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“Put this one back on the market and get something closer to the station. And me.”
Her simple resolve is a nod to how I answered her problems earlier. I refuse to tell her I get the creeps every night that I’m alone there. Living with Angelina in college for four years, I became accustomed to having someone with me. Just knowing my best friend was a room away made me feel good. We talked about renting an apartment together, but we also said we needed to try this ‘on our own thing’. It’s also a personal achievement to myself that I could buy the house and do the work. “I’d still have to live there until it sells.”
“No, stay with my dad. You guys can carpool to work.” She gives a wink with a smug grin.
“Speaking of hot dads, what were you saying earlier about me changing his mind?”
Her eyes get wide, and she sits up straight. “Change his mind about you! I see the way he’s been looking at you since taking the job there at the station. When I talked to him about giving you an interview, I don’t think he was ready for who showed up.” She laughs. “But I know my dad. He’s been alone for too long and I’m sure he’s battling his desire for you. One, because of your age. And two, because of me.”
Waving my hands around, I dismiss her comments. “Age is just a number. I never liked guys our age. Such a waste of time, both in and out of bed.”
“Daisy!”
“It’s true! They don’t have a clue how to be a grownup. They can’t work or keep a steady job and they definitely don’t understand how to fuck a woman right.”
Angelina rolls her eyes. “Listen, I know my dad and I have a very open relationship, but I definitely don’t want to know about him inthatway.” She makes a gagging noise with a face to match. “He’s been my rock since day one. I don’t know what it would be like to have a mom. I’ve only known him and I’m happy just the way it is.”
“Andthat’swhy he’s so attractive.”
“Really? Because he’s a good dad?”
“That. And he’s fuck-hot. And I wouldn’t mind calling him my daddy for a time or two.”
We both laugh together, though I’m quite serious. And my best friend knows me like the back of her hand, so she knows I’m up for the challenge.
“Girl, if you can get him to change his mind, you’ve got my blessing.”
ChapterThree
Vincent
Christmas is just weeks away, but around here, it’s Christmas every day. When I moved to this town twenty-two years ago, I swore I wasn’t putting down roots. This place was too corny, and everyone in this town took you in as if you were theirs. The gossip and busy-body nature that this place encompasses was way over the top for me.
However, once I enrolled my daughter in the Kandy Kane Kids pre-school, I was grateful for the ones who wanted to care for us. I was able to train at the academy for eight weeks and once I was back home and working, the town grew on me. I quickly made rank at the station and just ten years after we moved in, I became the Police Chief of Christmas.
I had gone to boot camp at age eighteen and planned on making the military my career. But one careless night while on leave, I had a one-night stand and got the girl pregnant. She dumped the baby on me, saying she wasn’t ready to care for her and have a family.
I had no other choice but to surrender to the consequences of my actions. But I wasn’t mad about it. I loved that baby girl the minute I found out about her and wanted nothing more than to raise her with love and give her everything I could.
This town delivered that to me. The people here made it easy to love life around me. And once I met the Casanova Family? I knew I’d never move anywhere else. Their family are the founders of this small town and Frank and Janet Casanova became my pseudo-parents, despite only being about a decade older than me. And their children, being a decade younger than me, have been my best friends.
And now? I’m watching those friends have babies of their own. My own daughter isn’t a baby anymore and I’ve had to learn to let her grow up. She’s very independent and at times, has been the adult in our home when I just couldn’t get my head straight.
And how do I repay her for always looking out for her father? For being the easiest daughter to raise? For never questioning why it was just us two or why other kids had moms at home and she didn’t?
By lusting after her best friend.
When I sent my daughter off to college, I dedicated my time to working. I needed lots of shifts to fill my empty time now that she was gone. She called on weekends and told me all about her classes and the best friend she met the first week of school. From what I heard, Daisy O’Malley watched out for Angelina all four years they were away. And when Angelina came home for the summer, Daisy went back to her home and worked hard for the eight weeks of summer vacation. Then, they returned to each other and jumped right back into their studies.
I had only seen pictures of her and my daughter together and honestly, I didn’t pay too much attention. I was just happy that Angelina was happy.
So when my daughter called and asked that I consider giving her friend an interview for dispatch at the station, I said yes.
And that’s where it all went wrong.
Daisy O’Malley came into my life like a whirlwind. I was not prepared for the woman who showed up. Wild red hair that hung down her back. Gorgeous green eyes that seem to glow.
And her body?
