by Leah Atwood
Shelby. He’d made a point of checking her nametag while he’d been trying to think of something coherent to say to her. But then she’d disappeared into the back room before he’d come up with anything.
He tapped the still-packaged biscotti against the edge of the counter. No wonder he had no social life. He couldn’t untangle his tongue long enough to have a conversation, much less a relationship.
Now, as he stood there waiting for the kid to finish creating his—of all things—candy cane latte, Chris kept an eye on the door Shelby had gone through, hoping she’d come back out before—
“Here you go, sir.” The kid held out a red cup and gave his head a subtle flick to encourage a wayward flop of hair off his forehead.
Great. “Thanks.” He took the cup and gave a pseudo-salute with his biscotti. Now that his ‘match made in Heaven’ was complete, he didn’t have a reason to keep standing there. Not one that wouldn’t make him seem slightly stalker-like, at any rate.
He turned, paused, then started for a table by the window that had milk and sugar on it. Maybe if he dawdled there for a minute like he had to stir his coffee, she’d come back out.
And then what? What would he say to her?
He set his cup, the biscotti, and his work satchel down and tried to act natural. As he grabbed a couple of napkins out of the dispenser, he looked over at the tree. Shelby had mentioned it, hadn’t she? Maybe he could say something about that, like he was just casually continuing their conversation.
A young couple scooted past him, grabbing a tag off the tree before making their exit. He took a step closer and started to look over the gift requests. Then it hit him. This was one of the trees for Impact’s family shelter. He’d totally forgotten that Jerry had added a few Streebecks stores to their list of locations. Smart move. Streebecks customers had discretionary income—so what was he doing there?—and were the perfect demographic for the success of this project.
The realization made a full circle back to his preoccupation with Shelby. He was a little slow, but now it made sense why she had mentioned the tree. She obviously knew what ministry the trees served and had noticed the Impact logo on his jacket. His heart kicked it up a notch. While he’d been noticing her nametag, she’d been noticing his jacket. Hmm…
As he took the lid off his coffee and gave it a superfluous stir, he tried to recreate their brief exchange in his head. What was it she had said about being a Christian? Something about people who aren’t Christians not understanding the true meaning of the holiday. Replacing the lid, he smiled. Cute girl, and a believer too.
Sipping his coffee, he pretended to be reading the tags. Should he give her another minute…or just accept that he hadn’t made the same impression on her that she’d made on him?
Some Romeo. No wonder he was still single.
Shelby’s feet felt rooted to the no-skid mat just inside the door to the back room as she attempted to reel herself down to earth.
Kendra looked up from where she stood adding large white cups to the top rack of the dishwasher. “Are you all right?”
“Oh…I’m just clumsy, that’s all.” Shelby smiled in an attempt to regain her composure. “The guy’s here. He came to the front.” She looked around. “Where’d you put the container?”
Kendra’s brow creased. “What are you talking about?”
Shelby harrumphed. How wasn’t she being clear? “The shelter guy is here for the pastries.”
Genuine confusion filled Kendra’s face as she added detergent to the machine. “No, he came by the service entrance like he usually does. His name’s Jerry. He had his grandson with him tonight too. So cute!”
Grandson? Shelby frowned. “So he wasn’t…” She mentally reviewed her exchange with Mr. Gorgeous. He must have thought she was loony going on about the pastries. And the tree! Why had she assumed he was the guy from the shelter? Just because his jacket had a cross on it?
She closed her eyes, wishing she could hit ‘rewind’ on the last five minutes. Maybe if she went back out, she could say something witty that would at least leave him with a good impression of her. And maybe give him a reason to want to return.
The bell over the door sounded as she slunk back out front. Reggie had removed the tips of the steam wands on the Beast and was wiping them down, and the place had started to clear. Her eyes darted around. There was no sign of Mr. Gorgeous.
She sighed. So much for leaving him with a good impression. And so much for thinking she might ever see him again.
