Twelve Days of Christmas Read Free

singing group had scheduled a few special appearances, the last of which was coming up this weekend. She was grateful her boss had agreed to let her schedule her hours around those obligations. In addition, Julia was a volunteer for the holiday program at the Boys and Girls Club.
    The bus continued to plug along as her thoughts spun with ideas. Julia gazed out the window, admiring the lights and the window displays along the short route that would take her to the very heart of downtown Seattle. She really did love the holidays. It was a special time of year.
    Maybe she could treat Cain Maddox’s surly mood with extra doses of nice. It would be an interesting test of the power of kindness. As a bonus, she wouldn’t need to stress about content for her blog. She would simply be reporting the results. Easy-peasy.
    But being impulsive had gotten her into trouble before, and so Julia decided to mull it over before making a final decision.
    —
    By the time she returned to her apartment that evening, it was dark and miserable, with drizzling rain and heavy traffic. Her feet hurt and she was exhausted. These long holiday hours at the store were killers.
    Killers. Hmm…her mind automatically went to her neighbor. Killing him with kindness. It was a shame that Cain Maddox was such a killjoy.
    Not wanting to fuss with dinner, she heated a can of soup and ate it with her feet propped up in front of the television. She caught the last of the local news broadcast. The weatherman forecasted more drizzle.
    In the mood for something to lift her spirits, she turned off the television and reached for her phone. A little music was sure to do that. Besides, it would be good to familiarize herself with the songs for the performance coming up this weekend. Scrolling down her playlist, she chose a few classic Christmas carols, the ones the senior citizens seemed to enjoy the most at the choir’s last performance at an assisted-living complex.
    Julia sang along with the music as she washed the few dishes she’d dirtied and tidied her apartment. Music had always soothed her. She sang loudly through her personal favorites: “Silent Night.” “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” “It Came upon a Midnight Clear.”
    She was just about to belt out “Joy to the World” when someone pounded against her door. The knock was sharp and impatient. Determined.
    Oh dear. Julia hoped her singing hadn’t disturbed anyone.
    She opened the door wearing an apologetic smile and was confronted by her nemesis from across the hall. Cain Maddox. She should have known.
    His eyes snapped with irritation.
    “What can I do for you?” she asked, doing her best to remain pleasant.
    He continued to glare at her, his scowl darkening his already shady eyes. It was a shame, too—he was an attractive man, or he could be if he wasn’t constantly frowning. She noticed he had a high forehead above a shapely mouth. Her father claimed a high forehead was a sign of intelligence, which was ridiculous. The only reason he said that was because his forehead was high. The thought caused her to smile.
    “Is anyone dying in here? Because that’s what it sounds like.”
    Holding her temper was a challenge. “Are you referring to my singing?”
    “Tone. It. Down.”
    Not please, not thank you, just a demand.
    With one hand still on her apartment door, Julia met his stare. “It’s music. Christmas music, to be precise.”
    “I know what it is,” he said with a groan, and briefly slammed his eyes shut.
    “Would I be wrong to suggest that a kind, gentle soul such as yourself objects to a few classic Christmas carols?” she asked, ever so sweetly. Her words flowed like warm honey.
    He glared at her as if she’d spoken in a foreign language. “All I ask is that you cut the racket.”
    “Please,” she supplied.
    “Please what?”
    “Please cut the noise,” she said with the warmest of smiles, fake as it was.
    “Whatever.” Cain shook his head as if he found her both