Page 95 of A Love Like Christmas Time
“Who’s next?”
His eyes search the crowd. When he spots Nic and me, he does a double take. His eyes widen slightly, then they narrow as his lips stretch into a grin under that synthetic, white moustache.
“Blondie!” He points right at me as he walks over to our side and taps the counter in front of him, motioning for the two of us to come closer. “I don’t even need to ask if you’ve been naughty. Come on, don’t be shy. Tell me what you did, and I might put you on the Nice List.”
“Oh, Santa!” I giggle way too high-pitched to be taken seriously. “I’ve been a naughty girl. I ate all the chocolates from my advent calendar on the first day of December,” I confess exaggeratedly dramatically.
Nic gasps dramatically next to me, and Kieran fights a grin. “Oh, I’m not sure that’s fixable. But you should absolutely try.” He slides a shot glass holding golden liquid toward me. “What about you, Blondie Two?”
“I spent more than we agreed on for my boyfriend’s present.”
Now it’s my turn for a theatrical gasp.
“Meh.” Kieran waves her off. “How tame. I’ll see who I can kick off the Nice List and find some space for you on there. But first, bottoms up, ladies.”
He slides another shot glass toward her.
We pick them up with fingers trembling from the cold, clink them together while holding eye contact, then knock back the shot.
Ugh. Fireball. The alcohol burns its way down my throat, but it’s a welcome heat.
“I have so many questions,” I croak, voice hoarse from the alcohol, only loud enough that Kieran and Nic can hear me.
“Well- ” He leans over the counter. “They’ll have to wait. I’m a little busy.” He points to the surrounding crowd. A grin threatens to split his face in half. “I told you two I’d get payback when you least expect it.”
He pulls back again and calls over the girl working with him behind the bar. “Could you be a darling and get them some mulled wine? For your boyfriends too?” he raises his eyebrow at us. Both Nic and I ask him for non-alcoholic punch, since one of us will still have to drive home later.
“Did he hire people to run the stand for him?” Nic wonders, accepting the first mug of steaming hot mulled wine. “I don’t think I’ve seen her here before.”
We watch Kieran pick out another victim; the crowd cheering when, this time a guy, drinks his shot.
“He’s going to win this fucking thing, isn’t he?” I ask and let out a sigh, the corner of my mouth twitching. I want to be annoyed, but I’m more amused than anything.
Nic shakes her head, giggling. “He absolutely will.”
Chapter 36
Caleb
Lauren’s cheeks are redder than Rudolph’s nose when she comes back, carrying two steaming mugs in her hands, a bag dangling from the crease of her elbow.
Something stirs in my chest. The way she’s smiling at me, like seeing me brightens her day, it sends a golden ray of light through my veins, warming me from inside. My heart flutters as she sets both mugs down on our table, letting out a relieved sigh that she didn’t spill any of it.
“Kieran sent some punch,” she declares with a wide grin. “And I’m afraid you’ll have to drive me home, and,” she gasps dramatically, “spend the night, because he made me take a shot with him. Which is also why I got you punch and me a mulled wine. I hope that’s fine?”
“This could be warm water and I’d be happy about it,” I admit and lift the small mug, blowing on the liquid before taking a careful sip. “Oh, that’s surprisingly good.”
“Is it? I haven’t tried it yet.” She sets down the paper bag and makes grabby hands for my mug, taking a sip herself. “Oh, wow.” Her eyes widen and jump to me. “This is amazing.”
The taste is an explosion of fruit and winter spices. If I had to guess, I’d say there’s grape juice in there. Possibly orange juice too.
“I think I taste cinnamon in this.” She takes another sip before she hands the mug back to me. “I need this recipe.” Lauren declares and reaches for her mug.
“So? What do you think of your very first Wayward Hollow Christmas market?”
When she looks at me, her eyes sparkle with excitement, and she reaches for the paper bag she got. “I love it! It’s so cute. Maybe even cuter than the autumn fair! All this holiday cheer got me right in the mood to block my parents and focus on enjoying Christmas, and frankly life, without having their disappointment hovering in my periphery.”
“Wait. You did what?”
