Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
CANDY
Kindred glares at the patrol car that says Sheriff across the side as we pass it. There isn't anyone inside, but she finds the vehicle offensive, clearly. I remember Mary making a remark about him, and Kindred getting mad.
“So we hate the sheriff?” I ask. I should probably stay out of it, but Kindred and I have grown close. I’ve never really had girlfriends, so it feels good to have someone to hang with.
“He’s annoying and thinks he runs this town when he’s only been here a few years.”
“Not a local, then.”
“It’s not that; he’s just so”—Kindred shakes her head, her lips pressing firmly together as she searches for her next words—“arrogant, bossy, a real jerkface. Annoying.” I have to suppress a laugh. Kindred is always full of smiles, but this man is the bane of her existence.
“Should we slash his tires?” I joke.
“Not together. I already got him with the glitter,” Kindred smirks.
“The glitter you had me get you?” She asked for some the other day, but I thought it was for decorations. Little did I know I was becoming an accessory to a crime. It could also be considered aiding and abetting.
“Yep, put it in his ignition.” A satisfied smirk takes over her face. "Completely legal, and he can't do anything about it."
"If it was illegal, he'd arrest you?" I didn't see that happening. This town would revolt. Kindred is loved by all.
"Probably." She closes her eyes.
"Is there a jail in this town?"
“It’s a small one. It’s only one cell that sits right outside the annoying jerk’s office.
I can’t even imagine having to stay locked up in there with him.
” Kindred may be saying those words, but her body language doesn’t seem to agree.
I think Mary was on the right track when it came to the sheriff because Kindred's cheeks are getting more flushed by the second.
“You really think he’d lock you up?”
“He’s threatened.”
“What were you doing that he was able to threaten you with arrest?”
“Indecent exposure.”
"Wait." I actually stop walking. "Like being naked?" I can't see her running around town naked. For one, it's cold as heck around here, and two, it's not her style.
"I wasn't naked. I was at a bachelorette party at the bar. I had on this cute mini dress."
"Did you pull a celebrity move and accidentally flash your panties?" I'm still not getting it. I know a mini dress is short and can show cleavage, but I’m not sure how that could be considered indecent exposure.
"No! I was barely inside the bar and took off my coat."
"Oh." I'm not sure what to make of that.
"Others were dressed the same. He enjoys picking on me."
"Have you considered that maybe he's into you and got jealous?"
"Nope, he's always calling me ‘little girl.’" Kindred's smile falters. "He doesn't see me that way. He was in the Army with my brother, and they became Rangers together. I'm way off-limits to him even if he's into me."
Kindred loops her arm through mine to make me start walking again. "What if he is into you and he's struggling with it?"
"That doesn't make it any better. I don't want a man who is going to back down to my brother or anyone else, for that matter." She's got a point there. It might be best to change the subject. I don’t want to upset her mood.
We are spending a few hours in town to get dolled up for the holiday party later. All the planning is finally going to pay off tonight, and I’m excited to see what the town will think. I suppose I’m trying to impress them or fit in to being one of them.
I’m excited but nervous. When I attended events with Max, I was filled with dread from beginning to end.
I don’t have that now. Sure, I’m a tad na?ve, but it’s the good kind.
For the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m feeling as though luck is finally on my side.
This is a new chapter of my life in more ways than one.
"Did you decide on which dress you'll be wearing tonight?" She'd narrowed it down to a couple.
Kindred might be a small-town girl, but she loves her some fashion. It was fun to search for dresses online with her. We ordered a ton. I felt guilty, but Kindred told me Hollis owed her a big Christmas bonus and that he would love me wearing a dress he'd bought for me.
I had also ordered a couple of dresses with plans to return the others and only keep the one I picked for tonight, but they all turned out to be so beautiful. Hollis said we weren't returning anything. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to his need to take care of me. Well, not only me, all of us.
“I’m thinking the green one.”
It shows a lot of cleavage, making me wonder how the sheriff is going to feel about that, but I keep that thought to myself. I kind of want to see that play out in real time. The whole enemies to lovers trope is one of my favorites to read.
“That was my favorite on you, too.” It suits her coloring.
Kindred slows her steps, and I see her glance behind us. “What?” I sense her whole demeanor change as she stands up taller.
