Krampus picked up the black garbage bag and started to walk toward the dumpster.
“Nu-uh-uh,” said Avery. “I didn’t say I didn’t want it. I said I’d need to find a tree stand.”
“I’m sure it’s gonna be so hard to find a tree stand so close to Christmas Eve,” said Krampus. “Oh wait.”
“Ha-ha, real funny,” said Avery. “Thanks, I guess. Don’t know where it’s gonna go, but, thanks. Oh, wait — I know. You left that giant frikkin’ burn mark in my floor, and it sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s right in the corner. Hopefully, this tree’s branches are wide enough to cover it, so the customers don’t have to look at that eyesore!”
“Christmas elves — always so frikkin’ dramatic. I guess I shouldn’t stereotype — it’s just you. Sean,” ordered Krampus. “We’ll get the last batch of stuff.”
Krampus and Sean went inside. Sean came back out with the last tray of pastries while Krampus came back out with the last two boxes of coffee.
“Here,” said Avery, passing Joy a hot cup of Christmas tea.
“Thanks,” said Joy, taking a seat at one of the tables on the patio. “What did he bring you? And what did Krampus mean when he called you a Christmas elf? Was that some kind of a joke?”
“A frikkin’ Christmas tree,” said Avery, shaking her head before taking a sip of her tea. “I joked over an email to our boss that Krampus forgot to bring me one last time he was here. Guess they both took me seriously. Guess you could say him calling me a Christmas elf is…kind of a joke. He, uh…is more the humbug type, if you ask me. Can you mind the shop while I go grab a tree stand from my house? I really need to get around cleaning the basement so I can start using it to store all the holiday décor, instead of keeping it in my garage!”
“Sure,” said Joy.
“You sure?” asked Avery. “You won’t let some cute lumberjack distract you?”
“I wasn’t distracted,” said Joy. “I just couldn’t read the instructions.”
“Uh-huh,” said Avery with a smile. “That’s why you put the wrong number of pastries in?”
“His threes look like eights!” said Joy.
“Uh-huh,” said Avery. “Whatever you say.”
“I told you, I’m not looking for drama,” said Joy.
“Good, because it’s a distraction,” said Avery. “Operation Milk and Cookies is still a go, right?”
“Absolutely,” said Joy. “I won’t let myself get distracted by anyone or anything, Avery, especially not a frikkin’ bear shifter. Trust me. I’ve learned my lesson twice over.”
Chapter Three
December 7th, 2007
Joy got into the Bear Claw Bakery early and swept the floors. The new Christmas tree had already shed some needles. She swept up a large pile of dirt. The last thing she wanted to do was open the door to the back patio, let the cold in, and slam it shut, just to repeat that a dozen times. Once the pile of dirt was the size of a small sand dune, Joy finally opened the door and, with one great push, slammed her broom against the collection of dust, crumbs, and hair, out towards the patio, where the winter wind would blow it away.
At least, the winter wind would’ve blown it away, if it wasn’t for the fact the dust hit a towering, shirtless man, lit only by the light of dawn, the detritus sticking to his moist skin like flies on honey. Joy’s cheeks burned red as she felt as if she’d been the word written on his chest: ‘Naughty.’
“I’m so sorry, Sean,” blubbered Joy. “I didn’t see you there, or I wouldn’t’ve done that. Sorry. I have towels inside and…”
“Don’t worry about it,” said Sean, leaning against the doorway to the bakery. “I’m gonna get dirty today anyway. Might as well start early.”
“Where’s your boss?” asked Joy, looking behind Sean.
“Back at base,” said Sean. “Where’s your boss?”
“Getting some special ingredients,” said Joy.
“So we have the place to ourselves,” said Sean, leaning in to whisper the words into Joy’s ear.
The hairs on the back of Joy’s neck went up. There was nobody around to stop her from making a mistake, a mistake she desperately wanted to make. Sean had just finished rowing a boat across a frikkin’ lake. Why did that layer of sweat and lake water make him smell so dang good?
“Just kidding,” said Sean, pulling back. “Or…was I?”
