11. Merry

Chapter 11

Merry

He left.

I said I wanted to stay with him when we were shopping, but now he was gone and I was alone. Sure, I had a room which was kinda messy, but it had a bed, and Hernan had given me clean bedding before he dashed off.

I could occupy myself by tidying and cleaning this space.

Starting with the bed, I remade it so that it was neat. The sheets scented of flowers, and it improved my mood. But the room was dusty and covered in paperwork and clothes, dirty or clean I wasn’t sure, but I wasn’t prepared to give them the sniff test.

After discovering the washing machine, I tossed the sheets that had just finished washing into the dryer and filled it with the clothes that had been scattered in the room I was staying in. Then I found cleaning products and rags under the sink. One hour later and “my” room was spotless. But it was surrounded by havoc in the rest of the house, so I got to work scrubbing, mopping, wiping down, and washing up.

I made a pile of what I thought of as trash plus items that belonged somewhere but I wasn’t sure where.

Much better. The kitchen, bathroom, and main room sparkled, and it reminded me of a friend, Sparkle, who was who knew where.

The door to the other bedroom was closed, and I couldn’t intrude on Hernan’s personal space, so I left it. If he wanted me to clean, he’d have to ask.

I made a sandwich and opened one of the cupboards I’d organized. There were packets of cookie mix which I’d never seen. In the village, all our food was made from scratch.

The instructions were simple, so I got milk, eggs, and butter and chose a choc chip mix. The oven was a little confusing, but I got it on, and there was a timer which was easy to configure. With the cookies baking, the aroma in the house was no longer a floral scent but a sweet, yummy chocolatey one that wrapped its arms around me.

Hernan must like cookies or he wouldn’t have bought the mix.

Other than his bedroom, the only space I hadn’t tackled was his workshop. I was a little reluctant to reorganize it because this was how Hernan earned his money. I wouldn’t welcome a stranger coming into the village and telling me my work space was disorganized.

But I could clean the floor, tidy, toss out the trash, and group like with like.

I surveyed what I had done and gave myself a mental gold star. Despite the flurry of activity in Christmas Village leading up to the festive season, we always cleaned up at the end of each day.

Taking the cookies out, I inhaled their chocolatey goodness. I wanted to savor them and take a bite, but I’d give that honor to Hernan. They were so much better than the hockey pucks he’d bought at the store.

There was nothing else to do other than think. And thinking led me to my predicament. Why was I here if not to mate with the shifter?

I’d wished to find a mate so badly that I hadn’t considered losing my home, job, and friends. I was rudderless, and if Hernan wasn’t my fate, I’d lost everything that was dear to me.

Slumping into a chair, I grabbed a cookie and stuffed it in my mouth. The chocolate soothed my worries, just for a minute, and I closed my eyes and pictured me and Hernan as a couple.

Maybe I needed a second cookie and a third.

But as crumbs fell onto the plate and my new sweater, the door flung open and Hernan stomped in. I froze, my mouth open and full of cookie as he glanced around.

“What have you done?” His voice and expression weren’t smiley or grateful but shouty and grumpy.

“I…” I gulped the mouthful of cookie and almost choked. “I thought you’d be pleased.”

Damn, I’d have to mess it up again. I could do that before I flounced out, never to return. I’d walk the streets, hoping someone could show me the way home.

He folded his arms, revealing bulging muscles. And that had my mind thinking of another bulge. Gods, no. Stay away from picturing his cock.

“It’s amazing. Thank you.”

I offered him a cookie and he took two, eating both at the same time. “You’re a great cook.”

I sighed. “I’m not. I can hardly boil water, but many of my colleagues can whip up delicious concoctions of cream, icing, and spun sugar.”

“Okay. I don’t know what spun sugar is, but it sounds intriguing.”

He put his hands on his hips and wandered around the room, sticking his head into the bathroom and workshop.

“It’s spotless. Did you use magic?”

Holding up both hands, I explained I couldn’t perform magic. “Just determination and time.”

“But you shouldn’t have. You’re a guest, not a servant. I didn’t expect you to clean up my place. That’s not your job.”

“I’m between jobs at the moment.”

“That’s not what I meant.” He waved a hand in front of his face. “Doesn’t matter. I should be looking after you, not the other way around.”

Leaning over the sink, I brushed crumbs off my chest and washed the dishes, wishing Hernan would come behind me and press his body against mine. Or make a declaration of love!

“Don’t need looking after.” Tears spilled into the sink, and I wiped them away with the back of my hand. I wasn’t a charity case. Perhaps I should leave, because being in the presence of this shifter who gave no indication he sensed we were fated was more painful than being alone.

“What am I?” I turned around, hoping he wouldn’t pick up on my distress.

“You’re an elf who turned up unexpectedly and we have to figure out your purpose.”

That was a death knell to our mating. He thought I’d just popped by for a visit.

I gulped and hugged myself since no one else was going to embrace me.

“I need to leave.”