Page 48 of Resisting Fate
“Could you get the chairs?” he asked Marcus. “I gotta go.” He headed across the street.
“Sure, bail on me!” Marcus hollered behind him.
“Thanks!” Ben lifted a hand and continued across the street. He knew Marcus could easily handle two folding chairs on his own, and Logan would help him with the barrels. He moved quickly, eager to put the elf hat on Missy, but he slowed down as he got close enough to read her expression. She was smiling at the young kids, two boys and a girl, but there was pain in her eyes.
He crossed to her side and took in the kids. Two boys with short brown hair, maybe six and eight, holding their to-go cups of hot chocolate. The girl with long brown hair, about ten, wore a tight pink jacket she’d clearly outgrown.
“It’s okay,” Missy said to the girl. “Just between us.” She smiled. “You like whipped cream?”
“We didn’t know it would cost so much,” the girl whispered. “Mom only gave us enough for two hot chocolates.” She glanced over to where her mom was buying a cone of spiced nuts, but she didn’t call to her for more money.
“It’s on the house,” Missy announced brightly, pouring a cup for her.
The girl’s chin snapped up, proud and defiant. “Mom says we work for what we want. I have to earn it.”
Missy’s smile faltered. “It’s for taking such good care of your brothers.”
Just then the younger boy hollered, “Hey! You made me spill!” A large puddle of hot chocolate in the street quickly ran into the drainage grate.
“I told you not to open the lid!” his brother hollered. “You made yourself spill!”
“Maddy says there’s not enough money for another hot chocolate! Gimme yours!”
“NO!”
The girl hunched her shoulders, her cheeks red. She turned, starting to walk away.
“You with the spilled hot chocolate!” Ben called to the boy. “Did you know hot chocolate is free if you believe in Santa?”
“I do believe in Santa!” the boy hollered, brightening.
“Then you get another hot chocolate.” He turned to Maddy. “And you get one too.”
“I didn’t say I believe in Santa,” she whispered.
“You ever make a Christmas list?” he asked, taking one of the carafes of hot chocolate and pouring a cup for the boy jumping with joy on the sidewalk.
“Well, yeah,” she said uncertainly.
“Ever sing a Christmas carol?” Ben asked, handing the boy a fresh cup.
“Everyone has,” Maddy said.
Missy chimed in. “Looks like everyone gets a free cup.” She shot him a grateful look that made his chest puff with pride before turning back to Maddy. “You a whipped cream girl?”
Maddy nodded. Missy piled on the whipped cream, put the lid on, and handed the cup over.
Maddy took the cup, staring at it, her lower lip wobbling. “Thank you.” She joined her mom at the nearby roasted nuts cart, her brothers running over to join them, shouting that the hot chocolate was free.
Missy turned to him, one hand on his arm, going up on tiptoe, leaning close, closer than she’d been in a hellishly long week.
He stopped breathing. She was going to kiss him. He could return it if she initiated. His heart thumped hard, the blood surging through his veins. This was okay, really okay, he couldn’t be faulted, it was inevitable, they weren’t at the office, it was all her and just him returning—
She shifted to whisper in his ear and he nearly groaned. “Those were the Harper kids I’m helping this Christmas. Thank you so much, but I’m afraid word’s getting out about the free hot chocolate, and this was part of the fundraiser for the food bank.”
He needed to calm the fuck down. If he made it through this professional hell, he should be awarded fucking gentleman professional of the year. If such a thing existed. Now it did. That was him.
He spoke gruffly, pissed at himself for getting all worked up when she was obviously not. “I’ll cover it.”
