Page 4 of Merry Elfing Xmas

“I’m here to see Noelle St. Nick,” I tell him and watch his eyes narrow.

“What for?” Who is he? The hall monitor? I debate ignoring him and pushing my way past, but Easton’s earlier warning about finding new ways to piss off the town residents runs through my mind.

“She’s ill, and I want to check on her.” I give him the condensed version and continue walking up the stairs.

“I’m going to be keeping an eye on you,” he huffs and steps back for me to pass. “Sheriff Peterson can be here in four minutes.” My girl’s neighbor walks to the door at the end of the hall.

“Have a nice day,” I tell him and knock on the door with 2A in gold letters across it. It takes three knocks before I hear movement from the other side of the door. I almost kick the door down when I hear her coughing loudly. My new caveman attitude is disconcerting, to say the least. Hopefully, I’ll figure out how to control it within the next seventy years.

“The universe hates me.” Noelle’s gorgeous eyes widen as she throws the door open and frowns up at me. My eyes roam from the top of her messy head, down the pink fuzzy robe covering her body, and stops at her light pink polished toes. “What are you doing here, Mr. Woodward?” I can barely make out the words. Her scratchy, weak croak sends worry coursing through me.

“I heard you’re sick, and I wanted to come and check on you.” I stare into her shocked eyes and shrug. “And I told you to call me Grey.”

My curvy little elf steps back and grumbles, “I’m too sick to come up with an appropriate response.” Then she points at the cups in my hand. “I hope one of those cups of coffee is for me.”

“It sure is.” I follow her into the tiny apartment. “The cold going around town is a bitch.”

“I’m too sick to even wonder how you found that out.” She follows me over to the breakfast bar. “And I can’t turn down Sally’s world-famous coffee.”

“Here you go.” I hold out a barstool for Noelle and place one of the cups in front of her. “I’ll let you have a raincheck on giving me hell.”

“Good.” Noelle takes a sip of her coffee and groans, causing my cock to wake the fuck up.She’s sick. Calm the fuck down,I tell the impatient bastard before taking my little elf’s hand.

“Come on, little elf.” She doesn’t resist, shocking me. “Let’s get you settled on the sofa where you can be comfortable.”

“I’m too sick to argue.” Noelle lets me tuck a soft blanket around her curvy body. “But I’ll give you hell when I’m back to normal.”

“I’ll look forward to it.” I sit next to her and reach for the television remote.

“Just so you know,” she mumbles and lays her head back, “I’m not falling for whatever nefarious plan you have in mind. I just don’t have the energy to kick you out.”

We end up spending the day watching movies while my girl takes several naps. While this isn’t the way I intended to get to know her, I’m almost grateful for fate’s little helping hand.

I’m scrolling through my emails while Noelle naps next to me when I hear keys turning in the front door lock. My little elf snores on as I turn to watch an older man walk in holding a black French Bulldog in his arms.

When the other man looks up and notices me, his eyes narrow while the little dog growls at me as he asks, “Who are you?” He doesn’t appear particularly shocked to find a man in Noelle’s apartment.

The small dog’s growling wakes up my girl. “Snoopy,” Noelle grumbles. “Stop all that noise.” Then she looks between the older man and me. “Dad, this is Grey Woodward. Grey, meet my dad, Daniel St. Nick.” I watch the little dog run over and hop up on the sofa next to Noelle.

“What are you doing in my ill daughter’s apartment, Mr. Woodward?” Noelle’s dad glares at me.

“When I heard she was sick, I came by to check on her,” I tell him, figuring he already knows. Feeling like a bug under a magnifying glass, I barely resist the urge to fidget while the other man stares at me silently for several minutes.

“As long as my daughter wants you here.” He turns to Noelle. “If this man is bothering you, I’ll kick him out on his rear end.”

I wait for my little elf’s response, wondering how to handle this situation. I’m not sure my future father-in-law will ever forgive me for kicking his ass, but I’m not willing to let him throw me out either.

“He’s been keeping me company.” Noelle’s eyes widen as the words leave her mouth. “I can’t believe I just said that.” I can’t believe it, either, little elf. I guess she can’t fight this insane pull any better than I can.

While Mr. St. Nick and Noelle discuss the little furball, I pull out my phone and look for a restaurant that will deliver. By the time he’s explained the freaking dog’s day, minute-by-minute, I have dinner ordered.

We spend the next two days doing the exact same thing. I keep Noelle company and make sure she’s taken care of her while the spoiled pooch spends the day with Noelle’s parents. It takes a little work and a box of treats and three dog toys, but I manage to win the little furball over to my side.

My business partner is giving me hell for cutting out on him during such important negotiations, but I can’t find the motivation to worry about a business deal. Not when I’m working on the most important merger of my life.

Chapter4

Noelle

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