“Good.So Rory and I will be there too.”
“That’s great.Save me a dance.”
“I sure will, Granddad.”
They ended the call and he finished his breakfast.
“You’re going to the dance with Mrs.Fitz on Saturday?”Stryker asked.
“Yeah.”
“Good.A bunch of us will be there dancing with our mates while the kids have a holiday party.That way we’ll still be watching over you and Lacy,” Stryker said.
That made Frank want to go even more, if he’d had any thought of just staying home.
“Rory and I will be at the Sexy Santa event tonight so no one has to guard us.”
“Oh, one of us will be there, taking his mate to the event, and will safeguard you and Lacy.Mrs.Fitz too, because we don’t trust that Timothy might not come after her and take her hostage since Lacy works for her now.”
“That sounds good.”
They left their table, and Frank went to say goodbye to Florence.“Hey, I heard about your Sexy Santa tea party.I’ll be there.”
She laughed, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his mouth.He embraced her soundly and kissed her back.“You just want to make sure I don’t fall for the sexy Santa.”
He smiled.“Yeah, that’s it.And we’re still going to the dance together.”
“For sure.You’re not getting out of that.I hope you like to dance.”
“I do.”
“Good, then we’ll have a great time.I’ll see you at the house, and then we’ll go to the tea party.”
“Yeah.What should I wear?”he asked, though he wasn’t really attending, just being there for her.
“Something Christmassy, red sweater or green sweater.Everything else is optional.Just no sexy Santa suit,” Florence said.
He laughed out loud.“Trust me, I wouldn’t.”
Then they kissed, and he felt like things were going just the way they should as far as his relationship with Florence.
Then Frank said goodbye, and he and Stryker returned to Florence’s home.They searched the whole house to make sure Timothy hadn’t returned to it, but it was clear.
“I’m going to take a nap.”Frank had been up so late and then woken early this morning, and was feeling sleepy.
“Are you okay?”Stryker asked.
“Yeah, just with seeing Lacy so late last night when she was injured and then Florence waking me so early and the nurses checking on me throughout the night, I’m tired.”
“Okay, well, you get a good rest, and if you start feeling bad at all, just let me know, and I’ll run you over to the clinic.”
“Thanks.”But Frank wasn’t feeling bad, just tired.He was glad to see the Christmas tree standing and all the broken ornaments cleaned up and the tree decorated beautifully again.He glanced at Lacy’s room.Her clothes that had been scattered all over the room were gone, and the window had been replaced.He was relieved she was staying at the ranch.
That night,Florence came home to the dinner that Frank had promised her before Timothy had knocked him out.“Everything smells so good.”
“Chase is eating with us and taking us to the party.Shannon will meet us all there,” Frank said, dressed in a red sweater, making him look nice and Christmassy, “even though Shannon told him that his being there could crimp her style.”
Florence laughed.