“Ugh, you’re insufferable,” said Joy. “Come on. Leave your stuff in here. This is the mudroom. You can take your shoes off, put on your…oh. I guess those are your only shoes, and the kitchen’s only for people with clean shoes. Mind waiting in the front? I nearly put your order together.”
“More like Krampus’ order,” said Sean. “He won’t let me get anything I want.”
“You saying my baking’s bad?” asked Joy, putting a hand to her hip.
“No, I’m just saying I’ve had a-hankerin’ for those apple cider donuts ever since I first scented’m,” said Sean.
“Alright, alright,” said Joy with a smile. “Take a seat. I’ll be right out.”
Sean took a seat in the bakery’s cafe area and looked around. The bakery was large, roomy, good for groups, probably, not that Sean would know anything about groups given he was either on his own or with Krampus at all times.
And with me, said Dasher.
Fine, and you, Sean said to Dasher. Not that you’ve been much help.
Not as if you’ve been taking your training seriously, said Dasher. Wanna make a deal?
Look what happened last time I made a deal, said Sean.
I’ll help you get the girl if you start to take training seriously, said Dasher. Won’t tell Krampus. He gets told stuff on a need-to-know basis, and he doesn’t need to know.
Fine. Deal. She’s cute, said Sean. Do I just say something about that?
No, said Dasher. Gal like that, curves galore? Hears that all the time. Compliment her personality. Skills. That sort of thing.”
“Hey, here,” said Joy, interrupting Sean’s conversation with Dasher.
Joy walked over to the table where Sean was sitting. She was carrying a tray. On the tray was a mug of hot coffee, a pitcher of cream, some sugar cubes in a bowl, and, on a plate, not one, but two apple cider donuts.
“Thanks,” said Sean. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“You need the energy, don’t you?” asked Joy, walking back towards the kitchen.
Sean ate his surprise breakfast while Joy put together the order.
“Hey, Sean, can you help me with something?” called Joy.
Sean walked to the back of the bakery and stood behind Joy. Joy held up a laminated piece of paper.
“This is Krampus’s order sheet for the usual. Avery printed it up, but I think something’s missing,” said Joy, turning her head over her shoulder to look at Sean before looking back at the paper. “Do you happen to remember what y’all had in your last order?”
“Let me see,” said Sean, reaching for the paper.
Sean’s firm arm brushed against Joy’s hand. The thick hairs on his arm and the hair on her arm interlocked like teeth on a zipper and then, pulled away, as Sean took the paper out of Joy’s hand.
“Twelve of those…eleven, right…ten, nine, and eight…seven…six…five of those, yes…and four of those, three of those, and two of those,” said Sean. “Something’s missing. If I look at the counter, I can tell what it is by smell.”
Joy walked to the counter and leaned down, ready to reach whatever cookie Sean wanted…but her butt hit something. It was something firm, and warm, with a growing bulge.
Joy turned and saw Sean staring down at her. Joy’s eyes went wide as she stood back up, straight as an arrow.
“What are you doing back here?” asked Joy.
“I told you. I can identify the pastry by smell,” said Sean. “Makes more sense to do it from back here, not from out there.”
Sean reached forward. Joy was sure he was going to lean forward and try to kiss her. Before she
could react, Sean tapped the glass on the counter and pulled his arm away, his hand lightly brushing against her thick waist.
“That one,” said Sean. “The yellow fruity one.”
“Oh, that?” asked Joy. “That’s a pear Danish.”
“Guess he wants one pear Danish, then,” said Sean.
“How do you know he only wants one?” asked Joy.
“He wanted two to twelve of everything else. Either he wants one of those or a baker’s dozen. I only saw one in the last order,” explained Sean. “Maybe he ate the other twelve during the boat ride. I dunno. But I don’t think he did.”
“Okay, one pear Danish,” said Joy. “Ahem.”
“What?” asked Sean.
“Move back,” said Joy. “We wouldn’t want another accident.”
“Wouldn’t you?” asked Sean, arms crossed.
“Excuse me? What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Joy.
