Chapter 6
Chapter Six
R hys couldn’t stop his smile due to Sara’s prim and decidedly pointed response. He wondered if there was a porcupine costume in the camper because it might better fit her prickly attitude at the moment.
A longer look at the delicate shadows beneath her eyes that the glittery makeup couldn’t conceal reminded him that she had a lot going on.
“All loaded, sir,” one of the men called.
“We’ll meet you there,” he said. “I’m riding with Ms. Zinnick.”
She looked grumbly but excused herself to retrieve the keys to the truck along with her ID. He watched as she locked up the camper and then followed her to where the truck sat waiting.
The puffy crinoline skirt rode up her candy-cane-striped thighs as she climbed in, and he enjoyed a long look before moving round to get in beside her.
She looked absolutely adorable in her costume, facing a wheel twice her width as she got them off to a chugging start. The old truck purred like a champ as Sara rolled them off the lot, onto the roadway. She shifted gears with the grace of a ballerina. “I don’t know a single woman—other than you—that can drive a stick shift. I’m thoroughly impressed.”
She glanced at him as they bounced along, a pleased flush to her sparkly cheeks.
“I learned to drive it before my legs were long enough to reach the pedals. My dad sat me on his lap and we drove around the farm. He did the pedals, and I was in charge of the steering and gears.”
He smiled at the image, that aspect of her life, because of the love reflected on her expressive face. “I bet you had a fun childhood.”
“The best,” she said softly. “Though I never knew how lucky I was until I went to college. I mean, obviously everyone has a story, but it wasn’t until then that I realized how… good my story was. That’s why one day, I’d love to share it by?—”
She broke off abruptly and shook her head, the act firing every brain cell inside him to know her secret. “You’d like to share it by…what?”
She gave him another furtive glance. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to tell you since I won’t see you again.”
He frowned at that, not liking that thought at all.
“I’ve always dreamed of writing children’s books,” she said softly, like she truly shared a secret. “About living on the farm and the animals and the Christmas trees. It’s…what I’ve been working on in the camper before I open on weekdays, to keep busy.”
And from worrying about her mother no doubt. “Those sound like amazing stories. I’d love to read them sometime.”
She flashed him another glance as though assessing whether or not he meant it and seemed to deem him sincere.
“Having to wear these crazy costumes has brought back so many memories of my mom wearing them when I was growing up. I’m writing down ideas as fast as I can between shifts. It’s probably silly and nothing will ever come of it. I mean, doesn’t every one want to write a book these days?”
“That doesn’t sound silly at all. Will you illustrate your stories as well?”
She focused on the road as a car passed them and nodded. “Yeah, but for now it’s just a dream. Maybe one day.”
He heard the wistfulness in her tone. “Dreams can become reality. You just have to pursue them. Tell me more about your mom. What’s she like? You said she was in an accident?”
She nodded as they bounced along the road. “My mom is energy in human form. She never stops moving. I’d…just left Raleigh and moved back home when my dad called about the accident. Some idiot texting and driving while flying down the road. Mom died on the surgical table during the first operation.”
Shock and pain radiated off her at the words. “I’m so sorry, Sara. But she’s doing better now?”
Her grip tightened on the wheel, and she swallowed audibly. This wasn’t exactly Christmas-spirit-inducing conversation, but he wanted to know more about her. Wanted to know everything. And while he could get the details from an investigator’s report, he’d much rather hear it from the source.
“Yeah, but she’s been in ICU all this time. They only just moved her to a regular room. When Dad mentioned the tree lot and having to break the contract to stay with her, I heard his heart breaking all over again. So I volunteered to cover the lot because it was the only thing I knew I could do to help since I couldn’t even get in to see her at the time. It means so much to them, to both of them, to keep the contract. And then I lost the cashbox.”
He watched her shake her head and frowned. “You didn’t lose it, sweetheart. It was stolen. Big difference there, and it could’ve happened to anyone, especially when they’re as worried and distracted as you are about your parents. Turn right up here and keep going straight.”
She slowed the truck and made the turn, handling the gears like a pro as she pointed the truck toward the Atlantic.
“Thanks for saying that.”
“I meant it. Things happen, and we have to roll with the punches.”
“I suppose. We’re running out of houses. Which one is yours?”
“Just keep going straight.”
“Straight leads right to that hotel.”
“It does. Pull up to the side there,” he said, pointing to the left.
Sara sucked in a sharp breath and jerked her head toward him, her gaze wide as she looked at him. “Something wrong?”
“You’re Rhys Lachlan.”