Author's Note: Here is the next chapter, hope you enjoy this. I'm glad that you guys liked the previous chapter and I hope you continue reading. As always, feel free to leave CC, not flames because flames are not accepted. Sorry for the long delay in updating but life happens, sorry. As a note, please remember that despite her suspicions, elves give off a calming, fun, child-like air that help them deal with adults (which Jazzy is) and helps him not set off red alarms of terror when he just shows up every now and again.

Chapter Six

Work was the same old same old. I dealt with whining kids, dumb adults, and just plain annoying co-workers. And while I checked people out and dealt with argumentative people who didn't understand no returns without receipt, I thought back to the short guy back in my apartment building. Probably already keeled over with all the heat. Poor guy. Hope the A.C. Kicked on.

Well I finished with work and made my way out the door of the shop when my jaw dropped. There was Bernard, cheeks red and everything, but he was at least in that t-shirt I'd given him when we first met.

“What're you doing here?”

“I remembered that you said that you got off at five and so I decided to come and see you.”

What the hell? He wasn't my boyfriend, hell, we only met about two days ago and he was already meeting up with me after work. I admit now that it freaked me out a little. My heart beat unsettlingly in my chest as I looked at him.

“Is this how you get people to accept job proposals? Stalk them?” I crossed my arms and quirked my eyebrow, this was getting ridiculous.

“I'm not stalking you. I thought that it would be a nice gesture to bring you something. After all you've been so kind to me. I've brought you some cookies that a friend made for me before I left.” He held up the little Christmas tin, giving more credit to his story. Was this guy like a lost little puppy? He reminded me of this kid I baby sat when I was a kid, always showing up everywhere I was just because he wanted to see me and nothing more. He was a sweetie and it was cute, but this was an adult man. It was a little creepier. But then again, the guy gave off an air of being like a kid and if he ever did start something I'd call the cops. Then again, like I've said, I didn't get this vibe from Bernard.

“Well, okayyyyyy. Let's find a table and we can chit chat. You wearing sunscreen? I mean, you really shouldn't be outside when you're sunburned like you are. You can get really sick if you aren't careful.” I was once told I'd make a great mom just because I cared about whether or not people took care of themselves and tried to help if I could. When I was a kid, I was called the mommy of the group because I was the most responsible and caring out of all of them. I even carried a first aid kit.

“Yes I'm wearing sunscreen. And that lotion you gave me really helped with the pain and the burning.”

“It won't get better if you keep going in the sunlight, even if you have sunscreen. So for the next few days just stay inside and keep drinking fluids so you don't dehydrate.” We'd sat down in the shade and it was blissful. Being in the A.C. For so long and stepping outside was like stepping into Dante's Inferno.

“I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.” He sounded so honest. And he was always polite saying please and thank you, didn't find polite people that often so it was like finding water in the desert.

“What kind of cookies are they by the way?” I leaned by in my chair.

“There are a few different kind. Chocolate chip, peppermint, ginger bread, peanut butter, sugar, and almond. They were all specially made by the bakery up at the workshop by our highly trained kitchen staff. The recipes are very unique to bring out the best of cookie.”

“Make it sound like these cookies are made of gold. I'll try a chocolate chip.” I kept my mouth shut about the job thing. I think he was hyping the cookies in an effort to give me a reason to transfer. But cookies? Like I said, those cookies had better been made of gold or be the best damn cookies I'd ever had. “Thanks.” He'd popped the tin's lid off and handed me a large cookie where the chunks of chocolate seemed like they were mountains sticking up out of a flat horizon.

Brown eyes zoomed in on me, watching me like a cat watches a mouse. Not used to having someone pay that much attention to me. The cookie touched my lips and my teeth came down taking chunk out of the baked good. It was delicious. I'm talking about the melting in your mouth, close your eyes and moan in almost orgasmic delight. The chocolate was creamy, giving a warm sensation on my tongue and the cookie itself was sweet without being overbearing. And it was so soft without crumbling apart.

“Wow, if all the food is this good I just might take you up on that job offer.” I was only half joking.

