Stockings and Suspenders (23 page)

“Tomorrow’s the start of it,” said
Joey, her baker’s assistant. He looked at her and grinned, his dark brown eyes
twinkling under the bright lighting shining overhead. “What’s your plans for
Christmas?”

She smiled, her eyes straying to his
well-defined chest straining to break free from his tight white t-shirt. “I
plan on taking the time away from here to relax. Other than that, I haven’t any
plans.”

He frowned. “That’s just sad. Don’t
you have family, someone to share this glorious time with? This is a special
time of year. I hate to think about you spending it all by your lonesome.”

“Glorious isn’t a word I would use to
describe Christmas. As for family, nope. My parents,” she paused thinking the
best way to continue. “Let’s just say that they have their own lives.” She
didn’t feel like going into the gritty personal details, but the fact was that
she hadn’t spoken to either of them in well over a year for her own reasons.
Her father was a drunk and her mother was nothing more than his enabler. She
had no time for that crap. As a kid, she was forced to put up with it, as an
adult she wasn’t.

Joey crossed his muscled arms across
his broad chest. His olive skin glowed while the black curls framing his face
made him look almost angelic. He flashed her a half smile, one corner of his
mouth curling to reveal a dimple embedded deep into his right cheek. “You could
come to my parents,” he offered. “I mean, for Christmas dinner. My mom is an
excellent cook and I know you’d be more than welcome.”

Leda’s heart twinged at the generous
offer. Joey’s family was old-school Italian. The type where the holidays were
special and they celebrated them in style with each other. It was a warm
thought. She pictured Joey and his family sat around a large table, conversing
with each other. No doubt they’d have a big tree and decorations galore. “Thank
you for thinking of me, but I’d rather not.”

Joey shrugged. “Well the offer stands
and you have the rest of today, and tomorrow to think about it.”

There was nothing to think about. She
wouldn’t change her mind. Christmas wasn’t for her, if anything it was just a
time to remember the bad moments in her life. No thank you! She had done
without Christmas for the past five years so what was another?

* * **

Joey hated the fact that every time he
tried to get close to Leda, she pushed him away. At first when he’d come to
work there, he thought it was just a work thing. She was his boss and he was
the employee, perhaps she wanted to keep things on a professional level, but
now he wasn’t so sure.

It didn’t go unnoticed that she often
looked at him, giving him an admiring glance here and there when she’d thought
he wasn’t looking. He didn’t mind. He found her very attractive and super sexy.
If only he could convince her to spend time with him outside of work. At least
then they get a chance to know each other, and perhaps that could lead to
something more.

“The fruitcakes for the Paxton order
are done,” said Leda. She lifted a medium sized box and placed it out front on
the countertop, then looked back at him. “Can you head out with them? They want
them delivered pronto. Old man Paxton will have a hairy conniption if he
doesn’t get them on time.”

“That’s not part of my job,” he
kidded. “Do I get paid extra for doing duties not within my job description?”

“I’ll do it myself.” She sounded
annoyed with him. “You know that little shit, Jerry up and left last week.”

“I was joking. Lighten up. Of course
I’ll do it. Is there anything else that needs to be delivered?”

“Yes. Yes there is.” She disappeared
into the kitchen and returned with a holiday cake packaged, and ready to go.
“This one goes to the Millers over on Hemdale. They tip big so you should go to
them first. Plus they give us business all year round.”

“Put in on top,” he said, motioning to
the box he already carried. “Oh, and think about my offer.”

“I already did and you have my
answer,” replied Leda.

“Think about it anyway,” he said. “You
might actually enjoy yourself.”

“I doubt it. But anyway, okay I’ll
think about it.” She rolled her eyes. “Now get out there before the evening
traffic gets too thick.”

* * * *

Joey was something. Leda almost laughed
out loud as he bolted from the store nearly slipping on ice outside on the
sidewalk. She crossed her fingers and hoped that both Joe and the baked goods
would arrive at the destination in one piece.

She liked Joey…er well, she lusted for
him was a better way to put it. She’d never try anything with him. That was out
of the question. First rule of thumb in business: Never become involved with an
employee. That type of situation never ended well. He was hot, sexy and a nice
guy. Under other circumstances she probably would have went for him, but this
was her reality, this was the way things had to be.

“Coming through,” called a woman’s
voice from behind her, disturbing Leda from her thoughts. “These cupcakes look
simply divine. And I know they taste even better, I tested one.” Her other
assistant, Kendra grinned. “These should sell like hotcakes…er cupcakes.” She
laughed, and started to place them in the glass display cases. “I especially
love the ones iced to look like poinsettias. They’re red velvet too, it makes
them even more festive.”

“They are nice,” she admitted. “You
did a wonderful job decorating them. You definitely have a knack for it.”

“Why thank you,” replied Kendra. “This
is my absolute favourite time of year. I love everything about Christmas.” She
walked to one of the shop’s windows. “Just look at that, it’s snowing. I wished
it would. We have to have a white Christmas. It’s all about tradition.” She
started to hum White Christmas.

“I guess, if you like that sort of
thing.” Leda walked back into the kitchen and set about bringing the rest of
the cupcakes out. When she returned, she listened as Kendra served two
customers who were also gushing about their plans for the holidays. Why was
everyone making such a big deal out of it? It was after all only one day,
right?

“So,” said Kendra. “We’re closing
early tomorrow, right? I just wanted to confirm that with you. After I leave
here, I’m having Christmas Eve dinner with my family, and then we’re going to
hang out and wait for Santa to arrive.”

