Page 101 of Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal
I set down the hair spray and pick up my perfume.
“And maybe I can swing by Evergreen Farm.” I wince at myself in the mirror, already hating how desperate I seem. “Just to apologize for interrupting his party. That would be the proper thing to do.” I spritz myself on the neck and then lightly drag the perfume over my jaw and just below my cheek. “And if Atlas happens to invite me—AHHHHHH!”
I jolt to the side when Buzz, my tarantula, falls into the sink.
“Dear God in heaven,” I say, hand to heart. “I thought you were a rat.” I chuckle and then carefully carry him back to his terrarium.
I sometimes let him out of his cage but put him in a well-contained area. Seems like he broke out this morning. What a tricky fella.
When he’s secure, I go back to the bathroom, check myself one more time, and then grab my coat. Today is going to be a good day.
“Good morning,” Tanya says as I approach the counter. I’ve come to know her a little since I’ve moved here, and she seems pretty nice, a little nosey, which I kind of like, and protective ofher town. Then again, that seems to be everyone who lives here. “Nice to see you this morning, dear. What can I get you?”
“I’ve been eyeing that coffee cake for a while, Tanya, and today is the day I give in to temptation.”
“Ooo, great choice. This is fresh from the oven as well.” She takes the silver tongs positioned in front of the bakery case, pulls out a hefty piece of coffee cake, and places it on a plate. “And would you like your normal coffee as well?”
“You know my order?” I ask, surprised.
She winks at me. “That’s my job. Of course I know.”
“Oh, that’s . . . that’s kind of cool.”
She chuckles. “Does it make you feel at home?”
“Yeah, it does.”
She nods. “Then I’m doing my job. I’ll also start a tab for you if that works. That way, you don’t have to keep paying every day.”
“Oh, are you sure?”
She waves her hand at me. “Of course. That’s what we do here, help each other out.” She winks and then starts making my coffee.
I pick up my plate and turn toward the seating perimeter where I spot Storee and Atlas in the corner, both looking at me with smiles.
Oh, I didn’t know they were here.
Storee waves me over, so with my coffee cake in hand, I walk over to where they’re sitting. Atlas scoots over on his bench, making room for me, because Storee has her double stroller, both girls happily content.
Seriously, she either has the best, most chill kids ever, or she’s a miracle mom.
Probably both.
“Hey,” Atlas says as I sit down. God, he smells so good. I could just bury myself in his scent. “Storee was just telling me how much fun you guys had last night.”
I glance up at Storee, who offers me a wink, which I take as assurance that she’s kept what I said close to her. “Yes, it was so much fun.”
“Did you happen to pick up any Christmas presents?” He playfully bumps my shoulder. “Possibly for someone who you might be trying to put out of business?”
I glance in his direction, his deep brown eyes sparkling with humor. “I was unaware that you put yourself on my Christmas list.”
“Your Christmas list?” he asks with a raise of his brow. “Are you going to ask Bob Krampus for me for Christmas? Because you don’t have to ask Santa. You can just ask me.” He winks, and a thrill of lust and excitement shoots through me at the same time.
“I meant my list of people I buy Christmas gifts for. Not like... my present list. I wouldn’t ask for a human for Christmas. That’s... that’s absurd.”
He chuckles, and so does Storee. “I don’t know.” Atlas rubs his hand over his jaw, seeming way more playful, way more flirtatious than normal, and it’s slowly breaking down my walls. “I wouldn’t mind sitting on Old Krampus’s lap and telling him I’d like a beautiful blonde with bright blue eyes to be set under my Christmas tree.”
“Ooo, good one,” Storee says, leaning in.
