Undercover Santa: A second chance holiday romance (Small Town Secrets Book 5) Read online

  That thought—that he was now tied to this town, that he might be around more because of that—had my mood soaring.

  A nervous excited fluttering in my belly only increased the closer I got to the house. I saw his car parked there in front just where it had been when I’d left him last night. He’d promised he’d be here today, that he wasn’t leaving until later this afternoon, or possibly tomorrow morning, but I guess a small part of me was afraid to believe him.

  But the big black SUV was proof. He was here. And did I smell bacon coming out of the exhaust fan in the wall of the kitchen? That settled it. This man was perfect.

  With a huge smile on my face, I swung open the car door and stepped out, looking down to make sure to avoid an icy patch as I did. When I glanced up again, it was to see a car pulling into the drive.

  I frowned, wondering who it could be. Dee Flanders, maybe? When we’d actually taken the time to talk last night, after the incredible sex, Christopher had told me about having to sign papers for the inheritance. But as the car got closer I could see clearly the young attractive woman behind the wheel was not Dee.

  Curious, and yes, feeling a bit jealous that a young gorgeous woman was visiting Christopher, I waited for her to park behind his vehicle and get out.

  “Good morning.” She beamed me a smile and strode forward. She extended her hand but it wasn’t to shake, it was to hand me a business card. “Are you with a real estate agency, as well? I know Mr. Nunes said he’d be getting at least two appraisals before listing the property for sale.”

  Listing the property for sale? I glanced down at the card she’d handed me and sure enough, she was indeed an agent.

  He was selling. He was leaving again. My stomach churned around the breakfast I’d eaten.

  “Do you have a card?” she asked.

  Her question brought my gaze back up. I swallowed hard as I felt sick. “Um, no. I’m not an agent. I’m just a friend. And actually, I was just leaving.”

  “Oh, okay. I’m glad I didn’t block your car in then. Nice meeting you.”

  “Nice meeting you too.” I delivered the mindless rote reply as she smiled and flounced away toward the door.

  The thought of Christopher opening that door and seeing me, when I didn’t want to see him, was the only thing that forced me into motion. Otherwise, I might have still been there, frozen with shock and sadness, when the agent came back out again.

  I spun toward my car and got out of there as fast as my four-cylinder engine could take me.

  Was he even going to tell me he was selling? Granted, we’d been occupied doing other things last night but we did talk a little. Not once had he mentioned putting the farm up for sale. Or an appointment with a real estate agent.

  He was going to do it again. Leave. And with no house to come back to, why would he ever come back at all? He wouldn’t.

  But this time, I wasn’t going to sit around and wait and hope. Hope was a four-letter word as far as I was concerned. So was love.

  I was done with both.

  SEVEN

  ELIZABETH

  I didn’t go home. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to my parents. I didn’t go to the farm market either. I was feeling like too much of a Grinch to be around all the merry people at the Winter Wonderland.

  Instead I headed for Main Street and parked, not sure what I was going to do with myself.

  I sat until I’d calmed down enough to stop shaking. I sat and turned over in my mind again and again the idea that Christopher was selling the farm.

  The more I thought, the more I realized I couldn’t fault him for that decision. What was a man who lived and worked in Manhattan going to do with a farm in upstate New York? But my understanding his motives didn’t make me feel any better. Or feel any less abandoned as I remained stuck here in Mudville.

  I glanced up and found myself in front of the bank, which was conveniently located next to the bakery. My plan was laid out right in front of me. Cash, then cupcakes.

  Striding inside, I stopped in front of the ATM and shoved my card in the slot. Two accounts popped up. One savings. One checking. I was only going to grab a twenty from my checking account and go next door. But seeing the savings account listed on the screen had me pushing the option for a balance inquiry.

  I waited for the little white slip to slide out of the machine. When it did, I glanced down. The total had my eyes widening.

