It occurred to Charley that’s how little Carly must have felt when Leon had so harshly and unnecessarily shouted at her.Touché, Leon. Having had enough of Leon Lerfeld, Charley plucked his jacket off the hall tree and walked to him.
“Have a nice weekend, Leon,” Charley said coolly.
Taking his jacket, Leon asked, “Are you still planning to stay closed on Sundays and Mondays?”
“Yes.” Giving him an extra hint about her relationship with Sully, Charley said, “It’s my tradition, and Sully’s store is also closed on Sunday and Monday.”
With a sideways glance at Sully, Leon said, “Guess I’ll see you next Tuesday, Charley.”
“Leon, I would never ask you to work for free,” Charley said, and squaring her shoulders added, “As I said earlier, I can’t expect you to drive from the Springs to the country for this job.”
“Are you firing me?” Leon asked, straightening his stance.
“Please don’t look at it like that, Leon,” Charley said. Letting her handle things, Sully was silent but remained squarely behind her, backing her up. “I’m just relieving you of an unnecessary burden.”
“You were never a burden, but I can take a hint to get lost.”
Charley splayed her hands and said, “You’re welcome to stop by for a visit anytime.”
With another glance at Sully, Leon said, “I doubt that.”
Sully strode forward then and opened the front door. Taking a last look at Charley, Leon left the shop without another word. As Sully shut the door, the overhead bell tingled cheerily as if dispelling the tension.
“Whew, I’m glad that’s over,” Charley said, hoping it was.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
“When are they going to catch the guy?” Sully grumbled under his breath on Christmas Eve.
He and Charley were hosting a buffet-style dinner along with a gift exchange at his ranch this evening. Back on Thanksgiving, everyone at dinner had drawn a name from a cowboy hat. The kids had gone first, and even baby Dalton’s name had been included. Then the adults had each picked out a name and no one knew who had drawn whose name.
Sully’s cousins, Roy and Randy Custis, had standing traditions elsewhere. Thus, Sully had given them gifts at his store before they’d closed early.
Hands on his hips now, with Wyatt asleep in his brand-new, big dog bed, Sully stood in the den before the crackling fire in the hearth. With the flatscreen on, he was listening to the newscasters and watching the footage on the early evening news.
“While Old Colorado Springs was teaming with happy folks out doing their last-minute Christmas shopping, the infamous Cave Killer has struck a seventh time,”a female reporter confirmed from behind a studio desk. Sully frowned at the TV. The screen was split, with the studio newscaster on the left. A male reporter, on the right, stood near the scene of the crime andsaid,“That’s right, Sarah. With five dead in his wake and his sixth victim narrowly escaping, the infamous Cave Killer has struck a seventh time. And this time the killing seems personal.”The female newscaster replied,“Yes, Dave, we’re hearing from Detective Burt Groves this evening that the seventh attack, which appears to have happened within the last forty-eight hours, has resulted in the murder of victim six who avoided being strangled to death only weeks ago.”
“Oh, no,” Charley said as she came up beside Sully and looped her arm through his.
Sully pulled his arm free and wrapped it around her. “I want this psycho stopped.”
“Me too,” Charley whispered.
Sully eased her back and let out a low wolf whistle. Her glossy, long brown hair reflected the Christmas lights on the towering live tree. Her thick black lashes batted playfully, and her ruby-red lips parted in a breathtaking smile. She was dressed in a soft ivory sweater boasting a scooped neck and decorated with shiny red and gold stars. She’d paired the sweater with snug red pants, and she wore them with the red cowboy boots he’d bought for her at Cash’s store. She was the only gift he needed for Christmas.
“I love you, Charley,” Sully said for the first time.
“What?” Charley asked softly, her royal-blue eyes taking on a glistening glitter.
Smiling down at her, Sully repeated with conviction, “I love you, city slicker.”
“Sully, I—” Charley began, her voice breaking. With her hands folding over her heart, she looked him in the eye. “I love you, too, country boy. With all my heart.”
Sully lowered his mouth to hers and wrapped both arms around her. Her slender arms twined around his neck, and she raised on her tiptoes as she kissed him. He buried his handsin her hair, and his tongue played with hers. Sliding his hands down her slender back, he cupped them to her rounded fanny and groaned.
“Do we have time to go to bed before the party?”
“No,” Charley giggled.
