Page 35 of Wicked Love

“Nope. Non-negotiable. DH is a real name, by the way. Like CJ or TJ.”

“You’re being a big baby about the whole thing.”

“I stand by my choice.”

“But what does it mean? Come on, Joe. Work with me here.”

I pretended to zip my lips. “This will be the greatest mystery unless you guess it yourself.”

She shook her head but couldn’t hide her smile as she stared at the kitten. “Fine. DH it is. Can I pet him now?”

I nodded. “All yours to love.”

She placed the kitten against her heart, and I swore mine melted at the display. “We’ll have to go shopping. Litter box, food, blanket.”

“I fed him milk, cut the old newspaper I found to make him a litter box until we buy the real thing, and I saw blankets in the cupboard by the bathroom. He’ll be fine for tonight.”

“Oh, okay.” Grace nuzzled DH’s neck, and he purred. Yep, I get the feeling, little man. “Joe, can you believe we are parents now? It’s a big commitment.” Tenderness filled her gaze, and I wished it was aimed at me.

“Well, I wouldn’t wanna do it with anyone else. Being a co-parent, I mean.”

A new surge of tension rose between us, and I chastised myself mentally. I had to start keeping my thoughts to myself. For everyone’s sake.

10

JOE

“Karaoke night is the best,” Grace exclaimed as we sat at a small round table in front of the stage. We’d been in Mistletoe Creek for a week, and Grace had been talking about coming here for just as long.

“I never would have thought I’d ever go to a Christmas karaoke night. My friend Andy would have a good laugh. For years I teased him he should be a guitar-playing Santa and sing for old ladies in retirement homes during the Holidays.”

“Are you gonna get up there with me?” Glints of expectation shone in her eyes.

“Nope. I’m fine being a spectator. I’ll be the loudest clapper, though.”

Her lips swelled into a pout. “You’re no fun. Can you order me a drink while I go and add my name to the list of performers?”

“Sure you really wanna do this?”

She nodded. “Yes.” For a moment, she watched the couple onstage slurring the lyrics of what sounded like a Christmas song, but the drunken, unrecognizable version of it. “See, they’re having the time of their lives.” She left me alone, walking toward the stage.

A waitress about my age, wearing a tiny red and white dress with long black hair and a rack impossible to miss, neared the table. “Ho, ho, ho.” She winked, pursing her red lips. “Welcome to Santa’s Lodge. Are you new in town? I’ve never seen you around before.”

“Just visiting.”

“Alone?” she asked.

“No.”

“Girlfriend?”

I sighed. What was with the twenty-questions? She wouldn’t get the intel from me. I knew this game all too well. “What’s on the menu?”

A mischievous smirk shaped her lips. “Me. If you’re naughty enough.”

“I’m not these days. So, that menu…?”

She huffed a breath, clearly annoyed by my not playing along. I had no intention of befriending the server. Not tonight.