Bellini's Christmas Burlesque Show by Cathy Lamb

Author:Cathy Lamb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: An Epic Elf-Approved Love Story
Publisher: Thornburgh Bennett Publishing
Published: 2025-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

After the meeting, everyone filed out, excitedly talking about their acts, which included comedy routines, magic tricks, and two eighty-year-olds singing a naughty—but not too naughty—Christmas song about Santa and Mrs. Claus.

“Nice job, Bellini,” Logan said when it was just us.

“Thank you.” His blue jacket and flannel shirt emphasized his shoulders. Jeans hugged him, but not too tight, and he wore winter work boots. He’s always been tall, but the years have added bulk. He is simply a smoldering, hot human tank now. “You’re a hot tank.”

He blinked, then smiled. “A hot tank?”

I slapped a hand to my forehead. “I should not have said that out loud, Logan.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. You look…” I paused, then decided to be honest. “You look amazingly good.”

The smile disappeared, and a serious expression came over his face. “And you, Bellini, are even more beautiful than you were before.”

I felt tears fizz in my eyes. Martin told me I was beautiful only before he married me. Afterward, I rarely heard it, and only when he was trying to appease me. But here was Logan, as always, making me feel better about myself.

“Are you okay, Bellini?” he asked.

“Oh yes. I’m fine.” No, I wasn’t fine.

“What was all the talk about lettuce? I didn’t understand. I came in a little late to the meeting.”

“Oh, it was nothing.”

“It was something.” He was too quick.

“There might have been a little incident in the bar today.”

I was not offended when Logan burst out laughing, low and rumbly.

“What happened, Bellini? Please tell me. These are the best stories.”

I tried to glare at him.

“Javier had a problem with one of the customers. She was so rude to him. You know Court Yalloway?”

Logan did. I knew he didn’t like the old witch.

“Court said Javier didn’t put enough salad dressing on her salad. He put more on, and she told him he had also forgotten her croutons. That salad doesn’t come with croutons. He told her he would grab her some croutons, and then…” I stopped for a second. I was still so, so angry about it. “Court told Javier to ‘go back home’ if he couldn’t figure out how to put together a simple salad.”

“Home?” Logan’s voice was stunned. “What?”

“Yes. She meant that he should go back to Mexico. She yelled it at him. Everyone heard. The whole bar went quiet, then people started yelling at Court and telling her to go home.”

Logan’s face reflected his shock and disgust. “Javier was born here in Montana. So were his parents and grandparents. And why would anyone say something that hurtful and stupid in the first place to anyone? She’s awful. I have never liked her.”

“I could tell Javier was devastated and humiliated and I was livid. He is one of the best people I know. It made me so mad I thought I might smack her.”

He chuckled. “And this is where the lettuce comes in. What did you do?”

“I’m afraid my temper came out and swung itself around the room.”

“And?”

“I may have done something that was not polite or reflective of my conflict-resolution skills.

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