Free Be Mine for Christmas by Alicia Street, Roy Street Page B

be rescued. That’s exactly how she’d been lured in by her ex. Falling for a knight in shining armor who was in reality anything but. No way would she ever let that happen again.
    “Thanks for your help, Mr. Madsen. Have a good holiday.”
     
    **
     
    Monday afternoon, Reece Madsen pulled into the gas station minimarket to pick up a quick Danish and coffee. He hadn’t eaten lunch yet and still had a few stops to make before returning to the farm where his boring tuna fish sandwich sat in the fridge awaiting him.
    He hopped out of the Madsen’s Christmas Tree Farm van, its back end filled with red, pink and white poinsettias that he’d sell at the farm and use to decorate his gift shop. He bought them every year from Richardson’s Gardens, run by his friend Parker, whose thumb was so green he could probably grow dollar bills if he tried.
    Once inside, Reece made a beeline for the coffee counter, but he stopped short when he saw Ellie Dean standing there fixing herself a cup.
    If he’d thought it was hard to get her out of his mind last night, how much worse would it be after seeing her dressed in this sexy elf outfit? A holly red dress with a green sash at her tiny waist and a short, flared skirt that showed off the prettiest set of legs this side of heaven.
    Reece felt certain she had no husband. Her ringless fingers, the fact that Brandon never mentioned a father in his plea… and the way she had looked at him.
    Yesterday he’d tried to act casual in front of Ellie, not let on that he was going crazy inside. But he’d gotten totally zapped with that mind-blowing sense of recognition the moment their eyes met. He was certain her face was the same one he’d seen in his mind when he’d had his accident; her voice the same one he’d heard telling him to hold on, to stay alive.
    Five long years ago. What did it mean?
    Reece wasn’t by nature a superstitious man, but lying under a mangled car thinking death was coming in a matter of moments had way of making a person believe in strange things.
    Flirtatious humor being his best cover, Reece inched up behind Ellie. “You use three whole packs of sugar?”
    She turned and froze. “Wh-what are you doing here?” she asked in a breathless voice.
    He raised his eyebrows. “Buying some coffee.” Struggling for control, worried she’d see the raw need in him, he dropped his gaze to her mouth that was half open from her silent gasp. And what a delicious mouth. It was all he could do to hold himself back from cupping her neck and planting his lips on hers.
    “I’m guessing that big job offer you talked about must’ve come from Santa himself,” he said in a joking tone. “I hear he pays his elves pretty well. Or are you just showing your Christmas spirit?” He followed that with an appreciative glance at her dress and watched her turn red. Heck, after the way she blew off his attempt at playing Santa hero yesterday, a part of him enjoyed making her a bit uncomfortable.
    “It’s only a temporary position for the holiday season,” she said, her chin high.
    “Where?”
    “Right next door. Uncle Larry’s E-Z World.”
    “Larry’s?”
    “Appliances and electronics.”
    “Oh, I know it well. I also know Larry Neams.” What a sleazeball . The thought of Larry The Lech even looking at Ellie disturbed Reece to the core.
    “In fact, I’d better hurry back.” Ellie maneuvered past him and headed for the register. Grabbing her change, she turned to Reece and gave a quick, “Bye,” before shooting out the door.
    Momentarily stunned, Reece stared after her, mesmerized by the cute sway of her hips and the clicking of her foxy stiletto heels on the tile floor. He bounded forward and caught up with Ellie as she hurried across the parking lot. She slowed when she reached blackened snow obviously piled into mounds by a plow and forming a mini-wall between the lots fronting the convenience store and the appliance center.
    Reece watched in disbelief as she dug her