Holiday Wedding (6 page)

He had a point. Luke and Kate were more of a laid-back couple. Before Lauren could ask another question, Drew threw the keys on the table.

“Have you lost your ever-freakin' mind? I'm not going anywhere. I have an entire region to run.”

Luke challenged his brother. “And that region is on the other side of the Pacific. You can do it from Snow Frost Mountain just as easily as you could do it from New York.” He turned to Lauren. “I've already talked this morning to Miles, Dad, and Vanessa. Miles will pretend that everything is status quo. Kate'll never know that the wedding location has been moved until I surprise her on Christmas Eve.”

Lauren leafed through the contents of the folder. “Why don't you just send Miles to Vermont? Not only would he know what to do, but he knows Kate better than Drew and I do.”

“I need him to stay here so Kate doesn't suspect anything. I want this to be a complete surprise.” He pointed to the folder in front of Lauren.

“You'll find all the information you need on reception venues, wedding cakes, and flowers,” Luke said, clearly pleased with himself for what he and his assistant pulled together in such a short period of time. “I'm working on appointments for you for Wednesday. I'll have Miles send you daily agendas that he'll review with you each morning.”

“Oh, goody.” Drew pushed out of his seat and headed toward the window.

“Luke, you do realize how much money Jack will lose by not going through with it here? How on earth will you get Kate up to Vermont?” Lauren asked.

“I've already talked to my dad. The money doesn't matter. I refuse to give my fiancée anything less than the wedding of her dreams. I know you two can pull this off. As far as PR goes, I've got a few tricks up my sleeves.”

Drew turned abruptly and sat back down. “You're insane.” He pointed to the dolls across the table and all so conveniently changed the subject. “When are we going to get down to it and talk about the two elephants in the room?”

“Right now, and their names are Anna and Tyler.” Luke stood and picked up the dolls, handing the female doll to Lauren and the male doll to Drew. “While you're away, you have one additional assignment.” He took his seat. “I want you to find their soul mates.”

Lauren looked down at her doll, touching its silky brown hair. What was her boss up to? He wanted them to plan his wedding and search for soul mates. “Why do you need to know their matches?”

Luke winked. “They're out there somewhere. I want to know who they are.”

Drew threw his hands up in the air. “This is ridiculous.”

“This was your idea,” Luke said, firing all his agitation Drew's way. “Find their soul mates and come up with a plan to sell this toy.” He wheeled his chair back. “A good one this time.”

“I've told you a million times what we need to do,” Drew said through gritted teeth.

“We're not giving any of the dolls away for free.” Luke folded his arms. “That's not how you turn a profit.”

Lauren cradled the doll in her lap, feeling an odd attachment. “How is finding this little doll's soul mate going to help us sell it?”

“You two working together can do anything. I've already given you some help.” Luke paused and pointed to Lauren's folder. “All the information is in there toward the back. The village in Vermont has an annual Frost Festival, where merchants sell toys to over ten thousand visitors throughout the weekend. Apparently it's a big moneymaker.”

Lauren ruffled through the materials in her folder, pulling out the powder blue flier for the festival. “How charming.”

“It's this weekend. I've sent up a thousand of these dolls from our warehouse for you both to sell.” He looked squarely at Drew. “Not give away. Sell at half price. Two of those dolls are the soul mates to the dolls you have in your hands. The owners of those dolls will win a free trip to New York City and a one-thousand-dollar shopping spree at JDL Toys. It's up to you two to find them.”

“This is ridiculous.” Drew flung the boy doll across the table. “Who died and made you Father Christmas?”

Lauren gazed down at the beautiful winter village displayed on the brochure. Snow Frost Mountain certainly looked like a winter wonderland. The perfect place for a long romantic getaway.

What was Luke doing? He'd said she'd like his two-week plan, and he was the one that continued to tell her they just needed time alone to reconnect. Was this trip it? Crazy or not, it would give her two weeks alone with Drew in an enchanting winter paradise. The thought of them sipping wine snuggled in front of a cozy fire sent her heart racing. “I'm in,” she blurted.

