Chapter 6
Last night went better than expected. And now Howler is in the audience, sitting next to my dad, as I walk across the stage and get a handshake from the state bigwig sent to make sure this feels important to someone.
What’s important to me is that it means I can start my new job in the new year and see that gleam of quiet pride in Howler’s dark eyes.
He pretends to be a bad guy, but really he’s one of those unsung heroes, just with lots of ink.
Mom is still a little uncertain about him, but she calmed down considerably when I explained the whole shirtless thing is temporary. Less than a week to go, really. And it was my older cousin Cooper’s idea in the first place.
As soon as the ceremony concludes, I run to find my family. Dad hugs me tight, Mom fixes my hair, and Howler just stares. “Everything okay?” I whisper as discreetly as I can manage.
He just shakes his head. “You’re something else, Candy Cane.”
I nod in agreement. “Yep. Now, what are your Christmas plans? I don’t want you to risk opening your presents early, so I’m hoping you have a few hours free in the afternoon?”
Howler looks alarmed, and I realize he wasn’t thinking about presents. “No. You are not to rush out and try to get me something. I already got the best present.” I beam at him and pat his chest. “I know it probably sounds like I’m taking over but…”
He shakes his head, then leans down. “You can boss me around as much as you like in the daytime. But it’s my turn when the lights go out, baby.”
I blush and he smirks before asking, “Did you really mean it, about making you and me permanent?”
I nod emphatically, confused as to why he’s even asking.
“Then I think a trip to the courthouse is in order next week. I don’t like feeling taken advantage of,” he raises his hawklike nose in the air and sniffs disdainfully.
I gape at him until I figure out he’s teasing.
“The bet ends at two p.m. on the 27th. So if we tie the knot that afternoon, I can have you all to myself for the entire weekend.”
My body flushes hot at the thought. “But Christmas….”
He shakes his head. “Nevermind Christmas. I’ll be fine on my own. Probably spend the day cleaning up the place so you don’t run out screaming. Spend it with your family, Candy Cane. It will be your last chance as a single woman.”
I frown at that. “Mom won’t be happy. I think she’s been planning my wedding since before I was born.” I don’t just think. I’m sure of it.
Howler smiles. “Then we won’t tell anyone. We can still do the big frou-frou thing when she’s ready, but you and I will know you made an honest man of me first.”
I giggle at the thought of my seducing him. I mean, I could try. But we all know I wouldn’t get very far if he wasn’t in charge of it.
“Okay,” I whisper. He gets some strange looks from my fellow graduates.
But half the actual, experienced cops in the room seem to know him and know about the bet, so they just shake hands with him like he’s wearing a three-piece suit and walk on.
I notice a few women give him the lascivious once over but I keep my hand on his arm and give them the death glare, which only seems to amuse Howler more.
“What on earth are you doing, Ariel?”
“Making sure those women know you’re taken. I don’t like the look in their eyes.”
He just shakes his bald head. “You’re a force to be reckoned with, baby.”
His eyes are laughing at me, but not unkindly. “When are you going to kiss me again?” I ask plaintively.
“When we’re married. You’re too tempting, Candy Cane. One taste and I won’t want to stop until you’re melting on my cock.”
He says this all quietly in my ear, but I still look around to make sure my mother didn’t hear any of that while I can feel my cheeks heat.
Thankfully, Mom’s busy giving my dad instructions about something.
I might get my take-charge attitude from her.
But it’s tempered by my dad’s think-everything-through-first attitude.
Or at least that’s how I like to think of it.
Christmas Eve always seems to run late at the auto shop.
People don’t take proper care of their vehicles and are then surprised when they load up the car for the holiday trip and it breaks down fifty miles from home.
When the last customer gratefully drives away, Marty hands out the Christmas hampers we all know Kennedy prepared.
We used to get a fifty-dollar bill as a Christmas bonus.
One or two of the guys still grumble about the change, but I’m happy enough to take the fancy food home to my apartment over the bar.
The shop is closed until after New Year’s.
Partly for the holidays and also so Marty can do inventory uninterrupted.
So I’ll have almost a week with Ariel if she really decides to go through with this.
Part of me thinks she’ll come to her senses at the last minute.
But that thought dissipates when I open the creaky door to the space over the bar and flick on the light.
There’s a stack of gaily wrapped presents on the scarred kitchen table.
The wrapping paper is silver with glittery red and white candy canes all over it and curly red ribbon cascading in every direction.
I flick one finger through the fluff before turning and shutting the door behind me.
It takes only one raised eyebrow and Yvonne spills. “I took them up there, hotshot. She came in right after opening and asked me to slip them into your apartment. What did she get you?”
I shrug. “Don’t know yet.”
My second mom’s eyes soften. “Let her in, kid. She’s the best thing that ever happened to you, and you know it. You haven’t stopped smiling since she ran in here asking for you.”
I sigh and swing my hip onto the nearest bar stool. “She’s way out of my league, Yvonne. That’s got to be obvious to anyone with eyes.”
She shakes her head. “Nope, you’re two of a kind. Both do gooders with too much heart. You go about it in different ways, but you’re more alike than you realize.”
My scowl could melt the varnish on the old bar. “I am not a do gooder.”
Yvonne’s painted eyebrows point north. “Uh huh. Have a good Christmas, Howler.”
I nod and retreat back upstairs before she reiterates the invitation to join her at her daughter’s house in the morning. Yvonne has a heart of gold, but her family not so much. Reminds me too much of my own upbringing. I’d rather hole up alone.
The glitter catches my attention when I re-enter the apartment. For a brief moment, I hesitate and then decide to wait until morning.
I go to sleep thinking of Ariel standing on that chair, daring the world to challenge her.
They were too shocked in the moment, I think.
But that doesn’t mean they won’t start in when they’ve caught their breath.
I sigh and roll over on my side. Guess I’ll have to extend my surveillance beyond cats to include Ariel.
You were going to do that anyway, asshole, I remind myself. It’s true. I’d have kept an eye on her even if I’d never officially seen her again.