Read Online Sweet Cinderella (A Christmas Novella) (The Klaus Brothers Book 4) by Penny Watson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Penny Watson
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about the gala. But if that Time Freeze really works, we wouldn’t have a problem.” Gregor planted both hands on his desk and boxed Shirley in. “Can you get it to work?”
She let out a long breath. “Yeah. I think so. It makes time freeze in the Sudenwelt, so that anything you do during the spell takes place in exactly one second of Suddie time. You could literally spend months with Hannah under the spell, and when she gets home, it will be exactly one second later in real time.” Shirley tossed the lollipop into a trash can. “It’s a pretty cool spell, actually. One time—”
“No stories, Shirley. I want this spell cast tonight. She is struggling with guilt and fear, and I need to show her that we’re meant to be together. That she can trust me.”
“You do see the irony here, right? You want her to trust you, but you’re using a shady elfin spell to win her over?”
Gregor did not look amused. “Do you have any other ideas?”
She shrugged. “Actually, nope. I’m fresh out of ideas. As long as you treat her like a princess and shower her with love and affection, I’m good with this. I must say, you did great with the kids this week. I’m sort of shocked about that.”
Gregor smiled. “The kids are wonderful. Full of energy. They’re smart and fun. Her family is a treasure. Hannah is a treasure.”
Shirley tapped her chin. “You know, it’s sort of funny . . .”
“What’s so funny?” Gregor growled.
She held up a restraining hand. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Klaus. I’m just saying . . . for someone who swears he has no Christmas spirit, you sure did a good job faking it this week.”
Gregor took a step back. “What are you talking about?”
“The ice skating, the Christmas crèche, window-shopping on Fifth Avenue, watching
Elf
. This whole week was filled with holiday activities, and you actually seemed to enjoy yourself.” She fiddled with the snowflakes on his desk. “I mean . . . I know the difference between your ‘fake’ face and your ‘real’ face, and as far as I could tell, you were genuinely enjoying those Christmasy things. You know?”
Gregor furrowed his brow. “You’re right. I did.” He laughed quietly. “It’s different seeing Christmas through a child’s eyes. And through Hannah’s eyes. She is honestly delighted by everything. She is so smitten with the holiday, she makes everything shine.”
Shirley knocked her heels against Gregor’s desk. “In a million years, if I had to place a bet on which one of the Klaus brothers would take over for Santa, I would never have pegged you.
Never
.”
Gregor tensed. “What’s your point?”
“I’m just sayin’ . . . I know that the Überholen is coming up, and that one of you guys has to replace your dad when he retires.”
“And I’m clearly the most lacking in Santa qualities. I get it.” Gregor reached for his Scotch and drained the glass.
“Well, maybe a couple of weeks ago I would have agreed with you. But now . . . I’m not so sure. You’ve been hanging out with the kids, doing real Christmas activities. And enjoying them. You don’t look so uptight anymore. Maybe . . .”
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe you have more Santa-ish qualities than you think.” She cocked her head. “Hannah’s good for you.”
Gregor walked over to the enormous windows of his apartment and stared into the misty city. “I
need
her, Shirley. She’s the one.” He kept his back to her.
Shirley knew he was embarrassed for her to see the emotion on his face. But she could hear it in his voice.
He cleared his throat. “You need to clean up your mess and get lost for the night.”
“What! You’re throwing me out after everything I’ve done!”
He turned around, clearly exasperated. “I’m planning to seduce Hannah here this evening. Do you really want to stay?”
“Oh. Yeah. No way. I’m out of here. Where am I supposed to go?”
Gregor laughed. “Are you kidding? Half
She let out a long breath. “Yeah. I think so. It makes time freeze in the Sudenwelt, so that anything you do during the spell takes place in exactly one second of Suddie time. You could literally spend months with Hannah under the spell, and when she gets home, it will be exactly one second later in real time.” Shirley tossed the lollipop into a trash can. “It’s a pretty cool spell, actually. One time—”
“No stories, Shirley. I want this spell cast tonight. She is struggling with guilt and fear, and I need to show her that we’re meant to be together. That she can trust me.”
“You do see the irony here, right? You want her to trust you, but you’re using a shady elfin spell to win her over?”
Gregor did not look amused. “Do you have any other ideas?”
She shrugged. “Actually, nope. I’m fresh out of ideas. As long as you treat her like a princess and shower her with love and affection, I’m good with this. I must say, you did great with the kids this week. I’m sort of shocked about that.”
Gregor smiled. “The kids are wonderful. Full of energy. They’re smart and fun. Her family is a treasure. Hannah is a treasure.”
Shirley tapped her chin. “You know, it’s sort of funny . . .”
“What’s so funny?” Gregor growled.
She held up a restraining hand. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Klaus. I’m just saying . . . for someone who swears he has no Christmas spirit, you sure did a good job faking it this week.”
Gregor took a step back. “What are you talking about?”
“The ice skating, the Christmas crèche, window-shopping on Fifth Avenue, watching
Elf
. This whole week was filled with holiday activities, and you actually seemed to enjoy yourself.” She fiddled with the snowflakes on his desk. “I mean . . . I know the difference between your ‘fake’ face and your ‘real’ face, and as far as I could tell, you were genuinely enjoying those Christmasy things. You know?”
Gregor furrowed his brow. “You’re right. I did.” He laughed quietly. “It’s different seeing Christmas through a child’s eyes. And through Hannah’s eyes. She is honestly delighted by everything. She is so smitten with the holiday, she makes everything shine.”
Shirley knocked her heels against Gregor’s desk. “In a million years, if I had to place a bet on which one of the Klaus brothers would take over for Santa, I would never have pegged you.
Never
.”
Gregor tensed. “What’s your point?”
“I’m just sayin’ . . . I know that the Überholen is coming up, and that one of you guys has to replace your dad when he retires.”
“And I’m clearly the most lacking in Santa qualities. I get it.” Gregor reached for his Scotch and drained the glass.
“Well, maybe a couple of weeks ago I would have agreed with you. But now . . . I’m not so sure. You’ve been hanging out with the kids, doing real Christmas activities. And enjoying them. You don’t look so uptight anymore. Maybe . . .”
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe you have more Santa-ish qualities than you think.” She cocked her head. “Hannah’s good for you.”
Gregor walked over to the enormous windows of his apartment and stared into the misty city. “I
need
her, Shirley. She’s the one.” He kept his back to her.
Shirley knew he was embarrassed for her to see the emotion on his face. But she could hear it in his voice.
He cleared his throat. “You need to clean up your mess and get lost for the night.”
“What! You’re throwing me out after everything I’ve done!”
He turned around, clearly exasperated. “I’m planning to seduce Hannah here this evening. Do you really want to stay?”
“Oh. Yeah. No way. I’m out of here. Where am I supposed to go?”
Gregor laughed. “Are you kidding? Half
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