Chapter Three
A half hour later, Shelby rubbed the stiffness from her neck and leaned against the back counter as Kendra finished dividing up the change in the tip jar. The soft hum of the equipment and the dim after-hours lighting gave Shelby a contented, sleepy feeling.
Kendra handed Reggie a fistful of cash. “There you go, Reg. Put it in the college fund.”
He smiled. “You know it.” As he shoved his money-filled fist into his backpack, a muffled ringtone sounded. His hand emerged with his phone in it. “My mom.” He bathed the words with a teenagerly combination of warmth and acerbity. “Probably making sure I’m on my way home.”
As he stepped away to take the call, Kendra handed Shelby her share of the tips.
“Thanks.” She slipped the money into her black leather faux Dior backpack, grateful for the extra income. Maybe she should start a fund so she’d be able to afford a visit to Colorado next Christmas. “Boy, am I beat. I can’t wait to see my pillow.”
“It’s been great having you here tonight.” Kendra placed the jar back on the counter.
“It was fun.” Shelby tugged her MISHI jacket with the fur-trimmed hood on over her blue Streebecks polo shirt. “But nights are exhausting.”
“Tell me about it.” Kendra reached through the door to the back room and grabbed her coat from the hook just inside. “I am so looking forward to my night off tomorrow.”
“Oh, right.” Shelby pulled her just-past-her-shoulders hair out of the bun she’d had it in and gave her head a shake. “Jeremy’s office party.”
Kendra answered with a smile. “It’s my first chance to meet most of the people he works with. I’m so excited.”
“I’ll think of you while I’m curled up on my couch with that new novel I just bought.”
Crossing back to her, Kendra stuck out her lower lip. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. I love to read.”
Kendra’s pitying expression changed to one that was a little more gracious. Then something behind Shelby caught her attention. “Oh, I think it happened again.”
Turning, Shelby followed her gaze. “What did?”
“People are always grabbing tags off the Giving Tree then leaving them behind. I’d hate for some child to not get the gift they requested because someone didn’t take it seriously.” Kendra reached for the corner of a tag from where it rested in front of the cash register.
“Hey, Ken…” Reggie stepped up to the counter, distracting Kendra from her mission. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” His face had lost its jovial quality.
“Oh…sure.” Kendra plucked up the tag and handed it to Shelby. “Would you mind sticking this back on the tree?”
“Of course.” Heading around the counter and toward the colorfully-lit, six-foot-tall tree, Shelby made an ineffectual attempt at tuning out the memory of her earlier rambling about how wonderful this ministry is. That guy must have thought she was nuts. Instead, she focused on the conversation going on behind her.
“My mom just told me she got us tickets to see the Nutcracker.”
“Oh, that’s great Reggie.” Kendra sounded pleased at the news.
“Yeah, but see…” Reggie’s voice cracked, the way it always did when he got nervous. “…they’re for tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow night? But didn’t you tell her you’re covering for me as shift manager?”
Shelby twisted her mouth at the dismay in Kendra’s tone. She’d been looking forward to tom
orrow’s party for weeks. It would be a huge pain if she had to look for someone else to cover her shift at the last minute.
“I’m sorry, Ken.” Reggie sounded genuinely upset. “I really appreciate that you were going to trust me to manage for a shift. It’s not that I don’t want to—”
“No, I know.” Stress pinched Kendra’s voice. “It’s not your fault.”
Chewing on her lip, Shelby tied the tag back onto the tree. She really should offer to take the shift, even though the very idea made her feet shout out in protest. Two sixteen-hour days in a row might just send her body into mutiny mode. She stood back and admired the tree, hoping that Kendra would come up with a solution to her staffing problem before she considered asking her.
“Yeah. I’m real sorry,” Reggie went on. “My mom didn’t know I was working. You want me to help you find someone?”
“No. I mean, I think I’ve asked everybody. Victoria’s already scheduled, and Peggy’s going on that Argosy Cruise…”
Shelby looked down at the cream and sugar station next to the tree and frowned. There was a small white bag sitting by the sweetener stand that hadn’t been there earlier when she’d cleared away the milk carafes.