  My pay checks from the school were direct deposited into the savings account. I also had the accounts set up with a recurring monthly transfer of a few hundred bucks from savings to checking. Just enough for spending money and to cover my modest monthly bills.

  I hadn’t checked the balance on the savings account in quite a while. It had grown while I’d been ignoring it. Grown to be six figures. I blew out a breath and squinted at the receipt again, just to make sure I hadn’t read it wrong. Maybe missed a decimal point. But nope. I’d been right the first time.

  Letting out a breath, I considered what this meant. For me. For my future. For the pursuit of that dream I’d sidelined so long ago.

  The familiar doubts niggled at me. Was I good enough to make it as a designer in the city? Was I too old and I’d just be laughed out of any interview by a manager a decade my junior?

  Similar fears had kept me here in Mudville. Kept me from taking a chance.

  I wasn’t going to let doubt and insecurity control me any longer. The balance in my account gave me freedom. Bought me time to explore the dream I’d sidelined.

  Of course, I was still the same practical person who lived with my parents at almost forty years old to save money. I wasn’t going to quit my teaching job until I knew I could make a living doing something else, somewhere else. Positions in our school district were too hard to come by in a town this small. But I was allowed to take a sabbatical for a semester. I could see if I could make it in the city before cutting ties here.

  The idea frightened me as much as it excited me as I pushed out of the bank and headed down the sidewalk to the bakery. I’d initially planned on wallowing in my heartache with some sweets. But now, with at least a bare bones future laid out in front of me, perhaps it would be more of a celebratory pastry.

  I stepped up to the glass display case and gazed at the seasonal offerings. Cupcakes ranging in flavors from bourbon-spiked eggnog to candy cane white chocolate twist were tempting. But it was today’s special, Red Velvet decorated to look like a Santa suit, that had my heart clenching.

  Even the cupcakes reminded me of Christopher.

  Bethany, the owner and head baker, emerged from the back room. “Elizabeth. Hi, hello. Sorry. I was just, uh, busy in the back.”

  The reason for her pink cheeks and flustered appearance sauntered out next. Brandon, her boyfriend. He moved to stand next to her, leaning one hand on the glass display case as he lovingly rubbed the back of her neck with the other.

  I fought a stab of envy. That’s what I wanted. What they had. I knew Brandon lived and worked in the city, just like Christopher. But he was here in Mudville at least as much as he was gone.

  He didn’t disappear for decades. He came back. For her.

  I drew in a breath against the tightness in my chest and forced a smile. “Are you working here now?” I asked him, joking.

  “No, he’s not,” she answered with conviction, shooting him a sideways glance.

  “Only because she won’t hire me.”

  Bethany rolled her eyes. “Like you’d really leave your company to work for me.”

  Brandon lifted a brow. “You never know. I might want to try swapping my job for yours for six months or so.”

  He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead as renewed envy cut another slice across my heart.

  “Hey, that’s a good idea. Job Swap. Is that already a reality show? Maybe I should pitch it to a network.” He grinned.

  I let out a breathy laugh as he voiced the exact plan I had. “If only it were that easy swapping jobs. That’s pretty much what
I want to do. Leave my teaching job for a semester and try something else.”

  Bethany nodded. “I hear you. I consider that every morning when the alarm goes off at five a.m. and I have to come to the shop and start the day’s baking.”

  Brandon let out a snort. “Believe me, every time your alarm goes off at five, I wish you would change jobs too.”

  Bethany turned to frown at him.

  “Just teasing, baby. You can stop glaring at me.” Brandon pressed a kiss to her forehead and then turned his attention to me. “So tell me, what would you want to do instead in your job swap? Any ideas?”

  I nodded. “I went to school for design. That’s what I want to do. Not interior design, but more commercial design. Retail spaces. Hotel lobbies maybe. Restaurants or bars. Though I don’t suppose they redo those all that often.”

  “Elizabeth is responsible for the Winter Wonderland over at the farm stand. And she did all the decorations for the fall festival there in September,” Bethany told Brandon.

