4. Dalton
Chapter Four
DALTON
Parking my truck, I sit in silence.
The lights outside Twinkle Town flash on and off in a regular rhythm. It’s a rhythm I know by heart; I was the one who programmed it. It’s one for the real holiday geeks, since the flash of the lights syncs up perfectly with Deck the Halls . I search for the song on my phone and then play it through the truck’s speakers.
While I’ve always enjoyed working with electronics, I’ve found the most fulfillment working at the firehouse. Snowflake is my hometown, and being able to protect and serve my community is important to me. But the thought of going back sends a cold sweat over my body. I’m sure a shrink would have a field day. I’m not going to dwell on what happened.
A blast of cold air floods into the truck as I open the door. Strapped to the back is an enormous snowman wrapped in plastic. He’s the centerpiece for Twinkle Town’s new window display. I’ve programmed him to shake his twiggy arms and for his carrot nose to light up in six different colors. As I’m unstrapping him, my chest tightens. What if Candy’s working today? I should be hoping she’s not there. My pact with Jax still stands.
I run my hands over my unruly hair and heave the snowman into my arms. Careful not to slip on the increasingly deep drifts of snow, I walk slowly toward the store. Just as I’m trying to decide whether to put the snowman down and then push the door, or try to squeeze myself through, the door opens.
“That’s snow joke!” Candy giggles. “I’ve got the door, you can bring him inside.”
I maneuver the snowman through the door. It’s a tight fit. A waft of Candy’s perfume has its usual effect on my dick, despite the cold temperature.
“What’s a snowman’s favorite breakfast?” I set the snowman down, closing the door behind me.
“Frosted Flakes? Has to be…” She beams at me.
Her blonde hair is braided with ribbons and wrapped around her head. She’s wearing a dark green sweater dress which hugs her curvy figure and is embellished with gold sequin bows. Not that I know much about makeup, but she has gold glitter on her eyes. On anyone else it would look kooky, but she carries it off. I’m sure if I saw her wearing a plastic bag I’d still think she was the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen.
My brain is growling at me to remember the pact with Jax at the same time as my dick hardens against my zipper.
“Alone today?” I hope that doesn’t sound creepy. It probably does. Like I’m hoping she is. I need to get a grip.
Candy nods. “Mom’s due back sometime, but we needed batteries. She told me we had a delivery, but not that you were the delivery guy. Or that the snowman was so…huge.”
“Yeah, he’s a big guy. Shall I get him set up?”
“I think I’ll need to clear out more space in the window. Give me a second and I’ll do it now. It’s quiet, I think everyone’s at the carol-singing event at the town hall.”
“Did you want to go?” I try not to take an obvious sniff as she walks past me. Her scent does something to my sensible brain. Scrambles it.
“I like carols, but I’m not a singer. We had some great singers in our troupe, but dancing and acting was more my thing.” She takes a pile of ornaments out of the window and puts them in a box.
“Why aren’t you there right now? Seems like it would be the busiest time?” I pick up the box so it’s closer to her.
Candy sighs. “I can’t go back. Something happened. My ex, who was my fiancé at the time, decided to have an affair with another member of the troupe. I caught them getting busy in full costume at a rehearsal. He was Santa, she was an elf. Everyone knew except me.”
“Fucking idiot!” I blurt out.
She smiles weakly. “Exactly.”
“Why didn’t they get rid of him ? The rest of the troupe, I mean? It wasn’t your fault.” I’m gripping the box so hard it’s starting to collapse, so I relax my hold.
“Aiden’s Dad owns a bunch of theaters all over the country. They were always going to side with him.” A tear runs down her face as she grips a brightly painted sled filled with grinning miniature reindeer wearing Santa hats.
I put down the box. “Well, they suck. Do you want me to go and commit a holiday massacre on your behalf?”
“Stop being so nice. I’m not used to it.” The tears are still falling.
I take the sled out of her hands and put it in the box. “I hate that you lost your job. I would say that I hate you lost your fiancé, but damn good riddance.”
“Yeah. My life blew up.”
“I know what that’s like. You have to look to the future, not the past.” I hold my arms out, and she steps into them.
I intend to give her a quick platonic hug, but that goes south immediately. Candy in my arms is all soft, sexy curves and that maddening scent. Her tits are pressed against my ribs, her little hands wrapped around my back in a tight squeeze. My dick is harder than ever.
We’re both breathing faster, her chest rising and falling against me. I bury my nose in her hair, pulling her in even closer. It’s as if my body has a mind of its own, every cell straining to meld my body with hers. Candy moves her head, tipping it back so she can look into my eyes. She reaches a hand up, stroking my jaw in a feather-light movement that sends tingles cascading down my spine.
I’m going to kiss her. It’s wrong. I’m betraying the pact I made with Jax in high school. But I can’t resist.
That horrible singing elf blares out as the door opens. We spring apart. Candy’s eyes are wide, her chest heaving. Mrs. Cane has Rudy’s leash in one hand and a precarious pile of boxes in the other. The dog starts to bark at the snowman, pulling her along. I run toward her, catching the boxes before she drops them.
“Dalton! What would we do without you? Your snowman looks incredible. Let’s call him Frosty. You can put these boxes downstairs if you don’t mind?” Mrs. Cane is slightly breathless.
I take the boxes downstairs. What was I thinking? I don’t think Candy’s Mom saw anything, but that was close. I have to get myself under control. Jax would kill me if he knew how close I came to kissing his little sister. I could ruin everything. I need to stay away from her. Keep things brisk and business-like.
I take longer than I should stacking the boxes and when I go back upstairs, Candy’s serving a customer. Busying myself with getting the snowman installed, I keep my back to the counter.
Mrs. Cane pats me on the shoulder when I’ve finished. “I think Frosty here is your masterpiece. You could see that carrot nose from space! Thank you, dear.”
I nod. I need to leave without doing anything idiotic, like sweeping Candy off her feet and running out into the night with her in my arms.
“We’ll see you tomorrow night?” Mrs. Cane asks.
I stare at her blankly. “Tomorrow night?”
She laughs. “Better not let Jax know you’ve forgotten his birthday meal. I’ll keep your secret, since you did such a stellar job with Frosty. From six onwards. Grandma’s cooking that chicken with cheese you like.”
“Of course. See you tomorrow.” I twist my head around. Candy’s staring at me, her beautiful, glitter-lidded eyes wide.
So much for avoiding her. Not that I want to. More than anything, I want to be close to her again. To kiss her lips. Over and over again.
Shit.