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

to get her out of here.”
    “Wait.” Kandy wrapped her hands around his arm. “Let me talk to her first.”
    “Why?” She knew something. He’d known Kan long enough to know when she was keeping something from him. He narrowed his eyes and gave her his most intimidating ‘tell me’ look.
    Kandy sighed. “Fine. But let me explain before you go charging over there.”
    He planted his feet shoulder-width apart, crossed his arms and waited.
    She rolled her eyes at him. “Seriously? Jack is now Mr Easy-going-happy-dude and you’re Mr Grouchy-fun-police?”
    “Kandy, we have someone posing as a staff member, in a place where every employee has to be run through the system and complete a Working With Children Check.”
    “Okay, okay.” She held up her hands. “I get it. But we’re fine, I promise you. If it’s who I think it is, she’s a school teacher.”
    “What do you mean who you think it is?”
    “I don’t know her” — she waved her hand towards the slide — “But I know who’s supposed to be there. Haylee Ward.”
    “And that’s not Haylee?”
    Kandy shook her head.
    “So who is it?”
    “Her sister Leah. She looks different in the elf costume, but that’s who I think it is.”
    “You’re sure?”
    “Yeah.” She sighed. “Leah came with Haylee to the interview. She stayed outside in the parking lot watching Haylee’s daughter, so I didn’t get a good look at her, but now I’m really looking I’m sure it’s her.”
    “And now they’ve swapped places?” He felt his eyebrows shoot up his forehead. “Why the hell would one of them interview if it was the other who would work here?”
    “I don’t think that’s it.” Kandy chewed her lip. “I should go over there and find out what’s going on. You’ll only cause a scene and, while Jack isn’t the grouchy-fun-police any more, this is not something we want to hit his radar.”
    Chris grabbed her elbow and swung her around to face him. “I’ll go.”
    “But—”
    “No. I’ll go.” He wanted to be the one to play this out with Leah-not-Haylee. As he rolled back through his memory, he remembered Haylee. She’d been eager for the chance to work in Santa’s Village. In fact, he recalled her saying she was enrolled to study childcare after the holidays and thought this job would be good experience. Surely their deception didn’t have malicious intent. And what did Kan say about the sister… “She’s a teacher?”
    Kandy nodded.
    “Right.” He let go of Kan’s arm. “Let’s see what’s going on, then.”
    ***
    Leah smiled at the little girl waiting for her turn. “That’s a pretty dress.”
    The blonde cutie did a twirl. “My Nanna made it.”
    “She’s very clever.” Leah crouched down. “Is pink your favourite colour?”
    “Yes.” She glanced over her shoulder before frowning at Leah. “My Mummy said I shouldn’t go on the slide ’cause I might ruin my dress. But I really want to go on the slide.”
    “Did she?” Leah looked up at the woman standing behind the girl. “Well if your Mummy says it’s okay, I’ll ride down with you in my lap so it doesn’t get ruined.”
    “You’d do that?” the woman asked.
    “Sure. I’m about to go on my break, so I can take her down before I leave.” Leah got to her feet. “Ah, here comes my replacement now. Hi Sharon.”
    “Hey. Busy as usual I see.” Sharon smiled at her.
    “The line’s stayed the same all day.” Leah’s eyes trailed the long snake of waiting children.
    “Yeah, it’s always like this,” Sharon said. “See you back here in fifteen.”
    “Oh, I’m riding the slide with this little one first.” She placed a hand on the girls shoulder. “Looks like it’s our turn.”
    “Thank you so much. Jessie would cry if she tore her dress and I’m afraid she’s going to on the ice,” Jessie’s mother said, a nervous frown on her face as she looked up to the top of the slide.
    “No worries.” Leah snagged a mat and held out a gloved