Page 41 of Oh My Secret Christmas Baby
"Wait." I actually stop walking. "Like being naked?" I can't see her running around town naked. For one, it's cold as heck around here, and two, it's not her style.
"I wasn't naked. I was at a bachelorette party at the bar. I had on this cute mini dress."
"Did you pull a celebrity move and accidentally flash your panties?" I'm still not getting it. I know a mini dress is short and can show cleavage, but I’m not sure how that could be considered indecent exposure.
"No! I was barely inside the bar and took off my coat."
"Oh." I'm not sure what to make of that.
"Others were dressed the same. He enjoys picking on me."
"Have you considered that maybe he's into you and got jealous?"
"Nope, he's always calling me ‘little girl.’" Kindred's smile falters. "He doesn't see me that way. He was in the Army with my brother, and they became Rangers together. I'm way off-limits to him even if he's into me."
Kindred loops her arm through mine to make me start walking again. "What if he is into you and he's struggling with it?"
"That doesn't make it any better. I don't want a man who is going to back down to my brother or anyone else, for that matter." She's got a point there. It might be best to change the subject. I don’t want to upset her mood.
We are spending a few hours in town to get dolled up for the holiday party later. All the planning is finally going to pay off tonight, and I’m excited to see what the town will think. I suppose I’m trying to impress them or fit in to being one of them.
I’m excited but nervous. When I attended events with Max, I was filled with dread from beginning to end. I don’t have that now. Sure, I’m a tad naïve, but it’s the good kind. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m feeling as though luck is finally on my side. This is a new chapter of my life in more ways than one.
"Did you decide on which dress you'll be wearing tonight?" She'd narrowed it down to a couple.
Kindred might be a small-town girl, but she loves her some fashion. It was fun to search for dresses online with her. We ordered a ton. I felt guilty, but Kindred told me Hollis owed her a big Christmas bonus and that he would love me wearing a dress he'd bought for me.
I had also ordered a couple of dresses with plans to return the others and only keep the one I picked for tonight, but they all turned out to be so beautiful. Hollis said we weren't returning anything. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to his need to take care of me. Well, not only me, all of us.
“I’m thinking the green one.”
It shows a lot of cleavage, making me wonder how the sheriff is going to feel about that, but I keep that thought to myself. I kind of want to see that play out in real time. The whole enemies to lovers trope is one of my favorites to read.
“That was my favorite on you, too.” It suits her coloring.
Kindred slows her steps, and I see her glance behind us. “What?” I sense her whole demeanor change as she stands up taller.
“Don’t do it yet, but I want you to glance behind us and tell me if you know the man in the black coat. He’s got on black sunglasses. Actually, he’s in all black.” Worry immediately creeps into me. The hairs on the back of my neck stick up, thinking it could be Max.
“Do you think?—”
“No, I’ve seen a picture of Max, but I do think whoever he is, he’s following us. I spotted him across the street when we were in the bakery. Now he’s following us to the salon, it appears.” Her words ease my mind a fraction, but my heart and mind are still racing.
I give it a couple more seconds before I glance back and see the man she’s referring to. He’s big and pretty unmissable. Okay, maybe not because I hadn’t noticed him until Kindred pointed him out.
I really need to get better about watching my surroundings. It’s strange, but I get lost in New Hope and Hollis, forgetting that there is a whole other world out there without my problems.
"I don't think I know who he is."
"Think?"
"He's kinda far back. I know it's not Max, but he has this man named Bailey that works for him. He's his driver and just about everything else."
"All right, let's go into this shop for a second and see what he does." I nod, following her into one of the many stores on the main street. It's one of those old-school pharmacies you don't see anymore. We take our time, pretending to look around, both noticing he's still lingering outside. We watch as he suddenly pulls out his phone.
"Think he's faking a phone call?"
"Obviously. He's after us." Kindred narrows her eyes on him, and it’s starting to feel like we’re in an action movie, and she’s going to take him on with her street-fighting skills that no one knows about but surprises you with how good they are. "Let's do this." She starts to march back out of the store. What the heck is she doing?