  “I’ve been satisfying my creative side volunteering to design the Rotary events in town.”

  Brandon bobbed his head. “Slim pickings for design jobs in Mudville, I suppose.”

  “Sadly, yes.”

  “You know what? I might have a lead for you. One of my clients is expanding. I’m pretty sure she’s looking for someone to merchandise the new stores. You wouldn’t consider relocating to the city, would you?” Brandon asked.

  Was this man reading my mind? Or was Bethany’s boyfriend really some kind of guardian angel sent down to be my Christmas miracle, just when I needed one the most?

  Trying to wrap my head around this Bedford Falls moment, right here in Mudville, I nodded. “I definitely would consider relocating.”

  He reached for his phone. “I’ll give her a call right now and connect you two.”

  I could barely breathe as I said, “Thank you.”

  Brandon glanced up from his cell. “Oh, and I’m planning on being here through the beginning of January, so if you wanted to stay at my place down there while you’re interviewing, you’re welcome to. It’s just sitting empty.”

  Now I was in danger of hyperventilating. “That’s really generous. Thank you. So much. I might do just that. If she’s interested in talking to me, that is. I don’t have much experience.”

  He pressed his lips together and lifted his brows. “You have plenty. All she has to do is take a look at the Morgan Farm Market Instagram where they posted pics of the Fall Fest and Winter Wonderland and she’ll see that. But since you are actively looking for a job, you might want to download some of those shots and put together a portfolio.”

  I nodded. He was right. I needed to do that and so much more. I didn’t even have a recent resume. I was completely unprepared for this and yet there was a warm glow of hope in my chest. I couldn’t beat it down no matter how much I tried. Instead, it flared to life, blazing brighter.

  Hope was the quickest path to disappointment but I couldn’t fight it this time.

  From what I’d heard, Brandon was important. So was his company. He had huge clients, including the state governor. With his backing maybe—just maybe—I’d have a chance.

  Then there was that other hope. The one that had nothing to do with my career.

  The hope for something more with Christopher.

  If I could get a job in the city, and then get an apartment down there somewhere, I’d be near him. I wouldn’t have to count on him coming to visit Mudville.

  The feminist in me bristled that an independent woman didn’t move to follow a man. Didn’t depend on him for her own self-fulfillment. But I wasn’t doing that. I was following a decades’ old dream for a career that I’d all but given up on. And if one of the side benefits was that I’d be nearer to Christopher, I wasn’t going to feel bad about it.

  Brandon had wandered to the back of the bakery for the phone conversation. When he emerged again shortly after it was with a smile. “You available for an interview this week?” he asked.

  The air whooshed out of my lungs as I glanced from him, to Bethany, and then back to Brandon. “Really?”

  “Yes. The position is still open and she’d love to meet with you. What’s your number? I’ll text you her contact info.” Brandon watched me expectantly as my phone number, the one I’d had for years, eluded me.

  “I think she’s in shock.” Bethany laughed and reached for her cell phone on the counter. I heard her recite my number for Brandon from her contacts list.

  “Thank you. So much.” I looked from her to him again. “I don’t even know how to thank you enough.”

  He shook his head. “All I did was get you an interview. The rest is up to you.”

  “And you’re gonna nail it. I know it.” Bethany smiled. “And since you look like you might pass out, I’m going to insist you sit down and eat a cupcake. Today’s special?”

  “Yes. Perfect.” I nodded, still in shock as my cell phone dinged with Brandon’s message containing the contact for the woman who might change my entire life.

  I sat heavily in a chair and laid my phone on the table just as Bethany slid a laden plate in front of me.

  “Thanks.” I managed the single word with my mind spinning with everything that had happened, and everything I had yet to do.

  My cell dinged again. I glanced at the display and saw Christopher’s number. He’d programmed it into my phone, and my number in his, sometime after our kitchen sex last night.

