Page 9 of Playing Santa

“Fine by me.” She’s suppressing a smile and I think she likes being called Garino like she’s on my team. “It’s about quitting time soon anyway.”

Ronnie says, “I don’t want to leave you with—”

“Nonsense,” Garino says. “I can handle being by myself for ten minutes before Gwen gets here.”

Ronnie nods then, her face changing as soon as she hears Gwen’s name. I keep my smile on the inside.

“Then let’s go.” I take Jimmy’s hand and shove the glass door open with my shoulder. Ronnie scoots behind the counter and grabs a backpack and jackets then hurries to follow us outside.

“That was underhanded,” she says under her breath as she catches up with us, helping Jimmy on with his coat. I’m no expert, but it looks small for him.

“You’re not mad, are you?” I know she’s not, but I want to hear her admit it.

“Not really.” she sighs. “How could I be?”

“Let’s make an arrangement, then.”

“For the puppy, right?” She says, giving me a sassy smirk.

“For whatever I can get,” I say, putting Dasher on the ground. It’s a warm for December afternoon, the sun almost set and the air crisp. The streets are lined with lights and holiday decorations. Christmas is only three and a half weeks away.

“Can I hold the leash?” Jimmy says. Turning to Ronnie, I raise a brow in question.

“Sure, but let me help you.” She puts the loop around his wrist.

I’m watching as she bends down and her baggy jeans tighten against her ass, treating me to a dick teasing eyeful.

When she straightens up, she turns to me with those bold blue eyes and says, “So who are you besides a field goal kicker and a dog lover? Who is Sean Patrick?” We follow Jimmy and Dasher as they head for the park a few yards away.

“You want the short version or the long version?” A nervous thrill quickens my breath. She’s interested in me. My cock tightens, but I tamp down on the automatic response. Ronnie is different. From the minute I saw her with her son, I automatically put her in a different box, the one no other woman has ever been in, the someone special box.

“I want the version you don’t tell a woman on a first date because it would scare her, the one it would take her months to find out.”

First date. My grin pops out, but I don’t call her on it, I savor it.

“Ah. The short-cut version. All the dirt and surprises right up front.” I’m smiling, but my nerves spike through the roof and my heart thuds like it does when we’re in the tunnel waiting to take the field before a game. Excited doesn’t cover how I feel. A little scared too, if I’m being honest. But I clear my throat and sneak a deep breath in the face of her questioning face and those damn irresistible eyes. The dark lashes framing the vivid blue flutter while she waits for my answer patiently.

She’s so damn beautiful and tempting, I need to concentrate on my answer. No way am I giving into my distracting need to feel her in my arms, to taste her, to be inside her—I look away.

“I’m an Army brat, lived in six countries and eight states growing up with five siblings. My dad’s a tough s.o.b. and my mom is a funny tough old broad with a heart of gold. I’m lucky I have them.” I stop because she’s looking at me like a deprived kid looking in the window of a candy store. Am I an asshole for sharing my good fortune when she’s clearly had misfortune? Fuck, yeah.

“I’m sorry, I—”

“Sorry? For what? For being normal? That I’m not—”

I take her by the arms to soothe her annoyance and her pain—because her sarcasm is a poor mask for her pain. And to touch her. “No. For being an asshole. I have no tact—”

“You’re right, but I don’t care about tact. I don’t have any either.” A small lift of one side of her mouth relieves me. I step closer because she looks cold, but I stop short of hauling her into a hug. Barely. Jimmy runs ahead into the park toward the sand play area with a labyrinth of tube slides and PVC pipes for climbing.

“Well, what else besides that you’ve seen the world and have a great family?”

“I didn’t say they were great. The fam has its issues, but we do stick together.” No way am I getting into the sibling rivalries that have occasionally erupted into wars over the years.

“So, you’ve had sibling rivalries?”

“You know a lot without me telling you.”

“I read. Watch TV. I don’t live in a cave. I get how families work even if I didn’t come from the same place.” Her defenses are fully erected and I’m seeing the tough, not so sweet and soft side of her. Opposite of the way she is with the animals and with Jimmy.