Tinsel and Teacups: Holiday Beach, #3 by Elle Rush

Author:Elle Rush [Rush, Elle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elle Rush

CHAPTER 4

He couldn’t wait any longer. If he did, he risked all the good gifts vanishing like cookies left out on Christmas eve. The Starlight Gallery was doing brisk business in December. Only a couple of the larger works of art in the Holiday Beach art gallery had been sold, but several smaller items on the shelves had “Sold” signs on them. Devon wasn’t worried about the blown glass figurines or the Christmas tree full of hand-stitched fabric ornaments.

He walked right through the gallery and knocked on the door leading to the stained-glass workshop at the back of the building. Samuel French was drawing on a pair of leather gloves when he noticed he had a visitor. “Good afternoon, Devon. Is it inspection time already?”

The workshop contained tanks of compressed gas, and Sam worked with an open flame. It wouldn’t be the first time Devon or another member of the Bixby fire crew had popped in to verify everything was being stored and used correctly. “I’m not here in my official capacity. I’m here looking for your expert help.”

“You need a Christmas present,” Sam said.

“How’d you guess?”

“This is the time of year when every guy needs a Christmas present. At least you didn’t opt for a poinsettia. You don’t need something for your grandmother, do you?”

“No. For a girl. A woman. A special woman.”

“Gabriella Boudreau,” Sam said knowingly.

“Does everybody know?”

“Everybody knows that you stole her wine.”

“I’ll give it back!”

Sam laughed, his violet eyes crinkling at the corners. “I don’t know why you keep playing games with her. One wrong move, and you’re going to blow things up before you even get started.”

“Can you help me out or not, Sam?” Devon asked.

“Of course. I have something I think she’ll like. She was checking it out the last time she was in the shop.” He pulled out a small, framed scene. A two-toned green evergreen stood in a field of snow drifts, and the image was surrounded by a red-and-white striped border that resembled a candy cane.

“It’s perfect.” It would fit in any window and give it a Christmassy air. But it wasn’t too over the top to give as a gift to someone he liked.

Sam shrugged, then continued. “I was playing around with a design that had a glass of milk and a plate of cookies, more Santa-themed, but I haven’t been able to get it right yet. Maybe next year.”

That sounded like an excellent present for a baker. But Devon had no idea if he’d even make it to a second Christmas with Gaby. First, he had to figure out a way to get invited to her Christmas party to give her this gift. “I’ll take this one, Sam.”

They walked to the main gallery to ring up the purchase. Mina Blackburn, the owner, was already behind the counter, her bright green manicure flashing as she wrapped tissue paper around a matched pair of ceramic candle holders and tucked them into a gift bag. “Hey, wine thief,” she said in greeting.

“Not you too.

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