A Christmas Affair: A Seaside Cove Romance (Seaside Cove Romance Series Book 1) by Cora Davies Read Free Book Online Page A

were together ?" Bridget drew the word together out much longer than she needed to and lowered her voice. Molly realized that Bridget was trying to pretend like what they said was just between them, but Molly did not forget they were both wearing microphones. Molly pretended to not hear her, and nervously straightened her jean cuffs again.
    "When do we start?" Molly asked, and as if those were the magic words a man began to shout.
    "Bridget! We're on in three," he did a visual countdown at the same time and mouthed two, one.
    "Welcome back and thank you for joining us this evening. We'd like to welcome our guest, Molly Smith of Seaside Gifts from the Shore. Molly serves as secretary on the Dickens Council, where I, of course, hold the VP seat," Bridget spoke clearly towards the camera, and Molly wished for a fraction of her confidence. "Thank you so much for being here today Molly."
    "Uh, yes," Molly stammered as the room started to spin. Just me and Bridget.
    "Please, tell the audience at home why you are here today."
    "Right, um," Molly's mouth felt like sandpaper and she took a sip of the coffee. Just get it over with. "We need a new Santa Claus."
    Bridget stared at Molly as though she was waiting for her to say more. Molly sat blankly across from her. "Yes, do you care to elaborate?" Bridget smiled and Molly returned the grin. Molly's palms were so sweaty she feared she would drop the coffee, so she slowly placed it back on the table. Deep breath.
    "Our old Santa and Mrs. Claus had to move suddenly. The Boughmans, and so I volunteered to be Mrs. Claus for Santa's Workshop at the Dickens Village. We still need a Santa. If someone could volunteer, that would be great," Molly spoke so fast her words blurred together into one long word. She got to the of her sentence and slammed her mouth shut, staring into the camera.
    "Right," Bridget said after a moment's pause, but never dropped her smile. "Thank you Mol-"
    "Oh!" Molly clapped her hands together. "I almost forgot, if you are a couple and want to do Santa and Mrs. Claus together, that's fine too." She smiled what she hoped was a dazzling expression like Bridget's. But when Molly played the news report back that evening, she would see that she looked more like a deranged woman and less like the glamorous newscaster. "What I mean is, if you really want to be Mrs. Claus, I'll let you."
    "Thank you Molly." Bridget put her hand on Molly's knee and patted it. Molly slumped back in her chair. Her part was over. She let out a huge sigh of relief.
    "You're still on the camera Molly," a voice said in her ear, and she flinched as she remembered the sound manager placed the ear piece in right before she sat down. "Molly, personal choice here, but you are still on camera and you are pretty much laying down in your chair."
    Molly flung herself to a straight seated position, as her leg reached out and kicked the bottom of the coffee table. Coffee sloshed over the edges of both mugs, but ever the professional, Bridget did not even look at Molly but kept speaking into the camera. "Volunteer hours, location, and phone number to call if interested are on the bottom of your screen. Remember, whoever volunteers will get to spend many many hours over the next month with this beautiful woman right here."
    Molly raised her hand in a little wave. The old fashioned corded phone in front of them began to ring, and Molly felt an edge of excitement. Who would volunteer? Would it be someone who loved Christmas as much as she did? She hoped it was someone she got along with already, that would be great.
    "Yes caller, you are on the air with Bridget and Molly here on On the Local." Bridget lifted the phone and laid it down on the table. The caller's voice filtered in through the ear piece, and Molly assumed what she heard was what the people at home heard too.
    "Molly? Molly dear, this is Annette Gunderson," an elderly woman said. She was one of Molly's regulars, always coming in to purchase gifts to send