Chapter Three
Connor took a few more pictures as he did his morning walk-through of the mall. The stores would all open soon and frantic shoppers would enter for their last minute gifts. They’d shout and grumble at each other; the store clerks would roll their eyes; even the honking of the cars would permeate the mall’s walls. The town was descending into angry chaos with each hour Christmas came closer. Since it was only three days away, tomorrow would be even worse. A woman stepped on his foot as she scurried past him, her arms full of bags. Hello, excuse me? Why did the negative energy get so much worse during the holiday season? And where did common respect and decency go? Within a matter of days, things had gone from holly, jolly singing, to fighting over who got the last fifty percent deal And holy crap, don’t forget about the white rabbit gift for the boss’s cousin’s neighbor’s boyfriend at the company Christmas party. Those people were even crazier.
Then again, he still hadn’t gotten Alex’s gift. He’d tried. A hundred times. He’d even thought he had found the perfect present for her. What did you get for the beautiful, female cop who kicked ass during the daytime, and played little girl to her daddy at night? A set of pink and black, fuzzy handcuffs, blindfold and matching tutu, of course.
But when she’d started closing down on him, stopped talking to him—confiding in him, and then safeworded when he had played daddy like they had for so many months already… Connor wasn't sure any longer. Maybe the little thing wasn’t for her anymore. Or even worse, maybe he wasn't for her anymore. Had Alex moved on? Maybe it had been fun for a few months, but she was ready to stop the role play. Or the relationship. It was killing him, not knowing. He’d give her all the space she needed. If she wanted to move back into her own place again, okay. If she didn't want to play daddy and little girl anymore, that was all right too. It would suck losing a special part of their relationship, but she meant more to him than just sex and daddy games. But what if she wanted out? His stomach soured at the thought. He’d have to let her go if that’s what she asked. He wouldn’t even tell her it was killing him inside. Hell, he wished she would just talk to him.
“I don’t want to go! He’s too scary!” A high-pitched shriek came from Santa’s workshop, and Connor turned.
A mother was trying to coax her young daughter to get into line to see Santa. Connor couldn’t blame the kid. Santa was looking a little worse for the wear this morning. Come on, yeah, the dude had a beard, but couldn’t he have at least combed it?
“We’ve tried three times—she’s dying to see him, but she keeps getting scared at the last second,” the mother explained to Alex who nodded.
“I remember you. You’re Livvy, right?”
The girl nodded.
Livvy, you don’t have to visit Santa if you don’t want to.” Alex knelt down in front of the kid.
“But he won’t know what I want,” the child whined.
“There are other ways to get the message to him,” Alex whispered loudly enough for them to hear. “You could ask your mom to help you write him a letter, you could—”
“You go first,” the little girl interrupted.
“What?” Both mother and elf asked at the same time.
The little girl crossed her arms and turned speculative eyes on Alex. “You show me it’s safe. Sit on his lap and ask for what you most want for Christmas.”
Alex straightened her back and stood back up with a strong smile. “Okay. You see that man over there with the camera?” She pointed at Connor, and he waved at the child and mother. “That’s my fiancé. He protects me when I’m scared. I’ll be honest. I’m a bit scared of Santa myself. I don’t know what to believe. But I know my fiancé will protect me, just like your mom always watches out for you.”
Connor strode closer and gave them a smile that he hoped conveyed strength and safety. “I’ll get a good picture too, Pip. Smile for me?”
Alex nodded and strode toward Santa. She leaned down and whispered in his ear. Santa’s eyes widened, but he recovered quickly and held his arms open.
“Ho ho ho. Come, elf Alex. Please tell me what you most want for Christmas.”
Alex gave a thumbs up to the little girl and sat gently on Santa’s lap. She quietly told Santa what she wanted.
Damn. Connor couldn’t hear. Maybe he could corner Santa later and get him to tell him what Alex had asked for.
