Page 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1

Dodge

“You’re the reindeer whisperer You should have a TV show…”

Phil the bar owner rubs the countertop with a white rag, snapping his tongue over his front teeth, which is just one of his annoying habits but he’s likeable, nonetheless

The ache in my neck doubles as I look around the crowd and spinof Guinness in a slow circle

Santa Got Runover by a Reindeer comes on the jukebox, and I raise a hand to wave at a few locals that are singing out of tune and looking my way

I mull over how to fix the reindeer paddock back at my place

The deer were roa all over the land when I cah today, and it took me the better part of an hour to round thehs, water filled with dirt Kids don’t come out my way much, and I don’t usually have any trouble on account of ood

I can’t have shit like that going on The safety of my deer is my primary concern

Or at least it should be on a nor but a normal day

“Another perfect perforo and it’s another year off for your four-legged friends”

“Thanks,” I grunt, throwing back the rest of the cool dark beer in an effort to dislodge the lump in my throat

Every time the door opens, time stops

The chances that she’s already in town are good, but the chance that she h the door of The Franken here are sli throughon her lush lips as she seesintoaround my neck as her lips connect to mine…