Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
“We’d better go back.” Cole had no interest in returning to the party, but the tempting alternative, leaving now with Mila, wouldn’t be happening. He was the designated driver for Claudie, Rio and Monty. He made a point of honoring his commitments.
Maybe that was why he made so few of them. He’d been dangerously close to committing his future to Mila. Then reality had smacked him upside the head.
She deserved someone who could guarantee they wouldn’t be a shitty father to her children. She needed a guy who looked forward to playing Santa for his kids on Christmas Eve.
Bile rose in his throat as his demons stirred. He was not that guy.
“Let’s not go back just yet.” Mila glanced toward the gazebo. “I’d like to check on the Angel Tree.”
He pulled himself together. Better go along with her suggestion unless he was prepared to spill his guts. “Sure.”
He’d been ignoring the gazebo with its large Christmas tree, Santa’s elaborate chair and lighted garlands looped over each railing. Not surprising that the tree would have some sort of community charity attached to it. As he followed her up the steps, he braced himself for the hit.
The tree had been lovingly decorated with dozens of tiny white lights and what looked like handmade ornaments. A few white cardboard cutouts of angels were scattered among the lights and ornaments, with writing on each.
Oh, yeah, this wouldn’t be fun.
“I love this tradition. It was my dad’s idea years ago and ever since then the mayor’s office has handled it.” She started around the tree, reading each card. “I’m glad there aren’t many angels left.”
He knew the routine. The church his mother belonged to had something similar. Once he’d asked his mother if she’d put his and Jordie’s names on angel cards so Santa would know what they wanted.
He’d been smacked for suggesting it. No kid of hers would ever ask for charity.
“Some folks are reluctant to let anyone know they’re struggling, so Adam makes gentle inquiries and coaxes the parents to fill out cards for their kids.”
“Good plan.” He was impressed with himself. He sounded like a normal person.
“Folks deliver the gifts to his office and he takes them around on Christmas Eve.”
“What if some cards don’t get picked up?”
“On Monday Adam will buy those gifts and we’ll all chip in to pay for them.”
“What if something’s sold out?”
“So far we’ve been lucky on that score.” She peered more closely at one of the angels. “Aww, Benny Tredwell’s dump truck is still here.” She plucked it from the branch. “I saw a cool one in the General Store today. I’m buying him that.”
“How about letting me do it?” Where had that insane idea come from? He needed another trip to the General Store like he needed a hole in the head.
The smile she gave him might’ve been one reason he’d made that suggestion. He’d gained points, something he still wanted even as he told himself this relationship was doomed.
“Awesome idea. Here you go.” She handed him the angel tag. “Do you know the one I’m talking about? It was bright yellow and metal so it’ll stand up to plenty of construction projects.”
“I didn’t see it, but it shouldn’t be hard to find.” And that was another reason those words had jumped out of his mouth. He’d wanted a dump truck for Christmas. Never happened.
He tucked the angel in his coat pocket. “What else have we got on here?” He reached for another angel. Clearly he was losing his ever-loving mind. Good thing the writing was large so he didn’t need his glasses. “Clara wants Lego dinosaurs. I vaguely remember there used to be something like that.”
“There’s even more, now. I can get that.”
“Or you can show me where they are.”
“You want to go shopping again?” Her dark eyes sparkled.
“If you have the time.”
“Technically I’m on vacation, but I can’t speak for you.”
“Barring an emergency, so am I. The front gate job is my last assignment until after Christmas.”
“Then we should probably go to the General Store tomorrow to make sure we can still get stuff.”
“Tomorrow’s Sunday. They’ll be—”
“They’re open from ten to four. They always do that on the Sunday before Christmas for last-minute shoppers.”
“Alrighty, then.” He lifted another angel from a high branch. “Annie wants a….” He peered at the card. “What the fudge is a Mini Whinnies Barn Surprise?”
Mila laughed. “Little plastic horses you can
play with. You don’t know what breed or color you’ll get until you open the box. Listen, I didn’t bring you up here in hopes you’d grab a bunch of angel tags.”
“But if we take them all, then Adam won’t have to worry about it on Monday, right? And Monday’s cutting it close for finding kids’ toys.” Even he knew that much.
“All that’s true. If you and I pick up these things tomorrow, we can tell everyone the total when we get back.”
“Not necessary. I’ll handle it.” He walked around the tree collecting the remaining cards. Tomorrow he might bitterly regret the impulse since it meant braving the General Store again.
But tonight all he could think about was making sure these kids got the toys they yearned for. And for reasons he didn’t want to examine, he wanted to pay for them.
“That’s very generous of you.”
The warmth in her voice drew his attention. She was looking at him like she was ready to eat him up with a spoon. And he was more than willing to let her do it.
He needed her kisses like he needed oxygen, but once he got started he wouldn’t be able to stop. “If we don’t leave this gazebo and head back to the Raccoon in the next five seconds, I can’t be responsible for my actions.”
Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of rose. “Understood. Let’s go.” She headed down the steps.
He followed, careful not to touch her. “I don’t think I should dance with you anymore tonight.”
“I don’t think you should, either. I’m even wondering if I should switch places with Claudie for the ride home.”
“Please don’t. I like having you up next to me.”
“I like it, too. You look sexy when you’re driving.”
“So do you. I had to keep myself on a tight leash when you drove us into town today.”
Her cheek dented in a smile. “Nice to know I’m not the only one.”
“No, ma’am.”
“We should take my truck again tomorrow. It’s only fair since you volunteered tonight.”
“Okay, I accept.”
She glanced at him. “I really like that about you.”
“What?”
“You don’t have a macho need to always be in the driver’s seat.”
“You can thank Jordie for that.” A sudden picture of her at three, fists propped on her hips as she defied him, made him grin. “She might be four years younger, but she let me know from the get-go that I wasn’t the boss of her.”
“I’ll bet she did. That said, she idolizes you. And I think….” She took a breath. “Never mind. It’s not my place.”
“Hey.” He caught her hand before they crossed the street. “I hope you know you can say anything to me. No rules.”
She turned to him. “I could be wrong.”
“So what? You could be right. What were you going to say?”
“Let me back up. I know for a fact Luis is happy about us being together. And I also think Jordan would like it to work out for us.”
“No question.”
“Really?”
“While we were out on the dance floor, she told me Luis was her saving grace. And you could be mine.”
She looked startled. “Wow. That’s…that’s lovely.”
“I tend to agree with her.”
“You do? It didn’t sound that way a while ago.”
“You could be my saving grace, but it has to work both ways.”
“Which it would. Claudie asked if you were my guy, meaning the one I’ve been waiting for. I didn’t admit it to Claudie, but I knew you were my guy the day we met.”
He swallowed. What a mess he’d gotten them into. “I felt the same. You know I do, but—”
“That’s good enough for now.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Let’s go back to the party.”