“I’ll do my best, Alex. Now you be a good girl and talk to your fiancé,” Santa said in a loud, booming voice.
Alex’s cheeks reddened, but she nodded and gave him a hug before thanking him and getting off his lap to head back to the little girl. “All right. What do you think?”
Livvy raised herself as tall as she could. “He still looks like he smells bad, but I’ll go for it.”
“You’re being very smart about strangers.” Alex knelt down and hugged her. “The reason your mommy is allowing this is because she is nearby watching.”
“My mom always keeps me safe, just like your fi-nanc-ay.”
Alex giggled when Livvy mispronounced the word. “I’ll have your candy cane ready for when you are finished.”
Livvy tentatively crept forward, sat on Santa’s lap and after a moment’s hesitation, opened the floodgates of her desires. One Barbie, a mermaid My Little Pony, a Draculaura, and a fluffy grey kitten—with emerald green eyes and sweet paws—later, and the kid was happily waving to Santa and Alex as she crunched on her candy cane.
Alex had saved the day again. His sweet, little elf had no limits—except when it came to him. He took a few more pictures as the last of the Santa line disappeared. Alex placed the “Out feeding the reindeer” sign, so they could all take a break, and strode over to give Connor a quick hug.
He held her tightly in his arms. The smell of peppermint and cocoa washed over him as he inhaled. God, he could never get enough of this sweet woman. He never wanted to let her go.
“I’m sorry about last night.” She arranged herself so she could stay in their embrace, but so her face was no longer burrowed into his chest.
“It’s okay. Are you feeling better today?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I’m going to go get a snack and hit the little elf’s room before the workshop opens again. Want to join me?”
“For the snack or the little elf’s room?” he whispered and pulled her tighter against him. The area was like a ghost town. While the BOGO sale over at the Disney store was still going strong, the really crazy shoppers had all gone to work or school. This place would be basically dead for the next few hours. Then after school, it would jackknife straight into jingle-hell again. That’s when Connor and Alex needed to be on their A game. Since the teens were the ones who had caused all the trouble last week, it went to reason their best time would be after 2:30 p.m.
Alex giggled and smacked his chest. “We can play Naughty elf and Bad Santa later. Right now, I just want a muffin and some coffee. Herding kids through reindeer while watching out for delinquents gives me an appetite.”
They walked hand in hand over to the bakery. Santa walked out, a scone in one hand, and a smoking pipe in the other.
“Don’t you dare light up that pipe where some small child could see you,” Sophie called out after him, her hands on her ample hips.
“It’s in all the books,” Santa grumbled and frowned back at her.
“Too bad. It sets a bad example for the youngsters, besides, you said you wanted to quit.”
“Are you trying to incur my wrath, woman?” His eyes twinkled, through his mouth was set in a firm straight line.
Sophie laughed, and a cascade of flour shook from her apron and onto the floor. “Your wrath, my rear end, you big softie. Now go get yourself some jelly beans or something and go for a walk. No pipes. I mean it, Tophe.”
Santa shook his head and smiled. A real smile that transformed his whole face. He leaned in and hugged Sophie before giving her bottom a swift smack. “Don’t get into any trouble while I’m at work.”
She giggled, gave him a peck on the cheek and gave his beard a small tug. “Trouble’s my middle name, and don’t you forget it.”
Santa half laughed, half grunted before nodding at Connor and Alex and striding away.
This was what Connor wanted. He could see the love shining in this couple’s eyes. Flirtatious, funny, energetic, accepting of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Connor needed to talk with Alex as soon as possible. This, this older couple who could be on the cover of every Christmas story out there, they were what he wanted for Christmas. He wanted to have this with Alex. Love her, hold her, spank her, grow old with her and grumble when she nagged at him about his little vices. Yeah, maybe he should go sit on the dude’s lap too. Or… not. He could just talk to him.
“Hey, um, Santa. Mind if I walk with you for a few?” Connor caught up to the older man.
