Chapter 2From his mezzanine perch, Alex peered down over the shop. For just a few days into December, there was already a mad rush. In addition, word had spread rapidly about Alex’s Santa. He’d even heard a small whisper that children liked his Santa even more than the mall’s own, even though there was no real grotto for Michael.
“Ho, ho, ho. Penny for your thoughts.”
Glancing over his shoulder, Alex smiled at Michael. Alex allowed Michael to use his office to change in and out of his Santa clothes. Alex couldn’t explain just what it was that made him so relaxed in the other man’s presence, but Michael always seemed to exude a sense of calm, even when things were frantic in the shop.
There were times he found it hard to believe they’d met less than one short week ago. Quite often Alex f
