3. Alfie
Chapter Three
ALFIE
I keep thinking about Faith.
Running into her at the coffee place compounded what I felt when I saw her at my sister’s house.
I’d always been attracted to her, but this was something else.
She’s transformed from my cute friend back in high school, the one who used to whoop my ass at Mario Kart and dazzle me with her math prowess, to this seductive, put-together woman who makes me feel weak at the knees.
I didn’t expect to feel like this coming back home.
Settling back into the slower routine, having my family all around me and then this sudden, bolt from the blue feeling of spellbinding connection with Faith.
She’s so beautiful, but it’s more than that.
It’s the way she moves, her soft rose scent, the way she looks up at me and our shared history.
She’s a part of this small town, just the way I am and something about us, here together, just feels so right.
There’s a lot more traffic on the roads today.
My attention is caught by a silver van, on its way up to Peppermint Lodge again.
I’ve noticed it a few times over the past two days.
It has an out of state license plate, so I radio in to check it out.
It might be nothing, but I’ve learned to trust my gut feeling in this job.
Rick radios back. He’s mostly in the station now because of his health issues and not out on patrol, but he’s been doing this job a while and knows the roads of Snowflake inside out.
“Hey Alfie. The plate is clean but it isn’t registered to the description of the van you sent in. Got my hackles up. I’m going to check it out some more.” Rick sounds like he’s chewing something, probably a Christmas donut from the Candy Cabin.
“Roger that. I’m going to tail it up to Peppermint Lodge and see if I spot anything weird going on.”
Keeping a good distance behind so as not to alert the driver of the van that I’m following it, I navigate the winding road up the mountain to the Lodge.
I park at the gates and walk up, where Mr. Huckle’s Christmas party looks to be in full swing.
The parking lot is crowded and the silver van is parked to the side.
I surreptitiously take a photo of it, then wave at my sister Neva and Elden, her husband, who are trying to get my niece Stella to get back in the car.
There’s a tantrum situation going on, so I smile and leave them to it.
I’ve always wanted kids but I’ve been away from my nieces and nephews for so long that I feel out of practice with family life. Neva and Alexis are already talking about me babysitting, so I guess I won’t have to wait long for that.
I make my way round the back of the Lodge to the kitchen. Taylor is catering the party, so I step inside to say hello.
The kitchen is a bustle of activity as Taylor and her business partner Paul juggle trays of canapes while a huge pot of casserole bubbles on the stove.
“Hey bro! Come to help out? We need it, it’s crazy busy out there.” Taylor wipes off her sweaty forehead with a paper towel.
“Unfortunately not. Although those rolls look incredible, Tay. Can you spare a second to look at this?” I hold up my phone to her and Paul. “Do you recognize this van? Know the driver?”
Taylor squints at the screen and shakes her head. Paul walks over and looks more closely at the photograph.
“That’s Bobby Butler’s van. Well, one he uses.
He did some delivery jobs for us but he was so unreliable I haven’t used him in a long time.
He must be delivering something for the party, I guess.
Weird, though, because Magnus and I talked about all the supplier details and he didn’t mention him.
You could ask Magnus about it?” Paul walks back to the casserole pot and starts stirring it.
Taylor looks over at me. “You might want to talk to Faith. She’d know, she was with him for a long time. She’s inside, playing piano while Caitlin sings.”
I want to ask Taylor more about Faith and Bobby, but I’m at work and I need to get on with the task in hand. “Thanks.”
I walk into the party, which is being held in the huge central hall. Two fires are burning in the massive twin fireplaces, and there’s a gigantic Christmas tree twinkling in the center of the room. I nod at the people I know as I stride through the room, looking for Faith.
From the adjoining hallway, the sound of a piano rises above the hubbub of voices. A dark-haired woman who must be Caitlin is just singing the final lines of a folksy-sounding version of Jingle Bells. There’s a round of applause and she smiles, walking off in the direction of the main hall.
Faith stands up from her seat at the piano. She’s wearing a red dress with a round neck that gives just a hint of her spectacular cleavage. She’s breathtakingly gorgeous.
“Hey there, Alfie. I mean, greetings Deputy Sheriff Bells.” She gazes up at me, her eyes twinkling.
“You’re a great pianist. Was it all the practice at Mario Kart back in the day?” I take off my hat and put it on top of the piano. We’re alone now that everyone has gathered back in the main hall.
She laughs. “Must be. Have you finished your shift? Can I get you a drink?”
“No, I’m on duty right now. I’m trying to find the owner of the silver van parked outside. Taylor mentioned you might know where Bobby Butler is, or be able to give me more information.” I’m finding it hard not to stare at her, she’s so beautiful in that form-fitting dress.
Her face falls. “Yes, I know Bobby. He’s my ex.
I’m not sure what the deal is with the van, though.
He’s had some issues with his delivery job.
I didn’t think he was delivering for this party, but I wouldn’t really know.
We aren’t close and our relationship is a little... strained.” She looks uncomfortable.
“Okay, if you see him could you let me know? Here’s my number.” I hand her my card.
“Sure.” She stares back at me, her pupils dilating.
Above the piano is a display with mistletoe and twinkle lights. It’s totally unprofessional and not something I’d ever dream of doing normally, but I can’t resist the pull I feel towards her. I step forward and cup her face in my hands. “Can I give you a kiss? We’re right under the mistletoe.”
She looks up and nods.
“You are so beautiful. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I got back. I always had such a crush on you in high school, Faith.” I stroke her chin gently and her skin feels velvety soft.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you too.” She blinks a couple of times, her eyelashes long and dark against her olive-toned skin.
She inches closer to me and puts her hands on my shoulders, standing on tiptoes to press her soft lips against mine.
I’m rock hard as she presses those gorgeous curves against me, her breasts pressing softly against my ribs as our mouths move together.
I forget everything as my tongue explores her mouth, inhaling her peppermint-scented breath and stroking my hands through her long, dark hair.
She gasps and steps back. “Alfie, we shouldn’t be doing this. Not here.”
“You’re right. Although I loved kissing you and I want to do it again as soon as possible, it’s very unprofessional of me.” I take a couple of steps back as the door to the main hall opens and a couple of people walk in.
Faith sits back down on the piano stool, her cheeks flushed. “I should get back to the Christmas songs, Magnus is paying me for this.”
“Okay, see you soon. Enjoy the party.” I grab my hat and walk back down the hall.
From behind me, Faith starts playing All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey.
It seems appropriate.
All I want for Christmas is Faith. And I intend to make it happen.