Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Christmas Eve
Gabriel stood by the entrance of The Hair of the Dog, his phone clutched in his hand. The message he was about to send felt like a dirty trick.
But the ends justified the means—or so he kept telling himself.
Around him, the Christmas Eve fundraiser was off to a good start. Holiday lights twinkled like multicolored stars, a freshly cut and decorated Christmas fir glowed in one corner, and the scents of mulling wine, smoky barbecue, and baked goods drifted from the kitchen.
Out of habit, he scanned the gathering crowd, the exits, and the fire safety equipment. But tonight, his actual worry had nothing to do with fire safety and everything to do with how Kymberlie would react when she walked through those doors.
He took a deep breath and opened his texting app: Kymber, Tyler and I are at the club. Serious plumbing issue happening. Need you here ASAP.
The lie made his stomach twist, but the memory of Kymberlie’s obvious despair after her meeting with her pack leadership steeled his resolve.
Seconds later, his phone pinged with Kymberlie’s reply. WTF? Really?
On my way.
He could only imagine what was going through her head right now. Don’t worry, my love. Everything’s going to be all better in fifteen minutes.
“Stop staring at your phone like it might explode,” Maggie Swanson said as she came over. “Did she respond?”
“She’s on her way.” Gabriel slipped his phone back into his jeans pocket. “God, I hate lying to her.”
“It’s for a good cause,” Maggie reassured him. “And look at what we’ve pulled off.”
Gabriel looked around the crowded interior of The Hair of the Dog. What had started as a desperate idea hatched with Maggie just a few days ago had snowballed into something magnificent.
The long granite bar gleamed under the Christmas lights, tended tonight by Micah, Kymberlie’s regular bartender, who’d enthusiastically volunteered his services.
Zoey, her assistant manager, directed a small army of volunteers setting out food on long buffet tables.
Karl was stationed at the door, collecting prepaid tickets and selling last-minute entrances.
On the low stage, Tyler’s son, Rob, and his bandmates tuned their instruments.
“I couldn’t have done this without you,” Gabriel told Maggie. “Your connections in town made all the difference.”
Maggie’s smile turned warm. “All I did was make a few calls. Everyone in the area admires Kymberlie and really wants to help her out.”
The next few minutes passed quickly as Kymberlie’s staff finished setting up while Maggie and Gabriel circulated through the crowd, spreading the word about Kymberlie’s imminent arrival.
Then Gabriel’s phone buzzed with a text from Tyler, who was posted outside the club’s front door: I see her truck. She just turned off the highway.
Gabriel’s heartbeat quickened. He bounded onto the stage and grabbed the nearest microphone. “Kymberlie’s almost here. Everyone, please take your places!”
A hush fell over the crowd as the club lights went out. Conversations dropped to whispers, and anticipation charged the air. Gabriel positioned himself near the entrance, wanting to see Kymberlie’s face the moment she realized what was happening.
I hope she doesn’t hate me for doing this.
The front door swung open, and Tyler escorted Kymberlie inside. Her long blonde hair was loose over her shoulders. She wore jeans, boots, and a black knitted sweater that made her eyes seem even bluer than usual.
Gabriel’s chest ached to see her beautiful features etched with worry.
“Why are the lights off?” she asked as she and Tyler walked in. “Did the firefighters cancel their party?”
Then she halted abruptly as her shifter senses informed her of all the people waiting for her, along with the food and drinks. “What’s going on here?”
Gabriel rapidly flipped the bank of new switches on the wall next to him. As the lights came up, he watched, heart in his throat, as her expression transformed from stressed determination to blank confusion.
“What the hell…?” Kymberlie whispered, taking in the crowd, the decorations, the banner stretched across the back wall proclaiming “THE HAIR OF THE DOG GRAND REOPENING.”
“Surprise!” called dozens of voices in unison.
Gabriel couldn’t tear his eyes away from her face as realization dawned. Her lips parted, her eyes widened, and then—wonder of wonders—her eyes lit up and her mouth stretched in an incredulous, radiant smile.
Her gaze found Gabriel.
“You did this?” she asked him, her voice barely audible over the chord of Rob’s band starting up.
“Not alone,” Gabriel said. “Maggie, Tyler, your staff, your family—everyone wanted to help.”
Kymberlie’s gaze swept across the club, taking in her staff members behind the bar, the town’s residents chatting and laughing, the buffet tables groaning with food.
Her eyes lingered on Bill and Mandy Jacobsen standing with her parents next to the Christmas tree. The four of them grinned and waved at her.
