Page 5 of Rebel Without a Claus
“Yes. And we need four more.”
I stare at her in shock. “Four more? Where the hell are they going to go?”
“I don’t see how that’syourconcern.” She tugs on Cringle’s leash to pull him back from licking some fallen sugar.
I’m silent for a moment before asking, “And your mom approved this?”
“That’s right.”
I narrow my eyes at her. Something is majorly off here. “You were literally just chastising your mother for buying pinecones from me. Now you want four more trees? Why not just go cut them down yourself since you see my farm as so obsolete?”
She rolls her eyes at me. “I was wrong, okay? I admit it. We need you and your blessed pine trees. Better?”
“It’d be betterwithoutthe sarcasm,” I counter her.
“Are you seriously going to make this difficult for me? I’m a paying customer! Ortryingto be.”
There was an earnest plea in her voice that knocked something loose in my chest. “You’re right. I’ll deliver the trees tomorrow,” I say.
“Good.” She nods once, then after a pause, she adds, “I also need more reindeer for my dad’s sleigh during the decoration contest.”
I slam my coffee cup down on the counter. “Absolutely not.”
Eve waves a dismissive hand. “Why not? The decoration contest is abigdeal, arguably the biggest deal of the festival! And everyone knows my dad dresses as Santa every year. It’s getting tired. We need to make a bigger splash this time. The full set of reindeer would do just that!—Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen,allof them. Ideally, I’d even ask for a Rudolph if I thought for a second you’d give me nine of your reindeer and let me put a red clown nose on one.”
“Eve, I barely trust you withoneof my reindeer,” I grind out.
Her face twists. “Well, that’s hurtful.”
“It’s the truth.”
It’s hard enough being one of the only reindeer farmers in the region. They aren’t exactly the easiest temperament animals to wrangle. It’s not just about breeding them; I train them as well to be calm around people and crowds. And the ones who aren’t, live their best life on my farm as my studs and mamas.
Eve plants her hands on her hips, tilting her head in that way that tells me she’s about to dig her heels in. “We need them, Luke. The inn needs this. Christmas spirit is fading, and The North Star Lodgehasto win.” She whispers that last sentence like she’s a double agent spy.
I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. “Do you even know how much work it is to handle a whole team of reindeer? They don’t just prance around like they do in Christmas movies. They’re hornery little fucks sometimes.”
“Well, gee, I wonder where they learned that from,” she says, crossing her arms.
“From nature, Eve. They get that temperament from nature. Not from me.” At least, I didn’t think so…
She grins. “Then it’s a good thing Ilovea challenge.”
Before I can respond, the owner of the coffee shop, Mrs. Garcia, approaches with an amused smile. “Luke, what a nice surprise! And oh, Eve! You look beautiful, sweetheart. We miss you around here.”
“Miss you like a rash,” I mutter into my coffee.
Eve shoots me a look that could slay. Or sleigh.
Oh, Jesus Christ. Now I’m making Christmas puns. I need to get away from this girl. And fast.
“Mrs. Garcia!” Eve gives the older woman a big hug from across the counter. “I’m so excited you could fit me in today for this meeting. I’ll be quick, I swear.”
I blink. “Meeting?”
Eve nods, looking entirely too pleased with herself. “We’re discussing partnering with Jolly Bean to stock The North Star Lodge with locally roasted coffee.”
I mutter under my breath, but Mrs. Garcia just chuckles. Then, she looks up and points above us. “Oh, look, you two! You’re under the mistletoe.”
