"Eve." Hunter's voice was gentle, as was his touch when he reached over and caressed her cheek. "I want you to know something."
She opened her eyes and stared into Hunter's. It was as if all the time they'd been apart fell away and they were a couple again. She dropped her gaze down to his lips, remembering how she'd loved the taste of his kisses. Although she knew she shouldn't, she leaned in just a bit closer to him. It was all the invitation Hunter needed. He slid an arm around her shoulders and drew her to him. Eve's eyelids fluttered shut.
"Hello, hello, anyone home?" A voice called out from the hallway, immediately followed by the sound of the front door slamming shut. "Well, at least it's warm in here. Well, hellloooo, what's this?"
In unison, Eve and Hunter drew apart and swiveled around to see who the boisterous voice belonged to. Eve's eyes widened as she stared at the elf in front of them. Elf? She blinked. Yes, he most definitely looked like an elf. His ears were pointed and his features were, well, elfin. All due to stage makeup, no doubt.
She shot a quick glance at Hunter to judge his reaction. He looked as taken aback as she felt. She didn't object in the least when he took her hand in his and gave it a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
"Who are you?" Hunter asked, his voice steady, strong, and not the least bit confrontational.
The elf took off his cap and bowed at the waist. "I'm sorry to interrupt what appeared to be quite a private moment," he said. "I'm Tinsel."
Tinsel?
"Tinsel," Hunter repeated slowly. "Okay, Mr. Tinsel, can I ask what you're doing here?"
The elf cocked his head to the side and studied them both for a long moment. Eve felt some of the tension leave her body. Whatever game this was that someone was bent on playing, she didn't sense any danger. But neither was she able to make heads or tails of it.
The elf settled his knit cap back on his head. "I would have thought that was obvious. I'm here to take you to the North Pole."
Eve resisted the urge to laugh. Hysteria wasn't going to help. The North Pole didn't exist. Santa didn't exist. Everyone over the age of seven knew that. "Where is the man we were supposed to meet?"
"Mr. C is back at Christmas Central. He sends his apologies for having to change the meeting venue but you know what it's like this time of year." He shrugged apologetically.
"Mr. C?" Eve asked. "Can't you tell us his real name?"
It was the elf's turn to look taken aback. "Uh, Mr. Claus?"
Claus. Of course, she should have seen that one coming. She glanced at Hunter. How long was he going to go along with this whole charade?
Hunter stood and reached out to shake the elf's hand. "Look, I don't mean any offense, but can I see some id?"
Tinsel laughed. "None taken, my good friend." He unzipped his iridescent silver puffy vest, reached into an inside pocket, and pulled out a card. "Here you are."
Eve watched as Hunter studied the card for a moment. He turned it over to look on the back before he handed it to her. Eve took it and studied the front. The photo on the front was certainly the very same person who stood before them. The words 'Christmas Central ID' were emblazoned across the top in a glittery silver ink. His occupation was listed as 'Chief Elf' and below that it said 'Lover of all things Christmas'. Eve handed the card back to Hunter, who in turn handed it back to the elf.
"Well, now that that's settled, let's get going." Tinsel re-pocketed his id and zipped his vest back up before starting for the door. But, when he noticed he wasn't being followed, he turned back. "Well, come on then." He glanced at the fire. "Don't worry about that. It'll put itself out by the time we're airborne."
"Airborne?"
Eve heard the laughter in Hunter's voice. Wonderful. One of them was highly amused by whatever this whole set-up was. And it certainly wasn't her. In fact, she was getting as close to miffed as she'd ever felt before. She stood and looked down at the elf. "Now, that's just about enough of this run around. We drove all the way up here to find out just what all this Kris Kringle wedding nonsense is about. So, tell us who hired you to play an elf and we'll go from there."
A wry smile tugged at Tinsel's lips. "Ah, Eve. You haven't changed much since you were a little girl. Every Christmas Eve you'd grill your poor parents, demanding to know how Santa could possibly fly around the world in one night."
"I'm sure I wasn't the only child who wanted to know the same thing," she protested. Wait. Why was she feeling defensive? This was getting ridiculous. She turned to Hunter. "How much more of this do you plan to listen to?"
