Page 20 of Stella's Christmas Rescue
“Sorry about yesterday. You got my text, right?”
“About some personal emergency? Yeah. Did you get my voicemail, where I called and asked if everything is okay?” He sounds mad.
I produce the takeout box from the diner and open it in front of him. Then, I bounce the lid, so the smells waft to him. “Corned beef hash to make up for it?”
He glares at me and says, “It’s a start.” Then he yanks the box from my hands and chows down. He’s a sucker for the corned beef hash, and truthfully, the diner has helped mend a lot of fences with their recipe for the stuff. Michael asks, “This is a fresh batch, isn’t it?”
I nod. “Had Katie make sure of it.”
“So, what happened yesterday?”
“I can’t get into it just yet, but when I can get into it, I will.”
He tips his head down and asks, “Seriously, man, is everything alright? Are you okay? Healthwise, I mean?”
“Yeah, nothing like that,” I scramble to explain it away. “An old Marine buddy of mine is having some trouble, and he needs some help. It’s a little sketchy, but I’m handling it.”
“Sure,” he shrugs. “Then, why’d you bother to come in today?”
“Thought you could use some help cleaning up around here or something. Or maybe I could be around, if there’s a call.”
“You sound weird, Jordan. You sure you’re alright?”
I nod. “Just need to stay busy.”
“Got it. Well, Bert could always use a wash. And Ernie needs an oil change, if you’re up to it. David sucks at it.”
“I’ll take Ernie, but I’m not washing Bert until spring. Too damn cold to wash the firetrucks, man.”
“Be that way.” His attention is diverted behind me, and he lets out a low whistle. “I keep wanting to say hello to her but missing my chance.”
I turn around, and there’s Stella. I laugh and warn him, “Don’t bother, Michael. Stella Collins would chew you up and spit you out.”
“Already tried, eh?”
“You can say that again.”
He gasps in faux shock. “There’s a woman immune to your charms? Did hell freeze over?”
“Asshole.”
Michael laughs and says, “Excuse me, but I’ve had to live with story after story of your conquests, and I know you’re working on my girlfriend, Katie?—
“Katie is not your girlfriend,” I point out. “She doesn’t even like you.”
“Not yet, but she will. I just need to set her house on fire and rescue her.”
I snort, “I didn’t realize you had to stoop to arson to get a date.”
“It’s gonna be a cold winter, Jordan. Gotta keep warm somehow. Maybe I’ll keep warm with Stella Collins.”
“Good luck, man.”
He smirks, then asks, “You sure about that? Don’t want another go at her?”
I shake my head. “She’s a piece of work. I like to keep things nice and simple.”
I watch her walk back to her truck with two arms full of groceries. A man I don’t recognize walks up behind her, and I’mout the door before I can blink. Just as he’s about to grab her, I tackle him to the ground, then straddle his chest. One hand on the throat, the other in the air. I swing back to hit him and hear Stella screaming. I look up, half expecting another assailant. But she yells at me, “Stop, you idiot!”