“Come on, babe, you have to feel it too,” said Sean. “Chemistry. You’ve got those rockin’ curves. I have these rock-hard abs. Match made by Fate.”
“Don’t mess around,” said Joy, rolling her eyes.
“I’m not messin’ around,” said Sean. “I’m serious. I’d do anything to get a shot at you.”
“I’ve heard enough bear shifters talk about Fate to have learned my lesson,” said Joy, poking Sean in the chest before pulling her hand back, realizing she’d inadvertently touched Sean’s firm pecs. “I’m not looking to make a third mistake, Sean. You and me? This? It’s never happening. The sooner you get that through your thick shifter skull, the faster your daily trips will stop being awkward.”
“Hey, cool your jets,” said Sean with a smirk. “Got it. You’re not interested. You know how to find me if you change your mind.”
“That’s a huge ‘if,’” said Joy.
Sean moved out of Joy’s way. Joy grabbed the pear pastry and carried it to the kitchen to place it in a tray.
“Your order’s ready, and your coffee’s still hot,” said Joy. “You best be going.”
“Keep my offer in mind,” said Sean. “I’m serious, Joy. I’d do anything to get a date with you.”
“Anything’s a strong word,” said Joy, crossing her arms.
“I’m a strong man,” said Sean.
Joy looked over Sean. He was a strong man. He had burly arms and thick thighs that she could imagine would do wonders in bed. She’d felt the lumberjack’s ‘ax’ when she backed up into him, and she’d liked what she’d felt. It was too bad he was absolutely, downright, one-hundred-percent what his chest told all and sundry Sean was: ‘Naughty.’
An alarm went off. It was time for Joy to open up the bakery to the public.
“I’ll lock the door behind you,” mumbled Joy. “Bye.”
Joy went back to the front of the shop and turned on the red and white candy cane themed ‘Open’ sign. She turned on all the lights in the shop, and by the time she went to the back of the kitchen, all that was left of Sean was some wet footprints on the floor and more than a few butterflies in Joy’s stomach.
Chapter Four
December 11th, 2007
Sean thought rowing across The Wreath by himself would give him some much-needed respite away from Krampus. All it did was leave him alone with his thoughts. Well, alone with his thoughts, and the thoughts of Dasher.
I told you not to be weird about it, said Dasher.
What was weird about complimenting her? argued Sean.
Apparently, it wasn’t what she wanted, said Dasher. Maybe you’ll get a second shot with her today. But don’t focus on her body. Compliment literally anything else.
All that did was make Sean think about Joy’s body, about her thick, sensual curves, about how she managed to make her bakery uniform look sexy, about how badly he wanted to tighten the strings on her outfit to make her curves stick out before he ripped the apron off entirely.
Sean docked his boat on the pier and walked to the back entrance.
Sean knocked at the back door. He heard shuffling. Joy opened the back door.
“Hey, Sean,” said Joy, looking around out the back door. “I’m still working on your order.”
“Is everything okay?” asked Sean.
“Yeah,” said Joy.
“You look scared,” said Sean.
Joy pulled Sean into the bakery.
“Look, don’t make a big deal out of it, but, I think that guy over there, at the table, is watching me,” said Joy.
Sean turned and spotted a man at a table, sipping coffee and watching Joy through the window. One of Joy’s coworkers was also sitting outside, on her break.
“Creepy,” said Sean. “Joy, let me take care of it.”
“I don’t want to cause trouble,” said Joy. “I’ll be right back with your order.”
Sean went back to the patio, but he didn’t take a seat. He walked straight up to the strange man.
“Hey,” said Sean, leaning against the bakery, near the man, right in his line of sight. “Sup?”
“Sup,” said the man, glancing at Sean before going back to looking through the windows at Joy.
“What’s your poison?” asked Sean.
“What?” asked the man, looking back at Sean.
“What do you order here? Coffee? Tea?” asked Sean. “How about a cup of ‘back the fuck off?’”
“I have no idea what you’re on about, man,” said the stranger.
“I think you do,” said Sean, taking a seat across from the man. “Here’s what you’re going to do, bud. You’re going to find a new bakery. You’re going to leave my friend Joy alone. You’re not going to come back here.”
