Page 27 of Mountain Man's Naughty Elf
Chapter Five
“Naughty or Nice”
Pepper
I woke at dawn, nestled against Pax's solid warmth, my head tucked perfectly against his shoulder. The events of the day before—our passionate encounters in the bedroom and hot tub under the falling snow—played through my mind, bringing a flush to my cheeks hotter than chestnuts roasting on an open fire. How had I gone from freezing elf on the doorstep to falling head over curly-toed boots for a mountain man in such a short time?
Yes, love. The realization didn't shock me as much as it probably should have. I'd fallen harder than a snowman in April for my grumpy mountain man, and judging by the way he'd held me last night, whispering my name like it was his favorite Christmas carol, I wasn't alone in these feelings.
The bed shifted as Pax carefully extracted himself, obviously trying not to wake me. I kept my eyes closed, feigning sleep as he pulled on sweatpants and headed downstairs. Even in my drowsy state, I admired the view—broad shoulders tapering to narrow hips, muscles shifting beneath sleep-warmed skin. Santa had definitely delivered early this year.
I dozed a bit longer, then the smell of brewing coffee lured me from the warm cocoon of blankets. Grabbing Pax's discardedflannel shirt, I pulled it on, drowning in fabric that smelled of pine and that uniquely masculine scent that was all Pax.
As I reached the stairs preparing to greet him with a merry “Happy Christmas Eve Day,” I heard him speaking in low, tense tones. Pausing at the top of the stairs, I caught fragments of conversation that made my stomach twist like tangled fairy lights.
"...bullshit..." "...evidence..." "...meet you..."
When his call ended, I descended the rest of the way. "Who was that?"
Pax turned, his expression grim. "Rudy. Nolan's accused you of stealing the charity money."
My blood turned to slush. "What?"
"He held a press conference last night. Made an official announcement claiming you took the funds and ran."
What a snake! My blood boiled as I imagined his smug face at that press conference. "That lying, manipulative—" I stopped, forcing myself to breathe. Anger wouldn't help us now. "The roads. Are they clear?"
"Main highways are open. County roads should be passable by afternoon." Pax took my hands in his, their warmth grounding me. "We can be in town by early evening."
My mind raced ahead. “The Christmas Eve celebration at North Pole Village is tonight. Everyone will be there. If we're going to expose Nolan, that's the perfect time." It was the biggest event of Evergreen Falls' holiday season, with the whole town gathered around the massive Yuletide tree. It was exactly the audience we needed.
"My thoughts exactly," Pax agreed, pulling me closer. "Rudy will meet us at the edge of town. He'll have press credentials, get us in early."
I nodded against his chest, drawing strength from his solid presence. "We need a plan. A good one."
His lips brushed my hair. "Good thing you've got an ex-Marine security specialist on your side. Let's get some breakfast, and then we'll plan our mission."
While Pax spread detailed maps across the dining table—of course he had tactical maps of the town, the man was more prepared than a veteran event planner on opening night —I made French toast, focusing on cooking to steady my nerves.
"You have maps of the town?" I asked, setting a plate beside him.
"I have maps of everywhere within a fifty-mile radius," he replied, unrolling another sheet. "Survival instincts."
I studied the detailed layout, both impressed and slightly unnerved by his thoroughness. "This is impressive. And slightly terrifying."
He smirked. "The town square is here," he pointed. "That's where they set up the main stage for events."
"The tree will be right here," I added, indicating a spot near the stage. "It's massive—at least thirty feet tall, covered in thousands of lights and ornaments. The whole square will be decorated with garlands, wreaths, and lights on every building." Despite the gravity of our situation, my holiday-loving heart skipped a beat. Christmas Eve in Evergreen Falls was magical—even if this year, I'd be trying to take down the town mayor instead of handing out candy canes.
"Entry points?" Pax asked, all business.
"Main access is from these four streets," I traced them with my finger. "But there's also an alley behind the stage area where vendors and performers enter. That's our best bet for getting in unnoticed."
Pax raised an eyebrow. "You've got a good eye for weak spots."
I grinned. "I'm an event planner. Logistics are my business. Though I usually use my powers for less risky purposes, like figuring out how to fit three hundred people around one Santa."
