Page 72 of Check the Halls
“Oh. Umm. Could you find Claus?”
“Why?”
“Nevermind, why,” she practically hisses at me. “Just tell him I need him”
Something is up.
“Say please, Madness.”
“Please.” She grits out.
I pause before saying. “Nope. Not until you tell me what you need him for.”
She groans on the other side of the door, and I’m fairly certain if there wasn’t a wall between us, she’d rip out my throat.
She mumbles something that I can’t make out.
“What?”
“The zipper is stuck.” There’s a thud against the door like she’s banging her head against it. “I told him it was too small, but he insisted on forcing it and now I can’t unzip it.”
“Have you tried jiggling it?” I ask, unable to keep the smile off my face.
“I’ve jiggled it, wiggled it—I’ve even tried whispering sweet nothings to it. It. Will. Not. Budge. Please, Ben. Just go find Claus.”
“Let me try.” For a moment, I’m not sure if she heard me. It’s quiet on the other side of the door. And maybe that’s for the best because unzipping Maddy from that dress sounds like a colossally bad idea.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She states plainly.
And she’s right. I know that she’s right, at least on some level. But maybe I’m tired of doing the right thing. Maybe I want to risk making a mistake.
Or maybe I just really don’t want another man helping her get undressed.
“I understand,” I start, not wanting to make her moreuncomfortable than she already is. “If you want me to go find Claus,” or maybe a female employee, “I will.”
“I just don’t think it would be appropriate for you to see me in a state of undress.”
A bark of laughter escapes my mouth. “A state of undress? Is that your official statement? Are you testifying for the Senate?”
“Shut up.” I can tell my teasing’s brought a smile to her face by the way she says it.
“What if I keep my eyes closed?”
“You’d keep your eyes closed?”
I place my hand over my heart even though she can’t see the action. “Scout’s honour.”
Another chuckle. I can practically hear her rolling her eyes at me. “You were never a Boy Scout.”
“True. But my sisters were in Girl Guides.”
“So?”
“So…it was great because we always had cookies.”
“Ben,” she giggles loudly. “Stop making me laugh, I’ll rip a seam and this dress definitely costs more than I make in a month.”
“So let me help you.”
