Snowflake Kisses

  Snowflake Kisses

  A K-Pop Romance Book

  Snowflake Kisses

  By Jennie Bennett

  To any girl who’s afraid to follow their dreams.

  Snowflake Kisses

  A K-pop Romance Book

  Text © 2016 Jennie Bennett

  Cover Design © 2016 Jennie Bennett

  Cover Photo © Meet Cute Photography

  Font © Sideshow and Cyreal

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN-10: 1540861295

  ISBN-13: 978-1540861290

  Printed in the United States of America

  Contents

  Red, Green, and Other Christmas Things

  Falling

  Sparkles Go With Everything

  Collisions

  Happy Accidents

  More Collisions

  Dreams

  There’s a First for Everything

  The Meaning of Goodbye

  Iced Over

  Learning How to Walk

  The Only Time it’s Good to be Cold

  One Year Later

  Red, Green, and Other Christmas Things

  This place looks like Santa Claus flew over and vomited Christmas on his way. Don’t get me wrong, I love a little holiday cheer as much as the next person, but there should be a limit to the amount of tinsel draped...well...everywhere.

  “I have an order for Holly Jolly?” I say, looking over the ticket again and twirling my long black hair over my finger. Yep. That’s really the name.

  I suppose it makes sense that a place like this would order twelve dozen Christmas cookies. Though I’m still unsure why. I’ve never been given a cookie while visiting Santa. Candy canes, yes, but not cookies.

  Doesn’t matter anyway. They pay, we deliver.

  The spirit in here is pretty festive. I haven’t been in the Christmas mood yet with end of semester tests and crazy work hours, but there’s only three days left until I’m free. This year we’re taking a vacation, so I have hopes it will be the best Christmas yet. If I can get out of my anti-Christmas funk by the time school is out.

  “Right here!” A cheery woman waves. She looks exactly like her name. Snow white skin and rosy cheeks with short permed hair. Her sweater must’ve come from Ms. Claus’s dresser.

  “You’re Holly Jolly?” I say, handing her the first box of cookies. They stick to my bakery apron as they go. It’s not the most flattering uniform in the world, but it’s good for keeping the flour off my favorite navy-blue sweater.

  “Why, yes I am!” she sing-songs, holding out the ‘am’ in a high C until her voice cracks. “Right this way, dear,” she continues, directing me towards the back of the shop.

  I stop her before she can get too far, I wouldn’t want her thinking I’m going to spend all afternoon here. “Don’t you want me to get the rest of the cookies?”

  “Of course, Honey, but you need to see where you’ll be working.”

  “Working?” I blurt before I can think about my rude tone. My mouth clamps shut as I try to think past the initial surprise. “I’m sorry, but I need to get back to the bakery.”

  Holly purses her thin pink lips, and even with a slight scowl she looks cheery. “Didn’t your boss tell you? She volunteered you to help out today.”

  Um, she told me nothing of the sort. There has to be a misunderstanding here. Maybe she ordered from more than one bakery and there was a mix-up. It’s not that I’d mind being here, I just would’ve liked some notice beforehand.

  Holly shuffles over to me and gently bumps my arm when I don’t answer. “Your hours count as a charitable donation, and your boss can use that as a tax deduction for her business. She was very enthusiastic about the idea.”

  Was she? It sounds like something Nadia would do, but I should call her and double check.

  “I’ll just have to—”

  Holly moves her hands to adjust her grip on the boxes, and a paper drops from the bottom of the cookies. I assumed it was an order detail, but when I pick it up and scan the contents I find otherwise.

  Vee, it says in my boss’s best cursive. I already know something is up from that one line.

  Sorry to do this to you, but this lady was too sweet! I couldn’t say no. I’m also way too much of a coward to tell you I’ve hired you out. Have fun serving all those cookies!

  —Nadia

  P.S. I’m your boss and I can fire you.

  Shoot. I’m trapped here for the next four hours.

  I crumple the paper and shove it in my apron pocket. “Lead the way.”

  Holly directs me to a table dressed in—gasp!— red, green, and gold. There’s sparkling confetti in the shapes of trees, stars, and ornaments scattered about on the surface. When Holly sets the box down I swear I see a tiny cloud of glitter puff out from underneath it.

  “You can go ahead and get the rest of the boxes,” Holy says. “The children will be here in about an hour.”

  I muster up my politest smirk. “I’m on it.”

  Holly waddles away, and I notice the jingle bells on the back of her shoes. This is going to be a long day.

  I head back to the delivery truck and pull out four more boxes, one dozen in each.

  “Can I help you with that?” a deep male voice says from behind me.

  When I turn around, I can’t see the person’s face because of the cookies, but I do notice his elf shoes. He must work here.

  “Sure,” I say.

  Before I can tell him there’s more boxes in the back of the truck, he starts to take the ones from my hands, careful not to touch my arms. My stomach gets all wiggly as he does this, although I don’t know why. Probably because he’s a stranger.

  He turns his back as he takes the cookies and I busy myself with getting the next four. I watch his feet pass as I set my stuff down at the table. He must’ve gone back for the last three boxes.