Hunter shrugged. "I vote that we at least go out and see the reindeer."
"Hunter," she exclaimed. "Reindeer don't fly."
"Why not at least take a peek since we're here?"
Eve blew out a long breath and ran her hands through her hair. Hunter's calm demeanor was downright maddening but what else should she have expected? This was a man who had spent the greater part of his adult life trekking through parts of the world that most sane people wouldn't dare think of going just so that he could be the first one to report a news story. It shouldn't surprise her that he'd want to follow the trail of a story.
She held up a finger. "Pardon us for a moment, won't you, Mr. Tinsel?"
The elf smiled kindly. "It's Tinsel, just plain Tinsel. Mr. Tinsel was my father."
Hunter laughed.
Eve shook her head wordlessly. She waited until she heard the front door close to whirl around and confront her companion. "Reindeer? Really, Hunter? He's probably trying to lure us outside and then toss us in the back of a van with no windows so that he can kidnap us."
"Why would he go to all the trouble? He could have just poisoned the wine." Hunter didn't even try to hide his amusement. "Besides, we outnumber him."
Frustrated beyond words, Eve tried to move past him but he blocked her exit. "Hey, come on, Eve. I'm just teasing."
When he drew her close, she let him. For some reason she couldn't pinpoint, she was unsettled. She had been from the first time she'd learned that Staci's client called himself Santa Claus. Santa didn't exist. The whole situation was bogus. Why was she the only one who didn't find it funny? She laid her head on Hunter's shoulder and relaxed into his embrace. His presence provided her with a reassurance that was soothing.
So soothing in fact, that she didn't hear the front door open again until a voice broke through the quiet.
"Hey, hey, not on the Big Guy's time," a voice boomed from just beside her elbow. "Yo, we've got a wedding to plan so let's get a move on."
Startled by the unfamiliar voice, Eve pulled out of Hunter's arms and stared down at the elf. A different elf. A very different elf. About the same height as Tinsel, he was younger and far more stocky. He wore his baseball cap backwards, along with a heavy gold rope chain around his neck and a pair of dark sunglasses.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
"Are you the wedding lady?" he countered. He gave her the once over before he turned to Hunter and stuck out a hand. "I'm Rapz."
"Hunter Nielson. Good to meet you."
Really? Hunter was going to stand and talk to this elf like it was an everyday occurrence? "Excuse me," Eve interrupted. "We're not going anywhere with you."
The elf frowned at her. "You're going to keep Santa Claus waiting?"
Eve swept her arm out to encompass the empty cabin. "He's kept us waiting." She shook her head. "Wait, what am I saying? Santa Claus doesn't even exist." She turned her gaze to Hunter. "I'm losing my mind."
Rapz crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you coming or not?"
"No," Eve said.
"Yes," Hunter said at the same exact moment.
"Well, what's it going to be?" the elf demanded. "Are you coming willingly or do I need to tie you up and throw you in the back of the sleigh?"
Eve gasped. "You wouldn't dare."
Rapz merely smiled.
Hunter grabbed a hold of Eve's hand and pulled her close against him. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Of course he's kidding.
Come on. This is all some sort of joke and we're just about to get to the bottom of it. Just follow my lead and play it cool." He turned to the elf. "Let us grab our jackets and then you can lead the way."
And so Rapz did. Straight out the cottage door, down the drive past their SUV, and right up to a bright red sleigh painted with giant white snowflakes. The sleigh was twice the length of their vehicle, sleek in design, and attached to some very real looking reindeer. She grabbed Hunter's arm. "Am I seeing things?"
"If it's a top of the line red sleigh and eight reindeer you see, then we both are seeing things." He gave a low, appreciative whistle. "What a beauty."
Tinsel, who sat up on the driver's seat bench, held the reins in one hand. With the other he motioned for them to climb aboard.
"Not on your life." Eve took a step backward. "This nonsense has to stop right now." She paused to give Hunter a chance to back her up but he didn't say a word. She glanced at him. "Hunter?"
