seventh.

How was the present frenzy? Gracie make out like a bandit?

I laugh, and Gracie glances at me over her shoulder with a knowing look. I blow her a kiss before responding.

She did. TONS of art supplies. How about Emily?

I barely have to wait for a response. I rarely do. Not that I expect him to be waiting by his phone for me.

She’s learning to ride this year, so lots of expensive horse-related paraphernalia.

How do you make that sound so much like a drug deal is about to go down?

He responds with a laughing face emoji, and I grin back at my screen. Most of our texts are playful, flirty, much like how we talk to each other in the office but with a dirty tilt. I can practically feel how much he wants me when we chat like this.

It’s so different from how his brother communicates with me. I got aMerry Christmasvia text from him, but nothing else. He has let me catch him a few times in a corner of the house to steal a kiss, but there are so many men milling around the job site that it’s hard to sneak around.

Ashley, however,...I grunt at the thought of him. All of our playfulness has disappeared, and I’ve been avoiding him. Although he has texted me a few times.

The fury just comes crashing back every time I see him, every time I think about how rude he’s been to me.

Because you know how expensive it is to ride.

I guess that all depends on what you’re riding. My rides have always been free.

He sends me back an overheated emoji, and I know the reference to our rendezvous in his truck hit home.

What are your plans tonight?

Hmm, in reality, I don’t have much in the way of plans other than sitting on the couch and watching movies with Gracie.

When I look up to check on her, debating my answer, she’s tapping away on her phone.

I’m not sure yet,is what I send him back. Even with Gracie likely going to be early tonight since she was up so early, I can’t leave her here by herself. I can’t call my mom down to watch her without explaining why, and I’mnotdoing that. And I can’t have him over here without a good reason for him being here.

“Hey, Momma?”

My brow quirks up. She only calls meMommawhen she wants something she thinks I might say no to. “Graciella?”

Her lip pushes out when I use her full name, but when she sees the smile I’m trying to bite back, she relaxes. “Can I go watchThe Christmas Carolwith Grandma tonight?”

I blink a few times at the perfect opportunity presenting itself and pretend to think about it. With a resigned sigh—a put on, of course—I nod. “I suppose I can deal with a peaceful evening to myself.”

“You could comewatchit.” Her smile is sweet as pie because she knows I’ve seen that movie more times than I can count, and it’s not my favorite. It is Mom’s, though. At least I have someone who will suffer through it on my behalf.

“That’s not going to happen. Even though I love you both. No.”

Gracie’s giggle is bright and warm. “We love you, too.”

And she’s lost in her phone again, probably texting my mom back.

Want to come over for a midnight snack?The heat that washes over me at Jackson’s suggestion has me squirming upright.

“She’ll be here in an hour to drive me up to their house,” Gracie says.

“Fine. Abandon me,” I say dramatically. We laugh together, and I yank her into my arms for a little snuggle. She tries to wiggle free, but I squeeze her harder. “I need to get my fill before you leave me.”

“Mom.”

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