Page 22 of Chasing Mr. December

Sounds like there’s a story there, but I’m the last guy to offer a supportive ear for past wrongs. I have no empathy for any guy who didn’t treat his girl right. Not after putting mine on a pedestal for years, only to get burned by everyone around me. “You’re a lucky man,” I say, reaching for a taco. I take a bite and have to actively work to prevent drooling all over the furniture. “Holy shit. This is incredible.”

Layton chuckles. After a few moments of silence as we devour the food in front of us, he clears his throat. “Jason, I hate to ask. You’ve already been good enough to help us out in our time of need.”

“Uh, oh.”Where is this going?

His face contorts. “I’m asking you as a friend. Could you possibly reconsider the calendar? We don’t receive many donations anymore. Not like we did before all the crazy shit that happened.” Layton pops a chip into his mouth. “And trust me, I’m fully aware of how humiliating all of this is.” He runs his hand down his thick beard and continues. “I’ve been competing in the World Beard Day competition at the Diddled Fiddle for years. I only do it because it brings in a ton of money for the station. But it’s not nearly enough,” he quickly adds. “It’s utterly ridiculous. I’m sure I only win each year because my family is so well established here.”

At this, I raise a brow. “Come on, Layton. You’re a good-looking guy. And that beard almost makes me want to play for the other team.” I chuckle.

He strokes it again, his cheeks pinken with pride. “Well, Daphne thinks so. And that’s all that matters to me.”

For half a second, I flash back to that last afternoon at station twelve with my brothers and their girlfriends, feeling envious of their relationships. To have someone they’re all connected with who takes care of them. Visiting, packing lunches and what not. Hell, Corinne never did anything for me. And I didn’t care. I was so damn grateful she wanted to be with me. I overlooked everything else.

“All I’m saying… you’d be part of an elite club.” He snickers. “Hell, who’s going to see the thing but a bunch of old hens here in Magnolia Point? Consider it a one off.” Placing both hands on the desk in front of him, he looks at me with a comically pleading expression. “Just think about it. That way I don’t have to share a month in the calendar with a hairy old hound. And I don’t mean Baxter.”

“All right, all right. I’ll think about it.”

“Not to mention,” he says in a singsong voice. “It might go a long way to showing how sincere you are about apologizing.” Glancing up, I find Layton quirking a brow at me.

It’s been a long day of nothingness, prompting our visit to Mug Life for some much-needed caffeine. We had one call to the Magnolia Resort hours ago for a guy who struck his toe against the bed, cracking his nail. He wanted us to transport him to the emergency room for that nonsense. His toe didn’t even hurt. He just needed the nail clipped and his hoity toity wife was having no part of touching his feet.

The boys grab their steaming cups of joe while I ask for a cup of cocoa, extra marshmallows. I’ve learned to ignore the jibes. Coffee and tea aren’t my jam.

We casually head down the sidewalk toward the fire engine when a walking stack of boxes collides right into me before falling to the ground, taking Baxter with them. Thankfully, my hot beverage fit for a five-year-old stays within the confines of the to go cup.

“Oh, god. I’m so sorry!” a female quickly apologizes.

Baxter doesn’t miss a beat. “That’s okay, beautiful, drop in anytime.”

It’s then I realize it’s Quinn lying on top of this beer belly underachiever. Dropping my cup to the ground, I swiftly scoop her up off of him until she’s flush with my body. Her minty exhale hits my cheeks as she nervously looks up at me. Hell, it’s taking every ounce of control not to lay one on her right here in front of everyone. “You need to be more careful, short stuff,” I whisper, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Her eyelids blink rapidly as I lower her down my body until her feet hit the ground. I notice she has some debris on her pants, and quickly stroke her left hip before I can stop myself. Between holding her so close, teasing her about the fall, and touching her without thinking, I expect her to ridicule me. Especially after all that’s happened.

What I don’t expect is to watch her gray eyes turn molten with desire.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

Her face flushes, seeming embarrassed.

“No. Not about this.” I reach for her hand and am stunned when she allows me to take it. It feels so small and soft intertwined in mine, both stirring and natural in equal measure. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

She gives a curt nod, and I look over my shoulder to Layton, who’s waving me to get on with it already. I pull her to the other side of the café as the boys gather her belongings and head for her car.

“I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you the other day. I had no right to speak to you like that.” Dropping her hand, I run mine nervously through my longer than usual hair. “It’s no excuse. But, coming back here hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to face a lot of old wounds I should’ve buried long ago. None of which were your fault.” I pause to try to gather the right words to convey what I’m feeling. I don’t want to completely screw this up. “My past I was ready for. I’ve built a fireproof exterior to protect myself from that. It’s the unexpected that’s put me on shaky ground.”

She tilts her head in confusion; the sunlight capturing her gorgeous blue-gray irises with the change.God, this girl is breathtaking.

“I wasn’t expecting to find new friends. For Layton and the guys to feel like an extension of my station back home.” Taking a shaky breath, I go all in. “And I wasn’t expecting you.”

If it’s possible, her luminous eyes shine even brighter. I have absolutely no idea what she’s thinking.

Dropping my voice, I lean in. Not so others won’t hear. But to convey my sincerity. “Quinn, can you ever forgive me?”

“I’ll think about it.” She winks, immediately lightening the mood. I’m so taken aback at her response, it’s hard to fully wrap my head around it. This girl is like no one I’ve ever known.

“Let me take you out. To make up for ruining your birthday.”

Quinn’s spine straightens, looking at me with such fierce determination it’s unsettling. “That’s not necessary. You didn’t ruin my birthday.” Crossing her arms over her chest, her tone is so powerful and self-assured, I barely notice her incredible tits swelling above the seam of her top.Okay, I’m not dead.“Yes. What you said upset me. But it was business. If I’m going to run a successful public relations and marketing firm, I better learn to handle dickheads who think they’re allowed to speak to me in a less than professional manner. It was an opportunity for growth. So, I thank you for that.”

---