Page 21 of Holiday Surprise

I gave her a weak smile. “As I mentioned, I went over there and found this unknown cousin of mine, when he suddenly appeared. So, I actually met, and talked with him, and once you do that, it’s kind of hard not to like him,” I confessed.

She grinned from ear to ear. “Come to dinner tonight, Sydney. Give that man a chance.”

With that thought on my mind, I left the diner and went straight to work. Since Christmas Eve was the next day, this was the last full day of shopping for Christmas day. It was still two hours early, but I went ahead and opened the shop anyway. I wasn’t alone five minutes before my first customer of the day knocked on the door.

The day passed quickly in a steady stream of last-minute shoppers. The racks were thinning, and the end was finally near. Of course, at ten minutes to closing, another mad rush came in and I couldn’t just tell them no.

I ended up staying half an hour past closing time, but my customers left with smiles on their faces, certain their loved ones would be thrilled come Christmas morning.

It took me nearly another half hour just to clean up, restock my few remaining items from the back and close the place up. I looked at my watch. Peyton told me dinner was at six-thirty but to just come over after work. It was already after six. No time for a shower and I was certain I looked like a wretched mess, but instead of going home and saying forget it, I made the drive over to Peyton and Oliver’s.

Luke

Chapter 11

I checked my phone for the hundredth time. Still nothing. Sydney had said she would text me if she was coming. I hadn’t given her a time, but Oliver told me that she had spoken with Peyton earlier in the day, who had told her to come over around five. It was now well after six and Kenneth was setting the table.

Sydney wasn’t coming. That reality was hard to stomach. I wanted her to come to me on her own terms. I didn’t want to have to chase her, but I would do whatever was necessary. She was my mate. No matter where she hid or how far she ran, nothing could change that fact.

“I’m sure she was just tied up at the store,” Oliver said.

“What store?” I asked.

“The clothing store.”

“Oh, she works there?”

Peyton laughed. “You could say that. She owns the clothing boutique in Collier.”

“Oh,” I said, surprised. “I didn’t know that.” I realized there was probably a lot about my mate that I didn’t know.

“You do realize tomorrow is Christmas Eve, right?” Brady teased. “I bet her shop has been slammed all day.”

“If she can make it, she’ll be here,” Peyton reassured me. “In the meantime, we’re not letting dinner get cold. Everyone wash up. Food is ready.”

I heard a car pull up as I was finishing in the bathroom. I didn’t want to get my hopes up that it was Sydney, but the second I stepped out and the front door opened, I caught her scent. There was a touch of anxiety to it, which sent my wolf into full alarm.

I quickly went to her.

“Are you okay?” I asked. I could tell she was nervous.

“Yeah. Sorry I didn’t text you. It was just a crazy busy day. I didn’t think people would ever stop coming in.”

“Well, you’re just in time for dinner,” Peyton said, winking at me reassuringly behind Sydney’s back.

“I almost didn’t come,” she confessed. “I didn’t want to interrupt your meal.”

“We wouldn’t have cared if you had. We weren’t going to wait for you either, though,” Oliver’s brother Brady teased. “Sure made this guy a nervous wreck and no fun at all to hang with.”

I took in a deep breath and clenched my fists wanting to murder him.

Sydney sighed. “I suppose Peyton told you all our, um, situation then?”

“Yeah we’re all clued in, and honestly we’ve been through this before with those two,” Kenneth said pointing towards Peyton and Oliver. “So, even if she hadn’t, the daggers Luke’s sending our way right now would have clued us in.”

She turned to me and I tried to visibly calm myself down.

“What? I’m not doing anything,” I insisted.

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