Page 41 of Rebel Without a Claus
It’s going to be a long day.
CHAPTER 14
Eve
The blue ribbon is still warm in my hands for the mini tree decorating contest. That makes five wins this week including the snowman-building contest that Luke swears was rigged. It wasn’t. I’m justthatgood.
Soon to be six wins if you count my mom’s award-winning gingerbread cookie recipe that’s going to sweep in tomorrow’s contest, too.
I hold the ribbon up for Luke to see. “Guess who’s the reigning queen of Christmas, Reindeer Boy?”
Luke grunts, arms crossed, his flannel shirt dusted with pine needles. “Don’t call me that.”
I grin. “But it suits you so well.”
We’re standing just off the main square, where twinkle lights are strung between the storefronts like a canopy of stars. The town tree stands proudly in the center, a forty-foot behemoth dripping in red bows and glittering ornaments. It's the pinnacle of Holly Ridge’s Tree Lighting Festival, and tonight, the entire town has shown up in hats and mittens, sipping cider and cocoa like it's the lifeblood of December.
“You know,” I say, sidling up to Luke as I pin the ribbon to my coat, “you could try being happy for me. Just once.”
He glances down at me, the corner of his mouth twitching. “If you win one more event, and the town’s going to rename Christmas after you.”
“Hel-lo.I practically already have the day before Christmas named after me… ChristmasEve.”
Before he can come up with a comeback, Mr. Thorne waddles over in his oversized Santa hat, his cheeks already red from the cold snow or the hot cider… or both. “Luke, we need the reindeer in place. The countdown’s about to start.”
Luke nods and starts to head toward the pen at the edge of the square, pausing when he only makes it two steps, realizing I’m following him.
He turns, a smile curving on his mouth. “Are you assisting me tonight, too?”
“I thought maybe I should follow you to the pen,” I say, then I drop my voice to a whisper. “If we’re lucky, maybe we can get a few minutes alone.”
Luke grabs me by the belt loops of my jeans and pulls me into him, close enough that our noses brush. “You sure you can tear yourself away from your adoring fans for that long?”
“Oh, I think they can live without me for a few minutes.”
“And what about the little ankle-biter?”
“My dad took Cringle on a walk for me.”
His mouth brushes gently over mine causing a shiver to tumble down my spine and my toes to curl within my LL Bean boots. “A thousand points and an extra blue ribbon if you meet me there in two minutes.”
“Done,” I whisper as he releases me.
With a sigh, I watch him stalk away toward the edge of the square where the pen for the reindeer is set up. My eyes are fixed onto the tight twitch of his amazing ass.
It isn’t fair. Men shouldn’t have asses that sexy.
I’m already giddy at the thought of getting a few extra minutes alone with Luke, away from the prying eyes of the entire town.
I give it a few moments so that we don’t look too suspicious slipping away, but then I begin to make my way through the crowd as well, smiling at the many people stopping me to congratulate me on the tree decorating contest.
Finally, I chase out after Luke and push past the makeshift curtain that the mayor hung to hide the reindeer so that they would be a surprise.
Behind the curtain, Luke’s already waiting at the pen for me. “Hey,” I start to say, but then I see him scrubbing a palm down his face, frustrated.
It seems that where Luke is concerned, when I follow, chaos ensues. And sure enough, when I peek into the reindeer pen, it’s one reindeer short.
“Blitzen,” Luke mutters. “You have got to be kidding me.”
