Page 15 of The Blessings of Christmas
Stumbling outside, Sarah hurried to the car, her sturdy shoes crunching in the snow. Then she skidded to a halt, grabbing a door handle to keep from falling. Ryan must have cleaned the snow from her car. The guy was full of surprises.
CHAPTER 4
Alight was glowing in the back office when Ryan reached Branson Motors later that evening. Did Stanley ever go home? Cutting the engine, he hurried through the cold to the back door, the white box tight under one arm. The smell of chocolate had driven him crazy all the way up Red Arrow. Stamping the snow off his boots, he went inside. Seeing Stanley through the glass of the enclosed office, Ryan hesitated. Was the old man talking to himself? Glasses low on his nose, he sat staring at his computer screen.
Ryan poked his head into the office that smelled of burned coffee. “You working late again?”
“This dang thing.” Ripping off the glasses, Stanley rubbed his eyes. “Just getting ready for the end of the year. You know, accounting stuff. Take a load off.” He nodded to a chair piled with old newspapers.
The small office was packed with samples, vintage Harley parts, old invoices and yellowing magazines. The pinup calendar might date back to the 80s, along with the worn furniture. A man cave, for sure.
“You’ll never win an award for housekeeping.” Setting the box on the desk, Ryan transferred the newspapers to the floor and sat down.
“Don’t want one.” Stanley’s eyes zeroed in on the cookies. His nose twitched.
Ryan stretched his legs out. “Man, this feels good.” Standing for hours in the bakery left him with a serious back ache. “Don’t you leave the books to your accountants?”
“The man who doesn’t run the numbers for his own business is a fool. I liked the old paper ledgers, not these fancy computer spreadsheets.” Stanley’s eyes were still riveted to the box of cookies. In the small enclosed space, the chocolate scent became overpowering. “What have you got there?”
“Just some cookies I baked tonight.” Man, this felt girly and weird.
Stanley had that box open in a flash. “You baked these yourself?” Scooping one out, he studied the cookie like it was the new Harley catalogue before biting down. The sounds he made were almost indecent. By the time Stanley finished munching, crumbs were everywhere. Taking one finger, Stanley pressed down on them, one at a time. “Boy, you missed your calling.”
Ryan felt pleased. “It’s Sarah’s recipe. Mexican hot chocolate cookies.”
“Kinda got a kick, don’t they?” Running a tongue over his teeth, Stanley reached for another.
Getting up, Ryan moved to the desk and leaned over the spreadsheet. “That’s what makes them special. You mind if I look at this?”
“Have at it.” Stanley pushed his chair away.
“These spreadsheets have some basic formulas.”
“Son, you’re speaking a foreign language.” Getting to his feet, Stanley stepped back. “Can you show me?”
Ryan sat down in Stanley’s chair. For the next ten minutes he gave Stanley a quick course in Excel, or what he could remember since high school. By the time he surrendered the chair, the old man looked impressed. “You are a wizard.”
“Trust me, I’m not.” After jotting down some of the basic formulas, Ryan eased himself back into the chair. “Let me know if you need more help.”
Stanley’s chair squeaked when he swiveled to face Ryan. He closed the box carefully. “Want to save some of these for later.” Then he sat back and studied Ryan, hands folded on his stomach.
Uncomfortable, Ryan squirmed in the chair. The old guy sure had x-ray eyes. “So you start your day early in the morning, work here and then head back to town.”
“Ryder said that was okay. I put in at least eight hours here,” Ryan reminded him. He didn’t want Stanley to think he was goofing off.
“Sounds like you’re burning the candle at both ends.”
The concern in Stanley’s eyes caught Ryan right in the gut. Taking off his belt had been his dad’s answer for everything, not that Ryan didn’t deserve it. “It’s only for three weeks or so. I’m helping Sarah through the holidays.”
“So you said.” Stanley’s lips slowly twisted into a cocky grin. “Well, I hope your efforts are appreciated.”
“I think they are.” The hug that morning had felt way too good. For a second there, Ryan almost forgot this was Sarah, the sweetest woman on the planet. “I’m just filling in.”
“Uh huh. Why do I think there’s more to it than that?”
“What?” Keeping up with his own son had honed Stanley’s radar.
“Do you have feelings for Sarah?”
