Rhonda Nelson - Jingle Spells

She blinked, but the scene didn’t change. Conveyor belts snaked through the two-story work area carrying finished toys to a wrapping machine. The toys emerged covered with bright paper and festive bows. Then they disappeared into a tunnel.

Slowly she backed into the elevator. This couldn’t be real, and yet she was wide awake. She pinched herself to make sure. The secret, the one Cole had refused to tell her, was incredible, but she couldn’t deny it now. Evergreen Industries, through some process she didn’t understand but Cole obviously knew inside out, was responsible for making Christmas happen.

* * *

Cole glanced at the clock. Taryn would have her coffee by now, and he should probably contact her to see how she was getting along with the database. Texting her seemed like the best option. He’d begun composing one when his phone chimed. Noelle’s name popped up on the screen.

He abandoned his text message and answered the call. “What’s up?”

“You’d better get down here.”

He’d never heard Noelle use that tone, which was part command and part freak-out. “Be right there.”

Moments later he was in her office staring at the pictures coming from her surveillance cameras and swearing softly under his breath. “How did she get in there? Her access card was only coded for the IT floor!”

“Don’t ask me, but we officially have a major security threat.”

Cole’s chest tightened. Deep down, he’d known this would happen. He should never have brought her here. “Do you have the cocoa ready?”

Noelle hesitated. “Yes.”

“Will it work?” He was worried about Noelle’s slight hesitation.

“It should.”

“It will erase all memory of me and of this place, but nothing else, right?”

“Uh, yes.”

He didn’t like the faint tremor in her voice, which told him she wasn’t all that confident about the cocoa. But even if the effects only lasted for a while, it would buy him some time, and it was better than nothing. “Get me some and bring it to my office. I’ll go find her.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

At this point, he didn’t have to hide his powers anymore. Closing his eyes, he willed himself to B4, where Taryn was wandering through displays featuring the historical origin of the Christmas tree. He materialized next to her while she gazed up at a Scotch pine with candles attached to its branches.

“Having fun?”

She jumped and turned toward him, wide-eyed. “Where did you come from?”

He looked into her eyes. “I’m a wizard.” In some ways, it was a relief to finally say it. “I can travel simply by wishing it.”

“You’re a...” She stared at him, her face drained of all color.

“A wizard. From the Winter Clan. As you’ve just discovered, we’re in charge of Christmas.”

“But you can’t be. What about the North Pole? How does that figure in?”

“It’s a decoy. The North Pole would be way too much trouble—no decent facilities at all up there. Colorado is much more convenient for our purposes.”

“So this is what you couldn’t tell me.”

“That’s right. And because you’ve breached our security, I have to take care of that. How did you, by the way?”

“I stole Belle’s access card while we were in the coffee shop. Don’t blame her. It’s not her fault.”

“I don’t. If anybody’s to blame, it’s me for bringing you to Gingerbread in the first place. But I’ll fix that.” He held out his hand. “Hold on.”

“Why?”

“We need to go to my office, and this is the quickest way.” He gazed at her. “Trust me, please.”

“All right.” And she put her hand in his.

That simple act broke his heart. But he had a job to do, so he closed his eyes and willed them to his fifteenth-floor office. When the swirling stopped, he kept holding her hand. Anyone new to apparating needed some time to adjust.

She took a shaky breath. “Wow. How many Gs do you think we pulled?”

“Don’t know. I’ve never tried to measure that.”

“Next time you should. It would be fun to know.”

“ Fun ? This isn’t about fun, Taryn.”

“Of course it is! This is a blast. I just found out the man I love is a wizard. How cool is that?”

“I don’t think you quite understand.”

“No, but I want to. Where do you live? Can you tell me now?”

He shrugged. “I suppose it can’t hurt. The Winter Clan has a lodge up on Mistletoe Mountain.”

“I knew it! That’s why Belle warned me not to go hiking up there.”

“You wouldn’t have found it even if you had. We have it cloaked.”

“Cloaked! I love it! What about the elves? Where do they live?”

“Their village is just below the lodge. They travel to and from the workshop through underground passageways.” He looked into her shining eyes and frowned. “At this point any normal person should be hyperventilating and questioning her own sanity. Why aren’t you?”

“You’re kidding, right? This is me you’re talking to, the woman who has read Lord of the Rings at least four times and has watched the movie more times than that. Cole, you’re a wizard. Like Gandalf, only way sexier! I’m geeking out!”

“Knock, knock.” Noelle appeared in the doorway holding an ornate silver mug on a silver tray. “I have the cocoa.”

“Thanks, Noelle. You can set it on my desk.”

She did. Then she walked over to Taryn and held out her hand. “I’m Noelle Frost, temporary head of security. I don’t know how you breached our system, but I’m impressed. I wish I could get to know you better.”

“Maybe you can,” Taryn said.

“I don’t think so.” Noelle glanced at the cocoa and then at Cole. “It should be fine.”

“What?” Taryn whirled around to face him. “What’s with the cocoa?”

Cole stepped forward and grasped her shoulders. “It’s a special batch. I can’t allow you to remember all you’ve seen, so the cocoa will erase those memories. Then you can return to your life, your family and your job as if this never happened.”

“No, I can’t.”

Noelle cleared her throat. “I’ll just head on back to my office. Call if you need me.”

“I will,” Cole said. Then he returned his attention to Taryn. “Yes, you can. It’s the way things need to be.”

“I didn’t finish my work in IT.”

“That’s okay. I can do it.”

“What if I hack back in?”

He shook his head. “You won’t. I’ve asked Noelle to brew this batch so your memories of me will be selectively removed.” He hoped Noelle had managed that.

“First of all, you may be a wizard and all, but that doesn’t sound doable. I don’t think it’s possible to untangle my memories of you without screwing up all my memories from MIT.”

“I believe it can be done.”

“You mean you want to believe, but I can tell you’re not a hundred percent sure.”

“Taryn, listen to me. We have to try so you can live a normal life. I saw the pictures on your mantel. The burden of keeping a secret like this from those you love would be huge. ”

She gazed at him for several seconds. “Now I get it. The burden would be huge for you, because being open with those you love is so important. It’s important to me, too, but if I have to keep a secret from my friends and family so I can be with you—it’s no contest.”

“Taryn, I—”

She cupped his face in both hands. “You are the best thing that ever happened to me. And now, on top of your brains, your sexy body and your intense love for me, you’re a wizard. Do you think for one minute I’m going to dutifully swallow some iffy potion that might make me forget you? I intend to remember you for the rest of my life.”