He didn't spare her so much as a sideways glance. "Wow, this is incredible. I've never seen anything like it." Not letting go of her hand, he all but dragged her toward the sleigh. He ran a gloved hand along the side of the sleigh, his touch reverent. "Can we get a ride?"
Eve closed her eyes against the insanity she was witness to. Hunter was like an enthralled seven-year-old boy who had just seen his first Corvette.
"Climb aboard," Rapz moved past them to climb up beside Tinsel. "Santa doesn't like any of the reindeer to fly any more than they have to in December so let's get cracking."
Hunter turned to her, his eyes sparkling. "Let's do it, Eve."
"Do what?" She looked around the wooded area. There had to be a camera crew hidden somewhere. The only thing that made any sense, and even then just barely, was that someone had set this whole charade up so they could catch her freaking out on camera. A viral video showing a major melt-down on camera would be a nightmare for any wedding planner. She took a deep breath and exhaled on a ten count. Just play it cool, Hunter had said. She could do this.
"Come on, Eve. It'll be just like when we went dog-sled racing in Alaska."
She nodded, although the team of dogs had been nowhere as frightening as the shaggy beasts who snorted impatiently while she struggled to make up her mind. She closed her eyes briefly while her mind raced. Although she had absolutely no clue what was going on, she did know one important thing. She trusted Hunter. She nodded. "Okay. I'll play along."
Clearly delighted, Hunter leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Thank you."
Eve nodded. "If we're going to do this, let's get on with it before I change my mind."
"Ladies first." He grinned and took a step back so that she could climb into the sleigh. Once she was settled on the red leather bench seat, he wrapped a wool tartan blanket around their legs and put an arm across her shoulders. "Thank you, Eve."
Rapz swiveled around in his seat to look at them. "Hey, do you two have your seatbelts on?"
Eve and Hunter exchanged puzzled looks.
"Why would we need-" but Eve's question was quickly answered as Tinsel gave a shout to the reindeer and the sleigh lurched not only forward, but upward.
Too stunned to move, Eve clung to Hunter's hand as the ground below disappeared and the clouds surrounded them.
Hunter laughed aloud. "Isn't this brilliant, Eve? We're flying." He leaned over the edge of the sleigh before turning back to her. "We're actually flying. Do you know what this means?" He leaned in, took a hold of her face and kissed her soundly on the lips. His eyes shone with delight. "Santa Claus does exist, Eve. He's really real."
So much for playing it cool.
Chapter Five
As soon as the sleigh landed on what looked like an iceberg, Eve hopped out. Her knees shook as she waited for Hunter to alight.
"You okay, love?" he asked.
"Okay? No. I'm not okay." She turned around in a slow circle to get a three hundred sixty degree view of wherever it was that they had landed. But all she saw was ice, snow banks as tall as she was, and more ice. "At least we're on solid land. I could kiss the ground."
Rapz hopped out of the sleigh to stand beside them. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, your lips might stick to the ice." He shook his head ruefully. "Not an easy clean-up."
Tinsel pushed past the elf and motioned for them to begin walking. "Just ignore Rapz. He's full of hot air."
Eve couldn't quite convince her legs to move, partially from the cold and partially because she was fearful of leaving the sleigh to set off to parts unknown with two quirky elves. If that is what they actually were. Nothing made any sense. Least of all Hunter. Hadn't he come to help her discover who Staci's bogus client was? And yet here he was, acting as if they were scoping out a story for National Geographic. "Um, Hunter, could I have a word with you?"
"Go on ahead without us, guys. We'll catch up," he told the elves.
"Okay, but don't scare the reindeer. They're not used to people," Tinsel called over his shoulder. "Their handler will be out shortly to take them in for the night."
As soon as the elves were out of sight, Eve grabbed onto the front of Hunter's jacket and pulled him toward her until their faces were only inches apart. "Hunter Nielson, get me out of here."
His eyebrows rose. "Are you kidding me? We haven't even met Santa yet."
Disgusted, Eve released her hold on him. "That's because he doesn't exist."
"How do you know that? I mean, really, Eve. How can you possibly know that for certain? People used to think the earth was flat."