“I'm not.” Drew stood and exited, mumbling under his breath.

“He'll come around,” Luke said. Reaching over, he patted Lauren's hand. “You should probably head out early and start packing. It's cold up there.”

Lauren grabbed the folder, the keys Drew had thrown, and their dolls. “So, Luke, what are you really up to?”

“I want to give Kate the most amazing wedding.” His sly grin was a dead giveaway. “And Santa may have told me about your Christmas wish.”

“My fat raise?”

“That's not what you asked for.” He squeezed her shoulders. “And you and I both know it.”

“But what about Olivia? She's Drew's assistant. Surely she'll want to go.”

“Already taken care of. Dad's got her helping him sort through his files.” He laughed. “He told her he's planning on working on his memoir, and really needs her help.”

Lauren couldn't help but chuckle at that deceit. “That should keep her busy.” She glanced at the Happily Ever After dolls. “Are you sure you trust Drew and me with your happily ever after? With our track record …”

Luke reached out and touched her hand. “You've got two weeks. Get to work.”

Lauren smiled at her boss, all but sure he wasn't referring to just planning his wedding.

Drew flew through the flagship store, dodging little people left and right. Holiday music filled the air, worsening his bad mood. Who did Luke think he was? Seriously. Sending him and Lauren off to some town in the middle of nowhere to plan a wedding during what was arguably the busiest time of the year for the company?

He stopped short of the children's books section and stared at the gold plaque on the wall.

In Memory of Carol Cannon. The Heart of JDL Toys
.

“Mom, can you talk some sense into your other son?” He let his fingers glide over the tiny engraved words. This area of the toy store had been a special place for both Luke and Drew. It was here their mother would read to them for endless hours, encouraging both boys to be whatever they wanted to be.

Had he let her down? Most days lately he felt like a complete screw-up.

“Candy cane for your thoughts?”

Drew turned around to see a jolly old St. Nick offering him a small candy cane wrapped in plastic and ribbon. “Thanks.” He took it, twirling the ribbon between his fingers. “Drew Cannon.”

“Kris Kringle.”

“Right. Got that from the outfit.” Drew smirked at the recognizable red and white costume, complete with black boots. “Thanks for the candy cane, Santa.”

“Mrs. Claus won't let me give out any Christmas cookies this year.” He chuckled and Drew was pretty sure that act made his plump belly roll underneath the red suit. “Says I'll eat them all.”

“Hazard of the job, right?” Drew shoved the candy in his pants pocket. Maybe he'd give it to Luke later and tell him to suck it.

“Something like that. Well, I should head up and take my seat.” He slid his glasses up his nose and glanced around. “I was out yesterday.” He pointed to his red cane. “Doctor's appointment. It looks like it's going to be a busy day.”

That it was. The store bustled with holiday shoppers zooming in every direction. Drew had completely forgotten that the third floor transformed into Santa's Village the day after Thanksgiving.

Before his mom died and he'd given up on Christmas, he'd spent hours playing with the magnificent toy train set up to circle the stage where Santa sat. One year, his parents had even dressed Luke and him up as elves and let them help out, giving out toys to the kids waiting to see Santa.

He laughed. Probably the only time in Luke's life that he gave a toy out for free.

“Well, good luck up there.” He leaned in. “Say, Santa, if you could push the Happily Ever After dolls, I would be most grateful.”

The jolly man nodded. “I'll do what I can. It's not popular among the boys, is it?”

Drew's face fell. “You know, too?”

He winked. “I see the lists, remember?” He motioned to follow him to the escalator. “I could use some help if you could spare an hour or two. Seems as the store has cut back on elves this year.”

“Oh, I don't know. I'm kind of busy.”
Thinking of ways to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge or push Luke off of it.

He had no desire to go back upstairs to the executive offices. In addition to his arguing with Luke, being around Lauren was seriously starting to mess with his head. The way she looked at him in the CC Boardroom. Was that sympathy in her gorgeous blue eyes? He could handle being a failure in Luke's eyes—barely—but Lauren was an entirely different story. Not when the dolls ultimately were a tribute to her and the love they'd shared.

