Page 65 of Mail Order Christmas (Hawthorne Billionaire 5)

“Well, what does it matter what they do as long as they give money to a worthy cause?” I opened the bag and took out a bag of hash brown chunks. “I gotta get to work. You are my savior, Karen. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“Are you going somewhere? ‘Cause that sounded like a goodbye.” Karen leaned on the sink counter. “Don’t you go leaving us.”

I said goodbye and made my way to the workshop. “Good morning, Santa.”

“Some guy was here asking about a lost cell phone. Did you find one?” Santa asked.

“Umm, no, I haven’t seen one. Did the guy leave a name or phone number?” I tried for casual. “What did he look like?”

“He looked like a guy. He said he’d come back by later.” Santa helped by turning on the snow machine. “He asked about the elves that work here.”

“What did he want to know?” I followed him over to the Santa throne. “Was he upset or something?”

“I don’t know. He was going on about needing to speak with all the elves that work here.” Santa pointed to a family in line. “We’re on.”

I wonder if it was my mystery man? It had to be, but why was he asking about elves?

The next two hours went by quickly enough that I hadn’t had much time to worry about the meeting and my fate. Charlie was lingering, eating candy cane after candy cane. Just before Gunner came for me, I saw a very regal woman walking with the other two men from last night.

Who is she? She looks pretty intense. I should just make a run for it.

“Don’t do it,” Gunner said from behind me. “It’s going to be okay. Trust me.”

“You don’t understand how hard it is to believe those words.” I walked closer to where he stood, just behind the counter. “I’ve heard them before and they meant nothing.”

“Would it help you to know that I helped a young lady in a rough situation and she is now happily married and out of danger?” Gunner said. “She was in real danger and she trusted me. I think you should trust me.”

“You think I should trust you?” I laughed. “I think that’s from a movie.”

“Nah, I don’t steal words from movies.” Gunner smiled for a split second.

Did he just smile?

“Who was the girl?” I asked.

“Her name is Imogen. You might be meeting her soon,” Gunner said. “Sherry is here. It’s time to go.”

“I don’t know. Maybe I should go.” I pulled my purse from under the counter. “Did any of you go through my purse last night?”

“Absolutely not. You may have spilled it in your little house over there,” Gunner pointed. “Go check before we go.”

I spoke with Sherry for a minute, then grabbed the candy cane bucket. I needed to keep up the pretense, so I pretended to be filling the candy cane bucket. I reached in and moved the blanket to find the rest of the belongings from my purse. I shoveled it all back in and refilled the bucket.

“I have to go to the mall office for a meeting,” I told Sherry. “Hopefully, they won’t keep me too long.”

“Is it about your eye injury?” Sherry asked. “You should be complaining about it.”

“I don’t know what it’s about. Could be about my eye,” I agreed with her. “Wish me luck.”

Chapter 41

Asher

Iwoke before my cell alarm went off. Lex and Spencer were still out cold. Their house manager came into the theatre room offering me a coffee and inviting me to the dining room for breakfast. I messaged for my driver to come, then accepted the coffee and the breakfast. My mind was still reeling from the whole elf thing. I dialed my mother’s number.

“Asher, what are you doing awake at this hour?” My mother teased. “Or is it you haven’t gone to bed yet?”

“Funny, Mom, real funny,” I said. “Accurate as it is, it’s not me anymore. Haven’t you heard?”

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