Text copyright © 2014 Katie L Thompson
All Rights Reserved
Preview Extract: Christmas Dreams Come True
“Look alert.”
I jumped. How long had he been standing there?
He laughed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Not seen any customers recently?”
It had been ages since the last customer had paid and left the shop. In a week it would be Christmas – the one day a year that we were guaranteed to get off. It couldn’t come soon enough.
“I bet you’d love to take the rest of the day off,” he teased.
I nodded. I hated the three till ten shifts more than any other shift – and I wasn’t particularly keen on the others.
“I’m a hard boss, aren’t I? Least you get my company for the evening.”
That was the best part of the job – Neil’s company. If it wasn’t for him, I would have left a long time ago. Neil, my boss, was only about three years older than me, and he was the nicest, hottest guy I’d ever met. There was no doubt about it, I was in love. The problem was, in all the years we’d been working together, he’d never shown any sign of returning those feelings.
“Don’t look so down. Home time soon.”
I looked at the time on the till screen – four twenty three, home time was a long way off.
“If you make an effort to perk up a bit, maybe we can make your break a little bit longer.”
I smiled properly this time. Neil was always giving me extended breaks. The fifteen minute break was often stretched to twenty, I’d even managed to take half an hour once.
“That’s better.” He flashed me another one of his stomach-turning smiles before walking away, back to the office where he spent most of his time.
“Just these please,” a middle aged lady handed me a packet of brazil nuts and a lettuce. “It’s very quiet in here today.”
I nodded. “Has been all day, from what I’ve heard.”
“That’s a shame. You must be driving yourself nuts.”
“You know it well?” I asked.
“I was a checkout girl once, a cashier if you’d rather. I only got the job ‘cause my mum forced me into it. That was the worst job I’ve ever had, and I’ve had my fair share of bad jobs.”
I nodded. This was my first job, and I hoped with all my heart that any future jobs could only be an improvement on this one.
“That hottie that just walked out the back, he’s got to make the job more interesting. A little eye candy.”
I must have looked shocked, because she quickly backtracked.
“I mean, if that’s what you’re interested in. I just thought I saw a spark between you.”
“A spark,” I said, trying not to sound too eager.
“Maybe I was wrong,” she said, handing over a collection of small change. “I’m not sure how much is there, you better count it.”
“Maybe,” I said. I desperately wanted her to continue, but she didn’t. I shrugged, she was probably just trying to make conversation. I shouldn’t read into it too much. Despite telling myself that, I couldn’t help hoping.
All Rights Reserved
Preview Extract: Christmas Dreams Come True
“Look alert.”
I jumped. How long had he been standing there?
He laughed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Not seen any customers recently?”
It had been ages since the last customer had paid and left the shop. In a week it would be Christmas – the one day a year that we were guaranteed to get off. It couldn’t come soon enough.
“I bet you’d love to take the rest of the day off,” he teased.
I nodded. I hated the three till ten shifts more than any other shift – and I wasn’t particularly keen on the others.
“I’m a hard boss, aren’t I? Least you get my company for the evening.”
That was the best part of the job – Neil’s company. If it wasn’t for him, I would have left a long time ago. Neil, my boss, was only about three years older than me, and he was the nicest, hottest guy I’d ever met. There was no doubt about it, I was in love. The problem was, in all the years we’d been working together, he’d never shown any sign of returning those feelings.
“Don’t look so down. Home time soon.”
I looked at the time on the till screen – four twenty three, home time was a long way off.
“If you make an effort to perk up a bit, maybe we can make your break a little bit longer.”
I smiled properly this time. Neil was always giving me extended breaks. The fifteen minute break was often stretched to twenty, I’d even managed to take half an hour once.
“That’s better.” He flashed me another one of his stomach-turning smiles before walking away, back to the office where he spent most of his time.
“Just these please,” a middle aged lady handed me a packet of brazil nuts and a lettuce. “It’s very quiet in here today.”
I nodded. “Has been all day, from what I’ve heard.”
“That’s a shame. You must be driving yourself nuts.”
“You know it well?” I asked.
“I was a checkout girl once, a cashier if you’d rather. I only got the job ‘cause my mum forced me into it. That was the worst job I’ve ever had, and I’ve had my fair share of bad jobs.”
I nodded. This was my first job, and I hoped with all my heart that any future jobs could only be an improvement on this one.
“That hottie that just walked out the back, he’s got to make the job more interesting. A little eye candy.”
I must have looked shocked, because she quickly backtracked.
“I mean, if that’s what you’re interested in. I just thought I saw a spark between you.”
“A spark,” I said, trying not to sound too eager.
“Maybe I was wrong,” she said, handing over a collection of small change. “I’m not sure how much is there, you better count it.”
“Maybe,” I said. I desperately wanted her to continue, but she didn’t. I shrugged, she was probably just trying to make conversation. I shouldn’t read into it too much. Despite telling myself that, I couldn’t help hoping.