She set the cobbler down in front of Birdie, along with the sweet tea. “You share that with Jayne, now. I brought two spoons. There’s more than enough. I know you like to overindulge, but—”
“Ahem.” Birdie cut her eyes at Bridget. “Don’t be sassy with me, sassmouth. I changed your diapers, missy.” Then she put on a sugary smile. “But I would be happy to share with the princess.”
I’d long ago given up trying to get her to just call me Jayne. I grinned at Bridget. “That was really nice of you.”
She picked up my old soda glass. “No problem. Y’all enjoy.”
I leaned in as she walked away. “He’s also what? What were you going to say?”
“Hmm?” Birdie hoisted a spoonful of cobbler and ice cream that could have choked a yeti.
“Lark’s boyfriend. You said he wasn’t just her boyfriend.”
“Oh, right, yes.” She ate the cobbler first. Naturally. The woman’s appetite occasionally put mine to shame. She finally swallowed. “He’s like her roadie or something. He sets up her equipment, runs the lights, makes sure she’s got what she needs while she’s working. That sort of thing.”
“Oh, yeah, she told me about this guy when we had dinner the first time she showed up here. So, Lark and Lance. How about that?” I stuffed the last bite of my cheesesteak into my mouth so I could finish it quickly. I had to, or the cobbler would be gone.
Birdie pursed her lips. “Lance LaFlame, to be exact.”
I managed not to choke on my food and swallowed. “That has to be a stage name. Please tell me that’s a stage name.”
“Beats me. That’s what he used to register.”
My phone chimed. I dug into my purse for it. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to check my messages in case there’s a problem at the store.”
Birdie waved my words away. “You go right ahead, honey.”
I looked at the screen. It was a text from Greyson.
You around?
At Howler’s.
Okay. Going to swing by in a few.
Okay. I put the phone away. Not sure what was up, but he’d explain when he got here. I picked up the second spoon. “Nice to see you saved me some cobbler. Now, tell me all about Jack Van Zant.”
Her coy smile said volumes. “He’s a nice man.”
“Where did you meet him?” I dug in, scooping out a good mouthful of biscuit crust, warm peaches, and melted ice cream.
“I just…ran into him in town.”
She was being oddly secretive. “Have you been out on a date already?”
“I don’t know if you could really call it a date.”
I gave her a sly look. “Then what would you call it?”
“Well—”
“Jayne.”
We both looked up to see Greyson stalking toward us. His whole body looked tense, and his eyes held clear frustration.
Birdie made a small sound of pleasure. I was about to make a comment when I realized it was because she’d eaten another bite of cobbler, not because she was crushing on my favorite vampire.
I went back to him. “Hey, Greyson. What’s up?”
Frowning, he shook his head. “I have bad news.”
“Oh no, what happened?”
Birdie put her spoon down. “You all right, son?”
He nodded at her. “I’m fine, Birdie. Just not happy.”
“Sit,” I said. “Tell us what’s going on.”
He shook his head again. “I can’t. I’m on my way to the airport.”
Birdie put her hand to her throat. “There was a death, wasn’t there?”
“No,” he said. “But death is involved.” He sighed. “I have to go to Rome for Lucian.”
I lifted one shoulder. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“I will be there until October 31st.”
My stomach clenched. “But you’ll be home for the ball, right?”
He sighed. “At best, I might make the last hour. But most likely, I won’t.”
“Son of a nutcracker.” And just like that, I went from two dates to none.
Anger sparked in his eyes. “I’m very sorry to break our date. And even sorrier that elf boy will have you to himself.”
“Yeah, about that. Cooper’s probably not going. He just found out his mother is having some health issues and needs him to be with her.”
“I hope she’ll be okay.” Then Greyson sighed. “Now I feel worse knowing you’ll be all alone at the ball.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will. But I still feel bad about canceling on you. Although slightly better knowing that old pointy ears won’t be the beneficiary of my cancellation.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind my own pointed ear. “You had better bring me something amazing from Italy.”
