Free Jingle Spells by Vicki Lewis Thompson Page B

Taryn’s heart began to pound as she realized the opportunity she had. What she was about to do was wrong. When she was caught, and she would be, she’d have no excuse other than the fact that she was doing it for love. But if she didn’t overcome her scruples immediately, she’d lose her chance.
    Opening Belle’s wallet, she took out the golden access card and replaced it with her own. Then she tucked Belle’s card in her pocket. Her heart was racing so fast she felt light-headed. Belle hadn’t returned by the time she’d ordered and paid for both drinks. She walked over to the window where the orders were coming out, and she waited. The crowd was so dense and Belle was so short that Taryn couldn’t see her.
    Taryn’s coffee came up first, and right after it did, Belle appeared, her cheeks bright red. “All set?”
    â€œI have mine.” Taryn handed her the wallet, which by now felt like a ticking time bomb. “Thank you.”
    â€œYou’re welcome. Listen, you don’t have to stay. I have to go in the opposite direction, anyway.”
    â€œIf you’re sure.” Taryn could hardly wait to get out of there.
    â€œI’m sure. Nice meeting you, and I’ll see you later.”
    â€œSame here, Belle.” With what she hoped was a smile and not a grimace, Taryn left the shop. Instantly she began drinking as fast as possible without scalding her tongue. The caffeine would give her the courage she’d need for what she was about to do.
    Once she was out of sight of the coffee shop, she chugged the last of her coffee and tossed the cup in a nearby trash can. Then she picked up the pace, but she couldn’t run. That would attract attention.
    She slowed down again twenty yards from the Evergreen building. She couldn’t pant when she called out a greeting to Jolie S. Garland. She would have trouble acting normal as it was.
    Jolie smiled at her. “Did you get your coffee, dear?”
    â€œSure did. Drank it already. Back to work!” She kept moving. Her hand trembled and she had to swipe Belle’s card twice before the elevator doors opened. Luck was with her. It was empty. And lo and behold, all the numbers were lit.
    Her finger hovered over the button for fifteen, but pressing it would have been stupid. No doubt she’d run smack into Cole the minute she stepped off the elevator.
    Wait a minute. Besides the fifteen floors above ground, there were five below. She hadn’t been able to see those with her original access card. And everyone knew secrets were always hidden in the basement. She punched B5.
    The car started its slow glide down, and her stomach began to churn. She reminded herself Cole had promised nothing bad was going on in this building, and Cole was incapable of telling a lie. Unlike her. She was both a thief and a liar. She prayed Cole loved her enough to forgive her.
    The elevator slid to a stop and the doors rumbled open to reveal...a paint and body shop? She wasn’t tremendously familiar with them, but she recognized the giant paint sprayers. Positioned in the middle of the area, its new coat of red gleaming in the overhead lights, was a giant sleigh. The curved metal runners had been taped, as had all the metal fittings. A workbench along one wall was lined with various sized brushes and a large can of paint.
    No one was in the shop, so she crept forward and looked at the white label on top of the can.
Sleigh, Gold Pinstriping
,
Formula 896
had been typed on the adhesive label. Could this be a prop for an advertising campaign?
    If so, she couldn’t imagine why she wouldn’t be allowed to see it. No wiser than before, she returned to the elevator and rode to the next floor. This time, as the doors began to open, she was greeted by quite a racket. Staccato tapping filled the space, as if dozens of tiny hammers were being wielded by...elves.
    Stepping through the open doors, she stared at tiny people