“Hey, what about Shelby?”
Shelby flinched at Reggie’s suggestion.
“No, she doesn’t like working nights.” Kendra spoke up immediately. “Besides, I can’t ask her to pull two doubles in a row. Don’t worry about it, Reg.”
Shelby picked up the bag, mentally reviewing all the customers they’d had since the last time she’d cleaned this counter. When had that been?
“Oh.” Reggie rubbed the back of his neck. “I wish there was something I could do.”
“It’s really not your problem, Reg.” Kendra said. “I’m the one who’s responsible.”
Peeking into the bag, Shelby counted five small white boxes. Telling herself this was investigative work, not snooping, she took one out and pulled back the top flap. There inside was a small white bell with a sprig of holly on it that looked like it had been hand painted. Beautiful. Someone would be very sorry they’d left this behind.
Holding up the bag, she turned around and began to zigzag back through the tables. “Hey, guys.” She took advantage of a break in their conversation. “Somebody left this by the creamers. Did you notice anyone holding it earlier?”
They both looked at her for a moment as if they’d forgotten she was there, then simultaneously shook their heads.
Studying the bell in Shelby’s hand, the stress on Kendra’s face eased slightly. “That’s really pretty. Maybe someone meant to leave it under the tree. Is there a Giving Tree tag with it?”
Shelby looked again. “No. I guess I’ll just put it in the lost and found.”
As she crossed back around the counter, it hit her. Her last customer. Mr. Gorgeous.
No, it couldn’t have been him.
But what if it was?
Placing the bell back into its box, she pictured him walking through the door again tomorrow night, asking whoever was at the till if the bag had been found. Who had Kendra just said would be working?
Victoria.
As she dipped down to place the bag in the lost and found bin, she imagined Victoria doing the same move in reverse to retrieve it. In her mind’s eye, beautiful, blonde Victoria flirted with him mercilessly. She could just see him being smitten with her. As if Victoria needed any more admirers.
Her head shot up and she touched Kendra’s arm. “Um…Kendra.”
“What?”
“I’ll work for you tomorrow night.”
Kendra’s brow creased. “But you don’t like working nights. And you have a date with your novel.”
“The novel can wait. I’m just reading it, not writing it.” She let out a little chuckle. “Besides, I can use the extra Christmas money, and I don’t want you to miss your party.”
“But it will mean another double shift for you. You’re back here at five tomorrow morning, don’t forget.”
“I’ll suffer for you.”
“Okay.” The creases around Kendra’s eyes softened. “If you’re sure.”
“Oh yes.” Shelby glanced down at the bag. “I’m sure.”
Chapter Four
“Morning, Kim.” Chris bounded into the office, balancing his work satchel along with a couple of folders and a box of doughnuts.
Kim, the office receptionist, barely glanced up from her computer. “You’re chipper this morning.”
“Christmas does that to me. It’s my favorite time of year.”
“It’s mine too.” Her voice came out in a low growl, which Chris attributed more to the early hour than a disagreeable disposition. “Just not when I have to be here at seven.”
“Your sacrifice is appreciated.” Smiling to himself, he set the box down on the counter and opened the top. A heavenly warm, sweet aroma instantly permeated the air.
Perking up a little, Kim took in a breath and eyed the box. “Top Pot?”
“It’s right on my way.” He took a stack of napkins out of his jacket pocket and set them next to the box. “It’s not exactly a Christmas bonus, but I thought the staff could use a little morale boost.”
Biting her upper lip, Kim stood and leaned forward to get a look inside the box. “The smell alone lifts my spirits.” She picked up a clipboard from her desk and held it out to him as she lifted a glazed with her other hand. “Are you ready for tomorrow night? You’ve got Jake and Tom signed up to help.”
He took the board. “Great. It should be a lot of fun.” He scanned the list of December events. “Still shorthanded for the Cornerstone Christmas dinner, I see.”
