Hot Winter Nights (Heartbreaker Bay #6)(28)

And it was true. The village wasn’t exactly hopping.

“Hence the ten bucks,” the woman said in a bored tone, hand held out for the dough. “Each.”

Lucas handed her a twenty and she winked at him. “Thanks, handsome.”

They stepped inside the village, their senses immediately assaulted by the scent of popcorn, the bright lights stretched across and along the individual stands, and the odd quiet. The temps had dropped and the fog had rolled in, playing peekaboo with the night.

“I feel like we’re in a horror flick,” Molly whispered. “If a clown jumps out at us, you’ll shoot him for me, right?”

“Absolutely.” Lucas took her chilled hand in his warm one and led her across a lane lined with hay towards a popcorn and hot dog stand. It was run by yet another elf. Lucas bought two dogs and two lemonades and gave the woman a flirty smile. “Slow night, huh?”

She smiled back. “Honey, they’re all slow when bingo’s running,” she said. “Everyone’s keeping warm while playing in the big old building at the end of the aisle.”

They ate their hot dogs and popcorn and walked most of the aisles. Or rather, Molly ate popcorn and hot dogs. Lucas strolled along with her, looking casual and laid-back, although he was anything but as his sharp gaze took everything in. “You’re not hungry?” she asked.

“Oh, I’m hungry.”

She looked up from her hot dog and met his hot gaze. His smile was pure sex and she swallowed hard and went back to her food, which felt far safer. Somehow it’d been a whole lot easier to resist him before he’d put his mouth on hers.

The craft stands held some beautifully created things and Molly used that to instigate some conversation with the two elves in charge.

“Holiday shopping,” Molly said with a friendly smile and picked up a small reindeer knitted cap. “Cute.”

“It’s for dogs,” one of the elves said. “I make them. My own Fluffy was the model for that one.”

“Cute,” Molly said and bought it for her dad’s new emotional support dog. And to hopefully encourage some more chatting. “What a fun job this must be.”

“Used to be,” the elf said wistfully. “I’ve been doing this with my girls for years now. Last year we made enough to go to Vegas. Eleanor, my sister, she married an Elvis impersonator.” Her smile faded. “But this year’s different.”

“How so?” Molly asked.

“Well, for one thing, the big boss isn’t paying us nearly what he should. He’s claiming he’s not making any money this year.”

Lucas looked around. “That might actually be true.”

The elf waved this off. “Everyone’s just in seven o’clock bingo right now. Emptying their social security checks and pockets into Santa’s coffers. Trust me, he’s making plenty. It’s just not trickling down, the bastard.”

“Alice,” the elf in the next booth called out. “Loose lips sink ships.”

Alice rolled her eyes and went back to her knitting.

Molly and Lucas moved down the aisle, but though the few other elves working were friendly, they didn’t open up in spite of the fact that Molly bought another hat, a scarf, and a throw blanket.

At the beginning of the next aisle of stands, there was a sign.

Elves wanted



And another at the end of that row too. This sign was out in front of a large trailer, the kind that construction sites used as offices. Molly stared at the trailer and then turned to Lucas.

“No,” he said.

She crossed her arms. “I don’t know if you realize this or not, but when someone tells me no, I tend to rebel for rebelling sake.”

“Good to know,” he said and gestured with his hand. “Then by all means, apply to work for a guy who’s a known asshat and also a possible felon.”

“His brother’s the felon,” she said.

He shook his head. “I stand corrected. Go to work for two known asshat felons.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Thrusting her lemonade at him, she headed to the office door.

“Shit,” he muttered to himself. “You walked right into that one, Ace.” He tossed her drink into a trash bin and started to follow her.

She held out a hand to stop him. “You’re waiting here.”

He came forward enough that her hand bumped into his chest. “Like you did at my mom’s?”

She left her palm on him. She had no idea how he did it, but he was always warm, and given the even steady beat of his heart, always collected. “You have to,” she said. “They’re not going to hire me if I have a big, badass bodyguard with me.”

His hand came up and covered hers still on him. “I’d be happy to guard your body any day of the week, but don’t forget you made a deal. We’re partners in this.”

“I know,” she said. “So I’m going to follow this angle and you’re going to follow another, and we’ll meet up and compare notes.” She started to pull back to walk off but he still had a hold of her hand.

“Molly—”

“Don’t say I can’t do this.”

“Actually,” he said. “You’re smart, resourceful, and incredibly crafty about getting your way. I think you can do anything you set your mind to. But tonight, you’re limited.”