Page 36 of The Twelve Knots of Christmas
“Oh!” I hadn’t known what to expect, but it wasn’t this. That meant whatever Balthazar left for me to wear had to be family friendly. Maybe like a silly Christmas sweater. My heart warmed and I grinned. “Then this will be fun. What are you wearing?”
“I won’t be able to come, but Liz will be there and a few hundred people.” Miss Eloise finished with the mango and gave me a motherly look. “I know Christmas parties aren’t your thing—”
“Any party isn’t her thing.” Lyla teased. I stuck my tongue out at her, but she was right. I preferred the wide open fields and peaceful forests to noisy events.
“So if you get overwhelmed or need to leave for any reason, just let Liz and the boys know. They’ll take good care of you.” Miss Eloise slid a plate over to me with fruit and toast sprinkled with icing sugar.
“Thank you.” It felt odd to go without her as my escort, but I liked Liz. After taking a few bites of my delicious breakfast, I turned to Lyla who was still smirking. “Okay. I have to know what I’m wearing now.”
“You’ll see.” Lyla sang. There was too much glee in her eyes.
If it wasn’t a present costume, was it something else equally as ridiculous? Did they want me to be one of the reindeer or an elf? I pushed my food away. I couldn’t eat until I saw what was in the box. “Show me now.”
Lyla shook her head. “After we do your hair and—”
I made a sudden turn and took off out of the kitchen. Taking the stairs two at a time, I raced toward Lyla’s suite. She shrieked as she chased after me and caught me just as we burst into her room.
“Where is it?” I huffed, looking around at the mess of fabrics and wild Christmas outfits on her five mannequins. Please tell me it wasn’t one of those crazy get-ups.
“It’s better to build up the suspense. That way I’ll have your full attention as I do your hair and makeup.” Lyla attempted to tug me out of her room.
“You’ll have my full attention, I promise.” My heart still pounded. I grasped her hands in mine. “Please, Lyla. It’s driving me crazy. I need to know.”
I thought maybe she was going to say no again, but she sighed. “Fine. First off, see those leggings there?” She motioned to the colorful pairs she had laid out on her desk. “Those are the ones I think will go best with the outfit. It came with a little cap, but I think it’s way too old-fashioned for you. Doing your hair up as I planned will be so much better.”
“Let me see it.” I folded my arms.
“Just keep an open mind.” Lyla went to her closet. I tensed, holding my breath.
Keep an open mind? Oh no.
She opened her usually messy closet, and there was a space cleared in the middle. Hanging in all its bright red Christmas glory was something I didn’t know I had to fear. I took a step backwards. Either the floor squeaked or I did.
“Isn’t it adorable?” Lyla clapped her hands.
The short red dress was trimmed with white fur and had a thick black belt.
It was a Mrs. Claus dress.
The pack wanted me to be Santa’s rosy cheeked wife.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Balthazar
I was going out of my fucking mind waiting for Lucian and Mom to show up with Mariska. It was ten minutes until the event was supposed to start. Did she refuse to dress up? Or had her heat hit her so hard she couldn’t leave the house?
Pacing the space beside my truck in the parking lot, I was debating driving to Primrose House myself. Mariska might need me.
“Fuck, man. Stop it.” Jasper sipped a coffee as he leaned against the truck. How could the guy be so calm? Mariska should be here by now.
As much as I hated it, we agreed Lucian along with Mom would pick up Mariska. Jasper and I had helped with this charity event for most of our lives, and we knew how to assist the other volunteers in setting up at the hospital auditorium. It was the only space big enough to host the party, and now it was decorated like a winter wonderland.
“Where are they?” I growled, sounding more like a pissed off bear than merry Santa Claus. The costume was tighter on my arms this year and the buttons strained on my chest. I was a hard muscled Santa rather than a soft round one, but the kids loved it, especially when I picked them up like a sack of toys with one arm.
“They’ll be here.” Jasper sounded cool and calm. The bastard didn’t have to wear a costume because he was in charge of collecting donations, so he got to wear a slick suit. “If they couldn’t come or they were going to be late, Liz would have let us know.”
Yeah, both Mom and Lucian were reliable like that. But dammit, they were cutting it close. “What if Mariska doesn’t want to come? What if she hates me for leaving her that outfit?”
“She might hate you a little.” Jasper flashed me a grin, but then patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
