Free A Kiss From Kringle (Novella) (Frosty's Snowmen Book 2) by Rhian Cahill

 
    Chris leaned against the picket fence in front of Santa’s house and watched the families enjoying a chilly afternoon in the Village.
    He smiled.
    It didn’t matter how many hours of sleep he went without, the first day they opened the doors and invited the children inside the icy wonderland of Santa’s Village he knew the exhaustion was worth it.
    Every year, Frosty’s Snowmen arrived with trucks full of equipment and spent three days — and nights — turning the arena into what was effectively a huge ice cave. If the walls were glass, it would look like a giant snow globe with the North Pole inside.
    Snow covered roofs on gingerbread houses. Picket fences bordered cobblestone streets. Matching cobblestone paths lead to Santa’s house, the toy workshop, the candy store, and past the stables, complete with live reindeer.
    Elves with pointy ears and cheery smiles dressed in red, green and white. Mr and Mrs Claus in rockers on their porch listened to whispered wishes. Santa’s jolly laughter rang out to join the squeals of delight from children racing down the thirty-metre ice slide.
    Magic shimmered in the air giving the impression anything was possible if you believed.
    Chris was a believer.
    Had been from the moment his father brought him to Santa’s Village when he was barely old enough to understand the visit. It had been his most anticipated day of the year — every year. Not even Christmas morning beat the first day in the Village.
    And now it was his.
    Well, his and Kandy’s and Jack’s. Before Jack’s return, it had been him and Kandy at the helm since their fathers’ decision to hand over Frosty’s Snowmen to the next generation. Not that he’d wanted it any other way. Unlike his childhood friend, Chris had never lost his love for all things Christmas.
    Frost, Kringle and Cane hadn’t only built a profitable company — they’d built a legacy. One Chris was determined to keep going for generations to come.
    His smile widened as he surveyed the streets and all the happy little faces running around.
    From where he stood, he could see the line of children waiting for their turn on the slide. And one of their new employees supervising. He didn’t remember interviewing the woman and he was the one who employed staff. With the return of the prodigal son last year, he’d been able to surrender some duties to Jack, but Chris always dealt with hiring and firing.
    He wouldn’t have forgotten hiring her.
    Even separated by twenty or so metres, he felt the tug of attraction. Sitting across a desk from her in a confined space that wasn’t sub-zero temperatures and crowded with people would have done more than get his attention. It would have grabbed and squeezed.
    He couldn’t decide if he should stay where he was or move closer. There were pros and cons to both actions.
    “Hey, whatcha doin’?” Kandy slid her arm through his as she sidled up next to him. “Anyone up to mischief?”
    Chris glanced down at her and arched an eyebrow.
    She grinned. “Well, anybody other than you.”
    He tipped his head in the direction of the slide. “New girl? What’s her deal?”
    If anyone knew the gossip, it would be Kan. She had a way of ferreting out everyone’s secrets. But the creases in her forehead and downturned mouth said she didn’t know this one.
    “You slipping?” he asked.
    “No. I just have no idea who she is.” Kan raised her eyes to his. “I’ve never seen her… No, wait.” Her gaze swung back to the woman in question. “I think I can guess who she is.”
    “Guess? What the f—”
    Her gloved hand covered his mouth. “Uh-uh. Watch your mouth.”
    “How can we have someone working in the Village if neither of us knows who the hell she is?” Dear God. If Jack found out he’d flip. His friend may have given up practising as a lawyer, but there was no way Jack’s lawyer brain could be switched off. He’d be running through all the possible legal ramifications in seconds. “We have