He grinned. “Of course.” Then he moved in and kissed me on the mouth. “Thank you for being so understanding. I’m off to the airport.”
“Bye. Travel safe.” Two in one day. What were the odds?
Birdie waved as he left, then returned to the cobbler. “So, all alone for the Black and Orange Ball.”
“Apparently,” I muttered. I stabbed my spoon into the cobbler and was having thoughts about ordering a second one.
She tipped her head, her smile widening. “I can fix that.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I’m not interested in taking either of your dates away from you.” Titus was a very handsome man, but he was also Cooper’s boss. That would be weird. And Jack had to be Birdie’s age. He was probably a charming fellow, but I wasn’t into the older-man thing. At least not that much older.
“Pssh.” Her forehead crinkled. “I’m not giving you either one of them. Not that Titus isn’t a lovely man. He is. My nephew is a fabulous catch. And handsome as all get-out. But he’s the fire chief and Cooper’s a fireman, and well…” She shrugged. “You know.”
“Right,” I said around a mouthful of peaches. “And Jack’s not exactly my demographic.”
“No, he is not.” Her smile returned. “But I have someone else in mind.”
“Who?”
She shook her finger at me. “Let me work my magic first. No point in getting your hopes up.”
“I can’t get my hopes up for a man I know nothing about. And I’m not sure I want to be fixed up on a blind date.”
“How about if it’s not blind? You could meet him ahead of time. See if you like him or not. I can make that happen without telling him you’re looking for a date. Let me feel him out first and see if he’s open to it. Or even available to attend the ball.”
“I don’t know…” I was a little too bummed about both my guys being off the roster to think about anyone else just yet. I couldn’t help but be worried about Cooper’s mom, too. I loved my mom dearly. If anything happened to her, I’d be a mess.
Birdie patted my hand. “Life can really be a bother sometimes, can’t it?”
“You can say that again.” I sighed. “Maybe I’ll just go stag.”
Birdie clucked her tongue. “After telling Lark you were dating two men? How’s that going to look?”
“Snowballs. Dirty, yellow snowballs.” I groaned. “I guess I better have a date. Who is this guy? Please tell me he’s not some dweeb who’s already been turned down by every other woman in town.”
Her eyes sparkled with a joyful, but slightly naughty, light. “I think you’re going to like him very much. For more than a couple of reasons.”
“That doesn’t tell me who he is. Have I already met him?” I tried to think about all the single men in town I knew. Which weren’t that many. “It’s not Pete the pharmacist, is it? Because he and Juniper are a thing, you know. I don’t want to be the reason anyone else loses a date.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
I pushed a hunk of biscuit topping around with my spoon. “I know. I’m just…not happy.”
“Of course you’re not, honey. It’s a terrible blow to lose both your beaus. And I’m sure yo
u’re worried about both of them. Well, about Cooper’s mother. And who knows what Lucian has sent Greyson to Rome for! But Birdie’s on the case. I am very mindful of the kind of man a woman of your status needs. I’m not going to fix the Winter Princess up with any old crumb bum.” She nodded at me. “Have faith.”
“All right, I will.” I made a halfhearted attempt at a smile. “Thanks.” But deep down, I couldn’t see myself having fun at the ball with anyone but Coop or Greyson. Birdie’s pick better be stellar, or chances were good that I’d turn him down.
No matter what Lark might think about me showing up solo, because who cared what Lark thought? Except me. A little.
Lunch had gone on long enough, so I said my goodbyes and made my way back to the office. It was a Wednesday, and Christmas was approaching fast, which meant there would be new inventory coming through the Santa’s Bag.
Every Santa’s Workshop store had one. It was our magical way of transporting goods from the North Pole to the shops. The bag was one of the most magical creations to come out of the NP, and also the most secret. Especially because it was basically a direct portal from the NP to wherever the bag was.