Retaking her seat, Kim clucked her tongue. “It’s hard to get people to work voluntarily on that day, even at time and a half. Most everyone here has a family.”
He lifted an eyebrow at the unintended reminder of his bachelor status. “Well, I guess we’re lucky that a few of us remain unattached and overly-dedicated to our work.” Hoping that had sounded more lighthearted than cynical, he set the clipboard down next the doughnuts. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to leave it here where people will see it when they stop to pick up a doughnut. Maybe that’ll inspire someone to give up part of their holiday in the spirit of service.”
“Good strategy.” She spoke into her first gooey bite.
Chris looked over at the closed door on the far end of the waiting area. “Is Craig in yet?”
“He’s the president of a short-staffed, underfunded, nonprofit during the Christmas season. I think he’s practically living here.”
“He’ll be as happy as any of us when we can afford to increase our administrative staff. Twenty-two people to handle five full-time ministries just isn’t enough.”
Swallowing her bite of doughnut, Kim gave him a sideways glance. “From your mouth to God’s ears.”
He headed into the office he shared with his buddy Jake, who was bent over something on his desk. “Morning, Jake.”
“You’re three and a half minutes late.” Jake spoke before looking at him, the up-tilt of his mouth softening the admonishment. “That’s not like you.”
“I had to fight the morning rush of Christmas shoppers.” Chris set his satchel on his desk and clicked on his computer.
Raising an eyebrow, Jake chuckled. “At seven a.m?”
“And I stopped for doughnuts.” He affected a mock tone of defense and jabbed a thumb toward the outer office. “Better grab one before everyone else gets here.”
“Now you’re talking.” With the enthusiasm he normally reserved for discussing grant proposals, Jake scooted past Chris and out of their office.
Chris chuckled. The truth was, he was running late not because of the doughnut stop, but because on a whim, he had gone a half block out of his way to swing by the Streebecks on the corner. The same one he’d visited last night after doing his errands.
He had made it all the way there before admitting to himself that as delicious as their coffee w
as, the real appeal of the place was that pretty girl he’d made an idiot of himself in front of the night before.
A match made in Heaven. How could I say no to that? He winced. Had he really said that?
It wasn’t until he’d put his hand on the door that he’d realized there was no way she’d be there at that hour. Not if she’d worked the closing shift the night before. Not everyone worked day and night the way he did.
“Coffee’s fresh.” Re-entering with a maple bar balanced in his hand like a spear he was about to throw, Jake nodded toward the Mr. Coffee on the table next to the window. “I just put on a pot and I need you to save me from downing the entire thing myself. It’s going to be one of those days.”
“Thanks.” Chris brought up his email, then crossed over to the coffee station. He picked up the pot and grabbed one of the white and maroon Impact Ministries mugs off the rack.
After filling the cup, he took a sip of coffee and grimaced a little at its bitterness. Here at the office, they felt duty-bound to keep costs down, and buying the cheap brand of coffee was one of their tactics. The memory of that smooth latte he’d had last night was almost enough to send him back for another one, but it had been a special treat. Not something he should indulge in daily like so many people seemed to.
Heading back to his desk, he forced a swallow. Even if this brew did go down like burlap after last night’s silk.
“…so much is riding on this presentation tomorrow, and I want to be sure we’ve considered it from all angles.”
“What…?” Chris looked up, realizing that Jake had been talking. “I’m sorry.”
Jake gave him a pointed look. “I said I just emailed you the latest data I have on Cornerstone. Jerry’s reviewing what I have on both of the shelters, and I’m pretty confident on the other two programs. But since Cornerstone’s your baby, I’d like you to go over the numbers and make sure it’s all up to date.”
“Right. Yeah, of course.” A bout of nerves that he’d managed to keep at bay for the past several weeks suddenly hit him full force. While he cared about all of Impact’s programs, he had to admit that Cornerstone was his personal favorite. He hated to think about what would happen to this already-tightly run ministry if they didn’t get this grant and had to make cuts next year. He sank into his seat and pulled up the email.