Marry Me at Christmas (Fool's Gold #19)(29)

Madeline stepped in front of him. Her blue eyes crinkled with amusement as she put her hands on his upper arms and smiled.

“Breathe,” she told him firmly. “In and out. No matter how it feels, you will not turn into a woman simply by being here.”

“You swear?”

“Yes. Now, we’re shopping for your manager, right?”

He nodded.

“Anyone else?”

Friends? Relatives? He’d already taken care of his sister and her husband-to-be. Gifts for Oliver’s family had been handled by Caryn. Jonny had seen their names on the list. So there wasn’t anyone else.

Except maybe Madeline. He wanted to get her something for helping him with the wedding. Something more personal than the large donation he was going to make. But he wouldn’t be buying that here. He would take his time and figure out what it should be.

“Just Annelise,” he said.

“Okay. I’m hoping to get a few things for my family,” she told him. “If I see something cool for one of my friends, that would be great, but isn’t necessary. I already have presents for them. Any thoughts on what you want to get Annelise?”

He thought about the woman who had guided his career for the past decade. “Something personal. For her. Not her office. Something pretty.”

“That helps a lot. Clothes are going to be difficult. She won’t be able to return them. We’ll head toward the jewelry section. I’ll bet you can find something there.”

He nodded and scanned the row of booths. The jewelry was all the way in the back. “Don’t forget the fudge. You said you wanted fudge.”

She laughed. “Thanks for remembering. It’s my favorite part of the bazaar.”

“Then we should get it first.” He pointed to the banner above the food section. “It’s that way.”

They started down an aisle. Within three steps, two groups of women had walked between them. Madeline turned to look for him, just as he came up behind her.

“This could be dangerous,” he said with a grin, then took her hand. She laced her fingers with his.

For a second, they looked at each other. He wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but his brain settled on several versions of This is nice.

They continued walking. Madeline pulled him toward a booth.

“Look,” she said, pointing at miniature teddy bears dressed in festive clothes. There were Santa bears and elf bears, bears in pajamas and in scuba gear. She picked up two small bears dressed as a bride and groom.

“Supercute for the table,” she told him. “They can be right by where Ginger and Oliver will sit.”

The bears weren’t his style, but they did remind him of his sister. She had a streak of whimsy every now and then.

“We’ll take them,” he said, and reached for his wallet.

They made it another ten feet before Madeline pulled him toward another booth. This one sold nutcrackers of all kinds. Madeline settled on one made out of pewter.

“It’s a family thing,” she told him as she tucked her purchase into the large tote bag she’d brought with her. “I’ll send it to Robbie. He and Jasmine collect them.”

“Did your mom bring you here every year?” he asked.

She nodded. “It was a big day for us. We’d do a lot of our Christmas shopping. It’s where my fudge habit comes from.”

They headed in the direction of the food.

“Did your mom always bake?” he asked.

“Every year. It was great. I learned how to make everything, and even when I was a horrible, moody thirteen-year-old, I helped.” She smiled at the memory. “When I was little, there were tons of presents. Some from my parents, but most from Santa. As I got older, we shifted to the ‘big’ gift with several smaller ones.”

“Were you crushed about Santa?”

“I heard it from some kids, and while I didn’t want to let go, it made sense. What about your Christmases?”

“They were quiet. Just the three of us.” His dad had been busy working to keep food on the table. While there had been gifts, they’d been modest. As for Santa, he couldn’t remember ever believing.

“You were lucky to grow up here,” he said.

“I know. I don’t get why people want to move away. I love it.”

“When you find Mr. Right, you’ll settle here?” he asked.

“I hope so. On both accounts.”

“Ever come close?”

“To finding Mr. Right?” She wrinkled her nose. “No. I’ve never felt the lightning strike my parents talk about. There was a guy in college. Ted. It was serious and then it fell apart. Unfortunately, he’s stayed in touch. He and his wife visit every year and it’s a nightmare. I swear, the only reason they come here is to rub my face in my singleness. Oh, look. The fudge booth. I’m already feeling the sugar rush.”

There was a short line. When they reached the front, Madeline ordered a half pound of three different flavors.

“I’m so going to have to freeze most of this,” she murmured as she reached for her wallet. “Or I’ll weigh four hundred pounds by New Year’s.”

“Let me,” he said, passing over a couple of bills.

The girl manning the booth took his money. As she started to turn toward the cash register, she swung back. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.