Epilogue 1

EPILOGUE 1

MADDIE

T he four squares on my phone fill with my family’s faces: Anisette, Praline, Tassie, and Gran.

“Merry Christmas,” we all say in turn.

I explain my bad connection when we’d tried to chat on Christmas Eve.

“You seem a lot merrier than the last time we talked,” Ani says.

I shrug. “You can thank coal and cookies.”

“You find some Christmas cheer up in Alaska?” Leeney asks.

Tassie gasps. “Did you fall in love?”

I open and close my mouth, unable to deny the truth.

My sisters gush and coo as I tell them about falling for Duffy, my boss—former boss. Nicole won the highest bid and accidentally-on-purpose let it slip that the Covert Cookie helped her achieve her goal, putting us both on the map—up here in the North Pole. I’ve had so many baking inquiries I can’t keep up.

Last night, Duffy and I messaged through the virtual assistant portal about the future. I didn’t renew my 00M contract, but we made other plans. Stone’s Coal Company has an empty building he said would make a great kitchen if I want to stick around .

I do. Very much.

Before getting off the phone with my family, Gran smiles and says, “Merry Christmas, My Sweeties.”

As ever, we tell her we love her. But that’s not all. What grows between Duffy and me is very real and very much shaped like love, and is as comforting as cookies on Christmas. Turns out I didn’t need my lucky apron after all.

After the call, the virtual assistant portal dings with a notification.

Cavell: I’m spending tomorrow with my girlfriend, so I no longer need that appointment with AccuPlex.

00M: Is that so? I’m glad to hear you found someone special. You must’ve been on Santa’s good list.

Cavell: She sure is special and beautiful, smart, funny, and makes the best cookies. Shh. Don’t tell my mother.

00M: My lips are sealed. Er, except when we kiss.

Cavell: Speaking of my mother, she told me the auction raised the most money for the charity in history.

00M: Interesting because Stone’s Coal Company also posted a very large tax deduction.

Cavell: What can I say, it was for a good cause.

00M: I’m glad I took the offer to bake for Nicholls’ Candy Canes.

Cavell: I’m glad I met you under the mistletoe.

00M: So are we still fake dating?

Cavell: We’re good at it.

00M: I do operate the Covert Cookie. I learned how to keep secrets and not lie.

Cavell: Is there a difference?

00M: Absolutely, but I also may have exceeded expectations because you blew mine out of the water.

Cavell: On that note, why are we messaging? We’re on vacation. Bundle up, grab Pop Tart, and I’ll have a hot cocoa waiting for you. Xo

And that does it. I’m officially in love.

When I get to Duffy’s house, Pop Tart rushes up the walk, announcing our arrival.

The door opens and my very handsome former boss fills the entryway—we’re partners now, having made plans to start our cookies and coal enterprise. Don’t worry, not at the same time. But with his business skills and my baking ability, we might have a North Pole empire on our hands—or at least a great excuse to spend more time together working on a real relationship.

“Merry Christmas,” I say.

His lips quirk and he replies with the same, but doesn’t move from the spot.

Peering over his shoulder where Pop Tart waits patiently, I ask, “Do I need to use a special password or code to get inside?”

“Nope.”

“Sing a Christmas carol? Do a jolly dance?”

“We did a lot of that last night.” He draws me close.

“Then are you going to let me in?”

He points to the upper part of the door’s frame.

“Did a Christmas elf put that there?”

“Could’ve been Mrs. Claus.”

I narrow my eyes. “I do enjoy our mistletoe kisses, so I suppose I wouldn’t mind . . .”

When our lips meet, a happy little giggle comes from inside the house that sounds suspiciously like Carol, the matchmaker, followed by a yap from her newest little elf accomplice—Pop Tart.

As the kiss builds, everything fades away except the present and the future, which I am certain includes this man whose love feels even better than a gift wrapped in a bow.

B ut wait… there’s more!