Almost anything could be sent through it, so long as it wasn’t alive. This wasn’t a Beam Me Up, Scotty type of contraption, it was based on the original Santa’s Bag. The one that belonged to my uncle. Which was also how it got its name. How else did you think he delivered all those toys to all those houses? After every couple of stops, the bag got magically refilled.
I walked into the warehouse and straight to the red velvet bag. It was bulging with new goodies, as suspected.
From there, I made a beeline into the shop to let Kip and Juniper know that I was back from lunch and to get Kip started on unloading the new goods, then I went into my office to see if there were any emails or other business I needed to take care of.
A knock made me look up. “Boss, package for you.”
It was Kip. “Bring it in,” I answered.
Kip came in holding a manila envelope and a box. The envelope most likely held the new inventory manifest. Electronics didn’t work so well in the North Pole, so we still did a lot by hand. The box had my name scrawled on it in my mom’s handwriting. I grinned as I stood up. That probably held goodies. Sweet, sugary goodies.
He handed them over. “Here you go, boss.”
“Thanks.” I took both from him. “What was in the shipment?”
“It’s all Pocket Pets and a big display for them. I guess those are going to be the hot toy this year, huh?”
I nodded. “If we’re getting tons of them, you can brace yourself for the insanity.” I made a mental note to ask Birdie which one her grand-nephew Charlie would most like to have and set it aside for her.
“Where do you want me to put the display?”
“How big is it?”
“I haven’t put it together yet, but I’d say it’s a floor stand.”
I thought about that. “Back of the store. Then people have to walk all the way through. We could pick up some impulse buys that way. But make sure you put a few by the register, too.”
“You got it.” He closed my door.
I sat down to open the envelope. Work first, then the box of goodies. It would be my reward. I pulled the papers out and started going through them. Most of it was inventory sheets, but there was also the annual write-up on the coming Christmas season, which for the winter elves in the North Pole started February 1st, but for those of us working the stores, officially got under way the day after Halloween. Which was right around the corner.
The write-up, always done by my uncle, was filled with the usual holiday cheer and encouragement to make this our best Yule yet. I smiled as I read it, hearing the words in his warm, booming voice.
But I’d be lying if it also didn’t make me a little homesick. I wondered if my mom knew that would happen and that’s why she sent the box. She was pretty amazing like that. I set the paperwork aside as thoughts of home and family tugged at me. I could do the inventories later.
Right now, the box beckoned. I sliced my letter opener through the packing tape. The instant I did, the most delicious aromas rose up to meet me. Cinnamon, sugar, butterscotch, nutmeg, orange, and some other spices I wasn’t sure about, but they were nostalgic scents that brought to mind the holidays and family and happy, comforting feelings.
My mouth was watering like mad as I pulled out the note on top. It was affixed to a heavy, rectangular white paper box.
Just a few things from your aunt and me to remind you of home. We tried some new recipes. Hope you like them. Love you, honey. – Mom
P.S. Dad sent you a second snow globe for your office.
“Love you too, Mom.” My heart was as warm and gooey as the peach cobbler I’d eaten earlier. I opened the new snow globe first, setting it on my desk. I realized this made me easier to get ahold of now, but I was good with that. Family was important.
Next, I dove into the rest of the big box. There were a bunch of various-sized plastic food containers inside. I took the first one out. I could tell it was snickerdoodles from the shapes visible through the plastic. I pried open the red lid and inhaled. The aroma told me instantly this was one of the new recipes. Cinnamon I expected, but orange too? This was going to be good.
I sealed that container and was about to open another one when someone knocked on my door.
Probably Kip with a report on the new stuff. I yelled, “Come in,” without looking.
“Miss Frost?”
Not a voice I knew. I glanced up. “Oh, hi.”
Oh wow. A very handsome, silvery-haired man had just walked into my office. And he was cradling a large pastry box in one well-muscled arm. Large. Like carry-on suitcase sized. “I mean, yes. I’m Jayne Frost.”
He stuck a hand out. And grinned. I was temporarily mute. “Sinclair Crowe. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope I’m not interrupting anything. You look awfully busy.”