He ran his hand through his hair and stepped toward the elevator. How was he going to handle being alone with his ex for two weeks when she was the one who'd called off their wedding?

Luke's assignment didn't seem to bother her. She'd eagerly jumped at his offer. Had she really moved on so easily that two weeks alone with him would be no big deal?

And then there was Olivia. She was going to freak out when she learned the news. He didn't want to hurt her, but he couldn't deny that as the reality of Luke's plan set in, the thought of being alone with Lauren opened a little hope in his heart.

He turned, not ready to go back upstairs and face Luke, Lauren, or Olivia. Suddenly hiding out in Santa's Village didn't seem like a bad idea. There were plenty of parents waiting in line who needed to know about the Happily Ever After dolls. “Hey Santa,” he called. “I'll be right up.”

“Very good, Drew. There's still time for you to make the ‘nice list' yet.” His eyes twinkled.

Drew turned the corner down the aisle that held the Happily Ever After dolls. He'd take up one girl and two boy dolls, his intention to push the boy dolls to the parents.

“Can I help you, Mr. Cannon?”

Drew looked over his shoulder to see a stock boy approaching. His name badge read “Nathan.” The kid appeared to be in high school or maybe college. Probably trying to make some extra cash for the holidays. “As a matter of fact, you can. Can you help me bring up a few more dolls to display in Santa's Village?”

“Sure thing, Mr. Cannon.” The young boy gave him an eager smile and grabbed a doll off of the shelf. Since he'd never met the boy, he assumed the kid thought he was Luke, just as Annie had earlier.

A bright light bulb illuminated inside his head that set off a mischievous grin.

“Nathan, change of plans. Please bring all the Happily Ever After dolls on the shelves up to Santa's Village. We're finding them a home today.”

“Yes, sir!” The stock boy scurried away, no doubt to go find help.

Drew rubbed his hands. Luke would have a conniption once he found out Drew had given the dolls out for free, but hopefully by then he would be halfway to Vermont.

He skipped up the escalator, a new bounce to his step. It wasn't like Luke hadn't played him on occasion. Hell, he'd spent the first half of his time in Maui last year pretending he was Drew to Kate.

It was time to get these dolls into the hands of little owners.

Twenty minutes later, an out of breath Nathan returned with two other stock boys around his age. They wheeled in the dolls.

“These are all the ones on the floor?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Excellent.” Drew smiled down at the bin. “If you could help me pass these out, that would be great.”

The boys nodded, and Drew turned to the crowded line of moms, dads, and kids. “Welcome to JDL Toys. This morning, as a special gift for all of you, we will be giving each child a complimentary Happily Ever After doll.” He pulled out a doll and held the package over his head to a roaring round of applause.

Then he got to work. Over the next two hours, he passed out all of the dolls from the floor and had instructed the stock boys to pull more from storage.

The children were excited for their free toy, and the parents seemed to think the idea to go online and play interactive games to find their doll's soul mate was a cute one.

Checking the time on his phone, Drew grinned with satisfaction. This was going to work. He could feel it.

He took a seat on a green velvet chair and watched as the crowd dispersed for Santa's lunch break.

“That was quite a thing you did this morning, Luke.”

“Oh, I'm not L—”

“Sure you are.” Santa winked. “The generous CEO who gave away all these wonderful dolls.”

“Right, right.” He scratched his chin. “This probably puts me on your naughty list, doesn't it?”

“I won't tell.” Santa set his hand on Drew's shoulder. “So what do you want for Christmas?”

“Just for those dolls to find their happily ever afters.”

“They will. Just give it time.” He raised his white eyebrow. “Surely there's something else you want.”

What
did
he want? It had been years since he'd made a request to the man in red. Even when Lauren had begged him year after year to make his Christmas list, he'd repeatedly blown her off, telling her to just surprise him.

Drew peered down at the doll in his hand. She had long, wavy blond hair, and a blue scarf wrapped around her neck. It reminded him of his one true love and the scarf she'd had on this morning. “Maybe find my own Happily Ever After.” He stood. “If that's even possible.”