  Holly has set out plates and napkins so I start diving cookies. Mostly because I have nothing else to do and time to kill.

  The elf dude comes back, his dark hair and stupid elf hat bobbing above the boxes. I straighten my spine as I notice he’s taller than me, a rare thing in my world. I’m no giant, but five feet seven inches isn’t short in my family. We Egyptians are usually built small.

  It isn’t until he starts to set down his load that I realize I’m staring. I mean, he’s going to get enough crazy looks in that getup. He can’t see me laughing at him.

  My eyes focus on my hands and chipped nails as I set out more cookies. I don’t know why, but I feel like I should’ve painted them today. It’s too weird a sensation, so I shove it to the back of my mind.

  “Anything else?” Elf boy asks, and for the first time I look into his eyes.

  I suck in a breath like the wind has been knocked out of me, because it has. This boy. Wow.

  I would say he fits the part of an elf because he has these dimples. Holy dimples. I go crazy over guys this cute. But he’s not just adorable like an elf should be. He his has this underlying masculinity that trumps his soft eyes and big lips. Maybe it’s his wide shoulders or the way his elf costume hugs his chest.

  The bottom line is, his hotness is immediately noticeable, and my gut was warning me all along. I can’t look at him without turning into a temporary idiot.

  “Well...um...” I stutter. “I think...um.”

  “Here,” he says, taking a plate from my hand. “I’ll
help set out the rest of the cookies.”

  I almost tell him to stop because, really, we have plenty of time, but I can’t get an argument out.

  “I’m Yangbin, by the way,” he mentions, walking behind me to get a cookie.

  I shuffle as close to table—and as far away from him—as I can, my face turning up a million degrees. No. I don’t believe in love at first sight. But attraction at first sight? Hell yes. And right now the attraction is overwhelming my ability to speak.

  I am not this girl. I’m someone who knows the difference between a cute guy and a guy with personality. Those two things are not mutually exclusive. I have to get myself together and turn my idiot button off.

  “Vee,” I half shout. “My name is Vee.”

  He gives me a small smile, one dimple appearing on his face. His eyes threaten to suck me in. The way they come to point at the corners is like a work of art.

  “It’s nice to meet you Vee.”

  I tuck a lock of my thick black hair behind my ear. “You too.”

  We work in silence for a few minutes, him crossing behind me to grab more plates now and then. We don’t make contact, but every nerve in my body is on edge. I’m too aware of him, and I know it. Which makes me more aware of him.

  Once we’re down to the last box of cookies, I know I have to say something or else I look like I hate him.

  “So Yangbin,” I start, trying to build my courage.

  He doesn’t look up as he works. “hum?”

  “What’s with the elf getup?”

  Groan. If it was publicly appropriate, I would give myself a major facepalm. That’s all I can think of?

  “I mean,” I pander, “I like Christmas, too. Snow, hot cocoa, and the same five songs on the radio. But this place is a little, I dunno... extreme.” Crap. Now I’m rambling to make up for my stupid comment, and making more stupid comments.

  Yangbin finishes up the cookies then stares at me like I’ve need to be shut in a sanatorium. I probably do.

  “You don’t know?” he says, his eyebrows rising.

  I shake my head, running fingers through my hair again. It’s an annoying habit, but I can’t stop myself.

  “Oh...well,” he says, still not meeting my gaze. “This is a pretty exceptional thing. I’m surprised you volunteered without knowing what it was.” He has no idea.

  “Holly,” he continues, “Puts together a big Christmas shindig for all the special needs kids in the area. I’ve been helping her for a few years now, and it’s great.”

  Well now I feel like a major jerk. I should’ve known it was for a good cause.

  “That’s really cool,” I say with a lump in my throat.

  Yangbin picks up the empty boxes and throws them in the giant trash can next to the table. “Which reminds me,” he says, “I have to get ready for my performance.”

  Performance? I’d love to see that. I’m about to question him, but he’s already leaving.

  He turns around just after he clears the table. “Thanks for talking with me, Vee. Most people ignore the Asian kid.”

  There goes my face, heating to a million degrees again. “Most people ignore the Egyptian kid, too.” I say in response. I’m just full of thoughtless answers today.

  Yangbin gives me a gracious smile and wave before turning around and rushing off.

  I let out a giant breath, clutching the table for support. Could I be any more awkward? At least the chances of me seeing him again after today are slim. I would’ve noticed someone like him around before.

  It’s probably a blessing since I can’t seem to remember how human interaction is supposed to work.

  I leave my table in search of Holly. Now I have nothing to do, and I’m supposed to be helping.

  In the front of the building there’s a huge stage set up with a massive Santa’s Workshop as the background. I wander around it until I find a girl filling goodie bags with toys and treats. I take a page from Yangbin’s book and jump in without really asking.

  The girl doesn’t say much to me, but I end up following her around for the rest of the time because she seems to know what she’s doing.

  Time passes quickly as I work, and soon a bus has pulled up full of kids. Some of them are bigger kids, but kids all the same. They’re all so dang adorable I want to squeeze them. So glad my boss made me do this. She probably knew I would love it in the end.