Wow, he had pretty eyes. Wait. What had he said? “Um, no, I’m not…I mean, I am busy, but you’re good. I mean, you’re not interrupting.” Oh great, he was going to think this was a pity job given to me because I was addle-brained. I put the box of goodies from my mom into the desk drawer reserved for snacks.
I made myself straighten up and tried not to be so muddled by his hotness. I was around two very hot guys all the time. I should be practically immune to this degree of male sexiness by now. “You’ll have to excuse me, my mind was elsewhere and I thought you were someone else coming in. I didn’t know I was getting a visitor.”
“I’m sorry. Do you want me to go?”
Um, NO. “No, please. You’re fine.” Literally. “What can I do for you, Mr. Crowe?”
“Sinclair, please. Or Sin. I answer to either.”
A tall, handsome, sexy man who answered to Sin. I wasn’t in trouble at all.
He went on. “I understand that you’re a great connoisseur of sweets. So…” He put the box front and center. “I brought you an offering. I’m sort of new to town and trying to get the word out about my business.”
I looked closer at the top of the box. A well-decayed but cute zombie smiled up at me. His crumbling grin sat in the middle of the store name above and the slogan below that read Better than brains. “You own Zombie Donuts?”
“Yes.” He held the box out toward me. “And I brought you some as a way of introducing myself. They should still be warm.”
So handsome, nicely built, and he owned a doughnut shop. I started to think there might be a hidden camera somewhere. Could this guy be real? Or were my employees pranking me?
Pranks had kind of become a thing ever since the tinkers had sent a new prototype toy for the store. It looked like a box of chocolates, but when you opened it, foam poured out and filled the room. The foam only lasted for thirty seconds, but Buttercup had been sure I’d set her up.
My skepticism about Mr. Crowe must have shown on my face, because he pushed the box toward me a little more and opened
the lid. “Go ahead, try one.”
I gasped. I’d never seen such a decadent display. Now, I like doughnuts a lot. Probably more than your average individual, but I don’t tend to be that picky. Give me a round of fried dough with icing on it and I’m a happy camper. Even better if it’s been filled, but again, not that picky.
But these? These little masterpieces were next level. Brilliant, unusual colors. Candy decorations. Frostings and fillings that begged to be tasted. And the aroma? Like unicorns had learned to bake.
It would be impolite not to try one. I picked one that had a wide swathe of white icing decorated with a thick red cross. Looked sort of medical, which was kind of odd for a doughnut, but there were red and white sugar sprinkles on it too. That made it seem a little Christmasy and that appealed to me. Plus, it was clearly a filled doughnut, judging from the round shape, bulging fatness and little rosette of berry-colored cream on the side.
I looked at the one I’d picked, then at Mr. Crowe. I had to check one more time that this wasn’t a prank. “This is a real doughnut, right? It’s not like one of those ear wax jellybeans you think are actually vanilla, is it? Am I going to bite into this and get a mouthful of ketchup and hot sauce?”
He laughed, a deep, warm sound that seemed utterly genuine. “It’s a real doughnut. I promise. That’s actually one of my personal favorites. It’s our Dr Prepper. You know, prepper like prepping for the apocalypse. Anyway, it’s got vanilla and cherry frosting, and it’s filled with Dr Pepper-flavored mousse.”
I stared at him. “Dr Pepper.”
He nodded. “Do you not like Dr Pepper? You can put it back and try another one. I brought them for you, after all.”
Dr-freaking-Pepper. I was definitely being pranked.
I gave the whole thing two more seconds of thought. If I was being pranked, it was the best one yet. Might as well find out for sure. I took a big bite of the doughnut.
Can you die from pleasure? The answer was no, because if you could, that doughnut would have killed me. My extremities went numb for a moment with the amazingness of it. I closed my eyes, leaned against my desk, and basked in the sheer, sugary, Dr Peppery deliciousness coursing through me.
Miss Frost Cracks A Caper Page 5