Candy closed up the bakery. Pandora, Jack, Krampus, and Cain had just arrived, ready to help Avery with the photoshoot. There was no need for Candy to stick around. Candy went to grab her purse, but, before she could walk out the door, Avery shouted her name.

Candy walked into Avery’s office.

“Yes? What’s up?” asked Candy.

“You won’t believe it,” said Avery. “The female model canceled on us.”

“Cancelled? Why?” asked Candy. “Can she reschedule?”

“She’s sick, real sick, and just can’t make it,” said Avery. “We have everything ready for the photoshoot. We’ve got Krampus ready with his camera, Pandora on props, Jack on the snow machine. We’ve got our male model. We just need to find a woman.”

“What about you?” asked Candy.

“Me? I’m the director,” said Avery. “Candy…I hate to ask you this, but, would you be willing to help me out?”

“I’m really not comfortable with this,” said Candy. “Look at me. I’m covered in flour. I’m greasy and oily. I need a shower and a nap.”

“I don’t think so,” said Avery, waving a hand over Candy’s body.

“Are you kidding? Just look at —” started Candy, looking down at her body.

Candy frowned. She could’ve sworn she was covered in a layer of flour. She reached up and touched her neck and her hair. They both felt clean.

“That’s…weird,” said Candy. “Do you have makeup, so I’ll look good on camera?”

“Pandora does,” said Avery. “Does that mean you’re in?”

“I love Christmas, so, I better put my money where my mouth is, and show everyone just how much I love it,” said Candy. “Alright. What do I have to do?”

“Go over to Pandora, who is set up outside, and get your outfit. Then, let her do your hair and makeup. We’ll figure things out from there,” said Avery. “Krampus and Cain are working on poses in the front of the bakery.”

“Got it,” said Candy. She headed outside and took a seat across from Pandora.

“Hey, Pandora,” said Candy. “I guess I’m the new model. Do you have anything in my size?”

“Of course I do,” said Pandora, reaching into a trunk of clothing. She pulled out an outfit, passing each piece to Candy.

“These’ll fit me?” asked Candy.

“Just got put it on,” said Pandora. “Here’s an empty duffel for your clothing.”

Candy went inside, to the employee bathroom, and got changed into the outfit. She stuffed her work clothing into the duffel. She headed back out to Pandora, who had makeup set out.

“You really think this looks okay?” asked Pandora, motioning over her body.

“The tight cranberry red pants show off your curves and look sophisticated. The big loose hunter green Christmas sweater is fun and, well, Christmassy, and the off-the-shoulder cut makes it look sexy,” said Pandora. “Are you cold? I’ll make this fast. Two minutes, max.”

Pandora quickly did Candy’s makeup and sent her back inside. Candy walked into the bakery’s main cafe area, where Avery was sitting in a director’s chair, Krampus was fiddling with his camera, and, in the center of the room, around the Christmas tree, a certain shifter was posing.

Pandora’s jaw dropped. She had seen Cain’s modeling pics on book covers. She’d never seen him strike a pose in real life. Cain was wearing a red and white Santa hat with a pair of Christmas themed boxer briefs and Christmas socks, and, over the shorts, a half-apron reading ‘Bear Claw Bakery.’

Even more impressive was how Cain had cleaned up. Cain had always come into the bakery looking like, well, a frikkin’ lumberjack, with scraggly hair, stubble, and a sheet of sweat over his body. Candy wasn’t sure what had happened, but she liked Cain’s fresh look. Cain had a modern, sexy haircut, with stubble shaved and shaped around his face, and he wasn’t covered in a layer of sweat…at least, not yet. He looked like he’d just walked off a New York City runway, not rowed to the bakery from a Christmas tree camp in the middle of a frikkin’ lake in Montana.

Cain caught sight of Candy. He hadn’t expected her to stick around for the photo shoot. He looked over her. She was in a different outfit, one that accentuated her curves, even though it didn’t show much skin. Heck, he couldn’t even see any cleavage, but the sight of Candy, hair in soft waves over her shoulder, her eyes bright and cheery, made his cock twitch.

“You’re the model?” asked Cain.

“See, Avery? I told you. It’s not going to work,” said Candy, crossing her arms.

“I just mean I didn’t expect you,” said Cain. “I thought Avery hired outside talent…but I’m glad to see the situation has changed. Have you done any modeling before?”

“No, but…” started Candy. “Never mind.

“What?” asked Cain.

“Back in SF, I’m in this burlesque troupe. We do all kinds of shows. Usually, I’m there for the Christmas pageant, but this year, well…I came up to The Wreath,” said Candy.

“Sounds like you’re the expert,” said Cain. “In all my years, I’ve never done a Christmas themed photoshoot.”

“Really?” asked Candy. “I could’ve sworn I’d seen your face on some Christmas romances.”

“The photoshoots weren’t Christmas themed though. People took other pics — for instance, pics of me dressed up as a cowboy — and added in other Christmas stuff on the covers,” explained Cain. “I’m still out of my element.”