Was she for real? Leda certainly hoped
that Kendra still did not believe in Santa. The whole idea was absurd. “I’m
closing shop at five. I figure people will have everything they need by then
and if they don’t, then too bad.”

“You are such a scrooge.” Kendra laughed.
“Lighten up and enjoy all this. Christmas only comes once a year. Have fun,
celebrate and live it up before it’s all over.”

“And thank goodness for that.”

“Why don’t you make plans with Joey?
That guy is so into you. Heck, it obvious even to me the way he looks at you.
He’s a cutie.”

“Well, I’m not into him,” she lied.
“Nor am I into the whole Christmas thing. I keep trying to tell you all this,
but it seems not to sink into either of you.”

“Okay.” Kendra put both hands up in
the air. “I won’t say another word about it. I promise. May I get a lump of
coal in my stocking if I go back on my word.”

Leda rolled her eyes and moved to one
of the store’s windows. “It’s getting messy out there. You can leave early if
you like. I wouldn’t want for you to get caught here and I know you have to
drive home halfway across the city.”

“Are you sure?” asked Kendra, removing
her apron.

“Positive. We’re done with the baking
for today and I can handle the cash on my own. When Joey gets back, he can do
the clean-up.”

* * * *

The streets were becoming harder to
drive on. Even with his speed vastly reduced, the van slid all over the place,
and at one point almost hit two parked cars one block away from the bakery. He
squinted to see through the heavy falling snow, his eyes never leaving the
road.

Joey shifted the van into low gear and
crossed his fingers that he’d make it back alright. And when he spotted the
bakery in the near distance through the fast falling snow, he heaved a huge
sigh of relief.

“Have you seen what it’s like out
there?” he asked, walking into the bakery. “And it’s only going to get worse
overnight, so says the radio.”

“I sent Kendra home early so she could
avoid it. It looks like I did the right thing. You can go too.”

“In this? I barely made it back here.
I’m not going anywhere yet.” He pulled off his jacket and went to the supply
room to hang it up. When he came back, Leda was leaning on the countertop
staring off into space. He didn’t think she even noticed he was there. “So,
what else needs to be done?”

“Just the clean-up. I doubt we’ll be
seeing any more customers in here tonight.”

“Not if they’re smart.” He looked to
the kitchen. “I’ll get to work.”

“I’ll be in a moment.”

* * * *

There wasn’t much to clean. As usual
Kendra has taken care of most of it as she worked. And after the bulk had been
cleaned up, Joey washed down the surfaces while Leda took care of the front end
of the store, removing day old baked good from the display counters.

“What a waste,” she said, carrying a
load back into the kitchen. “It’s a shame to dump it. Take some of it home with
you.”

“Home? You’re kidding. Visibility is
near zero out there. This is going to last all night and into tomorrow
morning.”

“You can’t sleep here,” she said. She
had a small apartment located up over the shop. She could invite him to stay
the night with her. Her pulse quickened thinking about taking Joey into her
personal space. “You can stay upstairs with me. That’s the only sensible
solution to this. The couch is reasonably comfy.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that, Leda.” He
did sound appreciative, and the way he looked at her as he spoke her name,
well, she had to force her mind to other things then ravishing him right then
and there.

“It’s not a problem. I’d do it for
just about anyone.”

He smirked. “Well thank you for making
me feel special. And to think, I thought I was the only one.”

“Funny guy.” Leda smirked “Let’s
finish up down here and get the heck out of dodge.”

* * * *

The apartment was much nicer than Joey
expected. “This is great. You decorated yourself?”

Leda shrugged. “It’s nothing special
but I call it home. Let me take your jacket. You can leave your boots by the
door. The living area is right down the hall, the bathroom is on the right and
the kitchen is just in here.” She motioned to their left.

He settled on the couch while she hung
their jackets in the hall closet.

“I’d order out for pizza, but I don’t
think they’d deliver in this weather,” she called from the kitchen. “I can nuke
something.”

“That’s fine,” he called back. He
couldn’t remember the last time he’d ate something substantial that day other
than a bagel that morning for breakfast at home along with a cup of bitter
coffee.

“It’ll be done in five.” In one hand
she held a bottle of wine and in the other, two glasses. “I had this laying
around waiting for a special occasion. Now’s as good a time as any. If the
electricity should fail, it’ll keep us warm.” She poured a glass and handed it
to him.

He waited for her to pour another
before holding his high in the air. “A toast. To winter storms and the holiday
season.”

Leda lifted her glass. “May they both
be over soon.”

Chapter Two

After dinner, Leda sat and stared at
the TV while Joey sat next to her toying with the hem of his t-shirt. “We can
pop in a DVD,” she suggested, and then motioned to a shelf which contained her
vast collection. “I have a bit of everything.”

“We could, or we could go outside and
make snow angels.”

He couldn’t be serious. She fought the
immense urge to let loose with a roll of laughter. “I’d rather not. Have you
taken notice lately on how bad it’s become out there?”

“Yeah, I was kidding. I thought I’d at
least get a smile outta ya. You’re so serious all the time, it isn’t healthy.”

That comment struck a nerve within
her. Joey hadn’t a clue about her life, her past or her anything in fact. He
only knew one side of her, and that was as his boss. “Did you ever think I am
this way for a reason? Life isn’t all shits and giggles for everyone you know.
Not everyone comes from the perfect family like you do.” She poured another
glass of wine and took a sip.

“Whoa! I didn’t mean to offend you,
and my family is far from perfect. It was just a comment. I should have held my
tongue, but I’m concerned for you.”

“Never mind. The holidays are not a
good time for me. I never had much of a family life, ever. When this time of
the year comes along, I sorta flake out and do my best to pretend it’s like
every other time of the year.”