Northern Polar Printing Company’s President, Zane Ashcroft,
is in love with the Vice President, Annie McGrath. From their first encounter,
both knew they were destined to be together. At the annual Christmas party,
Zane, who dresses up as Santa, intends to propose to Annie after dinner. A
recent argument concerning Nick, the janitor, and a shocking development
thwarts his intentions.
Will Annie get that long awaited chance at love and happiness and risk being on
Santa’s naughty and nice list?
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“There’s no need for you to come inside. We need a break from each other—time to think about our relationship.”
He heard her choke over the last words. She still didn’t look at him.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and left the car. He watched her walk to the front door where she paused. He held his breath as he waited for her to turn, but she didn’t. She opened the door and went inside, closing it behind her.
Zane hit the steering wheel. Granting her request was the hardest thing he’d done in a very long time. Light snow began to fall as he drove across town to his home. Several ideas came to him on how to resolve their argument.
Flowers? No, too predictable. Box of Norman Loves Chocolate? No, too cheesy.
More things came to mind, but as the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” played on the radio, it triggered a plan. He’d use cards as the twelve days before his proposal. The numbers would work if he started tomorrow. He’d have to swing by Walgreens before work.
His two-story brick house loomed in front of him. It was not his home any longer. He’d been spending so much time at Annie’s and making her home theirs. Opening the door, cold greeted him. He cranked up the thermostat and went into the kitchen, starting the Krups’ coffee machine. It spitted and hissed. He reached for a coffee cup as the doorbell rang.
“Coming!”
Spilling the coffee he’d just poured, he hurried to the front door, unsure who it could be.
“Mr. North?” Zane eyeballed a red limo parked in the street. It stood out like a beckon against the grayness.
“Zane, I hope I’m not disrupting anything.”
“No, no. Come on in.” He held open the door. “Sorry about the chillness, I turned up the heat.”
“A little cold isn’t going to hurt me.”
“I don’t have much in the house to offer you. I haven’t been grocery shopping in days. I just made coffee, would you like a cup?”
“That works for me.”
Zane led him into the kitchen. It wasn’t the first time Mr. North had shown up at his doorstep, but tonight of all times was odd. He poured another cup of coffee and wiped up the earlier spillage from the counter top.
“I know it’s late, but I flew here right after concluding business with Mr. Moonracer. I felt not everyone was happy at my announcement.”
“You’re right. Annie… Ms. Ashcroft, didn’t like being kept out of the loop,” Zane confessed and sat in one the high back chairs.
“Oh, I see.”
Leaning on one elbow, Zane rested his head on his hand. “As a matter of fact, she’s fuming.”
Mr. North laughed and went to the refrigerator. He took out a carton of cream and poured some into his coffee.
Zane wondered when he’d gotten that. He hoped it was still good.
“She’ll understand soon. She’s been on my Nice List for a very long time. I’ve kept an eye on her.”
Zane straightened his shoulders. “A Nice List? I’m not a kid. This whole day has been peculiar from the start. Now it’s ending even weirder. I’ve appreciated everything you’ve done for me, but now isn’t the time for your—”
“Zane, the time has come for you to know the truth.”
Mr. North pushed his glasses back to the bridge of his nose and laughed as he pulled his earlobe.
A delightful smell of cookies flooded the kitchen. Zane inhaled and stared wide eyed at him.
I was born and raised in the cold and beautiful Minnesota,
but I escaped to Illinois for seventeen years to raise my two boys, and now I
call Florida home. My husband Andy, who’s always been my hero, has put up with
my late night computer typing and endless stacks of papers with my stories on
them. We have one furry friend as family: Chip, a sixteen year old ragdoll cat.
Life has been full of ups and downs, but I’ve made it
through the hard times. I love to travel and go to Disney World to trade
pins. I’ve been a bowler for many years,
and you can catch me writing my next novel at the lanes.
I encourage you to check out my web site, www.sonjagunter.com for more info and
don’t be surprised if I let my Norwegian heritage come through in my stories.
Go Vikings! You betcha!
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Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree 