A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold #9.5)

“Are you staying sane?” Patience asked. “I heard the cheerleaders wanted your help with their Pom-Pom-A-Thon.”


“I’m running ragged,” Evie admitted. “But only a couple more weeks and everything will be done. Then I can collapse through New Year’s.”

“Tell me about it.”

Lillie returned, her boots on her feet and her ballet shoes in her hand. “I’m ready, Mom.”

“Okay. Off we go. We have to stop at the grocery store and get more supplies. Your grandmother is still on a cookie tear.” Patience waved. “Hang in there and I’ll do the same.”

“Will do.”

She and Lillie left. Evie glanced at the clock. She had about an hour until her next class. Time enough to grab something to eat and maybe stop by Morgan’s Books for something to read. As soon as Christmas was over, she was going to put her feet up and not move for a week. There were no classes between the twenty-sixth and the first of the year. While she couldn’t afford a real vacation, she could hide out and rest.

“You’re starting a cult.”

She looked up and saw Dante standing in the doorway to the studio. As always, the sight of him set her heart beating a little faster.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“Those girls. You’re training them to take over the world.”

She laughed. “You’re not making any sense.”

He walked toward her and took her hand, then led her to the window in the reception area.

“Look down there,” he said, pointing. “What do you see?”

“Lillie and Patience.”

“And how is Lillie wearing her hair?”

Evie saw the braids tightly wrapped around her head, then reached up and touched her own.

“A coincidence.”

“I don’t think so. All your students are copying you. It’s charming.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “You’re their role model.”

“I think I’m more of a cautionary tale.”

He kissed the top of her head. “You’re being too hard on yourself.”

He turned her toward him and kissed her again, this time on her mouth.

“What time’s your last class?” he asked.

“I finish at six and then I head over to the ranch for the hayrides.”

“Me, too.” He groaned. “I’d rather be home, having takeout with you.”

“Me, too.” She put her hands on his shoulders and stared into his blue eyes. “But instead, you’re helping my family. You’re a really good guy. I don’t usually fall for the good ones. I tend to be attracted to the losers of the world.”

He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “It’s the sex. You can’t help yourself.”

Evie was still laughing as he strolled down the stairs.

* * *

“I DON’T THINK SO,” Evie said, staring at herself in the mirror.

“Come on,” Annabelle said, handing over a set of pointed ears. “You look adorable. I can’t do it.” She patted her belly. “I’m pregnant. How would that look? And Heidi has to handle the petting zoo. You know how the goats get when they have company. They’re all so happy, they could accidentally knock over a four-year-old.”

Evie stared down at herself. She was wearing a green flared skirt, a long-sleeved red-and-green sweater, along with red-and-white-striped tights. Finishing up the outfit was a green hat and elf ears and pointy green elf shoes.

“I don’t want to be an elf,” she muttered. “What was I thinking?”

Annabelle beamed at her. “That’s the spirit.”

“I’m crabby.”

“Crabby works, as long as you smile for the pictures. Come on. I just heard a car pull up.”

Somehow, when she hadn’t been looking, Evie had been roped into helping with the annual hayrides at the ranch—a tradition Heidi and her grandfather had started when they’d first moved to the ranch a couple of years ago. Families drove out for an old-fashioned hayride. The various animals were available for petting, families could take pictures, and if they were very lucky, it might snow.

Evie sort of remembered agreeing to help, but that was before she’d figured out how busy she was going to be with the production and the other activities someone always seemed to be volunteering her for.

“I wrapped books,” she told Annabelle. “Isn’t that enough?”

Annabelle raised her chin. “Excuse me, but I’m not in charge of the hayrides. That’s Heidi’s thing.”

“Right,” Evie muttered, following her pregnant sister-in-law to-be out of the guest bedroom and toward the rear of the house.

She wanted to complain that she’d had to help everyone. Heidi tonight, Annabelle with the books, her mother with the pet adoption. Only all three of her brothers had shown up to refurbish her production sets, so it wasn’t as though she could really complain. And in truth it was kind of fun to be with everyone, in a low-key setting. Still, these were the most intense holidays she could remember.