That’s my problem more than anything else. When was the last time I had sex? There’s a new girl who started here recently, and she’s cute and all, but I don’t like the idea of getting involved with someone I work with. What if it doesn’t work out? Even if she’s temporary help, which I’m pretty sure she is, I won’t be able to escape her. I’ll have to see her day in and day out until Christmas Eve, and if we don’t click, that would be a nightmare.
I’m not meeting anyone new, that’s for damn sure. I don’t have time. Even when I do get a little downtime, I’m too exhausted to do much else. Or I need to catch up on laundry. Clean up some. Boring shit. My life has turned into work, sleep, eat, repeat.
This means I need to let loose soon and have a little fun.
“Isaac!”
I turn at the feminine voice, smiling when I spot Candice striding toward me. “What’s up, Miss Candice?” I ask as she stops directly in front of me.
“Oh! Too many things to mention.” She glances around, her eyes growing wide when she takes in all the activity surrounding us. “It’s very busy today.”
“It’s that time of year,” I remind her.
“Trust me, I know. I feel like we’ve been building up to this moment for a long time, and now it’s here!” She starts hopping up and down, and I know she’s referring to her wedding day, which is tomorrow. “Hey, I have a question for you.”
“What is it?” I glance around, noticing a family contemplating their tree choices. I should probably go over there and help them, but when the boss man’s woman is talking to you, you need to pay attention.
“Are you…seeing anyone currently?” She flutters her eyelashes at me, her expression one of pure innocence.
Huh.
“No, not really. Don’t have much time for it,” I answer carefully, wondering where she’s going with this.
She frowns. “Not really? Or not at all?”
“Not at all,” I correct. “Your future husband has me running ragged around here currently. I don’t have much time for dating at the moment.”
Her frown disappears, turning into a beaming smile. “Hmm, that’s what I thought. Perfect.”
“Perfect? That Charlie is working me to the bone and I’m exhausted by the end of every day?” I’m teasing her, but from the frantic look on her face, guess she can’t tell.
“No, no, not that part! I mean you not seeing anyone right now is perfect.” Another frown appears on her face, a little line forming between her eyebrows. “Charlie shouldn’t be working you so hard. You deserve some time off.”
“I’ll get a vacation in January,” I reassure her. “I always do. Don’t you worry about me.”
“As long as you’re sure,” she says, sounding doubtful.
“I’m sure,” I say firmly. “Hey, why are you so concerned with my love life?”
“Don’t you worry about me,” Candice repeats my own words back to me, though hers sound far more mysterious. “I have nothing planned.”
She flounces off before I can say another word, which leaves me guessing she most definitely has something planned.
Frowning, I approach the family who is contemplating a variety of Christmas trees, and while they’re polite, the couple waves me off, saying they’ll call me if and when they need me. I subtly watch them from a distance, lost in thought, curious over why Candice acted that way just now.
She’s got lots of friends, mostly rich ones. Far too rich for my blood. If she hopes to set me up with one of them, that would probably end in disaster. I’m a simple guy from a middle-class family. We’re not what I would call uppity—not at all. I probably need a few lessons in manners, and I sure as hell don’t know which fork to use when I’m at a fancy dinner.
Not that I go to any fancy dinners or have to worry about multiple forks…
“Hey you.”
Another feminine voice sounds from behind me and I turn to find the new girl standing there with a pleasant smile on her face. We’ve never really spoken to each other before unless you count the occasional hello and head nod when we walk past each other.
“Hi,” I tell her, unsure of what to say next. Am I that out of the game that I can’t even come up with something to say? Pathetic.
She smiles. I’d bet she’s younger than me, but not by much. Her nose is pierced with a tiny silver hoop and I stare at it for a moment, wondering if that hurt.
“You doing okay?” she asks.
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“You seemed a little…out of it just now.”
“Oh. Yeah. Just tired.” My smile is faint. “Been a long day. Taking a little break, I guess.”
“It’s really busy today.” She looks from her left to her right before returning her gaze to mine. “So many people.”
“Yeah, get used to it. It’s our big season.”
“I’ll say.” She takes a step forward. “I’m Kendra, by the way.” She usually works in the tent, selling wreaths and the flocked trees. She only just started a few weeks ago, and she’s a good worker. Keeps busy. Keeps her pierced nose out of trouble.
“Isaac.” I nod and take her offered hand, giving it a shake. Notice that I feel nothing, but hey, I can’t base anything off that. It’s not always about instantaneous chemistry. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, you too. Everyone’s always rushing around this place, no one hardly talks to me, you know?” She lifts her brows in question.
“Starting now, it gets a little crazy, and it’ll stay this way right up till Christmas,” I explain. “It’s not that we aren’t friendly here. We just—barely have time to breathe.”
“I had no idea Christmas trees were such brisk business,” she says, sounding truly surprised.
I briefly check her out as she glances around the farm. She’s pretty enough. Brown hair, brown eyes, good figure. Really nice rack, if I’m being honest. Seems nice, but I don’t know. There’s something about her that’s not clicking for me. I don’t think she’s a bad person or anything, but I get the sense she’s not my kind of person.
“Sir! We have a question. Can you help us, please?” This comes from the mom of the family I was just eyeing.
“Just a second,” I tell the group before I turn to face Kendra once more. “Duty calls.”
“Yeah, it does.” She smiles. “Nice meeting you, Isaac. I’ll see you later.”
“See ya around,” I say, waving before I walk away.
I think about Kendra as I help the family choose a tree, their three kids running circles around us as if they’re high on sugar. Judging from their candy cane-stained faces, I’d guess my assumption is correct.
Kendra seems all right. Pleasant. Right here in front of my face, which if I was interested, that would be handy.
But I don’t think I’m interested.
My thoughts immediately go to the woman I annoyed here a few days ago. Candice’s friend. Amelia. Now she was a beauty. Elegant. Refined. A little snooty, but I have a feeling I could get her to come around.