Eve's eyes widened. "I thought you came along to help me."
"Hey, come here." Hunter reached out and drew her into his arms. "I did come to help you. So let's just go follow the leads we've been given until we get the full story."
Eve pulled away. "Story? That's always the most important thing with you, isn't it? Chasing after the story. You haven't changed, have you?"
They stood in strained silence for several long minutes. Eve longed to cry, or scream, or do something, anything, to relieve her frustration but she kept her mouth closed. Fighting with Hunter wasn't the right way to handle her feelings.
"I have."
She narrowed her eyes. "What did you just say?"
"I said I have. Changed."
His voice was low and warm, strong and solid, just like he was. Darn him. Why did he always make it so hard to walk away?
He took a step closer. "I can prove it."
Eve's earlier cold had been vanquished by the heat suffusing through her body. As ridiculous as it was, she was smoldering, right out in the middle of some forsaken patch of ice just because of the way Hunter Nielson was looking at her. He may well claim to have changed, but the affect he had on her certainly hadn't. "How exactly?"
"When we were together you accused me of always running off after a story at the expense of our relationship. And you know what, Eve? You were right." Hunter flung his arms open wide as if to call their frozen surroundings into evidence. "But now here we are, right smack in the middle of I don't know where. The old Hunter would do anything, give anything to discover if this really is the North Pole and to find out if there really is a Santa Claus. It's the story of the century."
Eve folded her arms across her chest. "And the new Hunter?"
"Will do whatever you wish of me." He took off his gloves, shoved them in his pockets, and covered his heart with his hands. "If you want to go home, I'll take you home."
Before she could ask just how he planned to pull off that miracle, she spotted three elves trudging up over a snowy hill. Between them they carried several sets of what looked like leather harnesses. They had to be the reindeer handlers. Wranglers. Whatever they were called. Eve's grasp on Christmas lingo was quite limited.
Hunter greeted the elves as they came within ear shot. Their cheery greetings in response.
"My girlfriend here-"
Eve's eyes widened. Girlfriend? The cold must really be getting to him because he'd forgotten to tack on 'ex'. That one
little syllable made all the difference.
"-wants to go back to where we came from. Can you take us?"
The elves exchanged puzzled glances. "Why would you want to go back when you just got here?" one of them asked. "You haven't even seen Santa yet."
Eve watched Hunter nod as the elf spoke. She'd forgotten what a master of body language he could be, that was definitely a skill he'd honed after hundreds of interviews.
"Yes, you're right that we've haven't met anyone yet," Hunter agreed. "However, Eve would like to leave now. So you can appreciate that we need assistance arranging return travel."
"Eve?" The younger elf glanced directly at her. "Are you the wedding lady?"
She nodded.
"Oh, well, that's settled then," he said. "You can't leave. Santa is excited about meeting you and getting plans for Kris and Kyle's wedding underway."
Eve buried her face in her gloved hands and counted to ten. Three times. But when she looked back up, she was still standing in the middle of who-knew-where, talking to elves. About Santa. If this was a dream, maybe she should just go along with it and she'd wake up all the sooner. Or, if this was a slippery slope into a form of insanity, maybe she should just surrender to it. "Fine. Take us to Santa Claus."
"Whoa, hold up." Hunter frowned. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do, Eve. I said it and I meant it."
Eve nodded. "I know you did. And I appreciate that you were willing to put what I wanted first." An unspoken understanding passed between them like an electrical current. It unsettled Eve even more than the fact that three elves with curled toe boots and pointed little ears watched her as if she were an alien. She knew just what the emotion was. Trust.
And it unsettled her more than the idea of meeting Santa Claus.
She turned to the elves who stood watching her as if she were a visitor from another dimension. "I think we'll stay."
"Good choice," the oldest elf said, pointing into the distance. "Because I see Rapz coming this way to fetch you."
Indeed, Rapz was marching toward them as if to recover something that had fallen off his sleigh. She and Hunter thanked the elves and left them to take the reindeer back to their stables. They struck out to meet Rapz halfway.
Eve's Christmas Wedding Page 3