“Come on, you’ve never seen anyone do sexy Christmas stuff before?” asked Candy. “It’s so easy. We need some jingle bells. Krampus, does that camera just do pictures, or does it do video too?”

“The demons in this thing do whatever I want them to,” Krampus said, tapping the camera. Candy laughed at his joke.

“Alright, well, then we really need some bells,” said Candy. “Also, we need more Santa hats. We want to go cheeky with this.”

“That’s exactly right,” said Avery. “I’ll go get the props from Pandora.”

Avery came back with a box of small Christmas props.

“Here,” said Avery, passing Candy a bag of jingle bells. “What do you want to do with these?”

“It’s easy,” said Candy. She took four bells out of the bag and gave two to Cain. She held the bells up to Cain’s pecs, right around his nipples.

“What do I do with mine?” asked Cain.

“Hold them up to me and smile at me,” said Candy. “It’s cheeky.”

“I have an even better idea,” said Avery. She grabbed a table and moved it behind Cain. She went to the bakery and made a plate of sugar cookies. She placed it on the table.

“Candy, look past Cain, at the plate of cookies,” said Avery. “Cain, you should still be looking at Avery. It’s cute, because what gal would want cookies when there’s a big hunk in front of her?”

“I get it,” said Cain.

Candy held the bells up to Cain’s chest and then, peered past him, at the cookies. Cain lifted up his bells to Candy’s chest, his fingers grazing her ample bosom as their arms entangled. Candy’s eyes flicked back to Cain’s. For a second, she swore she saw his brown eyes flash bright green and red and gold, all at the same time, but she decided it must’ve been the lighting in the room.

“Is that too much?” asked Cain. “Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, I’m perfectly comfortable,” lied Candy.

“Closer,” shouted Avery. “Stand further apart but put your hands closer to each other’s bodies.”

Candy pressed her hands up against Cain’s pecs, and Cain lay his hands flat on Candy’s chest. Candy couldn’t stop staring into Cain’s eyes.

“Okay, this won’t do,” said Avery. “We can’t see the bells. It might work on stage, but…this won’t work for the shoot. How about a classic? Sitting on Santa’s lap? Hello? Earth to Candy and Cain?”

“Oh, sorry,” said Candy, snapping out of her trance.

Jack and Krampus moved one of the armchairs into a free spot in front of the tree. Cain sat down and then, Candy sat in his lap, her legs over the arms of the armchair. Cain wrapped an arm around Candy’s waist, cradling her, keeping her safe.

“Something’s missing,” said Avery. “Wait. Jack, Krampus, move that table up, so it’s in the foreground.”

Avery went and made a plate of peppermint chip cookies. They were like white chocolate chip cookies but made with red and white candy chips. She put the plate of cookies on the table, and then, went outside. She came back in with a big candy cane prop.

“Candy, you hold this, and make it look like it’s coming out of Cain’s pants,” said Avery.

Candy did it. She felt her cheeks flush.

“Are you embarrassed?” asked Cain.

“I just…I’m used to doing sassy, sexy routines with my female friends, but not with men,” said Candy. “That’s not in my wheelhouse, you know?”

“I get it,” said Cain. “I remember the first time I had to wear a kilt for a Scottish historical romance. I was…very surprised at the draftiness. I’ll put it that way.”

“Perfect,” said Avery. “Now, switch.”

“Switch?” asked Candy.

“You sit in the chair, and Cain, you sit down on her lap. Jack, we’re going to need that snow now. Krampus, move that table out of the way. This is for the ads for the party,” said Avery.

Candy sat down in the comfy chair. Cain sat on her lap, but his weight was mostly distributed onto the armchair. For a second, Candy was sure the armchair would break. Sure, it could handle a BBW baker, but an alpha male werebear lumberjack? No way.

Jack turned on the snow machine. Candy felt flecks of what felt like real snowflakes hitting her face. Cain leaned it to wipe a snowflake off her face.

Avery had Candy and Cain do a few more poses.

“Alright, you two — you can take a break, but be back in five,” ordered Avery. “We’re going to set up the last few props.”

“Got it, boss,” said Candy. “Wanna get some fresh air?”

“Yeah, I could use some,” said Cain, following Candy to the back patio. “Is this your first time modeling?”

“Is it that obvious?” asked Candy.

“No, not at all — that’s why I asked,” said Cain. “You’re a natural. You know, a big, beautiful woman like you should do this for a living.”

“Oh, stop,” said Candy, turning away from Cain and blushing.

“I mean it, Candy — you’ve got this all-American look. You manage to be sexy and sweet at the same dang time,” said Cain. “I know there are photographers out there that would love to get a piece of Candy.”

“Well, if this baking thing ever goes sideways, I guess I could look into it,” said Candy. “Right now, I’m just hoping that the ad campaign is a success.”

Krampus came out. “Hey, you two. We’re ready.”