“Sure. Connor, right? You're engaged to my new favorite elf.”
Connor nodded and mouthed to Alex. “You okay?”
She smiled. “Go ahead. Have fun with Santa. Don’t step in reindeer poop.”
Ten minutes later, Connor walked back into the empty mall. The chat with the older man had really enlightened him. He reminded Connor of his grandpa. Strong, wise, funny—come on, the guy was calling himself Kristopher—old-fashioned, respectable… He hadn’t hesitated a second before launching into a lecture about open communication and respect. It had floored Connor. That’s what he got for judging based on appearance alone. It turned out Kristopher had been temporarily laid off his job due to an inability to keep up with new market standards. Depression, anger, resentment, all the stuff that came with something like that, followed.
But the couple was stronger than ever, and his sweet wife had followed him, and opened up her quaint, little bakery in the mall in October. Kristopher was an amiable man, with rosy cheeks and a wide smile and bright eyes. Until he walked back into the dead mall. Then he released a heavy sigh and his eyes lost their sparkle.
“Not even sure this job is worth it. See ya around, Connor.”
Grumpy Santa was back in all his dark, trudging glory. And Connor couldn’t blame him. Who would want to be Santa amidst all the negativity and lack of good will?
The mall was silent except for the quiet holiday music playing in the background.
“Woohoo! It’s Christmas time!” The five foot two elf almost toppled him over as she sprinted past him. “Come on, Con! Let’s go caroling!” Alex the elf had been transformed into Super Elf 5000, complete with fake ears, glitter from head to toe, and bells. Lots and lots of bells. Her whole body jingled as she did cartwheels through the mall. “Have a holly jolly Christmas!” she sang off-key in a very loud voice that echoed through the mall.
“What in the Sam Hill is going on here?” Grumpy Santa yelled.
Connor sped toward her and caught her mid-cartwheel.
Arms flailing, legs spread, upside down, Alex gave them both huge smile. “Christmas spirit rocks! I love Christmas! Um…” She wiggled a bit, and a dozen candy canes fell from her top.
Connor stood her back onto her feet.
“Want a candy cane? I have a whole box of them!” Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were glazed with excitement as she bounced back and forth. “Jingle Bells, Batman smells…”
“Pip, calm down.” Connor gave her a little shake and looked around, thankful there weren't any patrons milling about.
“I can’t calm down!” she yelled in a sing song voice. “I’m full of Christmas cheer! Woohoo!” She reached into a paper bag stuffed into her bra and pulled out the remains of a brownie. “Want some? It’s special. Christmas joy is in the center! Let’s give some to everyone!”
Oh my God, his partner was baked. But this was not a typical reaction to marijuana. High on something else? Connor needed to get her out of there before mall security came and arrested them all.
“Where’d you get that brownie, young lady?” Santa’s angry eyes pierced hers, and Alex wilted.
She glanced over at Sophie, who had come running from her bakery, wide-eyed, her mouth open in an O.
“I see.” Santa turned to Connor. “Go get your woman home and let her relax until the effects wear off.”
What should Connor do? He needed to get Alex out of there before she caused a commotion or freaked out some kids. She’d never forgive herself. But he was a cop, and had a job to do. This was the big break they were looking for. The Santa couple—at least one of them anyway—was dishing out illegal substances in the mall.
“Take her home now, son.” Santa squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll take care of things on this end.”
Scooping Alex up into his arms, Connor glared back at Sophie and Kristopher. “We’re going to talk about this later.” He carried his little elf out to the parking lot and listened to her soft singing as she burrowed her face into his chest. As soon as he was sure she was all right, he would take the sample of the brownie in for some testing. Then he’d get his warrant. That older couple would be behind bars before they could say “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer”.
“Silent Night…” Alex sang drowsily from the passenger seat of the car. “You’re a good daddy, you know that?” Her head leaned to the side, and she fell asleep.