Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Emery

I behaved myself for exactly two days before the complete lack of holiday spirit broke me. Walking into that sterile break room several times a day was like entering a joy vacuum, and I couldn’t take it anymore. Which is how I found myself skulking around one of the loading bays at six on Wednesday morning, laden with bags full of Christmas cheer that I really shouldn’t have spent money on.

Thank the Christmas gods for the dollar store.

Christmas was my favorite holiday, and since I didn’t have a house to decorate, my work environment was the next best thing. Besides, if I couldn’t make my own space festive, at least I could spread some joy to my coworkers who seemed about as cheerful as department store mannequins in January.

“Morning Jerry!” I called out to the sleepy-looking shipping guy, who waved me through with a grunt. The early shift people were my kind of crowd—too caffeine-deprived to question my suspicious behavior.

The break room looked even more depressing with fluorescent lighting, and the motivational posters seemed to mock me with their joyless messages. I pulled out my phone and set my “Christmas Chaos” playlist to a low volume, just enough to keep me company without alerting the fun police.

“All right room, prepare to be jollified!” I dumped my bags on the nearest table.

I worked quickly, knowing I had about an hour before the first wave of wrapping crew started arriving. Red tablecloths with different holiday prints and plastic candy dishes shaped like Santa’s boots transformed the boring tables into festive eating spaces.

The mini tree was my masterpiece. It was pre-lit and barely two feet tall, but was covered in tiny, wrapped packages and miniature wrapping supplies. I positioned it proudly on the counter next to the coffee maker, where its twinkling lights reflected off the glass pot. “Take that, Scrooge central.”

Next, I stuck giant magnets to the refrigerator doors, making the two eyesores look like presents. The cabinet doors got similar treatment, though I left the handles accessible. To finish the faux presents, I placed bows on them.

The bulletin board was next. I covered the not-so-motivational signs with construction paper, added a tasteful holiday border, and hung instructions to use the blue mounting putty I left on the counter to hang Christmas family photos. A string of warm white lights framed the whole thing.

By the time I finished hanging paper snowflakes from the ceiling tiles, the room actually looked welcoming. Like somewhere you might want to spend your lunch break instead of plotting your escape.

I headed back out to my car to grab the last bag from my trunk. Inside was my pièce de résistance; a motion-activated dancing Santa that played “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Maybe a bit much, but sometimes you have to go big or go home.

I was so focused on my contraband Christmas cargo that I didn’t notice the person coming around the corner until I slammed right into a solid wall of chest.

“Oof!” The bag went flying as firm hands steadied me. I looked up into Max’s surprised face and my stomach dropped. “Oh... hi! You’re here early. Or I’m here early. We’re both early. Early birds getting the... Christmas worms?”

His eyes traveled from my face to the bag now spilling its contents across the floor. Dancing Santa had broken free and chose that moment to spring to life, gyrating and belting out Mariah Carey’s holiday anthem.

“Where are you headed with that?” His eyes went to the break room door that was slightly ajar with an upbeat Christmas tune softly floating into the hallway.

“I can explain.” I grabbed for the musical menace to silence it. “See, studies show that workplace morale improves with...” I trailed off as Max walked past me toward the break room.

Oh God, he was probably going to flip. I’d be fired before my shift even started. When I peeked around the doorframe, Max was just standing there, taking in the transformed space.

“The shipping guys were my accomplices,” I blurted out, panicking. I’d hoped to plead the fifth, but now I had a witness. “Well, technically, they didn’t stop me. But in the spirit of Christmas, maybe we could keep this between us? I promise the decorations are all damage-free and removable.” I held my breath as Max continued to survey the room, expecting him to list company policies I’d violated.

Instead, he turned to face me. His lips curved into a smile that transformed his face. “This is actually really nice.”

“Really?” I squeaked, relief flooding through me. “I mean, yes, of course it is. Nothing says, happy holidays like a dancing Santa that may or may not violate noise ordinances.”

Max walked over and took the man in question from my hands, his fingers brushing mine. A spark of electricity shot through me at the contact, and when our eyes met, I could tell he felt it too. There was something about him that made me want to step closer rather than back away.

“I think he’d look perfect next to the tree.” He walked over to the counter to place Santa by my tree, then pressed the button. Mariah’s voice filled the room.

Before I could stop myself, I started dancing to the music. Max eyed me with amusement and uncertainty. I knew I probably looked crazy.

“Come on, you know you want to dance with Santa.” I did a shimmy, and he laughed.

To my absolute shock, Max’s hips started moving in time with the music. He was actually pretty good, which made him even more attractive. I spun in a circle, letting out a delighted laugh as Max attempted to copy Santa’s arm movements.

“You’re a pretty good dancer.” I was impressed by his rhythm.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” He hit me with a wink that made my insides melt as he shuffled like John Travolta over to me.

Taking my hand in his much larger one, he spun me around, the warmth of his touch sending tingles up my arm. The room blurred into a whirl of twinkling Christmas lights as I twirled.

We were so caught up in our impromptu dance party that we didn’t see the two men enter the room. It wasn’t until I spun around again that I saw Levi and Ronan standing just inside the doorway, wearing matching expressions of disbelief.

Ronan’s mouth opened and closed several times, reminding me of a bewildered goldfish, but no words came out. His usually composed face was a picture of pure shock, like someone had told him Christmas was canceled, and puppies weren’t real.

Levi had that dangerous gleam in his eye. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

“I...” I started to explain.

“I did it,” Max said quickly, stepping forward to shield me with his broad shoulders. “All of it. Emery came in early for coffee and got caught up in my...” He paused, a slight flush creeping up his neck as he searched for the right word. “Enthusiasm. She was being nice by dancing with me.” His voice held a protective note.

I stared at him, my mouth hanging slightly open in disbelief. Was he covering up for me? The protective stance, the way he’d positioned himself between me and the others. It made my pulse skip a beat.

“You?” Ronan finally found his voice. “You did this?”

“Problem?” Max challenged, crossing his arms. The movement made his biceps bulge under his sleeves, and I had to force myself to look away.

“It’s...” Ronan struggled for words again.

“Fantastic!” Levi finished for him, walking over to inspect the tree. “Though I have to say, Max, I never pegged you for the arts and crafts type.”

“People can surprise you.” Max shot me a quick look that made my cheeks heat.

“But...” Ronan started.

“It’s Christmas, Ronan. Would it kill us to have a little fun?” Max’s voice held a hint of exasperation mixed with something that sounded almost like longing, as if he’d been waiting for an excuse to let loose. The way his eyes briefly met mine made me wonder if I was that excuse.

I watched in amazement as Ronan’s resolve visibly weakened under Max’s steady gaze. Finally, he sighed. “Fine. But that thing…” He pointed at Santa. “Stays in here. It’s creepy.”

As Ronan and Levi left, I sat down heavily in a chair. “Thank you. I knew it was a risk doing this.”

“Consider it my Christmas gift to you. Though maybe next time, run your decorating plans by me first.” He grabbed a piece of candy from the center of a table, unwrapping it with deliberate slowness. The red and white striped wrapper crinkled between his fingers, drawing my attention to his hands. Hands that looked perfect for unwrapping other things.

“Next time?” I grinned, feeling a surge of boldness that I blamed entirely on the lingering adrenaline from being caught. “So, there will be a next time?”

The smile he gave me in return made my knees weak, and I was glad I was already sitting. His eyes crinkled at the corners in a way that made my heart flutter embarrassingly in my chest. “I have a feeling you’re full of surprises.”