Page 50 of Christmas Crisis
Just like the town. I could see why she loved it.
Miranda jumped in her seat when Katy slammed the handset onto the receiver, groaning.
“What’s the matter?” Kasen asked with concern.
“That was the mayor. George and Kenny Waldman got into a minor fender bender tonight. They’re okay, but they both need to stay off their feet for a week, plus George has a fractured elbow.”
Miranda edged out of the booth and sat at the bar. “That’s too bad, but…why did he call you about it?”
“Because The Landslide is a sponsor of the town’s holiday events. We’ve got the tree all set up for the lighting this weekend, but the Holiday Hoopla doesn’t start getting assembled until mid-week. George and Kenny own a construction company and always volunteer to help. The mayor wanted to see if I had any ideas about how we could replace them.”
“I can help,” Kasen offered. “My work hours are flexible, and both my elbows are unfractured.”
At his deadpan delivery, I eyed him. I could be friends with this guy.
“We’ll probably take you up on that,” Katy said. “But no offense to your white collar, this isn’t really your lane. As much as we need folks with strong backs to set up the booths, some prep tasks require professionals. It’s not as simple as people think to make sure the lighting gets installed, that there’s access to water, portable restrooms, and all the AV equipment and stuff for the stages. I don’t want to take the risk that something gets assembled pell-mell and a booth comes tumbling down or a stage collapses.” She sighed deeply. “I guess I should start making phone calls. It sucks we’re probably going to have to pay someone, but—”
“I can do it,” I piped up.
“I was just about to shove my elbow into your ribs,” Miranda whispered.
“No need for violence.” I poked her shoulder and turned to Katy. “I’m happy to tap in. Just put me to work.”
“You’re in construction?”
I tipped an imaginary hat. “Licensed and bonded contractor. At your service.”
“I’m so grateful.” Katy looked on the verge of crying.
We exchanged numbers, and she told me she’d text on Monday, once she confirmed the plan with the mayor.
Kasen spoke to me as Miranda grabbed our coats. “I’m down to help anytime, too. Just think of me as your unskilled labor force.” He lowered his voice. “Katy’s been stressing ever since she took this on, but she didn’t think she could say no, ya know? She’s been trying to get the owners to sell to her since they’re mostly retired and she runs the operation anyway, but it’s like she needs to keep proving to them that she understands the legacy of this place.”
“Glad I can help,” I said honestly. “I’ll be in touch.”
Kasen plugged his number into my phone, and I walked out with Miranda. “Check you out,” she joked. “You came in for a sandwich and left with a new buddy.”
She teased, but only to a degree. I’d had fun tonight. And it hadn’t once felt like I was holding myself apart from people. Plus, we hadn’t mentioned Stone in hours.
Maybe Coleman Creek was the magical place Miranda said it was.
12 MONTHS AGO - DECEMBER
Is this the hottest celebrity pairing in history?
OMG! Stone and Naomi are heating up Hollywood
Little girl all grown up? Naomi Butler falls for internet bad boy
I stared at the headlines in frontof me. I wasn’t a big celebrity gossip guy. More of a politics junkie. But the news about Stone and Miranda flashed across even the “serious” news sites. They’d captured the public’s imagination. The laid-back surfer dude who’d never met a dare he wouldn’t accept had fallen for the former child actress who was synonymous with uptight elegance. He softened her edges. She polished his. A match made in tabloid heaven.
The headlines and accompanying articles also included photographs. So. Many. Photographs. Stone giving Naomi a surf lesson at Newport Beach. Naomi and Stone kissing on their movie set. Stone sneaking into Naomi’s bungalow in the Hills.
A tornado of rage boiled in my core. Miranda would have told me if she and Stone broke up. Obviously, the bastard was cheating on her with his co-star. The story, confirmed by both their publicists, said it had been going on for over a month, that they fell in love while filming.
I stalked around my apartment, fingers flying over my phone, grateful it was Saturday and I didn’t have a jobsite to get to.
ME:I’ll kill him. Seriously, just tell me where he lives and I will come down there and seriously fuck him up.
