It Started with a Candy Cane by Susan Saxx

Author:Susan Saxx
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Susan Saxx

18

The boxes were packed in the truck, and overran the back seat of the cab too. Small boxes, large boxes, and all labeled with names. Emily figured there must have been at least 10 different names, and numerous boxes for each. Ruf had laid down a big tarp covering the back seat to protect it.

They sat in the front seat, the hot air shooting at them from the vents, filling the cab. The vehicle hummed as it continued to warm up. It was strangely soothing. It might have been well under zero degrees outside, but in here it was toasty warm. Emily took a sip of the hot coffee from the thermos lid.

“Mmm.”

He flicked a glance over at her, grinned. “That stuff’ll warm you up, right down to your formerly pink toes.”

She laughed at the reference. “I love coffee. The fancier the better. In Toronto, there are all these cool coffee bars, new flavors. It’s so much fun to see what they’ll come up with next.”

“Well, that flavor you’re having there may not be anything special, but it’ll do the important functions that coffee is known for. A, warm you up. B, rot your gut. The essentials.”

She snorted, but she was smiling. She heard the boxes rattling lightly in the backseat with the vibration of the vehicle, and spied a big bag of candy canes from his shop on the seat between them. “So who are you delivering to? Special orders for the holidays?”

“Oh, that stuff?” He waved at the boxes. “That’s extra, because I’m going anyway, so I might as well take that stuff too.” He smiled at her. “It’s a candy cane run.”

That surprised her. Sounded lovely, but kinda crazy too. “What?”

“You know we all give them out, in the shops. It’s a Jack’s Bay tradition.”

“So these people you’re going to—they…”

He finished her sentence for her. “Haven’t been able to make it into town, so I’m making sure they get theirs. For Christmas.”

So the guy was crazy. Good to know.

“Well, they must be special customers then.” She needed to say something to fill in the gap.

But something happened in his eyes, some type of knowing. She couldn’t quite place it. “You might say that.”

“Well, I hope you get compensated well, get some decent tips or something. Especially going after your shift, and in the cold.”

“I do. The most generous ones you’d ever hope for.” He eyed the dashboard clock, glowing turquoise in the dark. “Well, I’d better start out. I’ll just put this baby in gear and I’ll drop you off at Abby’s. Okay?”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, then spoke. “Well, um, I had an idea.”

He stared at her, then drawled the word. “Yeeees?”

“Well, you have all these deliveries to make, and no one to help you. I have a party where they’re expecting me back, and I’m not going back.” She paused. “So if you put two and two together...”

He blinked. “You want to come?”

“Well, only if you want company.” She grinned. “Or if I got an amazing, heartfelt invitation.

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