Drake eyed the guy's back for another perilous moment before turning once again to face me. "Speaking of nice," he said with a long, appreciative look, "I really do like your costume."
My cheeks warmed, not at the compliment, but at the memory of where I'd gotten my elfish garb. "Uh, yeah. It was gift. Sort of."
Drake's lips quirked upward. "Yeah, I know. I heard all about it."
I stiffened.So he'd talked to the wizard?With more than a little trepidation, I asked, "When?"
"Just now at the pub across the street."
"You mean at the Tankard?" I wasn't even sure why I was asking. The question was small-talk at best, and I felt silly for asking it when so many larger topics loomed between us.
But of course,thosetopics were firmly off limits, at least for the next hour while I was at work. From the moment I'd arrived at my station, I'd been getting unhappy looks from the night manager, Mister Greenly, a guy who was more prickly than a Christmas cactus.
Tonight, he'd been especially prickly due to my costume. Suffice it to say, hehadn'tbeen impressed. Unsurprisingly, he'd been evenlessimpressed when I'd pointed out that my outfit was firmly in-line with the guidance I'd received.
I mean, nothing had specified that I had to be aChristmaself.
In reply to my question about the pub, Drake gave a perfunctory nod before saying, "Listen, I heard what Jeff told you, and I'm here to explain."
"Jeff? You mean the wizard, right?"
"Yeah." Drake offered up a crooked smile. "That's the guy."
Just then, Mister Greenly appeared in my line of sight and gave me a sharp look, as if wondering why I was flirting with some hottie when there was work to be done – which was pretty darn aggravating considering the lack of actual work that needed doing.
I mean, it's not like I had any gifts to wrap.
I looked back to Drake and said in a hushed voice, "I reallywouldlike to talk, but if I'm not wrapping presents, I'm pretty sure I'll get in trouble."
Right on cue, Mister Greenly cleared his throat loud enough to hork up a Christmas tree.
I winced and lowered my voice even further. "Maybe we could talk later?"
"Screwthat,"Drake said with a grin so cocky, it sent my heart straight into my throat. "Hang on. I'll be right back."
Chapter 39
Gwen
When Drake appeared around the corner with a shopping cart, I felt my eyes widen in surprise. The thing was nearly overflowing with shopping bags.
He pushed the cart up to my station and asked, "You want some help?"
I didn't get it. "With what?"
"The wrapping," he said, gesturing to the cart. "I bought us some time."
I stared at the cart. "It looks to me like you bought a lot more thantime."This was positively insane, because for one thing, Drake had been gone for only a few minutes. "And speaking of time," I said, "how'd you shop so fast?"
He grinned. "What can I say? I'm motivated."
His grin was contagious, and suddenly, I couldn’t stop smiling. "Who's that stuff for, anyway?"
"Whoever." He gave a loose shrug. "If you want it, it's yours."
I eyed the bags. "That's really nice, but—"
"What?" He looked ready to laugh. "You don't like it?"
