AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s got to be this dadgum Christmas season,” Faye said, cutting into her breakfast burrito. “Don’t get me wrong. I love the lights and music and celebrations as much as anyone else. But things are tight when you’ve got higher heating bills and more presents to buy than usual.”
Faye had thirteen grandchildren, some adults, some teenagers, and one toddler, all of whom she loved to spoil. I knew her retirement was spent divvying her time up between them and myself, and that nothing made her happier.
“You don’t have to spend a lot on them,” I said, taking abite of my overstuffed burrito. The delicious blend was exactly what I’d been craving.
“Are you kidding? They’re my grandbabies. I’ve got to get them something. As for you, even billionaires need Christmas presents.”
I glanced around, hoping no one heard her reference to my financial status.
It was common when I was with the guys—we liked to keep our wealth on the down low—and I found I liked to keep that profile up even when I was on my own.
I was nothing special, nothing more than anyone else. Just because I’d inherited a killer (and sugary) business and had continued to see it soar.
Come to think of it, that fact made me want to buy whatever presents Faye needed, pay her bills, and get her anything else she needed, but she’d flay me alive if I suggested it.
I knew. I’d tried once.
“It’s not that,” I said, lowering my voice. “I don’t want you putting yourself out for my sake.”
“I’m not,” she said. “I’m doing it for mine. I’m the grandmaandthe godmother. Giving presents is part of the job description.” She gave me her wrinkly smile.
“Not for me, it isn’t,” I argued. “You know your grandkids love you with or without gifts.”
She shrugged. “Even so, Hawkie boy, it’s Christmas.”
I stared at my food. “That it is. It seems like someone is reminding meof that every hour.”
She lowered her utensils and speared me with an unswerving glare. “What’s happening with you?”
“Too much. I don’t want to bore you.”
Faye’s insistent look deepened.
I laughed. Fighting her was no use, though I decided not to mention the theft.
Knowing Faye, she’d try to track down the culprit herself and demand the stolen items be returned that instant.
“It’s nothing. Typical work stuff. Then the elevator getting stuck?—”
“The elevator got stuck? With you on it? When did this happen?”
“Just before I met up with you, actually. The woman I was on it with?—”
Faye perked up. If she wasn’t interested before, she was undoubtedly now. She’d been egging me on for months to start dating again after I’d ended things with Amelia Solace.
She scooted her chair closer to me. “You were stuck on it with a woman? Tell me everything.”
There was that irritating blush again, heating my cheeks with unwanted intensity. I was a grown man for goodness’ sake. If Faye hoped for a story of a romantic escapade with a beautiful stranger, she’d be mistaken.
Maybe if I hadn’t lost total control of my senses, something like that could have happened.
Then again, this was Ella we were talking about. The woman was more guarded than the Federal Reserve.
On the other hand, she had said throwing herself at meagain wasintriguing. My mind began to fill with all kinds of possible meanings of that particular word.
“There’s nothing to tell,” I said, digging into my burrito. “Unless you count my slight claustrophobia and her sweet attempts to help me stay calm.”
“Hm. Yes, you always did have a tough time with tight spaces.”
