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“Holycrap.”
I laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”
She looked past me, her gaze taking in the people prepping the park today, cleaning up the parking lot and sidewalks, laying out some chalk to direct cars when they came in tonight. “This car thing has grown so much since you took over. I think I miss the old guy that used to run it. Was so much easier to deal with. Not nearly so many people.”
“Not much of a people person, huh? Kinda seems odd for a bakery owner.”
“I love baking. Used to be how I would get rid of stress. Turning it into a job kinda ruined that whole aspect, though.”
“I can understand that. Always wanted to play in the NHL, but some of my favorite hockey memories are the ones between me and the guys out on someone’s homemade ice.”
She tilted her head at him. “Homemade ice?”
“You’re from around here? I suppose you would look at me funny. But where I grew up - a few hundred miles north of here - folks would clean up a patch of ice as soon as the weather allowed. Our parents would have to haul us in by our ears to get us off the ice back then. Good memories.”
“Surely you liked playing in the NHL, though.”
“Fuck yeah, I did. Greatest league on the planet. But there were expectations. Pressure to produce.”
She nodded, her eyes turning velvety soft. “Exactly. Yes, that’s exactly the problem.”
“Despite that, not too many folks can say they turned their passion into a career they can make a living off, so gotta be grateful.”
“I suppose. It’s just so very many people. Impatient and demanding and. . . everything.”
“Gotta be good for business, at least.”
“Yeah, I suppose.”
Her resigned tone tugged on his heart. “But a lot of extra work, too, I’m guessing.”
“I’ll be up all night. Every night. For days and days.”
I shifted, my Levi’s suddenly feeling a little snug as I imagined all the ways I could keep Rae up all night.
Just then, an old woman exited Sugar Squared, the little bell on the door jingling merrily. She leaned on a cane striped in blue and gray - good, old Renegade colors. A bright green tassel dangled from the top. She caught sight of Rae and waved. “Come tell me bye, Raelynn.”
Rae hustled over and smacked a kiss on the woman’s cheek. “Where’d you park, Ms. Minerva?”
“Never mind that. Who is that fine-looking gentleman, and is he single?” She leaned on her cane and cocked a drawn-on brow at me.
I tipped my cap with a grin. “Morning, ma’am. Name’s Kyle Hossman. Back in the day, folks called me Hoss.” I leveled a look at Rae, my eyes lingering on my favorite parts before tossing Ms. Minerva a wink. “And that would be a big ol’ yes, ma’am, to being single. And I sure am open to any assists in that department, too, Ms. Minerva.”
She cackled, tipping back so far, I readied myself to lunge forward and catch her if she toppled right on over off her feet. But she just shook her head and thrust her finger in my direction. “Shameless!”
Rae pretended not to hear our exchange. Instead, she scanned the area. “Where’s your car?”
“Just down at the end here.” Ms. Minerva waved over her shoulder. “Consider me recruited, young man!”
Chapter Three
Rae
December
Decemberarrivedwithabang, colder than anyone expected. I stood inside Sugar Squared and took in the activity outside. Already mid-morning and despite the slushy rain and snow mix that fell over night, the sun shone bright and cheerful, no hint of clouds, much less snow. Bodies hustled the length of Pendleton Square. Kids in packs of four and five carried long grabbers and trash bags, cleaning up what the city workers missed. Adults constructed platforms at either end of the square while even more arranged “special” cars throughout, complete with Christmas decorations all around.
“There he is, over by that really old black car.” Camille sidled up beside me and we didn’t even pretend not to know who I was searching the square for.
