Page 53 of Never Sleigh Never
“Do you think you can take charge and do whatever you want with my daughter?”
“I’m sorry for crossing any boundaries. Your mom was with us but had to leave. Josie wanted to stay. What was I supposed to do? Break her heart and tell her no?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what you do.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“If you want to deny your daughter an afternoon of fun, go for it. But I think you are directing your anger at the wrong person right now.” Her voice sharpens, matching mine. We’re locked in a stare-down, two gunslingers at high noon. And damn it, she doesn’t flinch.
“Dad, I’m ready.” Josie comes back into the kitchen with her winter gear on.
Brie stacks several cookies into a container and passes it to Josie. “Thanks for helping me bake today,” she says, her tone soft as if she wasn’t annoyed with me a second earlier.
“I hope we can do it again,” Josie replies.
I tear my gaze from Brie and take Josie’s hand, leading her out of the house and back to my parents’ driveway without another word.
At the truck, I help Josie in before rounding the front. Once in the driver’s seat, I slam the door, my head pounding.
“I had so much fun today. I wish I didn’t have to leave.” Josie kicks her feet as she stares down at the container of decorated cookies in her lap like it’s treasure.
Fuck. Josie always loved baking cookies. I’m a shit baker, so it’s something I never did with her. And Brie—damn her—gave Josie one of the best afternoons she’s had in years, and I ruined it.
“I’m glad you had a good day.” I flash her a small smile.
“You seemed a little mad.” Her voice cuts through me like a knife.
“No, Peanut. It’s just been a long day.”
“I made a cookie especially for you.” Opening the lid of the container, she reveals a sugar cookie decorated with red and green icing that spells out Best Dad.
My chest squeezes. “That’s almost too pretty to eat.”
She giggles. “But you have to eat it. It’s a cookie.”
“Alright, when we get home, we’ll share it.”
“We were going to make chocolate chip cookies, but I told Brie your favorite was English toffee, so we switched to those.”
Best damn cookie ever invented. Brooke’s recipe always held the number one spot. Soft but slightly crisp from the toffee. “Let me try one of those.” She digs out one of the English toffee cookies, and I take a bite—and nearly moan. Instantly, I’m hit with an overload of delicious buttery caramelized flavor. The cookie is soft and chewy in the center but chocked full of sweet and salty toffee bits. Did my dick just twitch from a cookie? Quite possibly. Once I’m done chewing the first bite, I stuff my mouth with the second half.
“Do you like it?” Josie asks.
I nod. “This might be the best cookie ever created.”
Josie giggles. “Even better than moms?”
“Your mom’s toffee cookies are hard to beat, but these are good. Really good.”
“I thought so too.” She kicks her feet as her smile fades to the window.
Guilt gnaws at me. Brie didn’t deserve my fury. She gave Josie a piece of her mom back. And me? I stormed in like the Grinch, hell-bent on stealing it. I don’t deserve Best Dad. Asshole Dad is more like it.
Nineteen
I Still Hate You
Logan
Through the grapevine, I learned purse bingo is on Tuesday nights at the Crooked Reindeer, and it’s best to stay away until after eight. Since I’m not in need of a purse, I heed the warning. By a quarter after, I stroll in, desperate for a distraction. Skating didn’t cut it, the walls of my house are closing in, and stewing in my thoughts is about as fun as listening to carolers sing off-key in January. Another lesson I learned, even when purse bingo is over, the crowd lingers. I search for an empty barstool, but most were still occupied except for a few near the middle. My fingers curl over the back, when a hand on mine stops me.
