Page 8 of Christmas Rings

“What seems to be the problem?” Jed asked. “I mean, with the car.” He smelled so good, like vintage shaving cream. The kind her father had shaved with. When she was small, she’d sat on the closed toilet and watched him shave. She remembered the cold ceramic against the backs of her thighs.

“It won’t start,” she said. “She’s old and tired.”

That made him smile. “Does she have this problem often?”

“Just last week. But then she started again, so I put off putting her in the shop. It’s so much money every time I take the old lady in.”

“I don’t know anything about cars, but I can have Thomas drive you home,” he said.

“Thomas?”

“My driver.”

“Oh, right. That’s your limo?” She gestured to the long black car.

He pushed his dripping hair away from his face. “The limo isn’t mine. We just rented it for the night. Those guys I was with own a high-end restaurant conglomerate and wanted to paint the town, so to speak. I’m not the type to frequent clubs.”

“I had a feeling.” Should she be offended?

“Not that there’s anything wrong with it.” His hands fidgeted in his lap. “Those ladies are very talented.”

She laughed despite wanting to dislike him because of his limo and manicured fingernails. “They are.”

“You carry that tray like nobody’s business. I couldn’t help but notice the muscles in your arms.” He flushed and shook his head as he looked away. “Sorry. I’m not sure why I just said that.” He shivered again.

“Are you cold?” she asked.

“Very. You?”

“Yeah.”

“Please, let us take you home. The limo is nice and warm. I even have a few towels in there.”

“Okay, I guess so. You’re not going to murder me, are you?”

“Definitely not. Thomas won’t either.” He smiled as he ran both hands through his wet hair. “I’ll just wave him over.”

While they waited for the limo to arrive, Alissa texted Rif to let him know she’d gotten a ride home. She didn’t want them to worry when they saw her car.

Seconds later, the limo came their direction. The driver, Thomas, dressed in a black suit, got out of the limo and opened the side door for them. Next thing she knew, she was seated across from Jed Marsh. She’d never been in a limo before tonight. This one had black leather bench-like seats along both sides. To her, leather smelled like money. Plastic bottles of water were tucked into cup holders. A container of Marsh Vodka nestled in a bucket of ice.

“Where to, Miss Mann?” Jed asked.

“How do you know my last name?”

“I asked Rif,” he said. “I’ve known him for years. Because of work.”

She gave him the address of her apartment. Jed knocked on the window that separated Thomas and the rest of the limo. The glass came down, and Jed passed on the information to him.

“Yes, sir,” Thomas said. “Shall I turn the heat up?”

“That would be wonderful,” Jed said. “Thank you.”

Alissa took the dry towel he offered and patted her face and hair. Jed did the same, rubbing his head with the towel like he’d just gotten out of the shower. Messy, damp hair made him seem younger and more approachable.

“I thought you’d be a Seattle-proper kind of girl,” he said.

She raised one eyebrow. “Do you think I’d be working at a club if I could afford Seattle?” She lived in an apartment building near the elementary school where she worked.

---