Candy walked into the bakery, followed by Cain. In the center of the bakery, there was still a Christmas tree, but, near the tree, there was a giant sleigh. At least, Candy thought it was a sleigh until she realized the sleigh had red and green silk pillows and sheets. The curved wooden sleigh wasn’t just a sleigh — it was a sleigh bed.

“That’s our prop?” asked Candy.

“Yes, and I expect you two to make love —” said Avery.

“What?” squeaked Candy, interrupting Avery.

“To the camera,” finished Avery. “Candy, what did you think I was implying? We’re not shooting a porno in here! This is a family establishment!”

“Oh, right,” said Candy. “Okay. I, uh…alright. What exactly should we do?”

“Have a pillow fight,” said Pandora. “At least, if Jack and I were on the bed, that’s what I’d do — you know, for a photo shoot.”

“Uh-huh,” said Avery, arching a brow.

“Whatever,” mumbled Pandora. “Cain, take the green pillow. It will contrast with your red hat. Candy, you take the red pillow. Jack, make some big, feathery blobs of snow.”

“Blobs?” asked Jack.

“I don’t know the technical term! I’m not the one that’s an ice —” started Pandora, but she caught herself mid-sentence. “Expert. An ice expert.”

“Uh-huh,” said Jack with a smile. “I think I can handle this. You want the snow to look like feathers coming out of the pillows? Well, then, just let me work my magic.”

Candy lifted up her pillow and mimed throwing it at Cain.

“Come on,” said Cain. “I know you can hit me harder than that, Candy. Show me what you got.”

Candy hit Cain harder with the pillow. For a second, she thought the pillow had split open from the impact, as white feathery shapes filled the air. Then, Candy looked at the pillow, which wasn’t ripped, and back at the shapes. She reached out and touched one of the white feathers. It melted on her fingertips. It wasn’t a feather — at least, not a real one. It was made of ice.

“How…” started Candy. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“I told you — Jack’s an expert when it comes to ice,” said Pandora.

While Candy was distracted, Cain took his opportunity to strike, gently hitting Candy with the pillow. Avery snapped photographs of Cain gleefully smiling as he hit Candy and of Candy’s face forming a small ‘O’ shape as she realized that she was being engaged in battle. A flurry of white feathers completed the image. Jack’s ice elemental powers were finally proving useful to Avery. In all her years managing the bakery, the Christmas elf had never understood what the big deal was.

Something hit Candy on the head. She looked up. There was a frikkin’ bundle of greenery hanging from a string, hanging from a stick. She looked. Pandora was holding the stick.

“You could’ve poked my eye out with that thing!” said Candy.

“Just trying to add another prop into the scene,” Pandora said innocently.

“Did it have to be that prop?” asked Krampus, folding his arms.

“It’s just some plant,” said Candy, looking at the white berries and green leaves of the silly bundle of twigs.

“That’s…not just any plant,” admitted Avery. “That’s mistletoe. Pandora, get that thing out of –”

“No, it’s fine,” said Candy. “Why don’t we use it? And I really mean use it. That is if you…”

“Of course,” said Cain. “Can’t promise my breath will be the mintiest, but –”

Jack turned the ice and wind machine on full blast. Candy fell forward on the bed, into Cain’s arms. She looked up at him. There was snow swirling behind him, but few flakes made it past his firm body, a wall against the storm. Quivering above them was the bunch of mistletoe.

“Oops,” whispered Candy.

“I don’t think you falling into my arms was a mistake,” whispered Cain. “I think…that it was Fate.”

Cain leaned down and kissed Candy. They closed their eyes and felt each other’s lips. A shiver ran down Candy’s spine as the snowflakes kissed her skin, but Cain’s kisses warmed her right up, like a cup of hot cocoa. Cain’s arms wrapped around candy. He pulled her onto his lap as the kiss deepened. Candy put a hand on Cain’s chest, not to push him away, but to pull him closer.

A flash interrupted the kiss. Candy’s eyes fluttered open. Her hand went to her lips. Had she really just kissed Cain?

“And…I think we’ve got it,” said Avery. “That’s a wrap, people.”

“This was a lot of fun,” said Cain, pulling Candy to her feet.

“We stayed out too late today, so we’re going to need to head out right now,” said Krampus.

“That speedboat of yours is a death machine,” said Avery.

“You mean the rowboat?” asked Candy.

“No,” said Cain. “Believe it or not, Krampus here has an actual bright red speedboat.”

“It only comes out for special occasions,” said Krampus. “We’ll be taking our leave now. Ta-ta, y’all.”

As Cain and Krampus walked away, Candy thought about what Cain had asked her. He’d asked if she was uncomfortable and she’d lied. She knew it was wrong to lie, especially so close to Christmas, but…what the heck was Candy supposed to say? Was she supposed to admit that Cain was the one man that made her body do uncomfortable things? Was she supposed to admit that she wasn’t exactly comfortable with how he made her body respond to his touch? That she was scared of how wet she got when he took her in his arms and cradled her on his lap? That she was freaked out by the fact that she was usually sassy and confident, but, around him, turned into a pile of jelly? No. There was no way Candy could ever admit any of that to Cain.