“I think you’re the one that’s going to find a new bakery,” said the stranger. “Don’t get between a shifter and his fated mate.”
“Advice you should learn to take,” said Sean.
The stranger pushed the wooden table over, knocking Sean back. Sean pulled himself out from under the table, but not before he was hit in the face by a mass of white fur.
Sean grabbed at the fur ball, but it nipped him on the hand. He pulled his hand back. How was he supposed to fight an arctic fox without his shift?
Use my power, said Dasher.
For this? Won’t I get in more trouble? asked Sean.
No, I’ll make sure of it, said Dasher. Perfect time for you to take me for a test drive.
Sean got on all fours, as if he was about to shift into his bear, and let Dasher take over.
The reindeer’s limbs elongated, covering Sean’s arms and legs. They covered themselves with a layer of brown caribou fur. The legs were strong, with hooves on the ends. A giant white bear covered most of Sean’s front torso, and on top of his head were wide bony antlers.
Sean tried to let out a roar, but it came out as half goose-honk, half bear-fart.
The Arctic fox leaped on the table and up onto Sean’s head. Sean tried to toss him off, but the Arctic fox kept its hold on Sean’s antlers.
What do I do? asked Sean.
Stop fighting like a bear, said Dasher. Start thinking like a reindeer. Walk into the water.
Why? asked Sean.
Just do it, said Dasher.
Sean walked down toward the lake, into the water, and kept walking deeper and deeper into the water.
Dunk your head in the water, and it’ll let go, said Dasher.
Sean put his full head under water and held his breath. He submerged his whole rack of antlers into the water and felt as a mass let go.
Now what? asked Sean.
Arctic foxes are fast, so you need to use your strength, said Dasher. When he grabs onto your horns again, fling him, hard, towards the center of the lake. He’ll have to swim back to shore, exhausted, embarrassed, and naked. I’d be surprised if he ever messed with Joy again.
Like clockwork, the Arctic fox scrambled up onto Sean’s big body, its claws tangling in Sean’s thick fur, and it put a mouth on the antlers. Sean pulled back and with a mighty push, flung the
Arctic fox twenty feet further into The Wreath. The Arctic fox spat water out of its mouth and swam by Sean, defeated, back to the porch to gather its things.
Sean walked from the shallows of the frozen lake to the shore and shook most of the water off his body.
I can’t let her know I’m a reindeer, said Sean. How am I going to handle this?
We’re going to handle this together, said Dasher. Run to that alley over there. Shift.
I’ll be naked, said Sean.
You won’t, said Dasher. There are some perks to being one of Santa’s eight reindeer. You get some special abilities.
Fine, but if I end up naked, butt-naked on the ice, it’s your antlers I’ll be hanging above my mantle, threatened Sean.
Sean walked over to the abandoned alley and shifted out of his reindeer form. He looked down at his body. He was still wearing his clothing, from his work boots and work pants to his work shirt and his jacket.
Sean walked out and onto the street. Nobody seemed to have noticed that a reindeer walked into the alley and out walked a man. The Wreath must’ve had more shifters than Sean had thought. They must’ve been used to seeing all kinds of shifter shenanigans.
Sean walked down the street casually, toward the Bear Claw Bakery. He went in the front door and went up to the counter.
“Hi,” said Sean. “I’m here to pick up my usual order.”
“Give me a second,” said one of the women at the counter. “Joy? Your boyfriend’s here for his order.”
Joy came out from the kitchen, cheeks burning red.
“For the last time, Crystal, he’s not my boyfriend,” said Joy.
“Uh-huh,” said Joy’s coworker Crystal.
“Come on, Sean, I’ve been looking for you,” said Joy. “Thought you were out back. Apparently, you missed quite the fight. Some reindeer shifter took care of the dick that’s been hassling me for a few days.”
“I was getting something from a store down the street. A reindeer shifter?” asked Sean. “That’s weird.”
“Well, if I ever find him, I owe him a date,” said Joy.
Dasher Claws: The Twelve Mates Of Christmas, Book 1 Page 4