“Don’t do it yet, but I want you to glance behind us and tell me if you know the man in the black coat. He’s got on black sunglasses. Actually, he’s in all black.” Worry immediately creeps into me. The hairs on the back of my neck stick up, thinking it could be Max.
“Do you think—”
“No, I’ve seen a picture of Max, but I do think whoever he is, he’s following us. I spotted him across the street when we were in the bakery. Now he’s following us to the salon, it appears.” Her words ease my mind a fraction, but my heart and mind are still racing.
I give it a couple more seconds before I glance back and see the man she’s referring to. He’s big and pretty unmissable. Okay, maybe not because I hadn’t noticed him until Kindred pointed him out.
I really need to get better about watching my surroundings. It’s strange, but I get lost in New Hope and Hollis, forgetting that there is a whole other world out there without my problems.
"I don't think I know who he is."
"Think?"
"He's kinda far back. I know it's not Max, but he has this man named Bailey that works for him. He's his driver and just about everything else."
"All right, let's go into this shop for a second and see what he does.
" I nod, following her into one of the many stores on the main street.
It's one of those old-school pharmacies you don't see anymore.
We take our time, pretending to look around, both noticing he's still lingering outside.
We watch as he suddenly pulls out his phone.
"Think he's faking a phone call?"
"Obviously. He's after us." Kindred narrows her eyes on him, and it’s starting to feel like we’re in an action movie, and she’s going to take him on with her street-fighting skills that no one knows about but surprises you with how good they are.
"Let's do this." She starts to march back out of the store. What the heck is she doing?
"Maybe we should call the sheriff."
"Over my dead body. Come on." Kindred loops her arm through mine again and snags a bottle of hair spray off one of the shelves.
The older woman who looks a little like Mrs. Claus from behind the counter doesn't say anything, only shakes her head and smirks. As though she’s seen this side of Kindred before and is waiting for the show.
When we exit the drugstore, we head back in the same direction as before. We have an appointment at the salon. Kindred checks for him again, and I see a mischievous smile pull at her lips.
Suddenly she yanks me over into a small nook that leads into another store, but we don't go in. She spins around, facing the sidewalk, blocking me in behind her. A few seconds later, the man appears. His eyes widen when he sees her standing there.
Kindred lifts the can she’s now holding, spraying him right in the face. He lets out a small shocked gasp, and she hits him with red and green glitter next. Where she pulled that out of, I have no idea, but it's the same glitter I gave her. I'm once again an accessory to her glitter crimes.
The glitter impressively sticks because of the hair spray. "Now try and be sneaky, you little punk ass."
Did she really say punk ass? I have to fight a laugh because I'm not sure if this is funny or scary.
The man wipes his eyes with the back of his hand. "I'm Ms. Snow's security." I press my lips together. I have security? This situation is news to me.
"Oh," Kindred says, shifting on her feet. "And this was a test. You passed." She grabs my hand and starts tugging me down the sidewalk.
"How did he pass if you got him?" I whisper.
"If he thinks he passed, maybe he won't report me."
"I think I might need to confiscate the glitter," I tell her.
“It’s better than mace.”
“True. That would really get you arrested.”
“Shit, the sheriff better not find out. No one has proof. It’s his word against mine. He’s not a local.”
“So we’re adding lying to our list of crimes?”
“We do what we have to.” Kindred pulls open the door to the salon for me. I step inside and am transported back forty years to a retro-style beauty shop. It’s completely adorable.
“You’re here!” A woman with shiny silver hair with streaks of black in it rushes toward us.
“I am,” Kindred confirms.
“I meant her.” She steps right past Kindred. “Look at you. Your coloring. That’s your real hair color?”
“It is. I’ve never dyed it or anything.” The thought never crossed my mind. Doing those things was expensive. It wasn’t a luxury I could have afforded. Max had once commented about making my hair more blondish, but I ignored it.
"Virgin hair." She gives me a warm smile.
A lot of me is virginal, which is crazy because I'm pregnant with not only one baby but two.
Hollis really does everything to the extreme.
Even when he doesn't know he's doing it at all.
"I'm Betty. I'll be doing your hair." Betty turns partly.
"This is Noel, and she'll do makeup." Noel winks at me.