Chapter 30

Jocelyn went to work early the next day, eager to get out of the house and away from Mallory's incessant bragging about having spent the day with Caden. Jocelyn internally smiled when Mallory told her that, although they had volunteered at the gift-wrapping booth, they had a great time at the movie. It had been the first time that Mallory had volunteered anywhere, especially at a Christmas wrapping booth. Secretly, Jocelyn wondered how much work she had actually done. But she quickly pushed the thought aside.
Jocelyn was the first one at work, and she started polishing the jewelry right away. When she came to The Christmas Ring, she held it reverently. Too bad life wasn't as romantic as it was in movies. As she looked at the ring, the image of Mallory kissing Caden came to mind. She sighed and put the ring away. It wasn't good to dream of things that would never be.
No, the only way her heart was going to survive intact was for her to stay away from Caden. After all, he came back home for Mallory and had even bought her a ring. Why was she dreaming of a man that was not destined for her, but for her sister, no less?
She sighed as she placed the ring back into the case and began polishing the rest of the jewelry. When she was finished, Roxanne Kincaid walked in, dressed in a gray dress suit that complimented her deep red hair and blue eyes. She bought the Christmas Cove Jewelry Store from the Spencers three years before and had been the owner since. Roxanne came in a few days a week to make sure the store ran right and to add her two cents worth, but she was essentially an absentee owner.
"Good morning, Jocelyn," Roxanne greeted her, stowing her purse under the counter. "You're here early today."
Jocelyn shrugged. "I just thought I'd get an early start on the day."
"Well, good." Roxanne leaned against the counter, placing her hands on the clean glass. "I thought we'd do a special display, since Christmas is right around the corner. I'd like you to help me."
"Sounds great," Jocelyn replied, putting away the special rags they used only to clean the jewelry. "Where would you like me to start?"
Roxanne started giving orders, but doing very little herself. "I'm going to the back to bring out some inventory." A smile lit her lips. "Maybe there's something special that will attract someone's eye."
Jocelyn was thankful when her boss disappeared into the back room, giving her time to think. But then again, that may have been dangerous, for her thoughts usually led to Caden.
The bell on the door rang, signaling someone coming in. Jocelyn looked up and Kiki walked in, carrying a few shopping bags, filled to the brim.
"So, you went shopping this morning?" Jocelyn asked, stating the obvious.
"Christmas shopping," Kiki corrected, brushing her light auburn hair back over her shoulders. "Since I didn't have to come in early this morning, I thought I'd take the time to go shopping." She set the bags on the counter and slid open the door under the counter, looking for a place to stow her treasures. "Roxanne's been scheduling me almost every night, so I thought I'd grab a moment to do my Christmas shopping when I could."
"Ssshhh-." Jocelyn whispered, signaling with her head toward the back room. "She's right back there."
"Ooppss!" Kiki's eyes grew wide, and then she and Jocelyn giggled. "Well, I didn't say anything that wasn't true anyway." After she finished stowing her goods under the counter, she stood, smoothed her skirt, and then adjusted her oversized sweater. "So, what are we doing today?"
"I'm setting up a new display that Roxanne wants to do for Christmas." Jocelyn arranged a wedding band set in the glass case. "She's in the back right now, looking for more jewelry."
"And I found several," Roxanne announced as she walked in, juggling several boxes. She set them down on the counter, opened a box, and took out a silver necklace with a snowflake, glittering with diamonds. "I have no idea why this beauty was on the back shelf. Do you, Jocelyn?"
"We didn't have enough room for it in the case out front when it arrived." Jocelyn hated it when Roxanne came in.
"Jocelyn, you know that we can't sell items that are in the back room." Roxanne slid it onto a white felt necklace frame, shaped like a woman's headless neck. "And if we can't sell products--"
"You can't afford to pay us," Jocelyn finished. She had heard it too many times before. "We sold a lot of items this week, and I was going to restock today."
"As the manager of the Christmas Cove Jewelry Store, you need to stay on top of these things." Roxanne opened another box, revealing a beautiful wedding band set and laid it in the case beside the necklace. "Don't wait to restock. Do it right away at night before the store closes. That way we're ready for the first customers of the day."
Kiki was standing behind her, mouthing Roxanne's exact words.
Jocelyn suppressed a smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
When Roxanne turned around, Kiki stopped and looked at her with an innocent look on her face. Jocelyn coughed to cover a laugh.
Roxanne looked back and forth between them, and then gave up.
Suddenly, the front door flew open, causing Jocelyn to jump. When she looked up, her heart stopped, for Caden was walking right toward her.
"What are you doing here?" Jocelyn blurted out.
But Caden turned to Roxanne, ignoring Jocelyn. "Do you mind if I borrow her for the rest of the day?" he asked, pointing at Jocelyn.
"What?" Jocelyn shrieked, her eyes wide.
Roxanne laughed. "Go! Take her!"
"What?" Jocelyn repeated, unable to believe what was happening.
"Good," Caden replied, and then turned to Jocelyn, in full military mode. "I'm kidnapping you."
"Why?" Jocelyn demanded.
Kiki scoffed. "You have to ask? Go!"
"No, I have to work."
Caden looked at Roxanne and raised an eyebrow. "May I?"
Roxanne smiled, clearly amused, waving him in. "By all means."
"No!" Jocelyn screamed, taking a step back. "Caden, I have to work-."