Free Reindeer Games 2 - Toys for Good Girls by Mykles Jet Page A

Santa’s Village rarely changed size. The residential plots had been the same for centuries, since the population was pretty regular.
    She walked up the path to Bok’s house and stood on the minuscule porch to knock at the bright green door. She was pretty sure he was home, although she couldn’t be absolutely certain.
    She tried the door handle and didn’t appreciate that it was locked. Not many people in the village locked their doors, but it wasn’t exactly uncommon. She put some strength behind her next knock and called out his name.
    It took knocking twice more before the lock finally clicked and the door opened. Bok stood on the other side, holding door and frame close so she could see just a sliver of him.
    “Hi,” she said, unable to smile through her surprise at his lack of welcome.
    “Hi.”
    “You’re not at work.”
    “I’m working from home.”
    Well, duh. Now that we’ve covered the obvious… She mentally shook herself. “Can I come in?”
    He glanced to his side, clearly thinking. Then shook his head. “No. I’m working.”
    “We’ve talked while you were working before.”
    “I know. I, uh, I’m way behind. Th-that’s why I’m working here. Less distractions.” “Oh.” She didn’t believe him, but she had no basis for calling him out. She knew next to nothing about what he did. “When do you think you’ll be done?”
    “I’m not sure.”
    “Okay.” Now she felt stupid. She was getting the clear idea he didn’t want to be around her, and it pissed her off. “Listen, I want to apologize for the other morning. I shouldn’t have let Nold and Issie in while you were sleeping.”
    His gaze dropped, and a flush colored the pale skin of his rounded cheeks. “That’s okay.”
    “I didn’t even think, and I…” She shrugged. “I’m sorry.” Silence. Uncomfortable. Awkward. She wanted to ask him to come home with her but got the impression she’d be rejected. She didn’t take rejection well. “All right. So. Right.”
    “Right.”
    She bit her tongue over an outburst she was dying to spit at him. She didn’t know what she wanted to say, only that his attitude pissed her off. “So. Call me sometime.” That’s as far as she’d go.
    He nodded, his gaze still averted. “Okay.”
    “Fine.” She stepped back off the porch. “Bye.”
    Bok groaned, leaning his forehead against the inside of his door as he locked it.
    That had gone badly. Spectacularly so. He’d seen the look in Tanty’s eyes. She’d actually seemed hurt. And why not? She probably considered them friends, or at least well on the road to being so, and he’d dashed that. But he couldn’t see her, and he couldn’t tell her why.
    It was better this way. It was okay. Once he’d fixed everything, he’d explain, and she’d forgive him.
    It would be worth it.
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    “You’d better let me in,” Lon yelled though the locked door. Lon wasn’t very big or strong, but he was managing to pound the wood rather well. “If you don’t open up, I’m going to your mother’s.”
    Gritting his teeth over a growl, Bok dropped the damp towel he held over the back of his desk chair and stomped across his living room to unlatch the door. He opened it just enough to look out. He scowled even though he could barely make out Lon because of the glare of the pristine snow behind him. “Leave my mother out of this.” The last thing he needed was for his mother to stick her nose in his business. She was distracted enough by her own work, and he’d like it to stay that way.
    Lon’s silhouette thrust hands on hips, and Bok was sure there’d be a stern look to go with the posture. “Then don’t make me go see her. Let me in.”
    “No.”
    “Why?” Lon craned his neck, but there was no way he could see anything beyond Bok.
    “What are you doing in there?”
    “None of your business.”
    Lon’s face came into focus when he leaned closer. Concentration became horrified surprise on his animated