“I don’t understand,” she murmured, even as her eyes grew suspiciously bright. “How did you—when did you—?”
Gabriel slipped his arm around her, relieved at how well she was taking the surprise. “After your wedding reception was canceled, Maggie and I got to talking. The whole town’s been worried about you.”
“The whole town knows I’m going broke.” Kymberlie’s generous mouth set in that maddening, stubborn line he knew all too well by now.
“The whole town knows you’ve poured your heart and soul into this place,” he corrected. “And they want you to succeed.”
Kymberlie’s parents hurried over, steaming mugs of mulled wine clutched in their hands.
“You’ve done a great job with this place, Kymmie,” her dad said, handing one orange-and-spice scented mug to Kymberlie. “I know I wasn’t very encouraging when you told us you were buying the club, but you’ve worked miracles here.”
“Really?” Kymberlie couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
Her mom handed the other mug to Gabriel, then hugged Kymberlie. “Of course, honey. We’ve always had your back. We just didn’t want you to make a big mistake. I’m happy we were wrong about that.” She shook her head. “I only wish you’d come to the pack earlier for help.”
“I didn’t think our alphas would want to throw good money after bad, once Gabriel and Tyler discovered how many things were wrong with this place,” Kymberlie confessed. “I thought you’d say, ‘We told you so.’”
“No!” Mom protested. “Why on earth would you think that?”
Dad cleared his throat uncomfortably and looked away. “I should’ve had more faith in you, sweetie.” His voice sounded gruff.
“You always judge yourself more harshly than anyone else ever does,” Mom added.
“That’s true,” murmured Gabriel, his words nearly lost under the music. “You’re brutal to yourself.”
“Honey, we were all cheering for you and wanted to see you reopen as soon as possible.” Dad looked around approvingly.
“Gabriel, you and Maggie Swanson did a great job of putting this party together in a crazy short amount of time. And I have to say that we’re lucky to have you as our fire marshal.
I volunteered as a firefighter for twenty years, and I know good work when I see it. ”
He shot Gabriel an approving look that made his face go hot. He wondered if Kymberlie had told her parents that Gabriel was courting her.
As her parents moved away, Gabriel studied Kymberlie’s expression. She still looked confused as her gaze swept the crowded room.
“Are you okay with this?” he asked quietly. He and Maggie had taken a chance on how the proud and sometimes prickly Kymberlie would interpret this gesture.
She looked up at him, still smiling. Happy tears spilled down her cheeks. “I—I can’t believe that you and Maggie did this for me! And that no one else spilled the tea!”
“It was a Christmas miracle,” Maggie said, striding over to join them. “I’ve never seen the people around here keep a secret like that.”
She and Kymberlie embraced. Gabriel swooped in and rescued the mug of hot spiced wine from Kymberlie’s grasp right before she flung her arms around her friend.
“Maybe it helped that they only had to keep it under wraps for three or four days,” he commented dryly.
“Everyone knows that this place isn’t just a business to you. It’s your dream,” Maggie said. “We couldn’t let that die because of some bad luck. Did I ever tell you how Mom’s evil ex torched Cinnamon + Sugar just a few months after she moved to Bearpaw Ridge?”
Kymberlie shook her head.
Gabriel, who hadn’t heard the story either, listened with interest as Maggie continued, “The place was absolutely gutted. Mom was living in the loft apartment above the bakery. The fire trapped her, and she nearly died of smoke inhalation before Dad and the other firefighters rescued her. Afterwards, everyone in the area came together and held a big party like this to make sure she could rebuild and reopen.”
Rob’s band launched into an upbeat country number, and the dance floor filled. Gabriel watched as Kymberlie’s gaze drifted around the room again, lingering on each friendly face.
“They’re really all here for me?” She sounded as if she still couldn’t believe it.
“For you,” Gabriel confirmed, his voice rough with emotion. “Because you matter to this community. To your pack.” He swallowed hard. “To me.”
Her eyes met his, desire flaring in their depths.
Then they were interrupted by Bill and Mandy Jacobsen. The Jacobsen Pack’s normally dignified alpha couple were wearing matching Christmas sweaters, each featuring a cartoon wolf wearing a Santa hat.
“Great job organizing this event, you two,” Bill said to Maggie and Gabriel.
“And we have some news for you,” Mandy added, smiling at Kymberlie.
∞∞∞
Kymberlie couldn’t believe what was happening.
This had to be one of those dreams that turned from nightmare to fairy tale in an instant. And she hoped she wouldn’t wake up anytime soon.