A Kiss From Kringle (Novella) (Frosty's Snowmen Book 2) Read Free Page B

to have dinner with me?”
    “Yes.”
    “You’re blackmailing me?”
    He contemplated her words for a moment before answering with a grin. “Yes.”
    ***
    Chris watched a number of emotions flitter across Leah’s face, through her eyes. She was an open book. She’d been easy to read since their first discussion.
    Once she’d finally spoken to him that is. Before that, she’d hidden behind a cool façade.
    He liked this Leah better.
    And not just because she was talking to him. No. This one opened the shutters and showed him the real woman. He wanted to know every little thing about her with an irrational need that went bone deep.
    “What sort of food do you like?” he asked.
    “I…um…” She shrugged. “I’ll eat pretty much anything.”
    “I know this really great place down the street. Thai.” Chris grabbed her hand and started walking. “Sound good?”
    “I guess so. It’s not like I can refuse.” She left her hand in his and he gave a mental fist-pump.
    “Well you could. But then I might be tempted to do something about today.” He wouldn’t. She had to know that.
    Her laughter flowed around them.
    “Something funny?”
    “Yes. You.”
    “Me?”
    “You’re not going to do anything about today.” Her words rang with confidence.
    He smiled. “You’re right. I’m not.”
    “I could walk away at any stage without any repercussions.”
    “You could. But you won’t.”
    “No. I won’t.”
    They wandered the rest of the way in comfortable silence, Leah’s hand tightly held in his, and Chris couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so content. Even opening day of Santa’s Village hadn’t felt quite as enjoyable as walking hand-in-hand with Leah.
    The early evening was warm and they weren’t the only ones out for a stroll. There were couples and families on foot as well as wheels — the two and four variety — making the most of what was left of the beautiful summer day. After the hectic first day inside the cold village, this quiet time was a welcome balm. With each step he took, his muscles released the tension that seemed a permanent part of him for the weeks leading up to and during this busy time of year.
    “Tell me about Meggie.”
    Leah grinned. “She’s a firecracker. Full of curiosity and boundless energy. I adore her.”
    “I can tell.” He pulled her closer to avoid the skateboarder careening their way. “I take it her father isn’t in the picture.”
    “No.” Her mouth pinched tight, deep grooves forming as her lips turned down.
    “Sore subject?”
    “The skeleton.”
    “Ah.” They reached the restaurant and he held up two fingers to the waitress hurrying their way. “Inside or outside? They don’t appear to be busy yet.”
    “Either.”
    Chris ushered her towards a table at the back of the small interior eating area. It was tucked away in a secluded corner. “This looks out of the way.”
    The waitress dropped menus on the table and disappeared.
    “Well.” He frowned. “Guess we won’t order our drinks first.”
    “I’m fine for now.” Leah smiled as she took a seat and picked up a menu. “You’ve been here before, right? What do you recommend?”
    “Everything is excellent here. It depends on what you feel like. I’m going to have a Red Curry. Beef.”
    She scanned the menu. “I’ll get the Pad Thai.”
    “Want to split a Thai Fried Rice?”
    “Sure. Oh, quick. Here comes the waitress. I’ll get a bottled water too.” Leah waved the server over.
    Once they placed their order, Chris leaned back in his chair. “Tell me about the skeleton.”
    Leah took a deep breath before speaking. “Haylee met him at uni. They dated for a year before I even met him though, but once I did I knew something wasn’t right. I tried to talk to Haylee about it, except I had nothing concrete to tell her other than I had a bad feeling about him.”
    “Obviously your instincts were spot on.”
    “Oh yeah.” She aimed a strained smile at the waitress