  Christopher: Hey. Are you at the farm stand? Santa’s up for another day of work if you need me. And personally I’m up for anything else that you are. I took tomorrow off.

  He’d ended the text with a winking emoji, followed by a Santa emoji, followed by a devil emoji, followed by a laughing emoji.

  I smiled as the Santa cupcake on the plate caught my eye. I really wasn’t one to put much stock in kismet or serendipity or any of those things that romantic comedy plots were made of, but I had to admit there were a lot of coincidences surrounding me and Santa this year.

  Santa Station had brought Christopher and me together again. And my craving for some of Bethany’s signature sweets, like this Santa cupcake, had put me in front of Brandon, a man with amazing connections.

  It was almost enough to turn a girl into a believer.

  The jingling of the bell on the door had me raising my gaze just as Christopher stood in the doorway, smiling at me.

  “Hey. You’re here. What a coincidence. I came in to buy some sweets to lure you back to my place with.” He pulled out the chair opposite me and eyed the cupcake on my plate. “Santa, huh? Nice choice. As a recent Santa Claus myself, I’m very glad you have a soft spot for a man in a red suit.”

  My lips twitched with a smile. “I definitely do. And you don’t have to lure me to your place. I was about to text you back. I was hoping to head over to see you next. We, uh, have some things to talk about.”

  He lifted his brows. “That sounds ominous.”

  “No, not really.”

  “All right.” He didn’t push me for more, but he kept me pinned with his stare.

  I decided to not make him wait to hear the news. “I have an interview for a possible job in the city.”

  His eyes widened. “That’s great. Amazing.”

  I bobbed my head. “It is, if I get it. And even if I don’t I’m going to keep trying. I have enough in my savings I can take some time off from work here, rent a small place downstate and keep looking.”

  A small smile bowed his lips. “I’m feeling a bit like I’m in The Gift of the Magi right now.”

  I frowned, understanding the reference to the Christmas story but not why he was feeling that way. “Why is that?”

  “I had a real estate agent out to the farm this morning. The plan was to put the property on the market. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to keep it, so I could come up here on weekends to see you.” Christopher let out a short laugh. “But now, you’re going to be in the c
ity. So while I’m trying to find a way to spend more time here, you’ll be there.”

  “If I get a job. Otherwise it’s all going to be temporary and I’ll be back to start the fall semester next year,” I reminded him.

  “You’re going to get it. I believe in you.” He reached out and squeezed my hand. “But even with both of us living and working downstate, I think I’m still going to keep the farm. It’ll be nice to have a place to get away from Manhattan once in a while. And of course, we’ll want to visit your parents.”

  “We? As in us, together?” I asked, picking up on the word that had my heart speeding.

  He bobbed his head. “Yes. If that’s what you want.”

  I nodded. “It’s definitely what I want.”

  Bethany came to stand next to the table. “Can I get you two some coffee or anything?”

  “I’d love a cup of coffee. Two, if you want one.” He glanced at me.

  “Sure. Yeah. I’d love a cup.”

  Christopher tipped his chin toward the cupcake. “And another one of those Santa cupcakes.”

  Bethany smiled. “Santa’s been the hot seller all weekend.”

  “I’m not surprised.” Christopher laughed. “Everyone loves Santa.”

  I know I did. At least, I loved the one sitting across the table from me. The one who was turning the doubter in me into a true believer.

  “Lizzy?” Christopher calling me by his old nickname for me brought my attention back to him.

  “Yeah?”

  “Are we staying or taking this to go?” he asked as Bethany hovered nearby waiting for my answer to the question.

  “I think we’ll take it to go, thanks.” I glanced at Christopher with a sly smile that he immediately picked up on.

  He nodded, already standing. “Yeah, I think that’s a very good idea.”

  I laughed at his enthusiasm.

  Santa had better hide his eyes. It looked like we were about to get a little naughty.

  EPILOGUE

  CHRISTOPHER