  The kid’s teachers file them in and sit them down in front of the stage. They’re understandably restless, what with all the color and sparkles everywhere.

  “Is Santa really here?” one cute girl with fiery red hair screams at the top of her lungs.

  This sends a chorus of whispers through the children until the noise is so loud I almost need to cover my ears.

  “Ho, Ho, Ho,” a deep voice booms over the loudspeakers, but there’s still no one on stage.

  A green and red clad figure jumps out from behind the curtains. “Who’s ready to meet Santa Claus?”

  It’s Yangbin. He’s colored his cheeks pink and drawn lines from the corners of his mouth to his chin so he looks like a puppet.

  All the kids cheer like mad, excited to see the Big Guy himself.

  Yangbin tilts his head, bends his arm with a fist on his hip, and jabs his heel into the ground. He looks like a cuddly rag-doll. “If you want to see Santa, I’m gonna need your help,” he says, all his actions animated. “Can you help me?”

  “Yes!” all the kids yell in response. Even I yell it. Can’t help myself.

  Yangbin bends his knees and leans over like he’s about to tell the kids a secret. “Do you know the song Santa Claus is Coming to Town?”

  “Yeah!” The crowd answers.

  “Alright then, I need you to sing it with me!”

  I usually don’t sing in public, but I think I’ll have to make an exception today.

  “You better watch out,” he starts for us, “You better not cry.”

  “You better not pout, I’m telling you why,” we all join in. “Santa Claus is coming to town!”

  Yangbin stops singing, and five other elves come out on stage. One with really small eyes takes the microphone at front. Another with dark skin and a long neck is on lead guitar. The bass is taken by a boy with a beanie instead of an elf hat. The guy holding the electric guitar puffs out his cheeks, and sends a few winks into the crowd. Last, the youngest looking boy takes the piano.

  A riff permeates the air and the kids start cheering. Yangbin runs to the back of the stage and takes his place behind a set of drums. They finish all of Santa Claus is Coming to Town, totally slaying the song.

  They don’t even pause before going straight into Jingle Bells. The kids are eating it up, singing along with the slightly rough, yet high, voice of the main singer. Before the end of Jingle Bells, the one on bass guitar stops to give us a little rap, and it kills.

  All the boys can sing and play instruments. They’re all cute too. I’m totally jealous.

  My eyes stay on Yangbin most of the time. I’m glad he’s focused on his drums so I can look all I want without being a creeper.

  They finish their set with Rodolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and everyone but Yangbin exits the stage. He comes forward again, the cute puppet/doll act on.

  “Santa’s going to come out in just a minute, but first I need you to get really quiet.”

  There’s a few noises still, but most kids settle down.

  “Eunbin, Sissy,” Yangbin says, looking at someone in the crowd. “Do you want to come up here with me?”

  A little girl with darling curly pigtails stands up and shakes her head. She has Down syndrome, but that just makes her cuter.

  “Are you sure?” he asks, his voice going up in pitch. “You can sit on my knee.”

  The girl has her fist to her mouth like she’s thinking it over. Then she plows over the kid next to her and runs to her brother.

  Just like he promised, little Eunbin sits on his knee, and he sings her a very sweet version of Walking in a Wint
er Wonderland. I swear, it sounds like a love song.

  My heart is beating so loud it almost overshadows Yangbin’s lovely rich voice. I’m not sure how this happened. I didn’t think I’d be spending any time here, much less meeting someone like Yangbin.

  It’s crazy because it’s only been a couple of hours, and we’ve only spoke like three sentences to each other, but watching him has me totally blinded.I take back everything I thought about the kind of guy I like. Maybe there is such a thing as love at first sight.

  Falling

  I touch my chilly hands to my cheeks and study the floor. Love? I don’t know how I can think the word. I know nothing about Yangbin, other than he’s cute. My stupidity must be on full blast today.

  With a shiver, I shake off the feeling. I should get back to my station and make sure the cookies haven’t walked away.

  After all the cookies are gone and the children are back on the bus, I take my time helping with clean up. It’s not that I’m looking for Yangbin...okay, I am, but it would be weird if he left already. Right?

  Maybe that was why he was so eager to help beforehand, because they had to go.

  “You can leave now,” Holly says to me, her smile even more radiant than when I first met her.

  “Are you sure?” I say, not really looking at her, but over her shoulder.

  “Yes,” she says, giving me a gentle push towards the door. “Everyone else is gone already. Thank you for your help.”

  That settles it then, I’ll never see Yangbin again. It was just one of those once-in-a-lifetime happenings. No reason to expect more.

  “You have a Merry Christmas, Holly!”

  “You too, Vee. I hope you can come help again next year.”

  “Sure thing,” I say with a smile. Maybe I’ll find a way to catch Yangbin’s attention then.

  Normally when I’m driving the bakery van, I blast my iPod, but today feels different. I click on the radio instead, and end up on the Christmas music station. Winter Wonderland is playing, like it’s fate.

  The bakery is considerably warmer than the rest of New Jersey, especially with the ovens on. It’s insane in the summer, but there’s nothing better in the winter.