Love Finds You in Frost Minnesota by Judy Baer Read Free Book Online Page B

from the table, thanked her for the food, and retreated to his room, where he paced until he had his thoughts under control.
    It was a pleasant spot, he considered, with a comfortable reading chair, an antique table that acted as a desk, and the fireplace that felt wonderful on these cold nights. It even had Wi-Fi and cable television. And great food. He really couldn’t ask for more.
    The phone rang. “Frost here.”
    “Yo, boss, what’s up?”
    “Hi, Vince. Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?”
    “We’re great here. Don’t even know you’re gone.”
    “That’s not exactly comforting.” Vince had been with him for ten years and could practically read his mind. He also knew more about Jack’s past than any other person on the planet.
    “But there are things that crop up . . .”
    “Thank goodness.”
    “We need somebody to sign purchase orders, for one thing. You know how fussy accounting is if they haven’t gone through you.”
    “They should be. I threatened them with something dire if one ever got past them.”
    “I’ll overnight them to you. How can I expect to get them back? Pony Express?”
    “I have Wi-Fi. I’ll scan them once they’re signed and send them to accounting. I’ll even call and tell them they’re coming so they get off your back.”
    “Wi-Fi? What’s next in Podunk, USA? A movie theater with talking pictures? Fast food? ATMs?”
    “You’re a California snob, Vince. It would do you good to come to the Midwest. It has a lot going for it that you don’t know about.”
    “That vast open space between LA and New York? No thanks. You can tell me about it though. How’s the place you finally found to stay?”
    “Good. Some parts are great and others . . .”
    “And others?” Vince encouraged.
    “The little town of my youth has been hijacked by Christmas frivolity.”
    Vince whistled. “I’ll bet you love that. How did that happen? I thought Frost had less than two hundred people.”
    “Apparently it takes just one to change that.” Jack told him about Merry’s Christmas Boutique, the tea parties, the bed-and-breakfast, and even the sleigh-bell-ringing dog.
    “There are elves in the trees, decorations that would put Martha Stewart to shame, and women baking cookies in the church kitchen day and night. And for some reason unbeknownst to me, they’re planning a lutefisk dinner for the entire town.”
    “What’s lutefisk?” Vince asked.
    “Fish.” Jack decided not to explain further. Vince needed to experience that for himself.
    “I don’t see anything wrong with that. But I do understand that you might be upset about the other stuff. You can’t let it get to you. Life goes on, Jack.”
    “I know, I know. And mine should go on too. Well, it has. My business is booming, I have friends. . . .” Jack started to pace back and forth across the room, from the entry to the bay windows and back again, suddenly restless.
    “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
    “Let’s not talk about this anymore,” Jack said, trying very hard not to sound like he was pleading. He hated it when Vince went down this path.
    “Then tell me more about this Santa fiasco you’re embroiled in.”
    “Everyone in town is gung ho about celebrating Christmas—a holiday ice fishing tournament, the Parade of Lights that apparently boils down to tractors and old cars strung with lights driving down Main Street, and there’s a partridge in every pear tree.” Jack took another turn around the room.
    “This silly woman Merry Blake has turned the town into a mini Las Vegas of Christmas lights, gifts, and kitschy decorations!”
    He realized at once that he’d raised his voice loud enough that it could be heard plainly in the hallway. Hopefully Merry was nowhere around. Then he heard Peppy’s sleigh bells ring in the kitchen and Merry’s footsteps just outside his door. They passed by and the stairs creaked as she went to let the dog outside.
    She must have been at the hallway