“It's always the best and the head of the kitchen staff herself made those cookies. I'm glad that you like them.” He had a cute smile. I pegged him for a guy who didn't smile. At least not often.

“Herself huh? Made these just for you? No wonder they're so damn good. It's flirting via baked good.” I bite off another mouthful, loving the intoxicating taste filling my mouth.

If he wasn't sunburned I would've thought that he was blushing with the shocked look on his face.

“It's nothing like that. She just happens to be a good friend of mine and we aren't going to see each other for a year.”

“Chill dude I was just teasing.” I held up a hand smiling. Some guys were just too easy. He hurumphed in his seat but didn't do anything.

“I'm glad you like them.”

He didn't seem too bad. And who knew really what would happen?

“So Bernard, why don't you tell me about yourself. I figure if I'm going to see you all the time, might as well get to know you.” I licked the remaining crumbs and chocolate from my fingers while looking at him.

“What do you mean?” His voice went up and octave and he jumped like I'd just kicked him or something. Paranoid perhaps?

“I don't know. Like, how old are you? What do you do for your company besides recruiting new people? Things like that. Idle chit chat you know?” I did my best to put the guy at ease. You would think with all the little things I've done for him in such a short amount of time he'd trust me. Not to mention keeping him from dying which is a big thing. I never hold little deeds I do for people over their heads trust me, I just figured this guy would be more trusting.

“I'm twenty two. And I am the vice president of the company. I am in charge of keeping every station of the factory working while the president is in charge of distribution.” He wasn't looking out of the corner of his eyes, he wasn't shrugging his shoulders, he wasn't putting his finger to his lip, but yet I knew he was lying. Just the tone was enough to give it away that he wasn't comfortable. I didn't know if it was because he didn't like lying or because he knew that I had caught on that he was lying. My trust in him plummeted at that moment, but at the same time, I didn't have any real proof that he was being a lying bastard, just this gut feeling and that wasn't enough for a conviction.

“Twenty two huh? Younger than me, look younger that that. Not by much. If I had to peg your age I'd say 17. And keeping every station working was does that mean? I mean, do you fill in if someone's sick, do you repair equipment, train rookies, or do you walk around and make comments all day?” I don't know why I was being slightly aggressive with him, but I guess it paid off in the long run.

“I do all of that. I'm the second in command. I've got to know how to do everything and know how to do it well. I mostly walk around the workshop and keep an eye out for anyone who might be having issues. I train newcomers, and fill in when anyone's sick.” His chest was puffed out, not in a “I'm cool as shit and you need to acknowledge that” but more like he was challenging what I had just said with his own aggression. I deserved it, and shifted in my seat, looking away a bit. I should've been a little nicer and less accusing when I asked him what he did. He did seem to have a strong drive to get things done which could mean a strong work ethic.

“Sorry, didn't mean to come across as accusing. I'm sure you're a very valuable and hard working member of your company. So you said you lived there right? What's it like?” I wasn't really getting interested in what this guy's “dream come true” job was, was I? I guess when you're stuck in the same thing for a few years with no real way out, you get a little testy and want to take more risks.

And he did something weird. He got this calm look on his face, eyes all soft and a seriene smile on his lips and he told me, “It's the best place in the whole world to live. Don't get me wrong, the work is difficult and sometimes you just want to walk on a patch of thin ice. But then you think about the good that makes it all worth while and you feel tingly like the morning of Christmas when you get to open all the wonderful gifts everyone brought yet mostly you feel that warm and fuzzy feeling because you're around those you love. That's what it's like, feeling loved.”

What do you say to something that sweet, that deep?

“Wow. It sounds amazing.” It was the most truthful thing I could say to describe my thoughts at that moment.

“It is.”

Author's Note: I'm so sorry that it took so long and that I broke my promise to one of you to have it updated by the end of last week but things just come up. I'm busy and things happen. So I'm sorry guys that it took a little more than a month but remember, it takes me some time to update. Thank you for reading and I hope you come back. No flames please only CC.