Page 72 of A Very Naughty Christmas

“Did I? These darn shoes,” Dixie said as she glanced down at her heels as though it truly was their fault. “I’m not used to heels. I don’t often get to wear dress-up shoes in the trashy trailer park.” She looked back up, first at Marcy, who was wiping her face with the backof her hand, then to Trisha, who was staring at her with contempt. “Oh, dear,” she said with mock sympathy. “I’m afraid you need some fixing now, Trisha. You’re a bit of a mess.”

“You’ll pay for this,” she hissed.

“Will I?” Dixie smiled. “Or perhaps it’s the two of you who are paying even now as we speak. I’ve always heard that karma’s a real bitch. Kind of like you.”

More laughter rose from the onlookers and if she wasn’t mistaken, a smattering of applause. It increased as the two women whirled and it followed them as they shoved through the crowd on the way to the exit.

The small sense of satisfaction coming from her revenge couldn’t overcome the hits she’d taken to her pride, as well as the profound hurt she’d felt over Kyle’s deception. As she turned to leave, she found the waiter staring at her dumbfounded.

“This was all my fault,” she said, truly sorry for getting him mixed up in her drama. “If you need me to speak to someone so you don’t get in trouble—”

“No need, miss. I’d willingly quit to see that again. Those two come here often and are rude to the staff. My only regret is that more of us couldn’t be here to witness their downfall.”

She patted his arm, glad she could make someone’s night happy, even if hers had turned to shit. Then she began winding her way toward the exit.

* * *

When she reached the door, Kyle was headed that way. She didn’t slow or act as though she saw him.

“Dixie?” he called.

It was cowardly, not to stay and confront him, but after dealing with the two witches of Asheville, she didn’t think she was up to it tonight. She moved faster, which wasn’t easy in heels, heading down the hall, past the restrooms, weaving through the crowd as quickly as she could in the direction of the main entrance.

She should have known she didn’t stand a chance of outdistancing his long strides. In no time, she heard him closing in behind her. His fingers curled around her upper arm gently and brought her to a halt.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m leaving.”

“And you weren’t going to tell me? Why?” Surprise, more than anger tinged his voice.

“I don’t belong here, Kyle. I was stupid to have come.”

“What happened? You were fine before I got waylaid with this phone call business.”

“Nothing happened except my bad judgement.”

“Being with me is an example of your bad judgement?”

“No… I mean, yes… I mean… You’re twisting my words.” She spun again to storm off.

He caught her around the waist and pulled her around to face him, nudging her stubbornly held chin up to face him. “Why don’t you explain so that I’m perfectly clear.”

“I’m beer and pizza.”

“Not this again, Dixie, I swear.”

“You are tuxedos, fancy dresses, women who don’t fall off their Valentino shoes as they try to be seen in the illustrious shadow you cast.”

“Something, or someone, happened.” He looked behind her and began scanning the crowd. “Not my mother, she declined this year, and she wouldn’t dare. Aunt Barb? Her daughter Marcy? Or her BFF Trisha.”

She stiffened at the familiar names and could have kicked herself.

He grunted. “I should have guessed they were behind it when I got to the phone and no one was there. Those two have been trying to fix me up with Trisha for years. I saw through her sugar-wouldn’t-melt-in-her-mouth act the first time I met her. Don’t believe a word of what they said.”

“So you didn’t help a girl get into college to become a teacher last year, and a nurse’s aide into nursing school the year before that?”

His jaw which had tightened, fell slack. “Well, yes, that is what we do.”

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