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I frowned, rolling my lips together as his proximity and my reaction unsettled me more than I wanted to admit. I stepped back just as the crowd Hoss had left behind cheered. I grasped onto the excuse to move, shifting away from Hoss to see what the commotion was about.
A mass of male bodies swarmed the golf cart that had delivered Ms. Conway to my bakery. Hoss turned with me, taking in the laughing men as they jockeyed for position around the cart.
“J.T. had a few of the players out to his Pendleton course this morning. Apparently Shep embarrassed himself on the cart out there and thinks he’s going to redeem his ego here at my event.” Hoss heaved a heavy sigh. “I’m not having it. Too many kids. Too much to get done.”
“When does everything start?”
“Already has, honestly. J.T. has a stage and music and brought in some of the big sponsors. But we’re still missing Santa.”
One of the men leaned out of the crowd just then, shouting Hoss’ name.
“Geez, Shep, I’m standing right here.”
“Sorry, man. We’re drawing straws. You’re up.”
Somehow, Hoss managed to shuffle me forward when he moved closer to the crowd of men. “For the suit?” he asked. “I have enough to do. Not adding Santa to the mix.”
“We’re taking turns. And I already messaged Shy you were playing Santa and I know you aren’t going to disappoint my sister. Drawing’s for order.”
Hoss barked out a laugh. “That only worked when sweet Shy was a little girl. She’s grown now! Try again, Shep.”
Timmy scrambled back from the golf cart to stare up at Hoss with shining eyes. “Are you gonna be a fill-in Santa, Hoss? Can I get my picture with you?”
And right before my eyes, the giant of a man caved. His shoulders rounding with resignation, he heaved a heavy sigh. Something in my chest cracked and I couldn’t stop the grin as he moved up to take a straw.
Chapter Four
Kyle
Fiveminuteslater,Ifound myself in defeated possession of a Santa suit. I couldn’t be all that disappointed, though, for as I made my way along one of the side streets of the square, Rae kept pace beside me. Her lips had a certain softness about them. Not quite conceding to smile, but a softness I wouldn’t mind exploring.
“I’m gonna beg a favor,” I said as we meandered through the Mustang club’s participants.
She pulled her gaze from a beut of a 1968 Fastback in vivid blue with white racing stripes. The owner of the car sat in a lawn chair right beside his car, his eyes tracking Rae’s attention. When he grinned at my narrow-eyed look, I grit my teeth and returned my focus to the woman beside me. “Yeah, I need a favor. I’m gonna need you to watch the door.”
A herd of kids barrelled down the street, weaving between cars and people, fuzzy Santa hats on their heads as they maneuvered their kick scooters. Tonight was all about family and the season and having a good time, I reminded myself as I moved to Rae’s other side to put myself between her and the kids. Kids intent on each other and going fast, a goal I’d been pursuing for years so I sure did relate, but no need to endanger my girl.
She tilted her face up to mine, that softness around her face tipping a little closer to amusement. “Doors aren’t really my specialty.”
I gave her a wink. “I have faith.”
Leading the way toward the caboose at the opposite end of the square, I looked around with a good bit of satisfaction. I’d passed Shep the two-way for my stint as Santa, savoring the moments of freedom.
“I didn’t think you’d be able to pull this off.”
I thought about her arguments during the city meeting last month. “You were worried about parking.”
“Parking’s an issue even on your regular Saturday events. You said today could bring out triple the people. But I still have people like Ms. Minerva who have come to my bakery every Saturday for years. It was a tradition she started with her husband and something she’s continued since he died. It would have broken her heart to miss coming because of something as stupid as parking.”
I had the feeling it would have broken Rae’s heart just as much. “It was a valid concern. I’m glad we worked out an arrangement that suited everyone.”
“Yep.”
Good thing I wasn’t the sort to seek out praise. I grinned down at her, tilted my chin to the line of classics in front of her bakery. “Mr. Hillbanger has his spot.”
“Of course he does.” Her grumbly mumble teased a smile to his lips.
“Thought you were gonna kick him to Mars last month.”
